Technology as a Tool of Education: Between the Techno-Utopia and Technorealism

Technology as a Tool of Education: Between the Techno-Utopia and Technorealism

The Technology needs to be used inside the classroom. In principle, nobody will deny this idea because it is logical and historically coherent. If the evolution of technology was important part in the construction of Humanity’s history, it is the natural that a Human Being uses the technology as part of educational process. But, when someone advances in the question and starts to think about advantages and disadvantages about a broad use of the technology, the debate between techno-utopians and technophobes shows as this point needs more reflection.

By the technophobe perspective, the use of technology has more disadvantages than advantages because the technology (especially electronics-based) is a kind of Pandora’s Box or Mephistopheles and the people must be careful. But, this critical viewpoint has a problem when it is confronted with the technologies means.

The fast development of machines and hardware in the last two decades creates a mistake in the common sense: all discussions about technology involve only computer and internet. The cause of this “confusion” is the fast and fantastic development of informatics and telecommunication had in these years. However, it can not lose track is the fact of technology go beyond the computer. It includes since the complex machines (as a space shuttle) until simple tool (as a tomahawk) or techniques. This notion is more clear when translates the nuclear word τέχνη / techne, that means “Craft” or “Art”. So, “Writing” and “Alphabet” are technologies too, despite the old age… They highlight a curious point: All educational process is derived of a technology – the technique of codify ideas using an organized set of letters – alphabet and/or writting. So, how is it possible only seeing disadvantages in the use of technology in the Education, according technophobes? It is oxymora!

Well, looking by this aspect, there is an invitation to be a techno-utopian and only the advantages of a massive use the technology in the classroom (especially the internet and computer): Increase the students’ motivation, provide real-time information, reach many kinds of learning forms (audiovisual, kinesthetic, etc) and teach the students how select information and change him in knowledge. All is true when the technologies are a TOOL of learning. The problem is when the technology loses this position and turns into the GOAL of learning. According David Shenk: “The art of teaching cannot be replicated by computers, the Net, (…). These tools can, of course, augment an already high-quality educational experience. But to rely on them as any sort of panacea would be a costly mistake.”

Thus, the conclusion is technology has a broad definition which involves simple tools and complex machines. So, the discussion is not only seeing if only use of technology has advantages or disadvantages; however, it is how the technology is used, if the technology is used as a tool or as a goal.

Bibliography

ELLUL, Jacques. “A técnica e o desafio do século”. Rio de Janeiro: Paz e Terra; 1968.

SHENK, David. “Principles of technorealism”. Acessado em em 01º de outubro de 2008, às 07h27.