Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that comp. aren't a wast of time because 5-graders can post stuff to their class wikispace and their teacher can read what their working on wile they wait for a meting to start.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that computers are very useful and that they are not a waste of time. I think this because they have lots of resources that can help you with everyday problems. Computers can help you improve your writing and sometimes you get more ideas when you are typing. I think that computers are very useful and that they can be very educational at times. I love using computers.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that children should use computers to learn how to spell and stuff like that. If we did not have computers some useful company would not be in the world.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that Computers are not a waste of time. I am a elementary student and I use EEE PCs everyday. I can't write fast enough so i always type on the computer, and plus you can read online articles. that is why I think computers are not a waste of time.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not think that comp. are a wast of time. We can play games,work,study,research,etc.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I believe that using all technology in the classroom is not only necessary, but impossible to repress. The opportunities we have to learn using these tools far outweigh the problems they bring to the school. Besides, if students don't have the opportunity to learn from them in school, they will surely learn more from them outside of school and make our schools even more irrelevant than they are now.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think Reading and writing are important, but I also think computers are important because in 10 or so years, who knows if people will even use writing all that much? We don't know. My gifted and talented teacher says that someday, people might have to have a computer for most things. Not just for games, research and things like that.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not think that comp. are a waste of time. I believe technology can encourage learning in a fun and new way.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I really think that the computers are a huge part of our lives as middle schoolers. We don't just learn how to use Internet sites properly for essays, we learn to use computers, which is a ideal part of 21st century people. In a world where everyone and their uncle has a Smartphone, you need not only to be street-smart, but Internet-smart, too. That is mostly what we work on here at Powell- being able to type, use information, and most of all, be safe while using the laptops.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think they are a good investment because kids get to explore and experience the new technology. And plus in the youth of today's lifetime, technology will/might be everything around us. BONUS!



EthanApowell

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that using the technology in classrooms are necessary. In fact I am using one right now! If we didn't have these laptops in our classroom. My teacher would have to send many of my classmates and I to the computer lab and would have wasted our class time. Also we can research while still in the room. I love having the computers in the classroom. We also have our own wiki's to communicate throughout out classroom in a discussion. They are not a waste of time or money to me. They are a very important part of my daily classroom schedule.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I don't believe that computers are a waste of money. I think that it is great opportunity to learn about the newest technology. I believe that within the next few years most of the writing will be done on computers. I think that is much quicker and it has many useful tools like spell check and calculators. It is helpful to the kids who have bad hand witting because you don't have to use your own hand writing. I also find that it is more fun type type on a computer then hand writing it. Having computers in classrooms is very useful and not a waste of money.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I don't think that computers are a waste of time. This is because your job might be on the Internet or you need it to keep in contact with far away relatives. Also, in collage most of your paper will have to be typed, you can't always turn in a hand written paper, in fact most times you can't. Using computers early could help you computer skills greaten and your typing skills to. Computers are the future, so why not learn now.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I don't think that computers are a waste of time and money in fact i don't think that we are spending enough money on computers my fingers cramp on these triple eee's. I think that the web is a good way to learn you get to have fun and learn on national geographic and discovery you get to watch videos and other things like post were you can talk. So to answer your question i think it is not a waste of time or money.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I dont think these comps are a waste of time I'm using one right now.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I don't think the computers are a waste of time because I have been using one to write stories and I have used it to do conversations with my class. So, we have used them for multiple school activities and out of school activities. If you still think they're a waste of time, read the responses.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I don't think it is a waste of money because if people have bad hand writing (which is me) or is not a good speller, the computer will fix that. Computers help look up something if you have a question. Sometimes there are even lessons on the computer that can't be done off of it.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I don't think computers are a waste of time because they provide general knowledge and you can blog on your class wiki.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think it is not a waste of time or money because computers gives you really important information and makes your hand writing really neat.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that computers are not a waste of time. With out computers we would not be able to do projects and presentations.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think computers are veryess helpful and aren't a waste of time us 5th graders like me can access documents on fileway and it gets rid of the problem of messy handwriting. On fileway we can access all of our work anywhere and you won't leave it at home. Also, if we didn't have computers we couldn't respond to you.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not think computers are a waste of time because you learn a lot on the computer. You can learn a whole lot more on the computer. For example you can find all the stuff on the computer that you can find in books. We also couldn't respond to you without the computer.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not agree. Computers are not a waste of time because we learn how to fix problems by using logic. Kids still read and write, just in a different form. Computers can last many years for many kids to use, so they are not a waste of money.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not think computers are a waste of money. They help you learn and get information

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that computers are not a wast of money, or time. Because, it makes your work look nicer. It would also be more quick than writing, and it gives you information that a book doesn't have. also it's echo green instead of wasting paper.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not think that computers are a waste of time and money because with computers kids can find information on history and anything else. They can still write on the computer, it is only easier for teachers to read the kid's writing.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not agree because computers might go district wide and then would save schools lots of money for not using up as much paper. Then, you can purchase things that might not be in stores in your state without driving across the country. Also, we wouldn't be able to answer your question if we didn't have computers!

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not agree because computers might go district wide and then would save schools lots of money for not using up as much paper. Then, you can purchase things that might not be in stores in your state without driving across the country. Also, we wouldn't be able to answer your question if we didn't have computers!

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not think they are a waste of time and money because probably in the future the whole world will be all high tech and people will like only do work and reading on the computer. Soon paper probably will not be used any more, so sooner or later, I think computers will be the only source of information and work.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

It depends. If you have a computer for everyone it is not a waste of money because then everyone would have a fair share in studying. It is a waste of money if you only have 4 or 5 because then only that much people can use them. The ore time you spend on the computer the more you lack verbal communication.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that the computer is something that we should use less but, without it things would be very different. Some teachers will not be able to teach all of the things that they do now and books would be righten by hand. Without computers I don't think that almost nothing would be the same.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are not a waste of time and money. If you have bad handwriting you can type on the computer. Computers help you learn about information you can't find in textbooks and you can find almost infinite pictures. They can be expensive but you get your money back from all the learning. Plus if we didn't have computers we couldn't be doing this.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that school computers are not a waste because it speeds up work. It' easier to write with a computer because it easier to press a key rather than dragging a pencil in many formations. Also they can be useful for when kids come in for recess.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I partly agree but partly don't. I think technology is a fun a new way of learning. Without computers kids wouldn't have as great of typing skills, and if all work was done on the computer kids wouldn't know how to write as well.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I don't think computers are not a wast of time because it allows you to search the web talk to friends and many other things and it teaches you about technology.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I disagree because computers help you learn information and they are a search engine. Also if you didn't have computers in the room, you wouldn't be able to keep information in a safe place, cause if you wrote it down someone could take it or you could lose it.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I disagree with that statement because when you are either typing, editing, revising or even copying, your brain expands with knowledge. When you are learning on the computer... 1. you can learn where the keys are on a keyboard. 2. Its the same thing as writing except that it is actually on the computer. I'd say that when I type on the computer for 1 hour I learn more that writing for 6 hours stright.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do agree that computers are a waste of time. For example first we have to write out a story then type it out, you also have to always save it and some times save it into file way. It is harder than just bring it home and working on it, Because if you do it on the computer you have to log on file way. you also have to remember text to table and formate and different fonts but all and computers are okay things.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I don't think that computers are a waste of time or money because they are good resources, they have web sights that can help improve a student's learning skills, and they are a way of handing in neat work (because every teacher's pet peeve is messy work). On the other hand, if every student doesn't have a computer, it is a waste because all students can't be working on the same project at the same time.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I don't completely agree because computers are a good source of information. Sometimes it we have write letters and it would be good to work on our penmanship. Computers are quick and you can get your work doe quicker.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

