I interrupt the expected election anguish to register dismay about something else: My fourth-grader is learning Powerpoint in her public school. Another sign of the ruin of public education. Don’t they know that power corrupts, and Powerpoint corrupts absolutely? I’ve practically given up using Powerpoint, even for data-intensive presentations. (I tried to join Powerpointers Anonymous to kick the habit, but the 12-step program was a Powerpoint presentation, so. . .)
Meanwhile, I found out yesterday that my first book, Churchill on Leadership, is now available in Croatian. Maybe I should move there after today??
Yes, Steve, this is extremely common. As a former teacher of 10 years, I can say for a fact that most schools out there think that teachers are really doing a wonderful job and students are really learning if they are using their computers to do something. It's a complete fallacy, and the opposite is often true.
I never employed powerpoint in my classes and rarely the computer. "Just give me a table to stack some books and primary sources on and I'm good," I would always tell the administrations of the schools where I taught. The students appreciated having to wrestle with the primary sources and great ideas rather than do yet another stupid, banal project (usually "cooperative" in a group).
I never employ technology when I lecture about my book "Hurricane of Independence." Rather, a paint a picture for my audience with words and weave a nice tapestry for them to follow. That, I think, is much more satisfying for the soul and mind.
Don�t they know that power corrupts, and Powerpoint corrupts absolutely?
ZING!