First Post

As technology grows and develops, one would think that education is sure to follow. In fact, some would say it is imperative for technology to induce education. The article recently published in The Chronicle of Higher Education, titled, Actually Going to Class, for a Specific Course? How 20th-Century, the author delves into the topic of conventional course structure in college. Jeffery R. Young (the author) interviewed a number of professors and experts from Universities all over America, and they unanimously felt this movement toward “tech-infused teaching methods” offered students different learning opportunities that spur the pupils’ attention and allow them to fully emerge themselves into the topic with a refreshed, new founded interest. One such study conducted by Mr. Bass manifested the fact that students truly attained more information outside of the classroom. Rather then taking a course and memorizing facts in order to get a good grade, the students participated in activities such as internships and study-abroad programs, where they were able to retain information. Yet, even though typical college courses seem to be on the verge of extinction, the articled specified that they would never entirely go away because they provide “framework”.

I recently graduated from a Waldorf high school, those familiar with Waldorf education know that they are not tech-savvy and they pride themselves in that. In fact, as a freshman I had to sign a contract stating that I would not excessively watch TV or use the computer in my free time. This was not a problem for me, but some of my fellow classmates struggled with this mandate. To say that Waldorf schools are old-fashioned is an understatement. There were only twelve working computers in the whole school and they were practically collecting dust in the library. The majority of the classes at my high school were seminar style, and the teachers would write on chalkboards and only chalkboards. Finally, in my senior year a dry-erase board was installed. If the students thought that was a big change, it wasn’t until the end of the school year that a “Smart Board” was put in place. None of the teachers knew how to use a “Smart Board”, they were just getting accustom to using a dry-erase board. I for one was shocked to see that my Waldorf School had finally entered the 21^st century so to say. The progression or changes that I saw in my high school education were slow and minimal, which in the end I found to be a positive occurrence.