computers are waste of time is because it is a very helpful reource for students to have in order to get an education. Computers may be expensive, but they are so helpful to the regular student and have many tools for research, typing, and many other programs that are necessary to get an education. On the other hand other countries in poverty think it is too expensive because they cannot afford computers which makes them feel as if computers are not a necessity, instead something they want. Computers are not a necessity, but are not a waste of time either because it has the capability of doing anything you want for the world to see, such as blogs and e-mail for communication at the touch of a button. Therefore, computers are very pricey, but it is worth it because they are a very useful utility to have.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

computers are waste of time is because it is a very helpful reource for students to have in order to get an education. Computers may be expensive, but they are so helpful to the regular student and have many tools for research, typing, and many other programs that are necessary to get an education. On the other hand other countries in poverty think it is too expensive because they cannot afford computers which makes them feel as if computers are not a necessity, instead something they want. Computers are not a necessity, but are not a waste of time either because it has the capability of doing anything you want for the world to see, such as blogs and e-mail for communication at the touch of a button. Therefore, computers are very pricey, but it is worth it because they are a very useful utility to have.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I just read a blog by Dan Mass on the Littleton Public School website titled "Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins." The question he asks is, are computers a waste of time and money? I am currently a ninth grader attending Arapahoe High School, and in my English class all of us have our own computers we use. I think that computers are not a waste of time or money. If we get computers for elementary schools and middle schools it will keep them ahead of the game because in high school and college, you use computers a lot. You will be writing reports, setting up power points, and doing research. Instead of carrying around heavy text books for every class, you can carry a lap top and access all of your text books will little effort. Computers are the technology of the future and if we do not teach kids to use them correctly, they will fall behind. Computers also gives kids a new way to do things and new ways to explore.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Dr. Warschauer is researching the use of computers in schools to decide if they are a waste of time and money or are they useful and worth the money and time. I think that they are useful for two reasons, they prepare me for the future with technology and they help me complete papers more efficiently. First, in the future most things are going to be mechanically controlled so if I am always using technology I will be used to it and not have to learn it later. Last, like me many students’ minds work better when typing papers for some reason and though there is no explanation to it I do write better papers when I type them instead of write them. Clearly, the technology in my school is helping me improve my education.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I disagree completely with computers being a waste of time because our world is moving into a technological age and we need to stay ahead. All last semester in English 9 we talked about how technology is changing education, the world, and us; and we found it is changing in leaps and bounds. Technology will be a major part of the world in the close future and we need to be prepared for that. If we learned with pens and paper we will not know what is happening with technology. “2020 vision” by Karl Fisch is a video about his predictions of technology’s advancement into the year 2020. This video predicts that Google will have it’s own university in our near future, a whole university online. Why should we learn with pen and paper if we are going to be learning online anyways? Computers are a great resource and are only going to continue to improve. Students need to stay with the times and continue having computers in the classroom.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers in the class room appear to be a big deal. But Laptops in class’s are a great idea because they give the kids experience with them early and let them do their work quicker and easier.
Now, children shouldn’t have to buy their own for this experience. If a school can’t afford them, then a student doesn’t need that experience. But it’s good for future jobs to know how to use a computer well.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are definitely not a waste of time or money because they are very useful in the class room and can help the students with almost anything. Sure having a computer for every kid in the class can get very expensive but if you use those computers for years to come then they will be paid off by the school. Students who use computers get to learn like no other generation has because the laptops are getting more affordable and you get to learn much more if you are focusing on a topic. You have an infinite amount of information at your finger tips.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I disagree, computers are not too expensive and are not a waste of time. Computers are a good addition to the classroom and students are still learning these important skills such as reading and writing. Time isn’t wasted on computers; students are getting a lot out of computers including the internet. The internet is a major part of our world today; the internet provides everything for everyone who has access to it, which includes teachers and students. Computers allow people to have access to all sorts of information from around the world. People obtain a better understanding of the world today. Not only can students have limited access to the World Wide Web but they have access to helpful programs that help us type our papers and create presentations for class projects. These programs help us correct our grammar and check our spelling, therefore students learn somewhat of the important skills of reading and writing. Computers do not eat up all the time in the class which leaves time for extra practice in writing and reading.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Dr. Warschuaer thinks that we do not need computers in schools. I think that computers are a great tool for us students. They have helped us all as for some of us have poor handwriting and if we can type up our work, that eliminates the whole issue of poor handwriting. Saving work, we can save work and if we misplace or lose that work, we can easily pull it right back up and reprint it! Many say laptops are not needed in school but I think they must be used to help us with our learning.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Dr. Warcshauer is researching the use of laptops in school classrooms, Littleton Public Schools has already spent thousands of dollars on laptops for classrooms, this is important because the money is taxpayers and needs to be spent wisely. Laptops are a very useful tool in the real world. It isn’t often that a laptop isn’t present in and office or business setting. If these computers are so useful it is should be a requirement to learn how to use one before the working world. Also, after purchasing and using these computers in the classroom it has been discovered that they are actually an excellent tool for education in other subjects. Laptops may be expensive, but the benefits are far greater than the cost.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Dr. Warschauer came to my school East elementary and I was very excited. My friend Savannah and I wrote him an E- mail and that is one reason why he came. Thank you for giving me your time.
Anna fifth grade student at East Elementary School

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I believe that, in many ways, laptops in schools are a waste of money. They also distract many students during school hours. With the internet at our fingertips, why not make the most of it? This can take from a students learning and it can distract them. However, even with computers in the classroom, students are still able to write. They're still learning to write and read (you have to know how to read to the use the internet anyway). They're not losing their abilities to do school the "old fashioned way", they're simply channeling them into different areas.
It must also be taken into account that technology is changing life across the globe. It's part of life now, and that cannot be ignored.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I believe that, in most cases, laptops in classrooms are not a waste of time and money. Laptops provide many benefits that outweigh any possible drawbacks. Using laptops in the classroom not only teaches students content knowledge but also responsibility. Students must be responsible to used the laptops in the right manner and not mess around on them. Laptops also eliminate the classroom walls from the classroom. Students can easily reach other opinions, sources, and ideas other than those presented by the teacher. This instant access to information prepares students for future jobs where the computer is heavily used. These technology skills are the skills of the future; if students are not taught them, how well will they be prepared for future endeavors? Some people say that computers should not be used in the classroom because students do not learn the "old" way of teaching: pen, pencil, and paper. In truth, students who have access to laptops learn this way as well, just not all of the time. Sure, Microsoft Word has a spell checker on it, and students do not write in cursive nearly as often. Older students are capable of these things, but choose to use the computer instead. It must be accounted for that some students will not use the computers in a productive manner; however, the benefits far outweigh the cost and time factors.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

