Published the week of 11/21/04

It's been a pretty bad ten days for the technology in my office. And, without a massive generalization, my experiences help illustrate why many educators are reluctant to rely on computers.

But somehow, either computers have been oversold, or, many of us, including me, have not been realistic about them.

Almost twenty years ago I wrote a book called Micro-Myths: Exploring the Limits of Learning with Computers. It was a counter to the "gee whiz" books that were very popular at the time, predicting that computers would revolutionize education.

In the book I cited similar, earlier predictions, like this: "From the remote regions and cosmopolitan areas, from professors, students, advertisers, reformers and those who need reforming, questions pour in¿The ______ has captivated the imagination of the entire civilized world. It is stimulating a new revival of learning." That's U.S. Commissioner of Education William Cooper, speaking in 1932 about the radio.

When they work, computers are great. I'm sitting at home, at 5:47 A.M, writing this brief essay. When finished, I'll save it, and transmit it to my office. Sara on our staff will fix the essay so it can be transmitted to the paper that you are reading. Sara doesn't change the words. But I use a Macintosh, and sometimes symbols come out strangely when they go from my machine to others. So Sara makes sure the symbols are correct, and then pushes a button.

If things work, your paper has the column in a few seconds. Marvelous. No time-consuming type setting. No re-typing necessary. Having worked on newspapers 30 years ago, I am astonished by how much time computers can save.

When they work.

Last week, mine didn't. The computer had been running very slowly. Then, sometimes, for no apparent reason, my computer dropped off the Internet. People sent me messages. Sometimes I received them, and sometimes I did not. And sometimes the computer froze.

A University specialist was brought in. He concluded I did not need a new computer. He just updated a few things while I was out of town late last week.

Last Saturday I went to my office. Suddenly, I could not print. That function, at least, at had been fine earlier in the week. Not Saturday.

Also, I tried to open old files. Again, that had not been a problem during the week. But on Saturday, and the following Monday, when I opened some files, a huge amount of computer garbage came up, along with a jumbled file.

Two other computer repair people came in. The computer now prints. They are working on the computer garbage problem.

I do not mean to whine. My life is full of blessing: good health, a very happy 30-year marriage, three wonderful children, a fulfilling job.

Machines can be very helpful. But we should not rely on them too much. Ultimately, it is the way people work together, not with machines, which makes the most difference.