The program One Laptop Per Child seeks to achieve the access of Device, according to Warschauer, providing the computer as the physical ability to make a connection to the internet but does not necessarily include the skills & understanding of using the computer in the socially valued ways.
One Laptop Per Child also achieves similarly Van Dijk's material access where the computer again provides the physical item for connectedness; however, One Laptop Per Child does not guarantee fulfillment of the skills access, mental access nor usage access mentioned by Van Dijk. There seems to be relatively minimal intent to provide the children with the education to use the computer.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Week 8: Types of Digital Skills
In the article: The Digital Divide As A Complex and Dynamic Phenomenon
-Instrumental skills: the ability to operate hardware and software. (Can you turn it on?)
-Informational skills: searching information using digital hardware and software. ( Can you use techology for basic means of communication and information exchange?)
-Strategic skills: using information for one's own purpose and position. (Are you comfortable enough with ICT to use it efficiently to aid in your communications and enhance your acquisition, analysis, and proliferation of information?)-Upon reaching this level, you are among the most skilled and most advantaged in the realm of ICT.
Instrumental and informational skills are united under the idea of informacy, the basic ability to apply technical know how and literacy to ICT operation. Informacy is not primarily determined by education, but rather, by age and gender.
If not born digital, having young children, particular hobbies, or access in the workplace can lead to a greater resevoir of technical skills.
-Instrumental skills: the ability to operate hardware and software. (Can you turn it on?)
-Informational skills: searching information using digital hardware and software. ( Can you use techology for basic means of communication and information exchange?)
-Strategic skills: using information for one's own purpose and position. (Are you comfortable enough with ICT to use it efficiently to aid in your communications and enhance your acquisition, analysis, and proliferation of information?)-Upon reaching this level, you are among the most skilled and most advantaged in the realm of ICT.
Instrumental and informational skills are united under the idea of informacy, the basic ability to apply technical know how and literacy to ICT operation. Informacy is not primarily determined by education, but rather, by age and gender.
If not born digital, having young children, particular hobbies, or access in the workplace can lead to a greater resevoir of technical skills.
Week Nine- Questioning the Digital Divide
How does James' critique differ from Compaine's?
James' main argument is that people have to have access, understanding, and competence in order for our divide to diminish. He is certain that there is a digital divide. James' believes that we cannot rely on past inventions to predict what the internet can do in the future. For early technologies, people generally need few skills and literacy to work radios, tvs, etc. But once people start using internet and email, they need to be able to understand and have a need for this type of technology. Nations that are more engaged in research are more likely to use technologies and attempt to understand them so that they can uplift or improve their country.
Compaine's main argument is that with time, the divide is going to fix itself with technologies. It's more of a digital crevice, than a divide, so eventually it's just going to disappear. His focus is on normalization, and that we'll all get to the same spot because digital technologies influence us. He states that more and more people are using the internet and that prices are decreasing at the same time, making the divide close up.
Exam 2 Question
Week Eight – Defining the Digital Divide:
What are the characteristics of people who are more likely to go online?
· High Income people
· Younger generations who were born in digital era
· Professional and Managerial occuapations
· Those with higher education such as a college degree
· Male
· Although the article didn’t go into great detail on race, being of white origin is a characteristic
What are the characteristics of people who are more likely to go online?
· High Income people
· Younger generations who were born in digital era
· Professional and Managerial occuapations
· Those with higher education such as a college degree
· Male
· Although the article didn’t go into great detail on race, being of white origin is a characteristic
Exam 2 Question
Week Seven, Question 4: What are the new categories of workers? What do workers in the new categories do?
The answer to this question comes from Warschauer, M.'s article, on page 22. In the new informational economy, Warschauer writes, the main division between workers is not whether they are blue collar or white collar workers, but whether they are routine production workers, in-person service workers, or symbolic analysts. Each of these three new categories has a specific relationship to the internet and computers.
Routine production workers, which could be payroll clerks or factory workers, engage in the internet on the job in a routine way. This also goes for in-person analysts, or janitors or taxi drivers, who also use the internet on the job in a routine way. Symbolic analysts, on the other hand, use the computer and internet for the interpretation and analysis of data, to create new knowledge, to use it for international communication and collaboration, or for the development of multimedia.