In my opinion, computers were one of the best purchases LPS schools could have made. They are expensive, but for the amount of use students get out of them, the money was well spent. Computers in the classroom are interactive and engaging which is what students like about them. Students can work on projects "hands on" instead of being lectured by their teachers, which can lead to boredom and day dreaming. With computers, students no longer need to buy large spiral notebooks which they will hardly fill, and computers are environmentally conscience items because they limit the use of worksheets and assignments which would normally have to be printed off, causing more and more trees to be chopped down for paper. Computers in the classroom are also money and time well spent because technology is the future, and kids need to be exposed to their futures early on in life. The old saying, "practice makes perfect" applies to computers in the classroom because if children use them frequently, or even occassionally, they will become better typist and good troubleshooters, which are both very helpful skills in the business world.
Computers in the classroom can be distracting at times, however, I believe that if teachers monitor what their students are doing on the computers, then they will have nothing to worry about.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I believe that computers are not a waste of time bcause of how much help they give to people and how much it speeds up processes like typing and searching for items on the internet. It is like having an entire library where youy can find exactly what you are looking for right away. A few days ago we wrote a paragraph and it took a lot longer to right it out than it did to type it. We do everything on computers in that class so it gets a lot easier to type it then it is to write it out. I can type 50 wpm and can write about 15. also the entire world is at your fingertipsa and you can get any information on any subject and it makes it a lot easier to gather information in that class.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Some people believe that computers are a waste of time, money, and energy in classrooms. I, on the other hand, believe quite the opposite. Computers give a student almost unlimited access to currrent events. It also provides resources for students to use in class. An example of this is that my English class has been reading Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. We were having a fishbowl discussion, with an outer circle live-blogging, and an inner circle discussing face to face. Computers aren't useful to only the outer circle, but to the inner as well to look up things. For example, we were debating whether or not the character Marcus is a terrorist, and we looked up the definition of terrorist online and in the dictionary. Having two definitions was definitely helpful in our debate. Computers are a useful tool in and out of the classroom, and I personally cannot see how they are a waste of time and money.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think to some extent the laptops are a waste, however, they can be a good thing. For example, with how much technology is progressing, you can almost guarantee we'll be using computer in out careers. However, I was looking at some comments on the blog, and there was some terrible spelling and grammar. This to me means we don't spend enough time teaching kids how to read and write, and too much time on the computer. In conclusion, the laptops are not a waste of money, but we should use them less.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

In the world today, technology is at the forefront of scientific and eductation expansion. Many people have recognized this growing use of technology, which has sparked worldwide debate. Using computers in a classroom is not a waste of time and money because technology is changing the way the worlds thinks and operates, and students need to learn this style to be proficient in the workforce.

Many people are pushing for education to coninue being administered in the classic form, with students learning from textbooks and handwriting papers and homework. Although this system of teachiing students has worked for many years, the integration of technology and education is starting to occur worldwide. This change may be more prevalent in the colleges and high schools, but now middle schools are starting to adopt technology to aide in teaching.

By arguing that children need to be taught how to read and write is a very true argument, using technology to aide in developing these skills is even greater. With teachers using live blogs and interactive websites to teach, they can more easily change their teaching style to help evry student in their class learn. If students are not able to learn to type as well, or even better than they write, they will not be able to use technology as proficiently as somone who has been taught these skills.

Being able to read and write through technology is a skill that almost every job is going to need in the future. Teachers today are facing a great responsibility, as they are required to teach students for jobs and careers that may not even exist yet. Technology is changing our world, and as students, we need to be able to adapt our learning style to change with it.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I believe that in most cases computers are not a total waste of money. Laptops provide easy access of the internet and numerous sources for a student to learn by. Computers show students a taste of what the world is becoming and as said before, the age of technology is upon us and there is nothing to stop it. Schools are supposed to prepare you for life so why not start now. For the high school and even middle school level I believe that computers/ laptops are useful. On the other hand, I believe that under the certain conditions, (all of the extereme budget cuts) it is certainly not neccessary for every fourth and fifth grader to have their own laptop/ computer. There are many jobs and far superior things that are being cut and in elementary schools laptops are not one of them. How could students learn with no teacher, or in a class of 40 where they get an inferior education to that of a class of 25.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

In my presumption, the usage of laptops in the LPS district has a dramatic effect on students and teachers. Students who bring their laptops are able to take notes, write essays, use Blogger for assignments, and take it home to work on or bring it to school to turn in. The teachers who bring their laptops in can give notes to the students and make the notes at school or at home, add grades, update teacher pages, or even show what the homework is for that day or week. I believe that laptops are an essential key in high school because there are multiple assignments online and essays that need to be typed.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Having computers in schools is definitely not a waste of time or money. Computers open a door from the classroom into the world. There is so much more knowledge accessible to students who have access to computers than there is to those in traditional classrooms. They allow one to find information about any topic, any time by simply typing a question into a search engine. With information so accessible, the ability and expectation to learn and ask questions is much more present. Computers make the research process far more efficient and allow students to explore every side of a topic. Instead of remaining ignorant to the issues that spread all over the world, students can educate ourselves in order to make a difference. Technology is becoming omnipresent all over the world. Students should be able to use that to their advantage in school and become familiar with the technology they will most likely have to use in future jobs and aspects of life. Computers are an addition to classrooms; they do not take away from learning how to read and write, but actually create an entire new level of learning and thinking.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are not a waste of time or money. With the way that technology is changing the world outside of schools, it seems that it is only necessary that schools start using computers too. Computers are at use in homes, offices, and now schools. These computers enable knowledge and learning because all the information ever imagined can be found on a computer. Because this information can be falsified, the computer teaches kids to take heed with what information they truly believe. These computers are also training students for the future because many jobs require use of computers daily. Computers not only drip with information, they teach kids lessons needed in adulthood, that is why computers are not a waste of time and money.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are not a waste of time or money. Schools have more resources now for kids to research for projects and stretch their creative ability. When our English class is assigned a project and a portion of our grade is creativeness there alot of people who can present things on the computer and with other technology that could blow anyone away. With computers students are able to research thoroughly and find different sources and peoples opinions by going to websites. This let's us students get different perspectives on the topic so we can fully understand it. If technology was taken away from schools we would not be able to check our grades by ourselves, email our teachers, or even participate in class over video chat if we were sick. There are many other reasons that technology is not a waste of time or money but these are just a few key ones.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Today’s world is changing rapidly. The amount of information and technology available to people has increased, and humans heavily rely on this new technology. Spending money on computers is not a waste of time, nor is it a waste of money. In fact, it is a necessity if students and teachers are to keep up with the changing times.
Technology has greatly manifested itself in the lives of people today. There are very few jobs left that do not require knowledge of computers in some way. In colleges, students will be required to type up their papers, fill out online applications, and use the internet to complete research papers. If schools are to prepare students for success in today’s world, they must spend money on computers. Otherwise, students will be unable to compete for places in colleges and for jobs in the work force.
In addition, computers make learning much more efficient and less of a waste of time. There is a plethora of information available on the internet. By using computers, students are able to access much more information than they could learn from any teacher. It would take days for a student to learn the same amount of information sitting in a classroom as they could online. Computers also help make lessons more interactive, allowing students to better learn and retain information. The internet also teaches students to think for themselves and to question the validity of sources. No textbook could ever teach students this skill.
One can also argue that technology actually goes hand and hand with reading and writing. Even when playing a game on the computer, some form of reading or writing is usually involved. In a classroom setting, computers are generally used for typing up writing assignments as well as for reading web articles. Computer programs, such as Microsoft Word, help students share their thoughts in a legible manner, for papers that have been typed are generally neater than those written with pencil. They also reduce the amount of paper consumption. In addition, many people find it quicker to type than to write our words by hand, saving time. Computers can also be used to enhance reading projects. For example, in English classes at Arapahoe High School, students participate in fishbowls. During fishbowls, an inner circle of students discusses the material, enhancing their understanding of the text. An outer circle of students uses computers to discuss the material with each other via blogging. This allows more students to become involved in the conversation and to share their ideas and viewpoints about the literary work.
Computers are much too helpful and important in the modern world to be wastes of time or money. Instead, they provide necessary tools for both students and teachers. It is crucial that schools take the time and money to provide their students with computers, for a student’s success hinges on this technology.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

