Like I had mentioned, I travelled to China last year teaching English in a city called Xi’an
Throughout my journey in China, I noticed something that I found quite strange.. the students had no computers to use. Not only did I notice this in my school, but I witnessed in others and talked with friends that these elementary schools had no computers for the students to use. Not only being a part of the ECMP 355 class but also from my own childhood years do I know the importance of experiencing and integrating computers into the classroom. This school that I was at had sooooo many kids, maybe that was an issue, however it seems quite ironic to me that they live in China where pretty much all computers and technology is made, and they aren’t even being raised into it?… Even the teachers never used a computer for lessons etc. it was a strict and distinct teaching style in which they lectured the kids didn’t talk or express their views, It was strictly teacher taught.
kkrug Said:
on May 29, 2008 at 5:44 am
Hi Jayla! My experience was very similar to yours, because the school I taught at did not have a computer lab either. Surprisingly though, the teachers did often use their laptops in class for power point presentations or to show videos. Other than that, it was the strict and orderly teaching style you spoke of. Repetition, repetition, repitition….right?
frieshar Said:
on May 29, 2008 at 8:05 pm
This strikes me as just one more way that the West often takes advantage of less fortunate people in general. Most households in Canada and the US have a computer (I think it’s safe to say that) but the people who make them, and their children, don’t have access to them. I didn’t have a lot of experience with computers growing up but the world has changed a lot, even in the last 10 years, and I think it’s sad and unfair that these children will be so disadvantaged as they grow up.