Dyson on Education: Eguchi's Review

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Instructions for this report

Since I am taking Psychology 409a distantly from Kauai, I am unable to give my oral presentation in class. As a replacement activity I am giving my report on Dyson's chapter 4 in written form. Please go to Web Crossing to give reactions or to ask questions. There is a thread set up called Dyson on Education: Eguchi's Review.

Introduction

Chapter 4 of Dysonās "Release 2.0: A Design For Living In The Digital Age" is on Education. The chapter gives a scenario of what education is will be like for a typical high school students in the year 2004 (just about 5 years from now). Throughout the chapter Dyson gives examples of the change in how kids are being educated by contrasting the digital generation to the kids of prior generations. It was very overwhelming because the new millenium is right around the corner. This chapter was quite an eye opener for me. I realized that I will be raising my child in this digital age. Reading this chapter was quite fascinating yet frightening at the same time. This chapter doesnāt try to convince you to adopt certain beliefs or theories, but it lays out the proās and conās about technological advances with regard to education.

Why education is important

In this section Dyson points out that education to a younster in 2004 will be different in that they canāt just obtain information that is readily available, but translating and utilizing the information is critical. Technology has taken the place of human beings in certain jobs, so education will evolve around this technology. To be successful in the digital age is to thrive by being above the people who do things well. Surviving is not the same anymore as we will face more complex issues surrounding These are some points made in the fist section. I totally agree with this because at present (1999) we are faced with this issue. I agree that in the information world, we are surrounded with so much, but resources are useless if we donāt know how to utilize them. What I think Dyson tries to convey is that "education" is not just knowledge, but it is wisdom. Anyone can obtain knowledge, but wisdom to me is when you know how to apply knowledge.

How to get an A

This section doesnāt literally explain ways to get "Aās", but it talks about future projects that students may engage in. Designing a school website versus making a banner to hang up at the school gymnasium for example. Another new thing was using the internet to collaborate different schools. One good point was that the internet may bring out interest in students who were not interested in school functions or in their academics period. The internet is portrayed as a fun and amazing tool that motivates kids to learn. I agree with Dyson that the internet can be very resourceful in this respect. I think the "A" here is the increase in interest in education. Exerpt: education an equality

This exerpt gives an overview of how education will determine where an individual lies in society. Reference is made to older economies when money and assets determined prosperity. Inheritance of privledges from parents may give some more benefit than those without inheritance. Dyson states that life isnāt equal and what society can do to benefit all is voluntarily spreading education. I really think this was one of the most important messages in the chapter. I belive that education is something that no one can force upon anyone, but it is something we can all contribute to by being mentors, teachers, parents, role models, leaders, examples, or just plain guides. We all have and continue to learn by example and I think this is something we cannot let dimminish. Once we let go of family, group, community, we loose sight of values, pride, morals, etc. We have to keep inspiring our young and I think Dyson does keep this as the bottom line.

How can the Net help education

Main point made in this section is that the net can be used as a means in improving school administration. It was interesting to see that Dyson emphasized the need for better personnel which in turn will create better structure for education as a whole. The internet in turn will be a tool that enhances teaching rather than replacing what is provided by teachers.

Connecting teachers

The net is giving teachers the opportunity to learn from others and it is cheaper to access these resources. Teachers can correspond with colleagues, parents, or with other school to coordinate activities that would otherwise take longer. I think most schools are trying to do with what they have. Money is always the issue and technology unfortunately takes some money to exist. Connecting kids to one another

I think this is the best thing that kids can do these days. They can have penpals in different countries and chat online. There is so much positives to this, but like everything else in life, there are limits and these limits need to be enforced for the benefit of all of us.

Connecting kids to school and resources

By utilizing the internet, students may be able to correspond with top notch educators or access websites containing valuable information that was not readily available to the public before. I think having resources at our fingertips at anytime of day is very exciting.

Mind and multimedia

The internet may have an effect on how we think because we are now able to learn by reading, hearing, seeing information all at the same time. We can look at a map of a certain country, see the geography by watching a video, or print out information about plants or animals that exist in a certain place. Everything we need to understand something readily available to us now.