There are no limits to what you can do with computers in the classroom, and therefore this technology is not a waste of time or money. With a paper and pencil, all a student can do is read and write. Students not only can write and read on a computer, but they can also do interactive blogging that is available for later use. With a regular discussion the classroom has a boring atmosphere, but when a student has the option of using blogging or a spoken discussion, he or she will be more interested and involving. Personally, when I have gotten the privilege of blogging, I am more active and aware of the topics and lessons my teacher wants me to learn.
Sure, handwriting and personal artwork are important to a student's learning experience. A computer is a tool to enhance students' creative work and make it universal. Such a tool is no waste of time or money.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are clearly not a waste of time and money. They are extremely important tools used by students everyday. Clearly, the world is changing, and becoming more technological each day. Students would be at an extreme disadvantage if the proper computer skills were not taught to them as they progressed through their school careers. As well, computers provide extreme advances to school projects, conversations and learning in general. The ability to simply look up a question on Google and find an answer is amazing, whether or not you should trust the source is another topic. But, today, the advances in technology are incredible and kids will be at a disadvantage when they try to progress through their careers in a technology-filled world. It is essential for kids to be taught basic technological skills if America wishes to remain one of the most influential powers of the world.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Laptops are not a waste of money because they allow students to create projects and makes learning more efficient. With the internet research is easier. All you have to do is type in key words and you get the information you were looking for. If we didn't spend the money on laptops research would be less efficient due to the length of time it takes to find a single reference in a book. Teachers who own laptops can post the homework online and live blog, right in class. I believe laptops are a key point in high-school learning.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers if used correctly, can be one of the greatest tools a student could have. With computers in the classroom students have the ultimate resource at the tips of their fingers. Technology will always keep growing and students should grow with it. On a computer students have access to multiple sources of information and opinions so that they can recieve the greatest amount of information possible in the shortest amount of time. Computers can also be a great way of communication between students. I think computers are worth all the money spent on them. They are great learning tools that allow students to learn to the best of their ability.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that computers are not a complete waste of time but the ability to read and write (write as in pen to paper) should have just as high a value as learning how to use the internet to expand your thinking. The internet is the single largest stock pile of information in the world. Almost anything you want to know is on the internet in one form or another and the best part is you can not only find what you are looking but everything about what you are looking for as well. Even though not all of the information is completely accurate the majority of it is. The internet is also the worlds largest and probubly most effiecnt forum for the trading and debating of ideas and knowledge. It is with out argument the way of the future, if you do not know how to use the internet you will not make it in the worlds future economy. But with that being said it is not the most reliable thing on the planet. It doesn't always work, computers break down, power runs out, and people dont always know how to work it correctly to say a few things. In a nut shell although it is the future it wont always work or even be there when you need it the most and it is this basis that i say every student needs to learn how to write with a pen and paper. The ability to turn a plan peice of paper into a magical land full of fairy tales or even a true story about the heart breaks of life is an aww inspiring feeling that is rivaled by no other. It gives you a sence of empowerment, even if it is smaller then you would truely like. Although you can do the same thing on a computer lets face the facts its just not the same and the internet version could be deleted by anyone and you arent always able to acess it. Students need to learn to write because it devlops motor skills that we truely need. But above all students need to learn to write because it is the heritage of the human race. It is one of the most fundamental break throughs that humans have ever made and we need to preserve it to the very end(assuming that there is an end which hopefully there isn't). In short, no I dont believe computers are a waste of time and money but we need to relize they are not perfect in any way. Students need to learn how to write with a pen and paper as well as on the internet.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Having one on one experience with computers allows me to openly say that I absolutely disagree with the idea that computers are a waste of time in a classroom. It is pointless to say that someone is losing the values of being able to read and write if they are on the computer, and not on paper. However, that theory is incorrect. Every time someone researches a website they are automatically writing and reading. The computer allows students and everyday humans the opportunity to explore their world around them. Computers allow people to connect with their world, their society, and their lives. If schools are deprived of the ability to explore, then why should students and teachers even try to learn? Students like myself obtain most of their knowledge by computers. For example, if I were not using a computer right now and many of the other students were not permitted to use a computer at school, how would WE be able to be heard? How would the people commenting from different continents share their information? Computers in a classroom allow students to take a hold of their freedom of speech, and contribute their knowledge to the world.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

It is the school’s job to make sure that students learn important skills like reading and writing, although it is also their job to prepare students for the future. Technology has become a huge part of everyone’s lives. Computers are able to provide jobs, educate across the globe, inform people of crucial information, and create a quick and instant way of communication. After spending a semester in a classroom full of laptops, that we use for learning, Mrs. Smith’s Honors English Class has realized how important and helpful technology can be. At least from my personal experience, it has changed the way I think about the world and am able to communicate. Being able to sit at home and talk Mrs. Smith through Skype has opened a whole other door of learning. As students we are able to extend our learning outside of the classroom.
If schools decide that computers are too much money, and take up too much time, they need to rethink their decision, because they are completely wrong. School’s need to think about how to help the students in the future, and technology is a huge part of that future.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

What matters in the world today is the on going argument about whether laptop computers or pen and paper should be used in schools. Recently Dr. Warschauer visited a few LPS schools to research just that. The only problem is that he only visited fourth and fifth grade classrooms. The high schools are more computer oriented than elementary schools. Arapahoe for example has wi-fi access every where in the building, and I use a laptop everyday in English. This matters to me because I have experienced the use of both in the process of my education. I personally like laptops better than paper, mostly because of spell check, but also because it allows research to be done right there in class. Laptops also make us more connected, with email and blogs, we can talk to anyone. The only problem I see with this on going struggle is that the kids who have experienced both pen and paper, and regular laptop use, have no say in the matter. Schools could suddenly decide that computers are not the right way to go and take away the laptops. That would hurt the kids who had benefited and improved because of computers. So my solution to the argument is let the student decide if they want to write on paper or with a keyboard.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are not a waste of time. They are the greatest tool possible for a student. Computers allow students to have an unlimited amount of resources. They allow students to learn, write, and do projects more efficiently. With a paper and pen, all students can do is read and write. On the other hand, with technology, a student is able to blog and communicate quickly. Having computers in the class rooms is a necessity because of the changing world. New information is becoming available daily. Without computers, student learn information much slower. Computers allow student to access information quickly.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are not a waste of time and money in classrooms for many reasons. First, in today's changing world technology is becoming a bigger focus of many jobs in society. If students do not start to learn how to use computers when they are younger then they will struggle with many jobs in the future. Another reason computers are not a waste of money is that they will use the computers more than they would use a textbook. For example students now have the option to use an online textbook which makes the hardcopy obsolete. Therefore, purchasing one computer would probably balance out to the cost of buying four or five textbooks. Finally, computers give students access to so much more information faster and easier. Rather than spending hours in the library looking through countless reference books, students can look online and access many of the same sources and more. As many would say the internet is like having the 'world at your fingertips', so spending time and money on computers in classrooms will prove to be beneficial in the future.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

There is no denying the fact that technology IS the future. Teaching our students to use technology responsibly and efficiently is equipping them for the future. I am in Mrs. Smith's Honors English Class and we use our laptops everyday. The laptops come in handy all the time! For example, we were discussing our book in class today and with our laptops, we are able to search up statistics, definitions, information, and anything else that can help us grasp a better understanding of the book. I personally believe that using laptops and technology in class is more exciting than just writing on paper with a pencil. I think children will enjoy class more and be more willing to listen. Yes it is possible for us to check our e-mail, or play games, but I believe that we have the right to be trusted with that. It's just as easy to start doodling on a piece of paper as it is to start doodling on Microsoft Paint. If the students of today are tomorrows adults, then what better ways to equip them for the future than having the world at their finger tips.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

In a world where today's information will be discarded tomorrow, computers in schools are the one constant source of reliable information left in our society. With the click of a mouse, we are exposed to information from every corner of the globe, and with the typing of a few keys into a search field, we are given pinpoint information on what it is we need to know. With this information comes a responsibility that is essential to any student growing up in present society. A student learns to filter information and separate reliable sources from the unreliable. The student also takes responsibility in the preservation of the computer he or she uses daily in class, a life skill that cannot be taught in a classroom. The convenience of a "electronic-based" school in unmatched. For those of use who we infected with Influenza or H1N1, the ability to go online and complete assignments while we were absent was essential to maintenance of our education. Ultimately I think the most vital part of the use of computers, is the inability to be manipulated. With the reading of "1984" and "Fahrenheit 451" we learned how easily the knowledge of society could be controlled. If a president for example, ordered that any information about the Vietnam War was to be removed, the textbooks of following generations would be absent of any information regarding the war. But, the information from the war would always exist on the internet, as the saying goes, "Once on the internet, always on the internet." And this information cannot be removed or deleted, one way or another there will always be away to research the history of our world from the mines of data on the internet. To conclude, the computers in our school district are the complete opposite of a waste of money, they are very important investment, an investment in the future of our society.

