Three Senarios...

In the article “Appendix E Public School Teachers Using Machines in the Next Decade” by Larry Cuban, we are presented with three possible futures of teachers using devices such as computers and other telecommunications in their classrooms. The spread of technology in our schools causes confusion, but despite the confusion, the use of technological devices in educational settings has grown over the years. One issue brought up repeatedly throughout the article is productivity. School administrators and teachers see new technology as a way to increase productivity in their students. Cuban also offers three scenarios for the use of technology in our schools years from now. His first scenario for the future suggests that schools will have gained enough technology to accommodate a variety of learners in a classroom. This would make teaching and learning more productive than today. The second scenario deals with the maintaining the current curriculum, but improving what we have already. This means that technology is put into the schools to improve the current teaching techniques, but without altering the current instruction. The third scenario that Cuban thinks is possible deals with the slowing of our classrooms, meaning that putting computers in our classrooms will result in very slow changes in schooling and teaching. Personally, I believe that providing technology within a classroom encourages the growth of both teaching and learning. If we do not provide technology within classrooms for our students to use on a regular basis, I believe that we are limiting the possibilities in our children’s education.