High Tech Heretic: Why Computers Don't Belong in the Classroom and Other Reflections by a Computer Contrarian
by Clifford Stoll
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List Price: $24.95
Our Price: $4.90
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Manufacturer: Doubleday
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 371.334
EAN: 9780385489751
ISBN: 0385489757
Label: Doubleday
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 240
Publication Date: 1999-10-19
Publisher: Doubleday
Release Date: 1999-10-19
Studio: Doubleday
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not worth the trouble!
Comment: Stoll's book is a mixed bag; unfortunately, most of it is bad. While many of his points about the affect of computers in the classroom are valid and confirmed by my time in education, the good points are mired in a nearly unreadable stream-of-consciousness writing style that reeks more of "bitter old coot" rather than "scientist and educator". Without the harsh tone, there's some good stuff in here. Most of that stuff, however, is pretty obvious and not worth wading through this book to find.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Ummm... but what about facts and figures?
Comment: After thoroughly combing over this book, I was disappointed by the lack of facts and figures to back up the 90% of his rantings and ravings with sentences like: "So... yeah!"
I am a computer technician in two low-income elementary schools, so I am on the front lines of what he was attempting to explain. I am not here to "defend my job" because if I really felt this was a waste of taxpayer's dollars, I would leave and work elsewhere, which was the reason I picked the book up in the first place.
But because we are in a low-income area, the teaching staff that we hire is sub-par to the 4-star "upper class" schools that may be wasting resources. Because of this, we have found that many of the websites and programs we approve are able to "fill in the cracks" of the shortcomings we face. And because of the budget situation, 100% of my school's computers are donations from companies that have generously given their "old junk" to be used by us. We are eternally grateful for all of the companies that saw our immediate need for projectors and PCs.
While I DO agree that there is a fine line between TRUE learning and "doing it because it is cool", the fact of the matter is that 90% of the children of tomorrow will need computer experience, whether it is writing a resume, or a doctorate paper in college. Or, it could be the necessity of staying in touch via email with family on the other side of the globe because they can't afford talking on the phone.
But the point that he has missed was that we do not force the teachers to use the technology. They come to us with their own vision and ideas to allow the children to learn in THEIR language. Think about it - when a child goes home after school, what will they most likely be doing? They play video games, facebook, myspace, and youtube. The common trait in all of these activities is that the child interacts with the media. When a child learns from their textbook (as sad as it may be) they aren't listening. I do not wish this was they way it is, but this is a sad fact of the matter.
Currently, we have interactive Smartboards (a projector projecting on a touch screen) in the classrooms, where students can view and manipulate objects in a 3-D environment. My schools simply do not have the resources to purchase "oscilloscopes" to show sound waves, but we can afford to go to a free website and interact with the objects or other resources from another school district that is teaching the same thing. Everything the teachers use is by their own choice, and to say that it is a waste is simply not true.
Because of computers, the teachers have resources for their SOL guides, even interactive games that are exactly what the teacher is trying to explain, instead of via an overhead projector. I would LOVE to have Clifford visit my schools to show him how many free resources have been utilized that would have otherwise cost the school thousands of dollars in materials.
Customer Rating:
Summary: High tech Heretic
Comment: High Tech Heretic really kept my attention. It started out a little slow at first but actually turned out to be a great book. It is not exactly wrote in a scientific form more like a personal essay. I agree with Clifford Stoll that computers will never replace the hands on learning that can only be had with human interaction.
Jessica Legg
Customer Rating:
Summary: high tech heretic review for class
Comment: The more I read this book, the more that I began to understand what it was about and the more I began to agree with Stoll.
Stoll gives many good reasons to question the significance of computers in the classroom. Stoll challenges using computers in public schools because of the high cost, and the low benefits from it. Stoll also talks about technology in general.
Stoll talks about what is wrong with computer learning in our society, by questioning every aspect of computing, especially the computer use in public schools.