Warchauer also writes that well-paying blue collar jobs have disappeared in the new information economy, being replaced by the three new categories mentioned above.
The answer to this question comes from Warschauer, M.'s article, on page 22. In the new informational economy, Warschauer writes, the main division between workers is not whether they are blue collar or white collar workers, but whether they are routine production workers, in-person service workers, or symbolic analysts. Each of these three new categories has a specific relationship to the internet and computers.
Routine production workers, which could be payroll clerks or factory workers, engage in the internet on the job in a routine way. This also goes for in-person analysts, or janitors or taxi drivers, who also use the internet on the job in a routine way. Symbolic analysts, on the other hand, use the computer and internet for the interpretation and analysis of data, to create new knowledge, to use it for international communication and collaboration, or for the development of multimedia.
Warchauer also writes that well-paying blue collar jobs have disappeared in the new information economy, being replaced by the three new categories mentioned above.
Exam 2
What are the characteristics of people who are more likely to be online?
Wealthy households income
Certain occupations- access through job (for example provided with personal computers)
The higher the education the more likely to be online
Gender- many different findings but nothing has been inclusive
Generation- youngest age groups more likely to be online- brought up with technology
Exam 2 Review
What are some solutions/implications suggested by the authors in Chapter 6?
- Research from this book “strongly suggest that neighborhoods in urban America, especially in large metropolitan areas like Chicago, are likely to remain divided, racially and culturally.” (161)
- Racial and ethnic tensions in our nation will continue to exist, especially when they begin at a community level
- The more individuals within groups perceive and highlight these differences, the less likely they are to welcome others or to feel comfortable sharing the same physical and social spaces, leading to increased ethnic/racial stratification
- Hirshman’s theory of exit, voice, and loyalty will continue, specifically with “white flight” to the suburbs as Latinos and blacks migrate to the inner city
What are the major themes: Afro@Digital
This films' message to the audience was about the long awaited technological revolution finally reaching people in Africa. The use of mobile phones and the internet has become a lot more widespread in the 21st century in under-developed African nations, especially through the availability of internet cafes and pay as you go mobile phones. This film gave the sense that although Africans are disadvantaged in many ways technologically and in education, many are very willing to learn how to use the technology to benefit themselves, even if not able to use it to it's maximum potential. Hopefully by connecting Africa to the rest of the world at fast speeds that the internet and phones allow, this might bring about more changes in the way Africans view themselves and the world and allow them to strive for more positive changes in their countries. The question of what would Africans need the internet for is ludicrous; what does anyone need the internet for? I do not think of the internet as being a luxury that only people with stable economies and governments should be allowed.
That being said, I spent 5 months living in Cape Town, South Africa last year, and personally I thought cell phones were used in the city as much as in American cities for all races, although very few homes nonwhite had access to the internet. Cape Town is a first world city in a third world country, and not very representative of the country as a whole or Africa in general. Even just outside the city in the townships (shanty towns) there was barely electricity and no running water.
There Goes the Neighborhood (exam 2 review question)
What is meant by the tipping point?
The tipping point = Rapid ethnic turnover.
"In many neighborhoods, an infusion of minorities prompted whites to leave and discouraged other whites from replacing them. Thus the proportion of minority-group members grew quickly, particularly after the minority group became the major force in the community. Real estate agents have historically abetted this process by "steering" purchasers to "live with their own kind." - page 7
Exam 2 - There goes the Neighborhood
Understand and be able to explain Albert Hirschman’s theory of exit, voice, and loyalty.
Albert Hirschman's theory of exit refers to when people become dissatisfied with their surroundings they choose to exit (move or withdrawal from participation in neighborhood). If residents don't choose to exit they can exercise voice. By exercising voice residents attempt to change their environment rather than trying to escape from it. A factor in peoples decision to exit or voice is how loyal they are to their neighborhood. How loyal a person is to their neighborhood refers to how attached they are to it.