-Zac C.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I believe that computers are not a waste of time or money. We still focus on important skills such as writing or reading. I feel that I am more productive and create better essays when I type something. I also feel more confident in my writing. I do not have the best handwriting, so when I type an essay I know that the sole focus of my essay is on the quality of the actual writing, not the handwriting that went into the paper. The computer in the classroom has also helped me become much more confident in my handling of computers, which is a huge part of the business world today. It has also helped refine my research skills and become more effecient with my time management because I know that I can get more things done when I am on the computer because there are more programs for various things that are needed in schools. I can transport all of my projects for school to and from home with the help of a USB that is about an inch long. I am much more organized with the files on my computer than with a binder for my classes. Technology in the classroom is vital for success as an adult and is not a waste of time or money in any way.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not think computers are a waste of time and money because they open up new information to their users. Students can use them to research a topic they are writing about, or double check facts found in books. Computers are a valuable source that kids can use to post work online for others to see or comment on. Computers also can be used to correct spelling and grammar, so kids can see how they misspelled a word and correct in next time. Almost all modern jobs use computers, so why is it a waste of money to let kids get used to what they will use their whole lives?

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

In order for progress to be made there must be a base from which to start building upon. If time and money is used now to teach students at an early age, it provides a strong base for later in life. Imagine how many more technological advances can be made and how many more problems can be solved by the students of today if they begin there adult lives with the knowledge the previous generation ended with. If schools do not prepare students for tomorrow's world today, how much different will tomorrow's world be?

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are the future of education. The ability to have everything you need in one source is invaluable. Organization would be much easier as it would be much harder to lose something on a computer. All textbooks and resources are accessible through the internet. This is not only convenient, but it is good for your health as backpacks would weigh less. The ability too see different sides of an argument is also easier. Usually the information from a textbook is regarded as fact, but with a computer you can look up other perspectives and enhance the understanding of the subject. Basic technological skills will be needed for the future because the world is moving from the physical to the virtual.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

In order for progress to be made there must be a base from which to start building upon. If time and money is used now to teach students at an early age, it provides a strong base for later in life. Imagine how many more technological advances can be made and how many more problems can be solved by the students of today if they begin there adult lives with the knowledge the previous generation ended with. If schools do not prepare students for tomorrow's world today, how much different will tomorrow's world be?

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Dr. Warschauer,
I am also a ninth grade honors English student. Although, I believe that computers are a great learning device in high school classrooms, I think they are much different in an elementary school. In a high school, most kids have already learned their basic grammar, punctuation, and spelling. When these kids get on the computer to type something, they are using this resource to research information or blog with other students around the world. However, elementary school children, when they just begin, do not know how to tie their shoes, they need assistance using the restroom, so giving them a computer would be a waste of money because they would end up broken and the district would just have to pay more. In addition to struggling with the responsibility they have no idea how to write at all. For this reason, they absolutely deserve nothing more then a pen and paper. If a child can never learn to spell, how will they be able to take CSAP or an SAT exam. In addition to that, the computer function that allows the user to find synonyms of the word will not teach a person a broader vocabulary, more likely, it will just do it for them. I think that computers are a valuable resource to invest in, however only when given to students at a mature state.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are perhaps the most important tools available to today's youth. For someone to say that computer use is not a valuable skill simply displays how very ignorant of the times that person truly is. By the time my children are in school, pen and paper will likely be completely obsolete, and we will be wishing we had spent more time on computers, preparing for the world of tomorrow.
To say that computers are too expensive also demonstrates a lack of background knowledge. Once you have a computer, you have unlimited paper and a pen that will never run out of ink, which is far more cost effective than buying a lifetime supply of pen and paper. Although the argument can be made that internet and computer upgrades are very costly, one must keep in mind that you are paying for an experience that you can't put a price on: the access to a world of information and tools that were quite recently not available to mankind.
Computers are the future and their ability to educate is far greater than can be achieved in any classroom alone. To not be accepting if these tools is to refute the future and to hold back the progression of society. Parents who are skeptical of computers are simply harming their child's ability to learn. It is important to embrace the future and this means that the more classroom access to computers, the better.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

If people really are worried about kids not learning to read and write, then if anything they should be supporting the idea of kids using computers. Technology like this is going to be the future of schools. The idea that they are a waste of time and money on computers is so outrageously wrong that the thought is borderline insane. From personal experience, I know that I rely on my computer and others for almost all my school work. It has opened up new pathways for learning that were never accessible in the past. In the worries about writing, I have strong supporting reasons that the computer helps more than people think. Coming from a person whose handwriting looks like a toddler’s, I really know how it helps to have something print out clear words. My handwriting was to the point where even I couldn't read it sometimes. With the computer I have something that helps me get all my words down faster and easier than free hand. Is there spell check on a piece of lined note book paper? Can it help you come up with better words to use by providing synonyms for weak words to make them come across stronger and more powerful? Does line paper even have the ability to send you to web pages that can give you more information on what you’re writing? If schools didn't spend the money and time on computers for in class use then none of any of the things I just listed could be possible. And as for the reading category, there are so many online pages of information that it is frankly impossible to avoid reading when using a computer. What do you think you’re doing now while you’re looking at this post? You’re reading it. You are also formulation your own options and you’re thinking about this a little more that you probably would have if just asked the question at random. There are online books to read there are web pages to read, there are even the Myspace of Face Book pages to read and go through to see what’s going on with other people. Any one noticing a reoccurring topic here? You’re reading all of that. So to say that you don't learn how to read on the computer when really, all you do is read and write when you are on a computer, is a silly notion that shouldn't even be taking up space in your mind. I wholeheartedly disagree with the idea that computers are a waste of time and money. They are the perfect investment for the future. They are the future of learning.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that laptops are one of the most vital resources available to students at this time. The Internet is one of the seven wonders of the world and is the most valuable tool for learning in today's society. Books quite frankly bore children and text books are intimidating, not to mention confusing. However if the student is on a computer when they are reading the textbook, or if the textbook is on the computer, and a child doesn't understand a term or would like to know more about a certain topic then they have the internet right at their fingertips. If the textbook is able to be broken down easier and in a more student friendly way, then the information retained will be tenfold what it was before with standard paper textbooks.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are the single greatest portals of information today, not a waste of money. Students are able to access all of the world’s information in a matter of seconds; and develop reading and writing skills while on the computer. Computer technology is allowing students to better understand the world in which they live by changing the way they think. Students are becoming more innovative learners, and critical thinkers; at the same time students can discover new skills. Finally, computers are excellent communications devices which connect billions of people around the world.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

