Synthesis.

The two articles “Computers and Technology” and “Video games and the Future of Learning” attempt to teach the reader about computers in the classroom using contrasting views, from the good of epistemic gaming to the bad of big business .

By reading both articles, the reader gets a good picture of the issue and is allowed to look at technology in the classroom from all sides. It is represented by a conundrum, one that asks us whether it is worth it to spend money on technology that will be obsolete in a few years or if something as frivolous as video gaming can prepare us for life’s experiences. In the article “Video games and the Future of Learning” the author gives examples of the gaming community’s effect on people’s lives. He cites that epistemic games like “The Sims” can give gamers experience that they normally wouldn’t have, such as a 12 year old girl running in a presidential election, or commanding an army in “Gears of War”.

In the article “Computers and Technology” the author brings up many very good points in talking about big business’ control over schools and their computer labs. Essentially he points out that this whole push for technology is controlled by the C.E.O.’s at the top companies of our day. He says that technology in our schools is all about a huge sales game. For example, the average household may buy a maximum of three computers; one for the house, and one for each of the kids as they leave for college. This means that most of the computer sales today are to schools and other businesses. The bigger of these two venues are school districts, Schools never buy just one computer. They buy ten, twenty, thirty, computers at a time to keep up with new and emerging technology. The buying of new computers goes hand in hand with the business principle of planned obsolescence, inevitably you buy something and it breaks. Then you have to buy the newer, more expensive model because the old model isn’t compatible with the things that are just coming out. This is the quandary that schools are faced with.

The whole point of running a business is to be profitable. The more expensive these computers are, the better off the computer companies. It is a simple and undeniable truth that in today’s world, much of our learning is computer based. Computers influence everything from how we withdraw money from the bank to how we find out what our grades are in a class. We need them in one form or another. So we are presented with a two sided coin. We need computers, but big business is controlling the whole situation.

By reading these two articles, I have come to the conclusion that technology has its advantages; it is good to assist in learning and to further our educational experiences, but big business has seen the promise of riches and bigger profits, this has corrupted that ability.