Albert Hirschman's theory of exit refers to when people become dissatisfied with their surroundings they choose to exit (move or withdrawal from participation in neighborhood). If residents don't choose to exit they can exercise voice. By exercising voice residents attempt to change their environment rather than trying to escape from it. A factor in peoples decision to exit or voice is how loyal they are to their neighborhood. How loyal a person is to their neighborhood refers to how attached they are to it.
Exam 2: Warschauer Article
What are the new categories of workers (as opposed to the old categories of blue-collar and white-collar workers)? What do workers in the new categories do?
Three new categories:
Routine production worker - e.g., data processors, payroll clerks, and factory workers
In-person service worker -e.g., janitors, hospital attendants, taxi drivers
Symbolic Analysts - e.g., software engineers, management consultants, and strategic planners
Employees in all three categories may use computers and the internet for their jobs, but the first to make use in routine ways such as inventory checks and ordering products, while the last group uses ICT to conduct analysis and interpretation of data, creation of new knowledge, international communication and collaboration, and the development of complex media products.
Three new categories:
Routine production worker - e.g., data processors, payroll clerks, and factory workers
In-person service worker -e.g., janitors, hospital attendants, taxi drivers
Symbolic Analysts - e.g., software engineers, management consultants, and strategic planners
Employees in all three categories may use computers and the internet for their jobs, but the first to make use in routine ways such as inventory checks and ordering products, while the last group uses ICT to conduct analysis and interpretation of data, creation of new knowledge, international communication and collaboration, and the development of complex media products.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Compaine Article Questions
What factors does Compaine suggest increase the adoption of computer and internet use?
- 5 trends: Rapidly declining costs and increasing power of the hardware; improving ease of use; increasing availability of points of presense (POPs) for local Internet Service Provideraccess; decreasing cost of Internet access; and network externalitites associated with email and chat.
- Compaine presents some statistics about how fast computer and internet technology has evolved in such a short period of time
- Suggests the improving ease of use is directly related to Microsoft and Apple introducing the "Point-and-Click" operating system. This system greatly reduced technical barriers to access for many people. One no longer needed advanced "command prompt" knowledge to use a computer and the internet.
How does Compaine describe access in this article?
- Compaine seems to describe access in a light that reflects his opinion that there really isn't much of a divide. He presents many statistics and facts in a way that indicate access is nearly everywhere and considerably easy to obtain.
Exam Review, Warschauer Article
· What set of features and technologies describe the various industrial revolutions?
1st - Happened in the late 18th century - printing press, steam engine, machinery - production still organized in workshops with a master/apprentice/serf relationship
2nd - Happened late 19th century - electricity, internal combustion, telegraph, telephone - production organized in factories with vertical hierarchies (boss, manager, workers, similar to master, apprentice, serf really)
3rd - mid-to-late 20th century (now?) - transistor, PCs, telecommunications, the internet - horizontal networks
3rd revolution is the one that is associated with Informationalism - the spread of information (telephones, TVs, the internet) more than just tools and more efficient production methods.
Exam 2 Review
What are the different types of digital skills? (Week 8, reading 2, question 2)
Instrumental skills: the ability to operate hardware and software
Informational skills: the ability of searching information using digital hardware and software
Strategic skills: using information for one's own purpose and position (this skill was added last)
These are found on page 319 under the "Digital Skills" section in the van Dijk, J. and Hacker, K. reading.
Instrumental skills: the ability to operate hardware and software
Informational skills: the ability of searching information using digital hardware and software
Strategic skills: using information for one's own purpose and position (this skill was added last)
These are found on page 319 under the "Digital Skills" section in the van Dijk, J. and Hacker, K. reading.
Exam #2 Review
Define and understand the concept of informationalism.
Four features distinguish informationalism from the prior industrial stage: the driving role of science and technology for economic growth; a shift from material production to information processing, the emergence and expansion of new forms of networked industrial organization; and the rise of socioeconomic globalization.
Four features distinguish informationalism from the prior industrial stage: the driving role of science and technology for economic growth; a shift from material production to information processing, the emergence and expansion of new forms of networked industrial organization; and the rise of socioeconomic globalization.
Exam 2 Review - Jan van Dijk
How does van Dijk define access?
van Dijk defines access in terms of four kinds of barriers and the type of access they restrict.