Jumble of notions

Dyson makes a good point about how the internet may take away the experience of "power of mere words". By using multimedia to comphrehend, because it is so easy to see things right infront our faces as we watch a video, we aren't really using our imagination or our creativity that words alone would force us to do. Dyson argues that multimedia may be effective in portraying certain things, but it cannot produce "knowlege and understanding". I think this is so true because we all need to process and utilize information in order for it to be useful.

Surf and Sand

Dyson tries to challenge the the Net and says that there is no structure in with the system of surfing. Clicking on links randomly means that things are related, but the net doesn't show you how it is related. I don't know if Dyson was trying to infer something through this example, but I would think that there is no logic? I guess she was trying to get to the fact of sites that display certain things. People will look at it, but may not grasp the argument that is trying to be made?

The question

I think that Dyson makes reference to how we as people are digesting the information that is being thrown at us. Are we having a hard time accepting and/or refuting arguments made? It seems as though we are in conflict with issues and we don't know what stand to take on certain issues. Dyson seemed to be making a point about our changing times and how our actions are inconsistent with our beliefs. The internet poses much more complexities then.

Connecting kids to their parents

This chapter was very humorous. I had to laugh, but then again, I realized this is actually a reality. Kids in the digital age will be in chatrooms instead of talking on the phone. They will be looking Playboy's website instead of Playboy's magazine. They tell you what to watch out for while online in addition to giving lectures on going out alone at night. The wrong kind of education

This point was made. "Cyberspace gives kids as much power as adults, but not as much wisdom. I think this is true and thus, kids still need guidance. I think the net does allow youngster to experiment more and without the literal dangers in the real world. Cyberspace is Cyberspace and kids need to understand this before they spend too much time in them. I think youngsters can learn by utilizing the net, but the can't learn BY the internet. The next section "Who's in control" addresses my opinions.

Whoās in control

The net is used widespread now and it seems to be a threat to some cultures. It may be threat to a country, a community, a family, a school. Whenever there is influence of anykind, there is always someone trying to block the influence. The internet is a valuable tool only if it is in the interest of bureaucracy. Whenever there is management involved, the power is always at the top. Individuals will have to decide on what is best. Issues of control and regulation is always an issue and I don't think this will ever go away. You know, politics! I think this relates to our class discussion on Sex on the Internet and Web Filtering. Just like how Dyson suggests that the internet may be a threat to cultures, can the influence of the internet can be influencing our children in a destructive way? I think it is a very hard to draw the line when we want our rights to access material, but then we don't want our children to have the access to certain material. How do we day that children of X-age is ready to view or read certain material and others of X-age are not. Pornography is discussed a lot. Maybe it is time for us to get a grip and educate our children honestly. Why do some parents allow their children to watch them give birth in the delivery room? Is it bad? Traumatic? Educational? What about pornography? Pornography is dramatizing messages and child birth is natural? Maybe we should start clarifying certain issues by addressing differences (maybe to intermediate and high school students). If this is controversial, then I guess the parents should educatee their own kids instead of having them find out through peers or other destructive influences. This is some of my random thoughts. Education and the market

There is a way to get perspectives, opinions, or suggestions from others who know about a particular school, a particular subject, or a certain system that if of interest to them. Before making decisions about which school to select, you can get feedback and hopefully make a wise decision. I think this is a big step toward education. I like it when parents can know what's going on in school. It is important for parents to know what the mission of the school is and how it is carrying out their mission. Children were blamed for not bringing home certain information to parents or for not being responsible enough to do certain things. We try to become responsible people, but there are times when guidance is constantly needed for some kids. I think having access to information pertaining to your child at all times is innovative. Look at this Silicon Valley site. David Blockhus presents Education in Silicon Valley. I think this is remarkable. I don't recall having anything like this for my parents to look at. It's like a manual only on the web. This site is Smart Valley's site.

Back to reality

Before technology sets in any particular school or environment, Dyson points out that we need to know what schools are doing period. We need to know the direction of the school and know what its goals are in meeting the needs of students. Check out The University of Hawaii is one of many schools that have online courses. Look at Interplane.com/programs.html for a listing of some schools offering distant learning. Not all of them are technology programs. Very exciting! I hope to continue my education via the internet.

Here is a report from a previous generation. Take a look at her review. Soapeng's Report, Generation 10

Bibliography:

Dyson, Esther. Release 2.0: A Design for living in the digital age. Broadway Books, New York, 1997, P. 79-102.

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