Friday, February 24, 2006
Technology Access: Privilege, Invasion, Etc.
We discussed problems with access to technology--do all students have computers? Do all students with computers have adequate network access? Can [should?] the school "force feed" technology into the homes of the students?
Some students said computers are like cars--50 years ago, not every family had one, but now, most do. Computers are becoming more and more necessary. One way around the hardware-access issue is for schools to provide the computers (or assistance on an as-needed basis). This doesn't address the network access issue, though, or the forced-into-homes issue.
Other students commented that spending time alone working on pencil-and-paper homework is no more "family oriented" than spending equal amounts of time alone working on computer homework.
Some students said computers are like cars--50 years ago, not every family had one, but now, most do. Computers are becoming more and more necessary. One way around the hardware-access issue is for schools to provide the computers (or assistance on an as-needed basis). This doesn't address the network access issue, though, or the forced-into-homes issue.
Other students commented that spending time alone working on pencil-and-paper homework is no more "family oriented" than spending equal amounts of time alone working on computer homework.
# posted by Mr. Russell @ 1:10 PM 
Comments:
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A Uni parent sent this email:
Is Uni defined as something within the walls (and the cable internet network) of a school building or does it extend into students' homes and elsewhere on the UIUC campus? The thought of technology making possible a school without limits is inspiring in one sense. But it also poses problems. Not all homes are wired for fast cable, so internet access is unequal once students leave campus. Not all homes have cell phones and not all families have extra computers that are available when the student needs to use them (i.e. students may be in competition with parents for access to some home technology). Not all families want a household with cutting edge technology - they may regard it as intrusive. Is there a way to consider these limits, to accommodate them, and perhaps to use technology itself to transcend them?
I just wanted to get the students thinking critically and not to assume that just because technology is very available for them, that it is universally available.
As for the limits of technology here in Urbana-Champaign, surely we are fast approaching an age when the entire area is Wi-Fi and cable will be an anachronism. But then, won't there be issues of unequal services between center city vs. more rural surroundings?
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Is Uni defined as something within the walls (and the cable internet network) of a school building or does it extend into students' homes and elsewhere on the UIUC campus? The thought of technology making possible a school without limits is inspiring in one sense. But it also poses problems. Not all homes are wired for fast cable, so internet access is unequal once students leave campus. Not all homes have cell phones and not all families have extra computers that are available when the student needs to use them (i.e. students may be in competition with parents for access to some home technology). Not all families want a household with cutting edge technology - they may regard it as intrusive. Is there a way to consider these limits, to accommodate them, and perhaps to use technology itself to transcend them?
I just wanted to get the students thinking critically and not to assume that just because technology is very available for them, that it is universally available.
As for the limits of technology here in Urbana-Champaign, surely we are fast approaching an age when the entire area is Wi-Fi and cable will be an anachronism. But then, won't there be issues of unequal services between center city vs. more rural surroundings?
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