Stoll, however does not hate computers, he just hates how they are misused in schools. Cliffors Stoll is upset about how much money is being wasted on technology, that is used for the wrong reason.
I feel that this book is a really interesting book that teaches alot. I agree with the author of this book when he says that technology will never replace the hands-on of school learning.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Computers Are Just An Educational Tool!
Comment: Clifford Stoll is a PhD in astronomy with a varied background in education including teaching in high school. He is a computer user of many years citing his technical experience in the past. He is also an MSNBC commentator.
"High-Tech Heretic" is not written as scholarly research. It is a personal essay on what is wrong with computer learning in our society today. Stoll does cite sources in his text, but uses very few footnotes and his sources are not completely identified in detail. His work is definately thought-provoking, as he questions nearly every aspect of computing, especially computer use in education.
Clifford Stoll is careful to point out that he does not hate computers, however they are often misused in the classroom. He does not buy into all the hype surrounding the latest technologies and is particularly critical of the way schools spend millions of dollars on technology. I partially agree with Stoll on this point, however this does not mean that computers do not belong in our schools. I feel that they are very worthwhile in the educational setting, they just need to be used properly. They are a tool, and like all tools, may be used inappropriately. Schools should constantly examine their methods of incorporating technology into the curriculum in efficient and beneficial ways.
A computer will never replace human interaction and hands-on teaching. Stoll's fears that computers will replace traditional books, libraries, librarians and teachers is unfounded. He does however provide a reality check for those who think computers and software are the answers to our societal and educational problems.
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Editorial Reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not worth the trouble!
Comment: Stoll's book is a mixed bag; unfortunately, most of it is bad. While many of his points about the affect of computers in the classroom are valid and confirmed by my time in education, the good points are mired in a nearly unreadable stream-of-consciousness writing style that reeks more of "bitter old coot" rather than "scientist and educator". Without the harsh tone, there's some good stuff in here. Most of that stuff, however, is pretty obvious and not worth wading through this book to find.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Ummm... but what about facts and figures?
Comment: After thoroughly combing over this book, I was disappointed by the lack of facts and figures to back up the 90% of his rantings and ravings with sentences like: "So... yeah!"
I am a computer technician in two low-income elementary schools, so I am on the front lines of what he was attempting to explain. I am not here to "defend my job" because if I really felt this was a waste of taxpayer's dollars, I would leave and work elsewhere, which was the reason I picked the book up in the first place.
But because we are in a low-income area, the teaching staff that we hire is sub-par to the 4-star "upper class" schools that may be wasting resources. Because of this, we have found that many of the websites and programs we approve are able to "fill in the cracks" of the shortcomings we face. And because of the budget situation, 100% of my school's computers are donations from companies that have generously given their "old junk" to be used by us. We are eternally grateful for all of the companies that saw our immediate need for projectors and PCs.
While I DO agree that there is a fine line between TRUE learning and "doing it because it is cool", the fact of the matter is that 90% of the children of tomorrow will need computer experience, whether it is writing a resume, or a doctorate paper in college. Or, it could be the necessity of staying in touch via email with family on the other side of the globe because they can't afford talking on the phone.
But the point that he has missed was that we do not force the teachers to use the technology. They come to us with their own vision and ideas to allow the children to learn in THEIR language. Think about it - when a child goes home after school, what will they most likely be doing? They play video games, facebook, myspace, and youtube. The common trait in all of these activities is that the child interacts with the media. When a child learns from their textbook (as sad as it may be) they aren't listening. I do not wish this was they way it is, but this is a sad fact of the matter.
Currently, we have interactive Smartboards (a projector projecting on a touch screen) in the classrooms, where students can view and manipulate objects in a 3-D environment. My schools simply do not have the resources to purchase "oscilloscopes" to show sound waves, but we can afford to go to a free website and interact with the objects or other resources from another school district that is teaching the same thing. Everything the teachers use is by their own choice, and to say that it is a waste is simply not true.
