Synthesis Paper Revision

Technology is perhaps the most important tool of our time. The vast majority of our population would not be able to make it through one day, let alone an hour without using a piece of technology. Whether it is a television, cell phone, or a computer, people would not make it. This technology has even made its way into the classroom, taking over most “normal” ways of teaching. Computers are replacing books, film, and even, to a degree, teachers. While items like email, and instant messaging, can be helpful, often time’s students resort only to email, and never actually talk to teachers. Many people even believe that with this technology, comes big corporate names, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, all large companies, that with the surge of technology, people argue that these companies are taking over the classroom. While other critics believe that, this use of technology and epistemic games in the classroom will benefit the student more than classic methods of teaching.

The use of these large corporations in the classrooms, takes some control from the teachers and school board, and gives it to these corporations. These corporations have control, because they control what we see and use through the technology. Many critics of putting technology in the classroom fear that with these large corporations present in classrooms will hurt students more than help them. Because these corporations can choose, what and how we learn it will replace perhaps the most important item of learning, the teacher. The reason that these corporations control what students learn, is because the large corporations like Microsoft and Google control our technology. Microsoft is the largest software manufacturer in the world, and with that power, they can do what they want with technology. Google is the largest search engine in the world, the can control what results a student gets when they make a search. With this kind of control, they can create students that are ready for the work force, only for one type of job, for example to work for Google or Microsoft. It does not leave many options for students. Many critics stay by the fact that the teacher is the most important tool for learning.

While many critics are against the use of technology in the classroom, there are clear benefits to it. Epistemic games place students into real life situations, to get practice for their occupations that they would otherwise not have, until on the work force. This kind of practice will change the way a student thinks, because in a standard classroom they are just taught the standard facts, but with the practice these games offer, they will cause the student to think outside of merely what they are taught. This kind of practice allows the student’s mind to grow and expand to meet the demands of his occupation. Many students would rather learn through video games than through rote memorization and not taking. The truth is that epistemic games would benefit students more that “normal” classroom learning. While a student sits in a classroom, he stops thinking about what he is learning, daydreams, thinks about what he is doing after school, etc., resulting in the student not learning much at all. Whereas, if the student were to be enthralled in an epistemic game, they would learn more. They would learn more because of the fact they would be interested in what they are doing, they would not daydream or think about other things, video games require a players, or a student in this case, constant attention, thus removing the challenge of staying focused.

Putting more of this technology would immensely help students when they need to go to the work force. However, caution needs to be held to make sure that corporations do not take over the classroom. As long as corporate control can be kept from the classroom, then the epistemic games and internet will improve teaching methods vastly. The shift from classic methods of teaching, to a technological approach, is needed, but caution needs to be taken.