BeHeard (online debater). Economist Debate Series. October 20, 2007 – “Adding technologies into schools allows for a deeper education. As a student, I have engaged in many learning exercises that were greatly enhanced by the use of computers and computer programs (ex.real-time faux stock trading). Technologies have also allowed me to research further in to topics I am interested in, greatly enhancing my knowledge.”
lordteddy (online debater). Economist Debate Series: Education. October 19, 2007 – “Of course technology improves the quality of education by the very fact that it enables students to carry far more in depth research by having access to far more information and material than if technology was not around. However, this does not mean that traditioanl methods of education should be sacrificed. Technology provides more education more quickly when used effectively.
Felix Drost (online debater). Economist.com online debates. October 15, 2007 – “The classroom itself is a relic that is only here because it can enforce attendance and can control and discipline students to an industrialized timeframe; but technology is starting to allow one to work and learn when and where it suits oneself; it becomes relevant to ask if society should still force and discipline children to a daily routine when children are naturally equipped and motivated to learn and new technologies now can effectively liberate them from the con- and uniformity imposed upon them. Our society needs to reproduce productive individuals, but the very definition of productivity also changes with technology.”
homepost (online debater). Economist Debate Series. October 16, 2007 – “Though it may be difficult to measure how the introduction of new technologies and new media is adding to the quality of most education, there is no doubt in my mind that it is. To understand my point, you would have to agree that “education” happens in all ages and stages of life, both in and out of classrooms. A person who is motivated to learn and to access information potentially has a stunning array of resources available to them. This is so true that some have begun to wonder if it is a good thing that so many have access to information that an educated elite might want to conceal from them. Security issues come to mind immediately – proliferation of nuclear weapons, espionage, organized movements of people, the enhanced ability of people to learn each others language. My point is that, just because the people who are learning at a vastly accelerated pace are not in your 5th grade classroom (easily measured), that doesn’t mean its not happening.”
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