In our society today computers are the most vital source of information that we have. They are very important for students to have so that they can access information and the tools that they need so that they can succeed. Having computers in high school is much different than having them in elementary school though. In high school the students use computers every day to access information for assignments, studying, and many other uses. Every student should have one because of how much computers can enhance a students learning and permit them to do so much better. In elementary school there should be computers that are accessible, but not too many because they are not as important and needed as much at those children's age and stage of learning. Having your own computer makes it much easier for students and they can access information so much easier. The internet also gives you more opinions than normal boring one sided textbooks. Computers in the classroom are essential in many ways for the students of today.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I believe that computers are very important in a child's learning experience. Times have changed; we are evolving into a time where computers are the main source of knowledge. You can communicate with people all around the world to learn about different countries, you can share knowledge with anyone, etc. There are endless ways that computers are helping our world become a different place. Why practice writing when you can type anything? I'm not saying that we should totally rely on computers for everything- everyone should still know how to write, but once you learn it's not like you're going to forget. You can practice skills like reading and writing through the computer. You can download online texts, read blogs, wikis, Word documents. Technology encourages learning. Think about it: if you were told that you had to write an essay with pen and paper, using research only from textbooks, what are the chances that you're going to do it? Even if you do choose to complete it, you wouldn't be motivated to try your hardest. Now, if you were told that you could type the paper using information found on the internet, you'd have much more information and motivation. There's so much you could do with that essay on a computer- put links into it to show videos, copy and paste pictures, use different fonts to set the mood, and email it in to your teacher. Computers are changing our way of living, teaching, and learning.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I disagree with the statement that computers are a waste of time and money. I believe that computers today are an important experience in a child’s learning environment. We live in a world that is quickly advancing in technology. If you take away computers from schools because you believe that computers waste money, how do you expect kids to handle the real world when they start looking for jobs? Every job out there deals with technology and if you don’t give students that learning ability in school they will be lost in the real world. Also, every time you get on a computer you are typing and reading. Online texts for books are now available. Kids tend to write better essays and more efficiently when completing the assignment on a computer. Computers also put fun into learning. Why take notes in a spiral when you could type them up on your computer and save them on you USB? Computers have changed the way we live, learn, and teach, for the better.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I disagree with the statement made by Dr. Warschauer saying that in classrooms, computers are a waste of time. At this day in age, almost everything has some relevance to computers. When he says that "Students should spend more time learning to right and read," he sort of contradicts himself. Students can go online and find pdf or word document of a book that they are reading in class. Or, they can write their own stories on the laptops, in a faster way. This is also an environmental advancement because instead of teachers printing 70 pages worth of one worksheet it's possible to fill that same document out on a Moodle quiz online. The only issue with having 1:1 computer ratio at all times is that, students do not learn how to write with their own hands. Children do not learn how to have neat and legible handwriting if at all times computers are in use. Then again, this is all up to the teacher. Also computers, are endless sources of knowledge, the internet is a database larger than any other written text available. If I need to know if a paramecium uses flagella or cilia to move around, all I need to do is type my question on Google and receive over hundreds of thousands of results. I am not trying to say that a second grader should know how fully operate and build computers, but with the world slowly more relying on technology, the inevitable cannot be stopped. Concluding that, computers are a very valuable resource to children of all ages and their use should be monitored and not become totalitarian in classroom environments.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are not a waste of money in fact they have become a key part of the society we live in today. Technology allows students to expand their learning outside of the classroom. Students can access wide ranges of information with a click of a mouse. This information allows for more in depth learning that cannot always be given to students through the basic curriculum. Computers also increase communication that is key to a healthy learning environment. Parents, teachers, and students can stay in touch all of the time without ever all meeting face to face. That kind of flexibility is necessary in today's society. Tudoring can also be done online. Online tudoring helps many students improve skills needed to succeed in the classroom. Infinite Campus, Littleton Public Schools' online gradebook, is another great example of a beneficial use of computers. The ability of students to check their grades at anytime allows students to make improvements in academic performace to change their grade. Without Infinite Campus, students may not ever know how they need to improve to recieve the grade they desire. These examples are just a few of the many ways that computers and technology has improved the schools system. Money is well spent in providing computers for LPS students. These resources should continue to be provided as a key part of learning in the classroom.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers in school are a good use of money. Computers give students access to vast quantities of information, as well as allowing them to put themselves out in the world. With computers, students can write much more informed papers, and process many more resources on the internet than they could in the same amount of time in a library. It opens the door for students to read the work of others, and allows that work to influence the student and teach them more about the world. Infinite Campus is an example of how computers are contributing to the classroom. Infinite Campus makes it fast and easy for students to enter grades, and can track vast quantities of information about students. Using computers competently is an essential skill in the modern world. Almost every profession that kids who are now in high school will enter when they start working will involve the use of a computer. Every job, from working the drive through at a fast food restaurant, to designing new aircraft, involves the use of computers. If students are comfortable using a computer to make their work better, it will give them a leg up in the world. Computers are an expensive addition to classrooms, but the benefits to using computers are plentiful enough to justify the money that goes into purchasing them.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Laptops in school aren't a waste of time or money, on our laptops we can share project ideas, and research information. We can also read and write on them, they're very helpful for school. For those of us who have bad handwriting it helps us to write without being counted off points because the teacher couldn't read our paper.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I definitely do not think that computers are a waste of time or money. Computers are the future. It would be counterproductive to "teach reading and writing" but not teach about technology and how to use it. Sure, they are expensive, but they are worth it. What you can learn from a computer is endless, unlimited - it lets you control your own learning, even. Imagine a classroom without computers and you won't have much. You can still learn how to read and write and whatnot with a computer... but with a computer, you're learning even more. How that is a waste of time does not make sense to me.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers in classrooms are most definitely not a waste of time or money, computers enable students to access information in ways that normal textbooks and other normal classroom utensils clearly lack. With a computer a student can write a paper with much more detailed and can use sources that regular pens and paper cannot. It allows a student to simultaneously research multiple items and write their paper at the same time, all on one screen. A computer is enormously helpful in a learning environment, for example if a student was absent one day and needed to see what was assigned for homework, they could simply look on their teacher's web page to see not only what the homework is but what they did in class that day and links to documents that had been handed out. In today’s world things are changing and developing at an exponential pace, and when students are bound to books that information cannot be updated as needed. If people are to argue that kids are unable to read and write with computers they are sadly mistaken. Almost anything you can do on a computer involves you writing by typing or reading things on the screen. Just because this is not the traditional way of reading and writing does not mean that kids are not learning, they are just learning different. With a computer a student can get instantly updated information that might not have been expected to be true yesterday. Computers are our future and whether we like it or not, our society needs to embrace computers if we are to compete on the global scale. The cost of a computer is a small price to pay for the enormous benefits it can provide.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I disagree with the statement that computers are a waste of time and money. In today's society technology is a huge part of everyday life. It gives students to access tones of information that we may need to use. It will help us learn a ton more information then simple textbooks. Also, we are becoming a society that uses much less paper and uses the internet and computers so much more. If we are writing on regular paper we will not be prepared for our future, and we our country will fall even further behind many countries. Computers, and technology in general are our future, and if we dont spend money or time on them, we will not be prepared. Schools are supposed to prepare us for our future, and without them in our schools we as students will fall behind.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I disagree that computers are a waste of time. We have learned how to read and write and continue to do it everyday in the classroom. Bringing computers into the picture will only further enhance our education. With the world becoming more and more reliant on technology, using and learning on computers may be and essential part of being able to succeed when we are done with school and looking for jobs. We are preparing for jobs that don't even exist yet. Using computers will only help us go on with our education.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are not a waste of time and money because without computers, the world would not be the place it is today. Computers are a crucial part of society. With the world constantly developing to be more and more technologically oriented, computers have become an essential part of life. For example, most jobs require applicants to possess computer skills. If students use computers on a daily basis, they will be more prepared for life after they finish school. When students hand in written papers to the teacher, only the teacher and the author can see the paper. Unless the author shows their paper to another student, no one else is exposed to that paper. If a person wrote a paper on a blog or a website, anyone with access to a computer can read that paper. Computers are also a key to obtaining information. If a student needs information on a certain topic, he/she can use the internet to search for the necessary information. Students can also use computers to check their grades and/or write papers. Some people think that students should learn "important skills like writing and reading rather than wasting time on computers.” When a person uses a computer, are they not reading and writing? Computers are obviously not a waste of money or time, because they are one of the most useful resources a student could have.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers tend to be a bad a bad influence on our society. They can manipulate and decieve people into believing bogus facts. However they help us to communicate with others and can be just as useful and they can be destructive. Personally I believe this is the same for any object on this world.. It depends whether these tools will b used for good or not.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think the computers are a real help to teach kids how to use technology and to explore the Internet and learn new things. I also think the computers help on school projects so the kids don't have to research at home.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are not a waste of money because they make work eaiser, make reasurch easier, and save the school money in the long run. First they make work work easyer because you can do more than just write on paper with a pen or pencil with them. With a laptop you have the things that a computer gives you where ever you want to use it. for exsample in a classroom or at home. You can go online and do work with the whole class. The kids will get used to useing technology which most of society does, so the kids will be ready for what the future brings. Also, it makes reasurch easier than just reasing books. When the kids use the computers they can write a paper and reasurch at the same time. They have the world wide web at there fingertips giving them good reasurch. This will give them more than just one source makeing their reasurch more reliable and quick, whuch makes reasurch easier. Lastly, it will save the school money in the long run. By using computers you will save paper by using electronic doccuments. Also it will let the students do their homework on any computer if they use a flashdrive. Overall, computers save the kids time and save the school money.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Do you believe that computers in the classroom are a waste of time and money?-Dan Maas. I believe that computers are not a waste of time because they are an "All in One" resource, they have everything you need in them such as the dictionary and other resources like it, and computers have a program that allows you to type an essay or any form of writing and it can help you with spelling and grammar. Computers are not a waste of money either. Computers can last longer than a piece of paper and computers can fit more information on them than any piece of paper in the world. Computers are really a good thing for schools because they help the students more efficiently and are much faster than a book and are more accurate than a person. Computers over time pay for themselves because schools don't have to buy more paper and more expensive books every year they can just buy computers every 10 years.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Do you believe that computers in the classroom are a waste of time and money?-Dan Maas. I believe that computers are not a waste of time because they are an "All in One" resource, they have everything you need in them such as the dictionary and other resources like it, and computers have a program that allows you to type an essay or any form of writing and it can help you with spelling and grammar. Computers are not a waste of money either. Computers can last longer than a piece of paper and computers can fit more information on them than any piece of paper in the world. Computers are really a good thing for schools because they help the students more efficiently and are much faster than a book and are more accurate than a person. Computers over time pay for themselves because schools don't have to buy more paper and more expensive books every year they can just buy computers every 10 years.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers and laptops are not a waste of time and i know that for a fact! The only reason i use my laptop is for school work and during class we use them to type up essays, and blog. It is important for us to use laptops and computers more because as we get older things are getting more technologically advanced, so we are most likely going to use computers for a job and it's better to learn and know how to use them now then later. So what I'm trying to say is that we might as well forget the pencil and paper and start getting ready for the future and use laptops or computers. I would rather use a laptop because everything is more accessible then with a pen and paper. I think using a computer in class is better because it is more organized then a notebook and if you have to do research on something then you can do that during class. The problem about using computers in class is that the kids can play games but our teacher makes us put the laptop away and use pen and paper for the rest of class.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers in classrooms are not a waste of time and money. They provide students with the accessibility of the internet, the largest database on earth. Papers and projects previously needed to be handwritten out, whereas now, we have the option of word processors that can speed up the process, as well as provide spelling and grammar checks. Documents can be submitted electronically, saving paper. In addition, we now have the option of communication with all corners of the globe. Work can be shared, discussed, and talked about between people from all different backgrounds, providing insight that wouldn't be possible without computers.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are a tool that can be used in the class room just as well as books. Students today use laptops and computers like a dictionary, a text book, or even an online book. Each one of those students is learning to read and write through technology. It is ironic that people are afraid of this generation from being to reliant of computers and not learning how to read and write when most of the activities that takes place on a computer requires that each student or individual using the computer needs to know how to read and write. Todays society is reliant on computers, but these individuals are changing with the dawn of a new era, one with more technology. What does not child left behind mean? It means every child in America should be kept accountable to get educated at a higher level and be able to learn in the ever changing classroom. Each child needs t keep up with technology to provide accurate and technological homework. Each child needs the use of a computer to further gain knowledge through other peoples thoughts and actions. Computers can also have a down side when used inappropriately. Every student has to keep themselves accountable for anything they post or put on a computer, after it has reached the internet there in no coming back!

