Saturday, November 10, 2007

Floppy Disk Fallacies

~300 word response~
Floppy Disk Fallacies is a true argument in many ways. The first time I read it, I was convinced that computers are bad to have for younger students because they could affect their social & emotional values and their creativity. That was very strange for me because I believe technology is everywhere and that we can depend on it unless a world wide computer virus strikes. Now that I have thought about it for many days after reading this essay, I have come to my senses. I again think that technology shouldn’t be avoided, but other forms of education like reading, writing, math and other basic skills should be very stressed upon in school.

This essay relates to me because it was written about a year after I was born. It is a little off though because they didn’t have PowerPoint presentations back when I was in elementary school. They just taught us accordingly to what they did long ago. The school Elizabeth’s daughter was in probably should have gotten a better teacher if they were teaching with just PowerPoints!!

Anyways, the intro was good in this argument because it got strait to the point and she gave a good personal example of why there shouldn’t be so much technology in school. In the body paragraphs she explained how too much technology could effect an education negatively, and she even threw in how it is good in some cases. For instance, “Like all other electronic viewing systems (television and video games), computers leave little or no room for imagination. Of course, the virtual reality computers create is often full of fantastic images.” This would be an example of how students would not develop their creative thinking. I would have included how the students might not learn the difference from reality and the fantasy worlds. They may not learn cause and effect as adequately which may cause them to get in trouble when they are older. The ending of the essay pretty much summed up everything and it even had a call to action for the audience.


Writing Strategies
1.) why is or isn't Bohnhorst's introduction effective? (what particular sentences or phrases invite you into her thinking? Which do not?)

Bohnhorst's introduction is effective but it could be more interesting. Elizabeth simply gives a personal story in her life where her child tells her that she watched another boring PowerPoint at school. For example, in the first paragraph,"'Another boring PowerPoint,' responds Jennifer when I ask about her day at school. I might not find these words so discouraging coming from a company executive after a long meeting or even a college student leaving an informative lecture. But these words of an eleven-year-old elementary school student leave me feeling slightly uneasy." This pretty much introduces the theme and it somewhat catches the readers attention. It could had been a more detailed interest catcher.

Exploring Ideas
1.) Consider the claims

"Computers can undoubtedly contribute wonders to the field of education."--this quote from the essay seems to contradict Elizabeth's point in the essay--that technology should be something that students depend upon. Or, it says that computers do contribute wonders but we shouldn't depend upon them. Computers have done so much for the world to advance to what we know it as today.
"In fact, computer education is a must if children intend to thrive in modern society."--I feel that you do not necessarily need computer education because you could be a mechanic or you could work at a store. You dont have to have a computer education but it is a good idea to have one so you can get a good job in modern society. So, you don't have to have a computer education to thrive in modern society. You may soon or later though.
I could write a book on these two claims if I had the time.