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Good education tech.
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Article #4: Good education tech.

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Today's educational technology is like a played only on a specific computer
Rube Goldberg contraption. Enter any platform and email that may be read only
technology-enabled classroom or other via a specific Internet Service Provider
facility, and you will see a mish-mash of are examples of bad technology. Video
computers with associated wires, video should be viewable on all platforms and
displays, modems, ITV, CD-ROM libraries, email should be accessible through any
tapes, and more. To use this technology Internet service provider.
effectively and avoid being distracted by Good technology is simple. Simplicity is
the usual malfunctions and dense manuals, a slippery concept, but the best
teachers must spend a lot of time in the technologies can be learned by looking at
classroom themselves. the input device, not by studying a
It doesn't have to be this way, however. manual.
As technologies mature, they tend to Here's how I distinguish between good
become easier to use. Consider the computer programs and bad computer
elevator and radio, for example. Once so programs: I try to install and run the
finicky it needed operators to take program without the use of any manual.
riders from floor to floor, today's Installation is much easier today, thanks
elevator functions flawlessly with little to a good computer program called
intervention on the part of users. "Setup." Running the program is a
Likewise, when the radio was first different matter. When I have to stop and
developed, it was the domain of think (and read very small print) about
specialists. Today's radio is a model of how to get rid of a paperclip icon so
usability, requiring no special training that I can type a letter, I know I am
for the listener who wants to find the dealing with bad technology. Good
nation's top ten hits. technology, by contrast, is intuitive. To
It is true that not all technologies are use an elevator, I press the floor
so uncomplicated. For example, the person number. Simple. To make a phone call, I
who operates a nuclear reactor must have dial the number. Easy.
some expertise and special training. But Simplicity goes hand-in-hand with range
such systems are rare, overwhelmed by an of function. Features that you never use
array of far simpler innovations. If a get in the way, and they make the product
technology is to become widespread, it is complicated and cumbersome. Look for
crucial that it be easy to use—so easy technology that does exactly what you
that it need not be packaged with an want: no more, no less.
operating manual. Technology that Good technology does not require parts.
teachers employ in the classroom must be Cars are bad technology: they require a
of exactly that variety: widespread and never-ending array of parts, from
easy-to-operate. A learning simulation, a gasoline to oil to air filters. It is
conferencing tool, and a student record easy to overlook parts because they seem
keeper should be as untroublesome to use integrated into the whole; consumables,
as a television, a telephone, and a like oil or ink cartridges, don't satisfy
notebook. our intuitive definition of parts. But
I believe that we currently are in a insofar as they must be replaced and are
transition phase; we are moving away from essential to the operation of technology,
complicated technologies toward simpler they count as parts, at least for the
innovations. For the most part, however, purposes of this article.
today's technology remains clumsy. We The bottom line is this: Do you have to
must question whether the time and money purchase something on a regular basis in
we are investing in that technology—in order to use your technology? Do you have
teaching teachers to use it—is well to replace something that becomes worn
spent. Certainly training is necessary to out or depleted or that can be lost or
get us to a higher level of technological stolen? The fewer times you have to
advancement, but we must not take our purchase or replace, the better your
eyes off the long term goal: good technology; the best technology requires
technology. no ongoing purchases or replacements at
What distinguishes a good technology from all.
a bad technology? The following nine Sometimes it is not possible to do
characteristics define the former. Think without parts, but this is a sign of a
of them as a checklist; a technology that transitional technology. Perhaps even
has more of these features is, in good technologies, such as portable
general, better than a technology which stereos that require CD-ROMs, need parts.
has fewer of them. But a portable stereo that does not need
Good Technology: The List CD-ROMs because it can download MP-3s
Good technology is always available. This from the Internet instead would be
distinction is what makes buses, in spite better. If parts are absolutely
of all of their advantages, bad necessary, they should be widely
technology. People cannot count on available, standardized, and simple to
catching the bus at absolutely any time install. DVD players, for example, will
of day; thus most people prefer cars. In not qualify as good technologies until
the educational field, the technological DVDs become as widely available as
equivalent of the bus is the equipment videotapes.
trolley. It is necessary because only one Good technology is personalized. Some of
projector (or workstation or overhead the simplest technologies succeed because
projector) is available to serve five they are personalized. One of the things
classrooms. Imagine what life would be that makes a telephone useful is that you
like if we had to schedule our use of the have your own telephone number. In a
elevator. Or to make reservations to use similar manner, e-mail is useful because
the telephone. Good technology does not you have your own e-mail address. ATM
require scheduling, relocation, or cards would not be at all useful unless
set-up. they opened your bank account and only
The availability requirement raises cost your bank account. Credit cards, smart
considerations. Equipment that costs less cards, pagers, cell phones, and
is more likely to be available. But cost eyeglasses are more examples of
is not the sole or even primary personalized technologies.