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not believe that laptops are a waste of time. This is because since sixth grade no English teacher i have had has accepted a hand written paper. While we we were given class time, we did not have ant computers to type with or research what we are talking about. So we needed to rewrite everything we did in class. This made it so we were unable to peer edit. Therefore out grades went down and we did not gain much from the exercise. Also in my classes with computers I feel like I learn more in these classes.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

In the question "Lots of people think that computers are a waste of money, and that students should be learning important skills like writing and reading rather than wasting time on computers. Do you agree that computers in the classroom are a waste of time and money? Why or why not?" by Dr. Warchauer should state than computers aren't a waste of time and money. It's a proven fact that when one reeds the web or something online they learn better and faster. Also computers open up new resources, new ways to learn, and communicating with others better. As a nation the students should be learning on the newest and best materials to stay ahead of the world. If we slip in the education branch then other countries will have the advantage instead of us. Computers teach new things that paper and pen can never. When you write on paper you can't undo something as easily as with a computer. The computer is the universal tool of the century. When the nation as a whole switches to computers than something great is going to happen. Computers are not a waste of time and money because we can achieve much more with a computer than a pen.

PLN 4

The blog " Dr. Warschauer Visits East and Hopkins" by Dan Mass, discusses the question are computers a waste of time and money for schools. I am currently a Freshmen at Arapahoe High School, and presently taking an all laptop English class. In this class, laptop computers are provided and used on a daily basis. Computers are not a waste of time and money. When schools have computers, it provides students the opportunity to access computers when that luxury cannot be afforded at home. The future requires us to use computers more and more. If we cannot learn with tools we will need later in life, we will fall behind. Computers also eliminate the need for books and hard copies of information. Instead of carrying a backpack full of notebooks and other academic supplies, we can store and carry all of our information and documents on a laptop. This is an more efficient method of researching and exploring. In conclusion, computers are going to be around for a while so we need to keep spending money on computers in order to teach kids to use them properly.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Many say that computers are a waste of money and that students need to learn skills that they will use in life, but that's incorrect because technology is what we do and are going to use in our lifretime. Students in today's classroom learn these skills because that is what is used in today's society and technology is America.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

They say that these computers are distracting us from learning to read and write, and that is completly wrong. In my english class, over 90% of our classes writing is done on a laptop. The same information is being written and turned in, except it is always legible, and overall neater. When I write on paper, it is an absolute mess, with doodles in the margins, erasure smudges throughout and handwriting comparable to hieroglyphics. My writing grade has been better because my teachers can concentrate on my information instead of scribbles. As for reading, I am reading the book Little Brother, on the computer through a online download from the author by Creative Commons. Hundreds of other books and manuscripts are avalible through a computer, from Macbeth to a simple childrens book. If our school hadn't "wasted" the money on the computers, school would be infinitly more difficult and not be the place to ready my self for a future.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkin

