[NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:114] Re: Techno Tyranny

From: Peggy Lewis (mlewis@egusd.k12.ca.us)
Date: Sat Dec 13 1997 - 16:01:17 EST


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From: Peggy Lewis <mlewis@egusd.k12.ca.us>
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Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:114] Re: Techno Tyranny
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I'm of two minds on this one.  I really understand how a teacher could be
prevented from using familiar, effective software.  (I was forced to switch
from WordPerfect to Word and am still pouting about it.)  Also, most often
the tech support people are not instructors and can have an attitude which
misses a teacher's or a student's point of view.

On the other hand, many computer-using teachers are not very proficient
computer users themselves.  Loading inappropriate software or loading things
incorrectly can really down or freeze a system, making more work for techs
and preventing use by other teachrs and learners.  I have had to clean up
hard drive messes caused by others trying things that they didn't really
know how to do (and I know I don't really know very much about this). 

I have a 16-station pentium lab in my jail classroom.  While I am guided by
school district policies, no one checks or knows what I have loaded on my
computers.  Certainly the Windows'95 compatible Rocky and Bullwinkle
screensavers I brought in were not a district MIS choice, but they work well
and help set a tome that I want in my classes.  Only mu students and I know
that they're on the machines.  If an MIS person ever came around, I might be
told to take them off....but I'm not sure.  I have also used quite a bit of
software that I have found on $5-$10 sale tables at software stores.  I do
recognize my limits and am very aware of my knowledge boundaries.  I try
everything on my own computer at home first.

Good topic, David.


Peggy Lewis
Elk Grove Adult Educationph           ph (916)874-1817)
Sacramento, CA                                fax(916)448-5021
mlewis@egusd.k12.ca.us



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