Title: Technology Helping Privatization takes over Education
Topic: I am going to look at technology and how it cuts students off from their physical environment, making them more concerned with the virtual world then the real world. When students are disconnected from their environment they may favor privatization over the classroom setting. I am wondering if the quality of learning through a computer screen is as good as the quality of a trained professional in the field of study that someone is learning about. Could it be as beneficial? Or is the Private world simply using computers because they are cheaper and easier for their students. What are the issues with learning online, obviously technology is very beneficial and makes learning easier and faster, but what are the distractions of the computer? Lack of personal connection and potential distractions may create a setting that doesn’t produce quality work.
Research Question: Is technology helping students learn, or is it or is it preventing them from putting forth their full potential work ethic, and maybe even allowing them to be lazy. Is technology the cause for this drive towards privatism, and is it damaging our overall education?
Theoretical Frame: In the article “Emotions in online learning environments: Introduction to the special issue,” a study is done on the emotions of the classroom environment and how it affects the student. It looks at the motivation of students and how an online classroom affects achievement. This will relate to privatization and how the amount of online classrooms in privatism may not be good for the student.
Another article entitled “Characterizing communication networks in a web-based classroom: Cognitive styles and linguistic behavior of self-organizing groups in online discussions,” looks at the cognitive skills of students in online classrooms and how there is a gap in students actual intelligence and that demonstrated online. It shows that students who may not interact due to different views or reasoning in person are interacting online, but the conversations they have online are significantly less argumentative. Conversations that could cause a face to face conflict are being done through online chat rooms and not having the same effect or influence as they could. They are also not being seen or heard by as many people. This could be an issue in learning because students could be raising a good point and saying something that everyone should know but they are not being heard since it is being done online. So while the online classroom may be good in terms of student to student interaction, overall the conversations are not as effective as they would be online.
Mary --
ReplyDeleteThis is a promising start. I'm really interested in your project. Read Sherry Turkle's "Alone Together" and look at the criticism on the move toward online education. Evidence shows that online education is not effective for everyone, and a lot of people fail or drop out. With the for-profit schools, who are not interested in seeing people graduate, that is a fine result, so long as they get paid. But for schools that care about education, it should not be.
Think about the term "privatism" as the individual experience of privatization -- and the ways that online education may feed a feeling of autonomy but also of alienation. Those are the two sides of the coin.
Privatization is ultimately about shifting toward private interests -- both for those looking to profit from education and for students also. Those investing in online the most are out to maximize profit at the expense of learning. But students are often on board with the plan because they are following their immediate interests to pursue a convenient method of getting their degrees -- following their own private interests also. For some students this can work, so long as they are self-motivated and independent learners. But for those who need support, it will not work.
Oh -- one more thing. Where is your bibliography? You really should be referencing specific sources in your discussion. Get reading!
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