1. Mental Access - the lack of elementary digital experience
2. Material Access - not having computers or network connections
3. Skills Access - inadequate education, social support or user unfriendliness
4. Usage Access - not having the opportunity to use technologies
What are the different types of digital skills?
There are three types of digital skills that van Dijk identifies in this article. The first skill is instrumental skill, meaning the ability to actually operate the hardware and software, and the second skill is informational skill, meaning the ability to search for information using the hardware/software. Together these two skills, instrumental and informational, are referred to as "informacy". The third digital skill is strategic skill, meaning the ability to use information for one's own purpose in a meaningful way. van Dijk goes on to say that "informacy" is not primarily related to educational level, but more to age and gender.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Stratification vs normalization
-Understand the difference between stratification and normalization as it relates to technological diffusion.
-“In the normalization figure illustrated in figure 2.2, those who adopt the innovations at an early stage will be ahead of the curve, with the resources, skills, and knowledge to take advantage of digital technologies, but in the long term cyber optimists believe that penetration will become saturated in these societies.” (30). “In contrast, cyber pessimists emphasize that the stratification model provides a more realistic scenario where groups already well networked via traditional forms of information and communication technologies will maintain their edge in the digital economy.” (31).
-“In the normalization figure illustrated in figure 2.2, those who adopt the innovations at an early stage will be ahead of the curve, with the resources, skills, and knowledge to take advantage of digital technologies, but in the long term cyber optimists believe that penetration will become saturated in these societies.” (30). “In contrast, cyber pessimists emphasize that the stratification model provides a more realistic scenario where groups already well networked via traditional forms of information and communication technologies will maintain their edge in the digital economy.” (31).
Exam 2 Review - #1
Warschauer defines access in terms of physical access to a computer or any other ICT device. Full access requires connection to the Internet as well as the skills and understanding to use the computer and the Internet in socially valued ways.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Movie Response
I think the examples that this movie explored shed some light on many issues we have explored in class. Wealth and supporting background had a huge impact on how these kids performed in school. Luisa and Travis faced an extra and entirely different set of problems facing them. I think I would be interesting to see how the students of both High schools fared in the long run. That being said the other two students seemed to balance their learning better. I think the other two used technology to expand their learning in general, not just to have a job after high school.
How Luisa and Travis viewed their learning had a huge impact on how they did overall. The current job market of globalized economies, large horizontal business networks, and endlessly evolving technology calls for employees that can learn fast, self correct when needed, and be pro-active in keeping up to date in current technologies and market trends. This new dynamic job market has almost completely replaced the now outdated static model where simply learning one skill well would get you a good steady job. The workers who can adapt to this changing system can not only find jobs easier, but also recover from layoffs and redirect their careers better.
New Tech High is simply a new way to educate students for the old economic model. The school cuts extra curriculars, books, and doesn't address many skills that these students would need every day. The even go so far as to lean on funding from businesses that operate in uncertain markets.
While many ideas that New Tech High employs and tech skills it teaches will help students in the current job market, a balance is needed. Students need to be able to have a balanced background in order to better apply what they have learned to an ever changing job climate
How Luisa and Travis viewed their learning had a huge impact on how they did overall. The current job market of globalized economies, large horizontal business networks, and endlessly evolving technology calls for employees that can learn fast, self correct when needed, and be pro-active in keeping up to date in current technologies and market trends. This new dynamic job market has almost completely replaced the now outdated static model where simply learning one skill well would get you a good steady job. The workers who can adapt to this changing system can not only find jobs easier, but also recover from layoffs and redirect their careers better.
New Tech High is simply a new way to educate students for the old economic model. The school cuts extra curriculars, books, and doesn't address many skills that these students would need every day. The even go so far as to lean on funding from businesses that operate in uncertain markets.
While many ideas that New Tech High employs and tech skills it teaches will help students in the current job market, a balance is needed. Students need to be able to have a balanced background in order to better apply what they have learned to an ever changing job climate
Movie response
The four kids situations varied differently in the "Crossing the Divide" movie we saw. In discussion, we mentioned the 3 industrial revolutions: one of the early 18th century which incorporated the ideas of manifest destiny, and making communication / transportation easy to the west; the industrial revolution of the 19th century which is the typical migration to a factory from the workshop, and then lastly the revolution of the 20th century where transistors were incorporated into daily technology.
