The Math Wars
Is Technology Taking The Place of Teachers?
Alexandra Walters
Issue date: 10/29/08 Section: The Pulse
Here at Frostburg State University, the students have a choice. In grade school math is learned in the classroom and strictly in the classroom. However, once a student enters college they are able to choose technology over teachers. In certain math classes full courses are taught on a program via the computer. though some find learning in the computer easy, others think breaking tradition is a bad idea.
Technology is faster. In a class, it doesn't matter if you are ahead or behind, everyone moves at the same pace. Computer based classes give students the choice of going at completing the course quicker than the usual time allotted. Some students like technology because they can complete the course early. The computer also is consistent. Every teacher is different and students have a hard time trying to decide whether to use what their teacher is showing them or techniques they have learned from past teachers. Besides this, learning on the computer is just more fun. Going to a classroom everyday or so and watching your teacher write a bunch of numbers on the board can be not just boring but confusing. The computers allow students to interact with it's components and it also keeps them awake!
Teachers beat out computers anyway. The traditional way of learning math is in a classroom with a teacher. Some students feel that this is the best way to learn because the computers can be complicated. One student said that it is hard trying to figure out how to enter the information. If you don't enter the information in exactly as the computer wants it, then the answer is wrong. If a teacher is grading the work, they can look at the answer and issue partial credit. Besides this, learning from the teacher eliminates the cheating factor. Students can easily type a question that is troubling them into goggle and find the answer. This cheating also keeps the students from actually learning the material. In the traditional classroom students are taught by the teacher and that way they have no choice but to listen if they want to learn.
The students stand divided. Some favor technology others are sticking to the teachers. Either way students will have to learn. The bigger issue, however, mai be the fact that some are opting for technology over teachers.. How will this effect the future? Students may continue to adapt to technology in the classroom and as the adoption continues, teachers may not be the tradition any longer.
Technology is faster. In a class, it doesn't matter if you are ahead or behind, everyone moves at the same pace. Computer based classes give students the choice of going at completing the course quicker than the usual time allotted. Some students like technology because they can complete the course early. The computer also is consistent. Every teacher is different and students have a hard time trying to decide whether to use what their teacher is showing them or techniques they have learned from past teachers. Besides this, learning on the computer is just more fun. Going to a classroom everyday or so and watching your teacher write a bunch of numbers on the board can be not just boring but confusing. The computers allow students to interact with it's components and it also keeps them awake!
Teachers beat out computers anyway. The traditional way of learning math is in a classroom with a teacher. Some students feel that this is the best way to learn because the computers can be complicated. One student said that it is hard trying to figure out how to enter the information. If you don't enter the information in exactly as the computer wants it, then the answer is wrong. If a teacher is grading the work, they can look at the answer and issue partial credit. Besides this, learning from the teacher eliminates the cheating factor. Students can easily type a question that is troubling them into goggle and find the answer. This cheating also keeps the students from actually learning the material. In the traditional classroom students are taught by the teacher and that way they have no choice but to listen if they want to learn.
The students stand divided. Some favor technology others are sticking to the teachers. Either way students will have to learn. The bigger issue, however, mai be the fact that some are opting for technology over teachers.. How will this effect the future? Students may continue to adapt to technology in the classroom and as the adoption continues, teachers may not be the tradition any longer.
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