The Fischbowl (Technological Ignorance)

It is now the year 2009, and the ability to operate a computer and using the Internet still eludes some of us. In our current "computer age" people can use computers for just about anything. According to some, not being used to computers, or being technologically ignorant, can cost them jobs and even thwart them from being effective teachers for children and students of all ages. These are the views of Mr. Karl Fisch the creator of The Fischbowl. According to his beliefs, one cannot be a teacher in this day and age without knowing a thing or two about computers and the Internet.

The question that seems to be raised up with this video is "Can people be technologically ignorant and still be effective teachers?" I have heard and read blogs on this subject and arguments going both ways. Karl Fisch believes that students and teachers today are to dependant on "paper and ink". In one of his Fischbowl Presentation Videos, he says that students need technology not just to help them out later in life, but because it is cheaper in the long run and much more environmentally sound. All very strong arguments from Mr. Fisch.

I was reading a blog and one thing that really stood out to me was how people and especially teachers need to adjust to the times. If you are not adjusted to computers now, that would be as if you were a teacher and you could not read or write in the 19Th century. It is not a matter of being stupid or dumb, but rather ignorant. I feel that people take the term ignorant to seriously. All it means is that you are unaware of how something operates or works and no one told you how something really works.
I personally agree with the allegations of Mr. Fisch. In this day and age it is absolutely vital to know how a computer works and how to use the Internet to be an effective teacher. there is some truth to the statement that if you are not familiar with how a computer works and the technology behind it, then you are no better than a teacher 60 years ago who could not read or write. I think that all teachers, students and soon to be teachers should take some type of course to make them savvy with all the new technology in our current time period. This is for the better of their education as well as their future students' education.