determinant. If a technology meets the Bad technology forces you to fit its
other criteria described below, it will requirements. I purchased my copy of
be made widely available despite the Microsoft Word in Canada, but the default
cost. Think of ATMs, electrical lights, dictionary was for American English. I
and highways. could install a British dictionary, but
Good technology is always on (or can be Canadian English is distinct from both
turned on with a one-stroke command or, British and American English. Like many
better yet, starts automatically when the users, I am forced to add each distinctly
need for it arises). One thing that makes Canadian word to a custom dictionary.
the telephone useful is that we do not This is bad technology. Why can't I
need to boot up the operating system simply tell Word that I am Canadian (or
before we make a call. Likewise, an architect, or a member of some other
electrical lights are a significant specialized group) and have it retrieve
improvement over systems that required the appropriate spellings for me?
individual ignition with a match or Good technology is modular. By "modular"
candle, and streetlights are practical I mean composed of distinct entities,
because they come on when it gets dark each of which works independently of the
outside. A weakness of motor vehicles is others and may be arranged or rearranged
that they are not always on, a fact that into a desired configuration with a
causes endless frustration for users minimum of fuss and effort. To a degree,
needing transportation on cold winter this requirement is a combination of the
days. requirements that good technology be
Much of today's educational technology standardized and personalized, but
requires long and sometimes cumbersome modularity takes technology a step beyond
initialization procedures. After wheeling either of those features.
in a projector from another room, for Bricks and wood are good technology
example, three teachers and a technician because they interconnect neatly and can
may spend time plugging it in, turning it be assembled into custom configurations.
on, spooling the film, and positioning Legos are even better because they do not
the screen. require parts like nails or cement (which
Admittedly, the "always on" requirement is why Lego, and not Mecanno, is the
raises significant energy consumption construction toy of choice).
considerations. A portable device that The stereo systems we purchased in the
consumes a lot of energy, for example, 1970s are good examples of modular
cannot always be on because it must carry technology. Using the standardized RCA
its own power supply. Energy itself—in jack, we could assemble systems with or
inefficient forms like gas and oil—is without pre-amps, tuners, equalizers, or
too expensive to be consumed merely for even turntables. Today's Universal Serial
convenience. Devices with low energy Bus (USB) represents good technology
consumption, however, can always be on. because it allows computer systems to be
Think of watches, telephones, and assembled like the stereos of old.
elevators. Books—and paper in general—are good
Good technology is always connected. Good because they are modular; a person may
technology can send information when and assemble a book, such as a binder, out of
where it is needed without human individual sheets of paper and a library
intervention. Fire alarms, especially out of a collection of books.
institutional ones, are useful in this Good technology does what you want it to
way. Indeed, if the detectors were not do. And it doesn't do something else.
connected to warning systems, the alarms "Doing what you want it to do" means the
would be useless. Again, telephones are same thing as "idiot proof." Good
useful because no procedure is required technology minimizes the potential for
to connect to the telephone system. operator error and thus the possibility
As recently as last month, I spent of unexpected consequences. Good
fifteen minutes in a room with a dozen or technology is also robust—less prone to
so highly paid professionals waiting for breakdowns and malfunctions—and
an ITV system to be connected to a remote reliable. Software that crashes instead
location. I have spent much time of running is obviously bad technology.
listening to my modem dial up a local Telephone systems that connect you to
provider (and luxuriate today in the India instead of Indiana are not useful.
convenience of an always-on Digital "Doing what you want it to do" is a
Subscriber Line connection). highly personal thing. If you want your
Good technology is standardized. One daughter's clothes to protect her from
television functions much like another the cold, then her selection of a light
television (televisions became less chiffon top and an ultra-mini skirt
useful with the introduction of represents bad technology. But if she
brand-specific remotes). One telephone wants clothes to accentuate her physical
connects to any other telephone in the features, then the same clothes represent
world. One brand of gasoline powers your good technology.
car as well as any other—but cars that Conclusion
require different grades of fuel, such as It is important to remember that no
diesel, are bad technology because of technology is perfect. No technology will
their reliance on non-standard fuel. satisfy all nine rules. However, some
Standardization promotes technologies will satisfy more rules than
interoperability. Interoperability means others, and some technologies will even
that you have choices, that you are not break a rule or two and still be very
locked into one supplier or vendor. It good technologies (if only because no
means that you can adapt easily to better alternative is available). That
improved versions of the same technology: said, purchasers should insist on—and
you can upgrade to a bigger television or vendors should be pressed for—good
engine-cleaning gasoline without technology as defined above. We spend too
replacing your electrical wiring or car much time and money on new technology to
engine. A video that is designed to be be satisfied with anything less.






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