The importance of computers

I remember in school when different math teachers took different stances on calculators. Some took a strict stance that you had to prove an understanding of how the math works. Others wanted to make sure students knew how to use a calculator.


Thanks to computers, calculators are losing value. I have been using Excel instead of calculators. Similar to arguments related to calculators, it helps to understand the math behind the calculations. Even so, knowing Excel seems to have more value than being able to do long division on paper.

Computers are faster and more accurate than humans. Shifting work to computers definitely has value. The problem is that, like other classes, the schools are actually taking away from what's important. They are training students how to use outdated computers.

Let me clarify something there. Computers are always changing, and it is fiscally irresponsible to spend taxpayer money to give every child a brand new top-of-the-line computer.

In a rigid schooling environment, computer classes are all about using software that will become obsolete. They don't train students to learn. They don't train students to adapt. They train their students to use specific versions of specific software.

Software changes. As we saw before computer classes became mainstream, children can figure these things out on their own. The approach taken by the schools takes away from their confidence to learn new programs. They also demand time and effort that children. When we grow older, we don't want to throw away what we "learned." The mainstream has developed a fear of new software that inhibits innovation from software development.

Computers are very important in the modern world, and that's not going to change any time soon. Classes as they currently exist are legitimately taking away from what we can do. What this means is that computers are too important for computer classes to work as designed.