Resources for Parents
Videos on Education and Technology Outcome Based Education - Education or Social EngineeringMichael Mendizza, Media and the Developing BrainJohn Gatto, The Fourth PurposeMichael Mendizza, MUSE Speaker Series Play: Neuroethological / Interdisciplinary Perspectives Charlotte Iserbyt - Deliberate Dumbing Down of the World Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt - The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America (2006)Classrooms of the Heart - John Gatto (1991)
An Interview with JOSEPH CHILTON PEARCE by Chris Mercogliano and Kim Debus from JOURNAL OF FAMILY LIFE magazine, Vol. 5 #1 1999 For nearly half a century Joseph Chilton Pearce, who prefers to be known simply as Joe, has been probing the mysteries of the human mind. Author of The Crack in the Cosmic Egg, Exploring the Crack in the Cosmic Egg, Magical Child, Magical Child Matures, Bond of Power and Evolution's End, one of his overriding passions remains the study of what he calls the "unfolding" of intelligence in children. He is a self-avowed iconoclast, unafraid to speak out against the myriad ways in which contemporary American culture fails to nurture the intellectual, emotional and spiritual needs and yearnings of our young people. Part scholar, part scientist, part mystic, part itinerant teacher, Joe keeps in close touch with the most brilliant men and women in each field of inure relevant to his guest. He creates a unique synthesis of their work and translates the results into a common language-such a valuable contribution in these days of increasing scientific specialization. Then Joe travels the world wide to share his painstakingly gathered wisdom - freely if necessary - with anyone he feels can make a difference. We were fortunate enough to catch him by phone at his home in central Virginia. An exploration of the effects of technology in general and computer use in specific is presented, as they pertain to neurological maturation and cognitive development The role of neural plasticity is examined as it relates to how technology can change the structural-functional relationships in the nervous system and in turn effect the skills acquired during cognitive growth. Piaget’s theory of cognitive development is briefly described as well as the challenges to the universality of this model. Implications for future research are presented in the light of the rapid proliferation of computers in education and the potential consequences of this expanded use in the developing cognitive systems of young children. The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America - Charlotte Thomson IserbytThis book will change forever the way you look at your child's education. About twenty years ago, the first evidence came to light showing that something unusual was happening to our brains. Scientists discovered a surprising phenomenon while they were investigating the processing of stimuli and the emotions of Germans. 4000 test subjects had participated in a series of bio-psychological tests stretching over a period of many years. After the conclusion of the experiments, it was discovered that the tested people were no longer able to use their senses of smell and taste as well they could at the beginning of the project. The theme of this conference, "The New Technologies and the Human Person: Communicating the Faith in the New Millennium," suggests, of course, that you are concerned about what might happen to faith in the new millennium, as well you should be. In addition to our computers, which are close to having a nervous breakdown in anticipation of the year 2000, there is a great deal of frantic talk about the 21st century and how it will pose for us unique problems of which we know very little but for which, nonetheless, we are supposed to carefully prepare. Everyone seems to worry about this-- business people, politicians, educators, as well as theologians.
There is no good evidence that most uses of computers significantly improve teaching and learning, yet school districts are cutting programs -- music, art, physical education -- that enrich children's lives to make room for this dubious nostrum, and the Clinton Administration has embraced the goal of "computers in every classroom" with credulous and costly enthusiasm
Dept. of Computer Sciences - Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of São Paulo, Brazil
In recent times, critical opinion has appeared concerning the use of computers by children and adolescents, specially in education at the primary and high school levels. In this essay, we begin by citing and summarizing some of the arguments given in favor of the use of computers by children and in education. Then we argue against them using some opinions which we consider to be non-standard. The Wired Interview.
The following is an extract from the interview published in the February 1996 edition of Wired. Steve Jobs is the founder of Apple. Rethinking Revolution Abridged from the "Television" chapter in "To Kindle a Soul"
In March 1975, four leading, traditional Jewish scholars issued an advisory warning about television to traditional Jewish communities.2 Their paper was rooted entirely in Talmudic sources and contained no references to the scientific literature. Nonetheless, it cited what secular scholars would term psychological and developmental dangers. It suggested that these dangers were related to both content and medium, and it recommended that parents not expose their children to television. At the time, the warning must have seemed provincial at best to those unfamiliar with the uncanny insight of traditional Jewish wisdom. Perhaps the most ironic aspect of the struggle for survival is how easily organisms can be harmed by that which they desire. The trout is caught by the fisherman’s lure, the mouse by cheese. But at least those creatures have the excuse that bait and cheese look like sustenance. Humans seldom have that consolation. The temptations that can disrupt their lives are often pure indulgences. No one hasto drink alcohol, for example. Realizing when a diversion has gotten out of control is one of the great challenges of life. Violence has always played a role in entertainment. But there's a growing consensus that, in recent years, something about media violence has changed.
For one thing, there's more of it. Laval University professors Guy Paquette and Jacques de Guise studied six major Canadian television networks over a seven-year period, examining films, situation comedies, dramatic series, and children's programming (though not cartoons). The study found that between 1993 and 2001, incidents of physical violence increased by 378 per cent. TV shows in 2001 averaged 40 acts of violence per hour. Clifford Stoll - NEWSWEEK After two decades online, I'm perplexed. It's not that I haven't had a gas of a good time on the
Internet. I've met great people and even caught a hacker or two. But today, I'm uneasy about this
most trendy and oversold community. Visionaries see a future of telecommuting workers,
interactive libraries and multimedia classrooms. They speak of electronic town meetings and virtual
communities. Commerce and business will shift from offices and malls to networks and modems.
And the freedom of digital networks will make government more democratic.
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In Light Reading