It is my view that as we are consistently changing from one "revolution" to another, that your family circumstances can significantly alter what portion of which revolution you are experiencing. As mentioned in class, most of our great grandparents or grandparents probably worked / work in a factory. The stigma is that grandparents are not likely as coherent with computer usage as the younger generation.
I think that if your parents are in a job where they are still in the 2nd revolution (in a factory job or similar) that you are much less likely to have the knowledge of latest revolution. This is directly tied to the fact that the cutting edge technologies (due to supply / demand) are more valuable and thus pay more. Because one's parents are paid more / are using new technology, it is more likely that your exposure would be greater.
I think that this idea relates to Cedra (who went to a public school but had family technological knowledge from her journalist father) vs. Luisa (who needed to work a lot of hours to save up enough money to then buy herself exposure to a computer when her mother didn't have a job where she used / could afford computers).
Family also influenced Travis significantly. His role as a main supporter for the family meant that education could not be the prime focus of his school years. It further affected him because he needed to work to help support the family and didn't have money for college.
It is my view that as we are consistently changing from one "revolution" to another, that your family circumstances can significantly alter what portion of which revolution you are experiencing. As mentioned in class, most of our great grandparents or grandparents probably worked / work in a factory. The stigma is that grandparents are not likely as coherent with computer usage as the younger generation.
I think that if your parents are in a job where they are still in the 2nd revolution (in a factory job or similar) that you are much less likely to have the knowledge of latest revolution. This is directly tied to the fact that the cutting edge technologies (due to supply / demand) are more valuable and thus pay more. Because one's parents are paid more / are using new technology, it is more likely that your exposure would be greater.
I think that this idea relates to Cedra (who went to a public school but had family technological knowledge from her journalist father) vs. Luisa (who needed to work a lot of hours to save up enough money to then buy herself exposure to a computer when her mother didn't have a job where she used / could afford computers).
Family also influenced Travis significantly. His role as a main supporter for the family meant that education could not be the prime focus of his school years. It further affected him because he needed to work to help support the family and didn't have money for college.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Movie Response #1
At the end of the video, I was pretty surprised to see the unfortunate outcomes for Travis and Luisa. I think one of the main issues affecting each student was the amount of family support received. Kep and Sidra seemed to have strong family bonds, where Travis and Luisa seemed to come from families with some internal issues. Kep had a large extended family to rely on for support, and Sidra's family seemed close and financially stable.
I don't think technology provided a solution for Travis and Luisa because they both hoped to become successful based on their technological skills. To be successful in life a person needs to have a multitude of skills. A person needs to be well-rounded. Sidra planned on using her technological skills for online publishing and editing. Kep planned on pursuing a career in engineering. Travis and Luisa only knew basic technological skills and were not well-rounded students. Travis' high school's main focus was the teaching of technology. Tech High did not really offer any extracurriculars or even a library. Luisa had a full time job and had to help provide for their families. Both of them missed out on opportunities for becoming involved in groups and activities to help them grow as students and people.
Movie Response #1
It is obvious that many factors other than simply exposure to technology have a part in determining the path of young adults. The first example is wealth. Both Luisa and Travis had experience and training with computers but were stopped from furthering their careers because of the costs. Luisa didn't pass her photoshop exam because she was too busy working at Long John Silvers to provide from her family. Also, Travis couldn't further his career because the costs of college was too much for his family to afford.
I don't feel that technology is a solution in the case of these young adults. The most successful on paper is Cedra who didn't go to Tech high school. I feel that she was more successful because her education didn't focus solely on computers and technology. She grew up around computers and was well rounded in how to use them. This enabled her to use computers to accomplish tasks but not depend on them for an immediate future profession. In Luisa's case, she only focused on learning one program for her future profession. The problem is that in her situation that program (photo-shop 4) will only be used for a limited time and will be replaced by a newer, updated version.
