Is rote learning of any use in literate cultures with easy and affordable access to various methods of information storage?

The main purpose of rote learning is to memorize information such as basic math skills, dates poetry, spelling words etc. As we become more dependent on mobile technology, it seems like there is less need to rely on memorization for accessing information. This begs the question, “Should we still be teaching rote learning in school?”

I believe rote learning should not be a primary source of learning in the classroom. Bloom’s taxonomy of cognitive behaviours lists memorizing under knowledge which is the lowest level in the cognitive domain. Constructivism, a popular learning theory in the field of education, values critical thinking which is the highest cognitive domain of Bloom’s taxonomy. 21rst century learning favours constructivism over traditional methods, such as rote learning.

Rote learning should not be completely eliminated from the school system either. What happens if one’s personal technology breaks down? Students should be able to call on their memory to provide factual information even if they usually turn to technology for answers. Also, students need to know basic facts in order to solve more complex problems. It would be a waste of time to always turn to technology during problem solving instead of recalling this information from memory.

Referring to writing, Thamus said, “Those who acquire it will cease to exercise their memory and become forgetful” (as cited by Postman, 1992, p.4). If alive today, Thamus would say the Internet, mobile phones, ipads etc. hinder brain functions as well. I believe these technologies support our problem solving and thinking but should not be depended upon as the sole source of information. Rote learning still has a place in our schools. Our goal, as educators, is to integrate new and old teaching philosophies and technologies in the best ways that suit the needs of our students.

Postman, N. (1992). Technopoly: The surrender of culture to technology. New york: Vintage books.

When I think of text, I think of the power of the written word. For example, text has been used to bring about change with letter campaigns as well to spread knowledge and culture across time and space. To me, text has more of a lasting effect than speech because the latter can be forgotten or remembered differently. The Internet has sparked a revival of text as people use it to share themselves intimately with others in blogs, tweets, email, forums etc.

A recent example of the power of text is Google’s 2010 Superbowl commercial embedded below. This advertisement cost $3 million to air and is nothing but text. The ad was one of the most remembered after the Superbowl as found by Sands Research, a neuromarketing group. Text can be very compelling when it is used to tell a story we can all relate to. The following video has over 6 million hits on youtube:

Parisian Love

Reference

Sands Research (2010). Sands research announces results of neuromarketing study ranking effectiveness of 2010 super bowl commercials. Retrieved from: http://www.sandsresearch.com/PressRelease_SB2010.aspx

By: Andrew Rollinger

What is technology? I have grappled with this question before. The grade three B. C. Social Studies curriculum (2006) asks students to show how technology affects individuals and communities past and present. Initially, I thought the technology referred to a device that used electricity. Later, I came to see that this should be expanded to any tool created by man. Since beginning this course, 540, I am learning that technology can be more abstract as in anything created by man. For example, the word technology can be used to refer to text, language and the application of knowledge in any given field. (Oxford English Online Dictionary, 2011).

I chose a picture of a wheel to complement this post because it considered one of man’s greatest creations (Wikipedia, 2011).

B.C. Ministry of Education, 2006). Social Studies Grade 3 Curriculum. Retrieved from: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/pdfs/social_studies/f_2006ssk7_3.pdf

Oxford English Online Dictionay (2011) Technology. Retrieved from: http://www.oed.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/

Wikipedia (2011). History of Technology. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_technology

1. What are some of the issues that O’Donnell and Engell outline as being of concern in the computer age?

O’Donnell mentions that new technologies also bring new problems or “accidents” as Virilio would call them. Although he states that technology brings people together across nations to create a global community, he eludes to problems this creates. For example, “new forms of democratization” can exclude others from power as power shifts. Similarly, certain groups can exert power over others. i.e. religious groups dominating smaller cultures.

Speaking about technology integrated into higher education, Engell refers to questions university libraries need to ask like what to offer in print or digital form, what info. to store and how to retrieve it as well as budgetary questions.

2. What are some issues raised by the audience members?

A. Does intellectual content suffer because of the ability to delete/rewrite when writing a paper?
B. What can professors accept as reliable references for university papers?

3. What are the costs/benefits of the computer as a technology for writing (or, put more broadly, for information storage and dissemination)?

Costs
-No one is sure how long the technology will last so if it becomes outdated, the written work will either be lost or will have to be constantly updated to fit the new technology.
-Technology allows the masses to share their written “trash” at a high rate over long distances that which needs to be analyzed for quality before accepted.
-Some are worried about the loss of language and thought due to the use of technologies.

Benefits
-Students have more access to knowledge and are more critical of what they read because they recognize that many Internet authors are unreliable.

4. How does the computer compare to technologies for writing that have preceded it?

Previous technologies like writing itself had similar issues. For example, “the rapid dissemination of trash” as mentioned above. Also, written language is altered by the computer just like it used to be by other technologies. For example, we say OMG. Thirdly, many people have become well known because of new technologies whether they are authors who shared their story in print or musicians who became famous due to youtube.

5. What are the costs/benefits of the computer as a tool for teaching and learning?

Costs
Technology is expensive and may create a larger gap between the haves and have nots.

Benefits
Engel mentions that some university students now teach their professors how to use new technologies. Therefore, knowledge is less unidirectional and may offer more opportunities for constructivist learning. Technology naturally changes teacher/learner roles because of the way it promotes open dialogue.