High-Tech Heretic: Reflections of a Computer Contrarian by Clifford Stoll

High-Tech Heretic: Reflections of a Computer Contrarian Reviews

• 
  Chelsea

  I just finished reading High Tech Heretic by Clifford Stoll. Stoll, an
  apparently famous technology writer who's written two novels that I've never heard of before, is knowledgeable about the computer industry. In his book he attempts to argue against the increasing use of computers in the classroom. I'll be the first to admit that he has several very strong points that are not to be ignored. He discusses the lack of rigor and human interaction in the classroom. He's correct in his analysis that computer equipment will fall into obsolescence a lot faster than good textbooks will and I feel that his dismay at the misguided direction of inordinate amounts of funds into computer equipment over books is
  correctly placed. The proliferation of computers and the internet into schools and classrooms is no excuse for the depletion of libraries and the failure of students to master basic reading and mental math skills. In his zeal to combat what he sees as a plague of computers, he denys the benefits that computers can have and the applications they can find in the classroom.
  
  This is a novel in serious need of an experienced editor. It reads like the first draft rant of a college student on the rampage; it would make a great 50 page essay, but his cynicism leads him on a 200 page ramble. The first half of the book is what is billed as the subject of the book. The second half of the book is a more general discussion on the state of technology today that's only indirectly related to his thesis. Beyond that loose classification, the text is pretty unorganized. He bounces between repeating over and over again his main points (and could probably have used a good thesaurus.) Frequently referencing studies, discussions, and software, he never cites a single thing, only providing casual credit. Interspersed with his text are stories and anecdotes that I had trouble connecting to the general point of the book. They just didn't fit. His footnotes are usually semi-related factiods or comments. One's a
  recipe for banana bread.
  
  Summarily, he doesn't appear to know much about teaching as an art or skill. He has set in his mind an idea of what a "great teacher" is that just can't include computers. Ever. Although he discusses the merits of the internet he considers them far inferior to his idealized "actual thing." Every time he mentions money, he only compares the price of computers and their support to textbooks. He advocates many field trips and excellent teachers, not once mentioning the fact that field trips cost money on several fronts, or that excellent teachers usually want passable, livable (and would be lucky to find excellent) salaries.
  In terms of field trips: buses have to be rented, drivers paid, teachers paid, volunteers recruited and the entire thing has to be planned with somebody's time. After all that, straining over the bar at the zoo, the students happen to catch the snakes when they're sleeping and rain cuts everything short. His field trip has just been ruined and in his classroom, the teacher can't turn to the computer to show the students a video of a snake eating or pictures of the birds that were hiding from the rain. It's true that the computers and the internet are a sometimes unreliable resource, but they can be used with extreme effectiveness in moderation. It does take a little effort, research, to know what you're doing and how to find what you're looking for. They can provide alternate means of experiencing the material to students who don't take the "teacher at the chalkboard" approach. I feel that in his reaction, he's missing the opportunities that having a few computers around can actually be a good thing.
  
  It's a shame that this book wasn't better written; an excellent treatment of the subject matter would be a compelling must-read for every teacher and administrator. It's true that all around us we see technology touted as the harbinger of a future utopia and that it's sometimes hard to resist the idea that it could be the end-all solution to our problems. The fact of the matter is that they just haven't reached the "total information technology" level (to steal a quote from Robin Willams,) that we see them offering. Take them with the understanding that not every website is gospel and you can go far.
• 
  David

  The details in Stoll's book are already becoming obsolete, but that doesn't make his points any less true. And that is really the point of the book: computers are a tool, not a panacea, and we do ourselves a disservice to think otherwise. Learning well is still hard work. It's not enough to know how to use a calculator without understanding numbers well enough to check the answers the calculator gives. Pre-school students need play, not keyboard practice. Books are more important to libraries than computers are. Students in chemistry and physics labs should learn about the joy of tinkering, the difficulties of data collection, and the aesthetic of a well-designed experiment -- and computer simulations don't teach those things.
• 
  Darin

  Stoll's book is a mixed bag; unfortunately, most of it is bad. While many of his points about the affect of computers in the classroom are valid and confirmed by my time in education, the good points are mired in a nearly unreadable stream-of-consciousness writing style that reeks more of "bitter old coot" rather than "scientist and educator". Without the harsh tone, there's some good stuff in here. Most of that stuff, however, is pretty obvious and not worth wading through this book to find.
• 
  Criz

  This is a well thought out collection of points for anybody thinking that kids and computers are a good fit. He systematically disassembles each argument for putting computers in the classroom and provides a number of solutions to prevent the US from becoming a tech/biz consultant career machine.
  
  The instructions for creating an aquarium out of an old mac is a fun bonus.
• 
  pbb

  cliff stoll's rant against computers in education. awesome.
• 
  I DRM Free

  Again, I read this years ago when it was first released. In this book, If I remember right I pretty much agreed with his conclusions about electronics in the classroom at the time. However, I think time has allowed electronics to grow to where they can be used effectively in a classroom. Again this is another book I would like to re-read.
• 
  Robert

  ammunition for those teachers out there who, like myself, are in the Resistance, i.e. fighting against tech-happy administrators who continuously drone on about 'technology in the classroom'
• 
  Gumby

  Entertainingly short-sighted and often flat-out wrong tech predictions from 1999, penned by a UB alum.
• 
  Juan Denzer

  Although this book is 20 years old and technology has come a long way. Much of what the author argues is still relevant.
• 
  Mark Valentine

  Maybe this is not the right forum to discuss a book that debunks the internet, but I presume that you have enough sense to read between the lines here as with Stoll's book.
  
  More than his writing style, I enjoyed his perspicacious understanding of how computers and everything related to high tech has radically changed our society and individual lives. For some odd reason, we never challenge new gadgetry, we just assimilate it. But for everything we gain, we lose something.
  
  I particularly enjoyed the first half of his book, in which he challenges using computers in our public schools. It is a high cost, low benefit formula. (Read Jane Healy's books, Failure To Connect and Endangered Minds, if you want to follow-up on this topic.)
  
  In the second half of his book, he rattles technology in general, and although his tone sounds at times like the whiny Andy Rooney, his message needs to be heard, particularly his chapter on Library management.
  
  If the title appeals to you, you will like the book; he's a radical from the inside. This book should be a companion to Bill McKibbon's The Age of Misinformation and Jerry Mander's In The Absence Of The Sacred.
  
  This is a quick, scatalogical read, friends, and worth it.
  
  
• 
  Rob O'Daniel

  Some of the examples are dated, which I'm certain will be an immediate put-off for superficial readers, but this is an insightful look into the dangers of the "technology is good, so let's shovel it at kids" mindset that's overtaking public schools.
• 
  dgw

  I've published my thoughts and reflections
  elsewhere.
• 
  Andy

  for the heretics out there. read it.