The only outcome that was suprising for me was that Travis didn't end up going to college. I felt that he was interested and determined in learning his craft and computers and eventaully going to college. But the barrier of cost prevented him from furthering his education.
I don't feel that technology is a solution in the case of these young adults. The most successful on paper is Cedra who didn't go to Tech high school. I feel that she was more successful because her education didn't focus solely on computers and technology. She grew up around computers and was well rounded in how to use them. This enabled her to use computers to accomplish tasks but not depend on them for an immediate future profession. In Luisa's case, she only focused on learning one program for her future profession. The problem is that in her situation that program (photo-shop 4) will only be used for a limited time and will be replaced by a newer, updated version.
The only outcome that was suprising for me was that Travis didn't end up going to college. I felt that he was interested and determined in learning his craft and computers and eventaully going to college. But the barrier of cost prevented him from furthering his education.
Movie Post #1
There are many different factors that affected the students apart from technology. The biggest, in my opinion is where they come from, which in three out of the four was determined by what their parents did for a living (not the only factor). In the case of Kep, I also believe that where he came from had a huge impact on him. Having seen and experienced what he did would tend to provide you with extra motivation to succeed. Luisa was in an extremely unfortunate situation and it affected much more than her desire to learn and her access to technology. Travis, for me, was the least responsible, he did come from a bad situation but had the same educational opportunity as Kep. Cedra, being dealt the best hand, did a great job of exploiting all opportunities while still having a strong understanding that not everyone is as fortunate.
I do feel that technology provided a varying degree of help to each situation. Kep by far benifited the most from technology. He, also combined with his work ethic, took full advantage of the technological education opportunities provided and succeeded. Technology played a huge part in where he is. Cedra needed technology to get to where she is, but that wasn't the only thing that got her there. Technology did provide her with a solution in helping others, because she was technologically educated she could help others. Luisa was in a situation where I believe that technology hurt her more than helping her. She did not graduate on time because she was still paying her computer off. In the case of Travis, technology did help him some, but in the end he could not take advantage of what was in front of him.
I was not surprised by the outcomes, I really feel bad for Luisa. I dont think Travis will ever go to college and I also think that Cedra will be very successful.
Video Post
I think most of us would agree that going to high school is not intended to just set you up to go into the work place but also to better individuals. That being said I am majoring in Computer Science and I am trying to get a job in this area. You could think of me as one of those individuals in high school building my own computer but i would never want anyone to push a job onto me. I honestly believe that companies like Lotus in this video (and other more recent ones) are acting like lobbyists and forcing individuals to use their software and better them financially. Those that are truly interested in computers will pursue such a degree or job once they graduate and it is not necessary to force people to learn software of companies that are giving these schools millions of dollars.
No one should be forced to enter a single job market and everyone needs to obtain the basic skills that high school offers, after all thats why we put individuals into high school.
No one should be forced to enter a single job market and everyone needs to obtain the basic skills that high school offers, after all thats why we put individuals into high school.
Crossing the Divide #1
It is obvious that access to technology or expert teachers is not enough to induce knowledge or success. Externalities and personal issues are important, and one's reaction to these situations and their personal fortitude plays a key role.
Luisa spent time working at a fast food restaurant, so she could own her own computer, and for what. If she would have stayed after school and used the computers in center, she probably would be a super senior. The real issue is that she lives in such poverty that she is working full time as a high school student, which is illegal, and falling into this minimum wage dead end cycle of work screws her out of her future as it does so many like her. A part time job can be liberating and a growing experience, but it should never equal in time what one spends at school because school is a teenager's full time job. Shame on the authorities for allowing Luisa to work so many hours. The sad thing is that she worked so she could have a future, but since nobody stood up to help her and to guide her she will be lucky to have a future. What awaits this girl? A GED? A second smock? It is just sobering how any school or parent could let this happen.
On the other hand, Kep is no better off than Luisa, but he has the support of family, and the right focus that school does come first, and it is the environment of Tech and his family's support that allows him to succeed. Valedvictorian versus at the most a super senior and more likely a drop out because of a mere difference in environment.
