Administrators and politicians determine what is taught. Teachers still have control about how the content goals are taught, and technology enables thinking in the hands of a teacher. In the hands of a content deliverer, the technology might just be another lecturer, thinking optional.
I believe the use of technology enhances our five senses and makes our everyday lives easier in every aspect as well as helping with the development of the sixth sense. Most critical thinkers are also very efficient in the use of technology.
Andrea Brown - 2 years ago
While I tend to agree that technology itself is not killing critical thinking, I think it is a contributing factor. Technology has made our lives easy, and has taught us that life, in fact, should be easy. Critical thinking is not easy, and there are many who have not developed the skill simply because it isn't easy. I think our increased dependence on technology may carry a large share of the blame for that.
I think slate was the reason the one room school house's test scores went down. I think teaching styles or schools since students often respond with what they hope the teachers want from them. Critical Thinking takes time and often that is in short supply. Technology is not the solution nor the cause to most of the issues facing schools today.
I agree wholeheartedly with the above comments. Pencils in and of themselves do not foster or kill critical or creative thinking. I think the question is ill-posed. One might ask, "What technologies foster critical thinking?" Or, better yet, "how can teachers receive support in utilizing new 21st Century technologies to catalyze critical thinking? " Come on now!!
Matthew Hull - 2 years ago
Once again the fallacy of assuming than an inanimate object can have any effect of and in itself... 'guns don't kill people, people kill people'. Technology can only be used for what I (or whomever) wants to use it for. And more likely than not the misuse of any tool (like a gun) can inadvertantly "kill" something. I sincerly believe that the trick to implementing successful technology in education is not to get it into everybody's hands, but rather, to those teachers who will use it effectively and then 'they' will encourage its proper use by others.... just a thought...
I agree with Richard. It is not fair to ask: Is Technology Killing Critical Thinking Skills? This question requires a Yes or No answer and the only fair answer is No. However, there may be cases where misuse of technology, or the belief that technology in and of itself can somehow replace critical thinking skills, would do significant damage to their development. In contrast to the reality that technology can easily be the perfect partner to Critical Thinking in terms of delivering increased situational analysis, clarity of comprehension, collaboration and communication, or even a simple reflection of historical perspective. Is the misuse and misunderstanding of technology capable of preventing the development of critical thinking skills... Yes. Can Critical Thinking Skills be killed once a person posesses them... Probably not unless they both died together.
Administrators and politicians determine what is taught. Teachers still have control about how the content goals are taught, and technology enables thinking in the hands of a teacher. In the hands of a content deliverer, the technology might just be another lecturer, thinking optional.
I believe the use of technology enhances our five senses and makes our everyday lives easier in every aspect as well as helping with the development of the sixth sense. Most critical thinkers are also very efficient in the use of technology.
While I tend to agree that technology itself is not killing critical thinking, I think it is a contributing factor. Technology has made our lives easy, and has taught us that life, in fact, should be easy. Critical thinking is not easy, and there are many who have not developed the skill simply because it isn't easy. I think our increased dependence on technology may carry a large share of the blame for that.
I think slate was the reason the one room school house's test scores went down. I think teaching styles or schools since students often respond with what they hope the teachers want from them. Critical Thinking takes time and often that is in short supply. Technology is not the solution nor the cause to most of the issues facing schools today.
I agree wholeheartedly with the above comments. Pencils in and of themselves do not foster or kill critical or creative thinking. I think the question is ill-posed. One might ask, "What technologies foster critical thinking?" Or, better yet, "how can teachers receive support in utilizing new 21st Century technologies to catalyze critical thinking? " Come on now!!
Once again the fallacy of assuming than an inanimate object can have any effect of and in itself... 'guns don't kill people, people kill people'. Technology can only be used for what I (or whomever) wants to use it for. And more likely than not the misuse of any tool (like a gun) can inadvertantly "kill" something. I sincerly believe that the trick to implementing successful technology in education is not to get it into everybody's hands, but rather, to those teachers who will use it effectively and then 'they' will encourage its proper use by others.... just a thought...
I agree with Richard. It is not fair to ask: Is Technology Killing Critical Thinking Skills? This question requires a Yes or No answer and the only fair answer is No. However, there may be cases where misuse of technology, or the belief that technology in and of itself can somehow replace critical thinking skills, would do significant damage to their development. In contrast to the reality that technology can easily be the perfect partner to Critical Thinking in terms of delivering increased situational analysis, clarity of comprehension, collaboration and communication, or even a simple reflection of historical perspective. Is the misuse and misunderstanding of technology capable of preventing the development of critical thinking skills... Yes. Can Critical Thinking Skills be killed once a person posesses them... Probably not unless they both died together.
The use or misuse of a technology may affect critical thinking skills, but technology itself won't affect critical thinking skills.