2012 December - Michigan Education Association

A late 1960s Data
General NOVA
System.
6 DECEMBER 2012
Look back
Excerpts from the MEA Voice archives
Michigan Education Journal
Nov. 1, 1968
How Can We Automate and
Remain Free?
By John H. Langer
No one disputes that programmed instruction,
the systems approach to education,
and computer-assisted teaching have arrived
on the education scene.
At the same time, the miracles of the electronic
age have produced an unwanted side
effect—a dehumanization of the schools.
Another nagging worry among educators is
whether technology will replace the teacher.
If it can, what kind of educational process
will we have? Who will control it? Will it be as
effective, have the same democratic goals, and
produce individuals who can think independently
and make intelligent decisions? […]
The teacher who relates to children creates
a personal relationship that motivates a child
to become a good student. Machines do not
motivate.
A free society will utilize technology in gathering
data. It will not remain free if it abrogates
to machines the functions of making its
decisions. It must never permit the subordination
of human values to the demands of
technology.
Look ahead
Cyber school expansion
On the horizon
Under pressure from for-profit corporations looking
to monetize public education, Michigan policymakers
are expected to continue pushing for more cyber
schools as alternatives to traditional, brick-and-mortar
public schools.
Over the course of a decade, online “virtual” learning has
grown from a novelty employed by a few school districts to
a full-fledged movement. Across the country, state entities,
school districts, home-schooling advocates and private
corporations are partnering to offer virtual learning as an
alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar schools.
Virtual learning has become a big business, with companies
making huge campaign contributions to politicians to
get them to support the expansion of virtual schools. Earlier
this year, Michigan lawmakers passed Public Act 129 of
2012, which allowed the expansion of cyber schools. This
takes resources that should be used to improve public
schools are instead diverts them to cyber schools.
There is no reliable evidence that cyber schools improve
education, and they may actually be detrimental to building
the critical social skills that our kids need to succeed
in college and the workplace. Cyber schools have no reliable
way to determine if a student at home is cheating on
exams by simply “Googling” the answers. Moreover, there
are many things that children learn in a social setting—like
how to work as part of a team—that they cannot learn with
just a laptop and an Internet connection.
Online learning can be helpful in supplementing traditional
education — blended learning is a great example.
However, full-time cyber schools are not an adequate
replacement for local brick-and-mortar schools, and they
are not a replacement for well-trained teachers and support
staff.
Cyber schools have
no reliable way
to determine if a
student at home
is cheating on an
exam.