Certainly, technology has the power to ameliorate circumstances and give kids opportunities, but what one does with opportunity is a major predictor of success. Travis is a procrastinator, so basically he has brilliance, but he lacks work ethic, and he isn't going to college. He cites financial difficulty, but I hate that excuse. There is plenty of student aid, but maybe the problem is that Travis is also good at procratinating on college applications and financial aid applications. Also, funny that Mr. Valedvictorian is attending CalTech, for I seriously wonder if these kids really know an ounce of information outside of computer programing and graphics design. It seems to me that Tech School dumbs high school down to the level of a stereotypical community college. Having little contact with books, these kids likely lack any real understanding of the origin of print culture. They probably couldn't use a reference volume if they tried. They probably have little prowess as writers outside of technical drudgery, and they probably could tell you very little about social studies, grammar, or science because you don't learn these things through playing on a computer. Basically, these kids learned a technical diploma in four years, so they at best can repeat the same thing for another two, of course with exceptions like engineering, but who thinks Kep will survive his first term paper or that he actually knows how to use a library?
Luckily, Cedra went to a high school that didn't place technical literacy before traditional academia, so she was lucky enough to learn valuable computer skills, but when she is sitting in a classroom at Brown University, it will be certain that she actually has a well rounded education that she can use outside of the computer lab. She isn't the product of some over reaching technocratic movement, but rather, she is a fully educated person.
If it isn't clear by now, I only expected Cedra to matriculate to a true University because of the merit of her technologically enhanced yet traditional education. Call me a snob, but because Cedra could probably do calculus and recite the Bill of Rights, I think she has the right literacy and proficiencies for college and life.
Luisa spent time working at a fast food restaurant, so she could own her own computer, and for what. If she would have stayed after school and used the computers in center, she probably would be a super senior. The real issue is that she lives in such poverty that she is working full time as a high school student, which is illegal, and falling into this minimum wage dead end cycle of work screws her out of her future as it does so many like her. A part time job can be liberating and a growing experience, but it should never equal in time what one spends at school because school is a teenager's full time job. Shame on the authorities for allowing Luisa to work so many hours. The sad thing is that she worked so she could have a future, but since nobody stood up to help her and to guide her she will be lucky to have a future. What awaits this girl? A GED? A second smock? It is just sobering how any school or parent could let this happen.
On the other hand, Kep is no better off than Luisa, but he has the support of family, and the right focus that school does come first, and it is the environment of Tech and his family's support that allows him to succeed. Valedvictorian versus at the most a super senior and more likely a drop out because of a mere difference in environment.
Certainly, technology has the power to ameliorate circumstances and give kids opportunities, but what one does with opportunity is a major predictor of success. Travis is a procrastinator, so basically he has brilliance, but he lacks work ethic, and he isn't going to college. He cites financial difficulty, but I hate that excuse. There is plenty of student aid, but maybe the problem is that Travis is also good at procratinating on college applications and financial aid applications. Also, funny that Mr. Valedvictorian is attending CalTech, for I seriously wonder if these kids really know an ounce of information outside of computer programing and graphics design. It seems to me that Tech School dumbs high school down to the level of a stereotypical community college. Having little contact with books, these kids likely lack any real understanding of the origin of print culture. They probably couldn't use a reference volume if they tried. They probably have little prowess as writers outside of technical drudgery, and they probably could tell you very little about social studies, grammar, or science because you don't learn these things through playing on a computer. Basically, these kids learned a technical diploma in four years, so they at best can repeat the same thing for another two, of course with exceptions like engineering, but who thinks Kep will survive his first term paper or that he actually knows how to use a library?
Luckily, Cedra went to a high school that didn't place technical literacy before traditional academia, so she was lucky enough to learn valuable computer skills, but when she is sitting in a classroom at Brown University, it will be certain that she actually has a well rounded education that she can use outside of the computer lab. She isn't the product of some over reaching technocratic movement, but rather, she is a fully educated person.
If it isn't clear by now, I only expected Cedra to matriculate to a true University because of the merit of her technologically enhanced yet traditional education. Call me a snob, but because Cedra could probably do calculus and recite the Bill of Rights, I think she has the right literacy and proficiencies for college and life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
