Sometime we think that technology will take care of everything and become careless or totally depend on techology. For example before spell checking functionality on MS Word application we try our best to remember spelling of every word so that we don't misspelled it. But after spell check functionality we totally depend on it and does not bother to practice remembering spelling of words.So most of us cannot spell some of word correctly because we depend so much on MS word tools that we loose that capability.
BBC published this article which describe how we are loosing some of capabilities because we depend so much on software. One example author mention how we are becoming more "stupid" is GPS. GPS helps us to navigate direction and we rely on it to find direction. Before GPS we used to remember on ways to get direction such as remembering street address based on south, north. But since we rely on GPS we forget to understand on how to remember street address.
But if we use these type of tools fewer and when needed , we can still be smart.
Interesting thoughts. I know I go both ways on this battle. I think it is important to attempt to spell properly, event without spell check, and to multiply with a paper and pencil (or mentally), but I also think it is important to use the tools you are given. Spell check gives us more time to make sure we are using the correct words instead of only the words we know how to spell.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a different sort of "smart" that happens when we rely on tools. We learn how to use our resources, and we don't focus so much on the little things, instead using that time for concepts.
That being said, you can bet I'll be teaching my daughter how to read a map.
As someone that cannot spell, I have to say I completely support the use of spell check, but I think this is a great point. We have faced a similar question at work. We have a new computer system that does calculations we used to do my hand. So how much do the new employees need to know about the calculation? How can they answer client's questions if they do not know how the calculation works? How will they know if it is wrong if they don't know how to do the calculation? But why teach them something they never have to do? How will they ever remember it if they don't apply it? As you can see I have more questions than answers, but these are questions I think we will all face as new technologies continue to emerge.
ReplyDeleteYou are so correct we sometime let the computer do the thinking for us. Sometimes this even goes to the point of following what the computer says even if it does not make sense. I think when educating students we need to embrace technology but not totally rely on technology to do the teaching for us.
ReplyDeleteI am guilty of the GPS stupidity. I have even used GPS, out of habit, to go somewhere I'd been a handful of times!
ReplyDeleteHowever, this has been a problem for a long time - telephones, calculators, etc. Great point!