Synthesis Statement

Does technology have a truly beneficial implication in education? The authors of the article "Video Games and the Future of Learning" certainly believe so. They claim that video games help in the development of knowledge by offering a virtual platform in which players learn by doing. Richard Ohmann, however, believes that computers should have no role in the classroom as they are a distraction and just make it easier to plagiarize.

out of the dark

The biggest innovations to effect the way we live today came about as a result of the industrial revolution. Business Week describes the makings of a new serge of innovations to effect the education system in his article "Wired Schools". Business Week is right to call this new approach to teaching a revolution, as it is evident that it has the potential to antiquate traditional teaching methods by introducing a more efficient and effective technological method. Confirmation of this can be seen in the Union City, NJ school district that went from being on the verge of state occupation to have the highest test scores of any New Jersey city. Richard Ohmann disputes this by stating that "Thirty percent of college courses had websites a year ago, and sixty percent used e-mail... but only fourteen percent of the administrators held that 'technology has improved instruction on my campus' ". But as I see it, polls don't tell the whole story and aren't reliable enough to base decisions on. Statistics of improvements, however, like the ones we see in Union City, are reliable. He goes on to say that making computers accessible to students is to expensive and does more harm than good; as students have more opportunity to use computer for frivolous uses. This is a valid point but many schools have prevented this by using firewalls to block out websites that have no academic worth. Obmann claims that students using the internet during class won't be paying attention to the teacher or the lecture. Furthermore Obmann fears that computers will facilitate cheating by making it easy to plagiarize assignments. I don’t think it would be hard for a teacher to stop the students from being online when trying to teach if she makes the students turn off their computers when they are not necessary. And as far as plagiarism goes, technology has made it easy to spot plagiarized work through the use of search engines. I think its high time people like Ohmann step out of the dark ages and, although its scary, step into the light of innovation.

fast food natioon

1) In “Don’t Blame the Eater”, David Zinczenko states “Complicating the lack of alternatives is the lack of information about what, exactly we are consuming.” David is right in saying that there is a lack of knowledge of the nutritional value of fast food. However, the consumers’ ignorance isn’t by any means through the efforts of the company. It is the responsibility of the consumer to make informed decisions. Moreover, if anyone should want to know the nutritional facts, one needs look no further than the restaurant’s website. All fast food chains display the nutritional facts to all the food they serve on their websites in an easy-to-use, interactive platform. Once one has made the informed decision that fatty fast food is not what one wants to consume, it is time to look for healthier options. Fast food companies such as Subway, Panera Bread, and Wendy’s have all developed “healthy choice” menus. Americans need to stop blaming corporations for their irresponsibility and realize that there is no shortage of convenient, healthy food.
2) Fast food companies, much like cigarette and alcohol companies, are merchants of death that sell products that are unhealthy for their customers. I agree David Zinczenko in that the fast food the companies sell directly cause the childhood obesity that plagues our country. However, i don't believe that it's right to sue them for making our children fat. That is like sueing an alcohol company for causing someone to drive drunk. Although, the companies food causes obesity, it is the responsibility of the parents to teach thier children to make healthy eating decisions.

They = Republicans

http://somepeoplesay.paco.org/?cat=7

This blog is a rant from Bill Maher where he compares President Bush to other presidents who have been described as being the worst. Bill talks about how Republicans have taken to comparing Bush to Harry Truman. Bill states that it not a fair comparison because Truman didn't start WWII and Truman didn't lose WWII.

I don't see any other president as being on a level as low as Bush. Sure other presidents have lied to the American people, but none of those lies have resulted in such a disastrous war. Not only did Bush get us in this mess but he, with his stubborn ignorance, refuses to end it. WE'VE ALREADY LOST THIS WAR, it's just not over because Bush prolongs it with troop surges. At some point you say "i've buried myself too deep" and throw in the towel but instead Bush decides (as a decider would) to send more of America's sons to die.