Even though many people think that computers are a waste of time, I do not think so. They can be distracting or time consuming, but many people need to realize how important they can be. When somebody turns on a computer, they need to take the responsibility of all of their actions, so they need to be smart with what websites they visit and the things ther post on their computer. Schools all across America depend on computers which have programs that help teachers to teach students. Also, many students have computers that they carry around to all their classes that have all of their documents and work on saved on it. As humans become more curios and intelligent, so do computers. Technology is advancing at a fast rate which can be both good and bad. Many people who do not want to addapt to the change will find all the flaws about a piece of technology. Computers have become so advanced just in the past couple of years that many people cannot keep up with it. On the other hand, many people will benefit from the programs and use them for many important circumstances. There is a lot of information on the computer and as we look it up, we have to check it on other websites to insure the informationis accurate. Computers have important information stored on them that would be challenging to have all on paper. Instead of searching through stacks of paper, we can easily search information on many different websites on a computer. So, aside from what many people think, I believe that computers are essential to a great number of people around the world because of the programs they come with and how they will keep on advancing.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Computers are very useful is education, and are not a waste of money at all. Sure, they can be used to play games, but school computers have most of the online games banned, and have removed the games that come with the computer. During the school day, students use the computer to do important research and write papers. I know that my laptop has saved me from turning in a late assignment because I forgot it at home, but luckily saved it on my computer. The computer also allows students to email homework assignments to themselves if they forget their planners or other organizational tools.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I feel that in the changing society and job force it highly important for students to learn how to handle and do various programs on the computers in order to be better prepared for the outside world. Also, CSAP would be much cheaper if the schoolboard did not need to distribute paper test/ forms, and the other "necessary" supplies for the mandatory testing. On the other hand I do not feel that it is necessary for all the school happenings to be on computers, despite the ability to.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Almost anything that can be done on paper can easily be done on a computer. There are also many more tools to be used with a computer. Internet access allows for books to be read online, and work is much more organized in folders. The portability, efficiency, and power of computers easily surpasses the ability of paper, pencils, and books.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I believe strongly that computers are not a waste of time. They are comunication and information in infinate amounts. They are not a waste of time unless you as a user allow it to be. If the user is looking at unreliable sources and wasting time putting on useless information then yes computers are a waste of time. If they are looking at reliable information and making friendships stronger than computers are not a waste of time. It is up to the users and schools should trust their students to make the right decision in how they use their computers.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

In Dr. Warschauer newest post he poses the question are laptops a waste of time and money? I think that the upgrade of technology in our schools and teaching our students how to use it is absolutely not a waste of our time or money! It is not a waste of time and money because our society is evolving and every job out there today uses some sort of technology so it would be in our best interest to teach our children how to use it now if they are going to be using it every day later in their lives. Clearly technology is not a waste of our time or money.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I think that laptops are not a waste of time and money for schools. They allow kids to be able to look up many things around the world for projects in class. Also it allows children to type things in class and be able to have spell checks and dictionarys. My english class uses computers and from personal expierence it is very useful in class than pen and paper. The other thing is a waste of time but they are not they allow kids to type things quicker than pen and paper; also they can use online dictionarys instead of looking it up in a regular dictionary and taking for ever.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I do not agree that computers are a waste of time and money. Many things are being done on computers these days and a lot of money and time goes into computers for companies. Schools can teach kids how to read and write while using computers to teach them about technology and how important it is.

PLN 4 for Ms. Smith English 9

On Dr. Warschauer's blog, he has the question posted: Lots of people think that computers are a waste of money, and that students should be learning important skills like writing and reading rather than wasting time on computers. Do you agree that computers in the classroom are a waste of time and money? Why or why not? In my opinion, computers are not a waste of time and money because they improve productivity. Prior to the mass use of personal computers there was the typewriter. Typewriters required you to completely retype your document after you had edited it and typed it for the first time. Computers enable us to type, edit, email and print documents without having to retype the document two or more times. This makes us more productive. If you are working on a project for school you can save the document on a thumb drive and take it with you anywhere to be used on any computer. You can also email the document to another person in your group and combine the documents. The productivity rate since computers were introduced has skyrocketed. We are now able to do research, copy and site our research in our papers without leaving the computer. Lastly, online shopping is available for everything that we can purchase in stores and have it shipped to us. Now there is no need to use your own gas when you can use someone else’s. Those are some of the reasons that I think computers are not a waste of time and money.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

As a 5th grader who uses computers and from my perspective I think the computers are not a waste of money and time. I think that using computers have really changed my life. If I didn't even know what the word "computer" meant I would not be in this school using this computer. This question got me thinking, "Lots of people think that computers are a waste of money, and that students should be learning important skills like writing and reading rather than wasting time on computers. Do you agree that computers in the classroom are a waste of time and money? Why or why not?" It got me thinking about, who would think that computers are a waste of money and time because we use computers all the time. That is just a little bit of the reasons I think that computers are not a waste of money and time.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Dr. Waraschauer, I absolutely do not think that computers are a waste of time and certainly not a waste of money. As a new freshman student at Arapahoe High School I have learned so many new things about computers and their ability to be a profound resource to students such as myself. When I open my school lap-top every day during 5th period, as I sit in Mrs. Smith's English class, I am opening up a whole new world for myself and those around me. Computers give me the ability to connect with my community and even people across the entire globe. They also provide me with the opportunity to research anything that I can possibly need to. This is a great tool to be able to have when I am doing activities such as homework and research papers. I can think of any question and within seconds have the answer write in front of me, plastered over my computer screen. However, I am not naive to the danger of computers. I do realize that having all this power as a young teenager comes with responsibilty. Computers can also be very dangerous in terms of the information that I can access about others, and even worse, the information that others can access about me.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Very interesting posts! My thanks to all who responded. It is always good to hear from the end users!

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

I don’t think that computers are a big waste of time and but I do think that It could be a little waste of money especially now with this bad economy but I do think that computers should be in school so that the kids can learn how to use the modern technology now and in the feature. I think that people can get a lot of advantage using computers because there are so many new activities that can help people to be very good writers. That is why I think that computers are not a waste of time or money.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Laptops and computers are an essential part of obtaining the ultimate learning experience. The tasks that can be done on a computer and not with traditional pencil and paper are unlimited. Educational websites, presentation websites, databases, wikispaces, and the many tools that google offer are only available through a computer or laptop. The access to computers and laptops creates a certain excitement in the students and an excitement to do work and to do it in a different way. This enhances the learning capabilities in the classroom and out of the classroom. If a student is confused or interested in a particular subject, the student can immediately look up more information or a different explanation of the topic. This kind of instant learning is impossible without the access to computers and laptops.

Re: Dr. Warschauer visits East and Hopkins

Dear Mr. Warshauer

I have always wanted to answer some thing about countries. Well I came from Mexico. It's so beautiful with the beach and all those things. But it's dangerous, a little because they have snakes, spiders and scorpions. And there's a little more but it still great. I came to America to get away from the dangerous stuff and to get money for food and clothes. America is really cool. Like for example in Mexico you had to wear a white uniform and it almost looks like you're a girl and in America you can were any kind of shirt and pants and doesn't have to be the same clothes every time you look around.

When I first came to East Elementary I didn't even understand anyone because I could only talk Spanish. When I heard people they sounded Chinese or like aliens but now that I now how to talk English and I could write English and now I talk to my sister in English when I didn't now English I talked to every one in my family Spanish. Now I show my little how to talk in English so he could talk. Writing in English is more fun than writing Spanish and a lot easier I forgot how to write in Spanish. I think that My parents moved over here to keep my little brother safe then he's older we can move back.

America is better than Mexico a little because in the schools other there you had to bring your on lunch and if you don't pay attention they will grave your by the side and pull it up yes you could say ouch it hurts. Over there they had to use paper and a pencil and other here we get computers. America has a lot of education for kids. Now I have friends that talk English and Spanish other there they only talk Spanish but some know a little English like my aunt they didn't go here and they now English. I wonder how helped them talk.



Sincerely,
Miguel
East Elementary 5th Grade student