I chose the 2010 free response question of "Read the following sources (including the introductory information) carefully. Then, in an essay that synthesizes at least three of the sources for support, evaluate the most important factors that a school should consider before using particular technologies in curriculum and instruction".
I chose this one because it's one that I can relate to seeing as technology is a particularly important part of my life. I personally would have answered this question synthesizing sources A, B-E, and D. I would use source A to mention the factor of "keeping up with technology". This source uses a school as an example that has replaced textbooks with iBooks. The danger of this is that maintenance repairs on iBooks and the cost of keeping up with the latest iBooks and expenses and updates within the piece of technology would be an unforeseen expense to the school, and certainly a far greater expense than utilizing textbooks. I would use sources B and E to illuminate the potential factor of cyber-bullying through connection to online collaboration websites. Both sources talk about sharing information between students online. Source B focuses on increasing the opportunities for students to share and edit each other's work over the internet. Source E talks about "internet propaganda" which can directly connect to internet abuse and bullying. I would use both sources to help readers realize that cyber-bullying and cyber-pressure are two factors to be considered by allowing students to frequently and consistently use computers as part of their school curriculum. The final source I would use would be Source D. I would use Source D to expose the potential factor of students forgetting or not learning important basics due to the rise of computers. Basic skills such as writing in cursive and essay handwriting could easily be lost if students' educations were to be dominated by computers. I would also illustrate how it is difficult to get distracted while reading or writing physically where as doing any form of reading or writing on a computer or piece of technology can easily lead to distraction due to the accessibility of games/internet/etc.
The papers I read succeeded and failed in different ways. One main pattern I saw was the mentioning of "lack of skills" developed by computers. This is the same thought I had and basically describes the fact that learning to do everyone on a computer causes basic skills to be neglected or forgotten. An area where all three essays failed was in mentioning specific pieces of technology, such as computers or handheld electronics etc. All three essays focused significantly on "technology" and "internet" but failed to narrow their focuses to the pieces of technology that most students rely on. The prompt specifically asks students to focus on "particular technologies" and this is where all three essays failed.
I think that the second essay I read, 1B was far better written and more elegant than essay 1A however, 1A scored higher because its writer focused on specific factors where as 1B focused mostly on technology as a whole. I feel that if 1B had narrowed their focus and mentioned specific factors/pieces of technology and made them their focus, they would have scored a 9. The writing and language and composition of 1B was beautiful where as 1A's did not appeal to me at all. While 1A focused on a point that I made, I would not have mentioned "children are spending less time in nature due to the immersion of more computers". I don't think that this is a strong enough point and isn't exactly a factor that schools need to consider. This is a factor parents would need to focus on, not the school. Whether or not students use technology at school will not directly affect the time they spend outside at home.
I think I would have done well on this essay. I understood the prompt, and we did something similar to this last year I believe on the DWA. While this essay could be challenging to write, I feel that my factors and focuses are strong enough to provide me with a good score. I hope we get this one on our AP test....highly unlikely.
No comments:
Post a Comment