Because of computers, the teachers have resources for their SOL guides, even interactive games that are exactly what the teacher is trying to explain, instead of via an overhead projector. I would LOVE to have Clifford visit my schools to show him how many free resources have been utilized that would have otherwise cost the school thousands of dollars in materials.
Customer Rating:
Summary: High tech Heretic
Comment: High Tech Heretic really kept my attention. It started out a little slow at first but actually turned out to be a great book. It is not exactly wrote in a scientific form more like a personal essay. I agree with Clifford Stoll that computers will never replace the hands on learning that can only be had with human interaction.
Jessica Legg
Customer Rating:
Summary: high tech heretic review for class
Comment: The more I read this book, the more that I began to understand what it was about and the more I began to agree with Stoll.
Stoll gives many good reasons to question the significance of computers in the classroom. Stoll challenges using computers in public schools because of the high cost, and the low benefits from it. Stoll also talks about technology in general.
Stoll talks about what is wrong with computer learning in our society, by questioning every aspect of computing, especially the computer use in public schools.
Stoll, however does not hate computers, he just hates how they are misused in schools. Cliffors Stoll is upset about how much money is being wasted on technology, that is used for the wrong reason.
I feel that this book is a really interesting book that teaches alot. I agree with the author of this book when he says that technology will never replace the hands-on of school learning.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Computers Are Just An Educational Tool!
Comment: Clifford Stoll is a PhD in astronomy with a varied background in education including teaching in high school. He is a computer user of many years citing his technical experience in the past. He is also an MSNBC commentator.
"High-Tech Heretic" is not written as scholarly research. It is a personal essay on what is wrong with computer learning in our society today. Stoll does cite sources in his text, but uses very few footnotes and his sources are not completely identified in detail. His work is definately thought-provoking, as he questions nearly every aspect of computing, especially computer use in education.
Clifford Stoll is careful to point out that he does not hate computers, however they are often misused in the classroom. He does not buy into all the hype surrounding the latest technologies and is particularly critical of the way schools spend millions of dollars on technology. I partially agree with Stoll on this point, however this does not mean that computers do not belong in our schools. I feel that they are very worthwhile in the educational setting, they just need to be used properly. They are a tool, and like all tools, may be used inappropriately. Schools should constantly examine their methods of incorporating technology into the curriculum in efficient and beneficial ways.
A computer will never replace human interaction and hands-on teaching. Stoll's fears that computers will replace traditional books, libraries, librarians and teachers is unfounded. He does however provide a reality check for those who think computers and software are the answers to our societal and educational problems.
A thorough detonation of the hype surrounding computers in our lives, by the bestselling author of The Cuckoo's Egg and Silicon Snake Oil.
In a book that should spark debate across the country, Clifford Stoll, one of the pioneers of the Internet and a renowned gadfly of the computer industry, takes an insightful, provocative--and entertaining--look at how computers have encroached on our lives. High Tech Heretic punctures the exaggerated benefits of everything from foisting computers on preschoolers to "free" software to computer "help desks" that help no one at all. Why, Stoll asks, is there a relentless drumbeat for "computer literacy" by educators and the high-tech industry when the computer's most common uses are for word processing and games? Is diverting scarce education resources from teachers and equipment in favor of computers in the classroom the best use of school money? Are supermarket checkout clerks computer literate because they operate a laser scanner? Has no one noticed that the closest equivalent to today's hot new multimedia and Internet Web sites are--(drumroll)--Classics Illustrated, the comic books based on literature?
In these fascinating contrarian commentaries, Stoll focuses his droll wit and penetrating gaze on everything from why computers have to be so darned "ugly" to the cultural aftershocks of our high-tech society, to how to turn an outdated 386 computer into something useful, like a fish tank or a cat litter box.
As one who loves computers as much as he disdains the inflated promises made on their behalf, Cliff Stoll is nothing less than a P. J. O'Rourke of the computer age--barbed, opinionated, and essential.
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