Technology is a great advance of civilization, but there are some problems like using a cell phone turning it into silent mode and then cheating answers for a test or something like that. Also, the telephone, IMing, cell phone, etc, are all good for emergencies and have good uses but there lots of people who seem like they totally depend on them 24/7. In the past, in mathematics people had to memorize tons of things like the sin of various numbers or something, but people now depend on calculators for everything like adding two numbers, even.
as with anything else technology has the potential for abuse. IN that so much of it is powered by and geared towards knowledge this is especially true of high tech.
The few intelligent people are making life easier for the many idiots out there.

You are right in that people can simply rely on that bottled intelligence of the few that is captured in their technology. You are also right in that it is a street that goes both ways, good and bad.



I'm not against any of those things, I'm a cell phone, IM, calculator freak myself, but I try not to depend on them. What I'm trying to say is, has technology made us less smarter than in the past? There are statements that contradict that, but still, I was just thinking of the dangers of technology. What do you think?

:)

Well, like you said, there is good AND bad with technology. People can learn, get help, find things fast, entertain themselves, even find a lost loved one; but there is always those who use it for things that may help but also hurt themselves like cheating on a test; Yes, they may earn a good grade but they didn't learn anything.

Although this is true, you have to think about it for a little bit. Hasn't there been abuse with almost everything we have made? What about guns? Wasn't it meant for protection? If this is true why do you hear people being killed in mass or small numbers by people for no reason or pety reasons?

The fact of the matter is, whether it be computers or something else, if something new comes out that makes our lives easier there will always be those who abuse it and rely on it. Yes I say this but there is a better way to look at it too. Has technology not made our lives easier for everyone? What about those that just use it sometimes and just for things they need? There will always be those that use it and rely on it but there will also be those that use it for their needs; and don't forget, there will always be those that create new things for us to use.

As for your last statement of has technology made us less smart than in the past. I personally don't think so. Yes, it has made us much more LAZY, but I think that is about it. I use the computer almost 24/7 but in that time I entertain myself but I always learn constantly. Like with my other comment, there will always be people that abuse it BUT, there will be people that use it for good. In the end like I have been saying all along, there will be a split between who will become stupid off it and rely on it and then there will be those that get smarter by using technology but this is with everything. So no, I don't think technology has made us less smart.

But do you think more and more online students are using this medium to cheat?

Well everyone who will answer to this is sat on a computer, on the internet, sending data back and forth, which is all thanks to a "few intelligent people" lol!

I think people have always found ways of 'cheating' the system, I agree that in some respects new technology may have made that easier though!

I don't think it's made people dumber though, I think it's helped to make the mass majority of people who would have had no (or very little) education more informed about various subjects and the world at large!

I think wikipedia is the best example of the sharing of knowledge via technology - I know it's far from perfect, but it makes me smile when I think of it as the world's biggest pub, with everyone telling their interesting stories and facts to each other!

My only worry is that the world is becoming to heavily reliant on technology! Just look at anywhere (New York for instance) that has a black / brown out, chaos!. in fact... just look at me whenever my internet connection drops... or I lose my mobile! Jibbering wreck! Lol!

Very nice topic for discussion though yathink103!

Well, this covers a different area yathink103. This doesn't mean we are getting dumber. Yes, more online students are probably using these ways to cheat; but think about your question for a second. There hasn't ever been online students before except for now so how do we know MORE students are cheating?

What I meant by this covers a different area is that it doesn't go over if we are getting less smart; this brings it into the area of personal morals and honor. If someone is going to cheat they would cheat in normal school too. Its just that, in normal school it might be a little harder to "get their hands on cheating material". So, what I am saying is people are going to cheat if they are going to cheat. It depends on the person not the options open. Yes this gives them easier access to cheating but I don't think more students are going this route its just that the ones that would are.

As you said:-

People have always found ways of 'cheating' the system!
Examples R:-

• Calculator: programmable calculators can hold text, formulas, even pictures.
• Watch: "data bank" watches can hold crib notes
• Pager: Setting electronic pagers to store messages students can conveniently call up when the teacher's not looking. In one variant, a high-tech student used a tiny wireless video camera in a hat to transmit images of the test to an accomplice, who sent pager messages (the pager set on vibrate) to indicate answers! A related story regard the GRE: people taking it on the East Coast were reportedly beeping answers to persons on the West Coast.
• Palm Pilots and other personal digital assistants (and some calculators, too) allow information to be beamed across a distance via infrared. A student can use a laser pointer (many look like pens) to "write" the answers or as part of a code (e.g. left top side of floor tile = "A" , right top = "B", etc.
• Walkman: record your notes, take a Walkman to class and listen to it during the test. It helps to have some music on their so if the prof walks towards you by the time they get there the music is playing.
• Micro-recorder: used when the same test is delivered in multiple sections; questions are whispered into microphone for later transcription.
• Wireless Monitor: used by musicians, this consists of a body pack transmitter concealed under clothing combined with a small flesh-colored earpiece; the wire is hidden under hair and clothing. A cell phone plus a small earpiece can be used for the same purpose.
• Camera: at least one instance of a student transmitting exam questions via a tiny wireless camera and receiving answers via a wireless monitor has been reported. And a watch that incorporates a digital still camera has already been released in Japan.

Technology is what you make of it.
You can use it either way, you can use it to cheat or you can use it to educate yourself.
It all depends on the person.

Most online classes involve online discussions and allow for the learning to be done at home but still require testing to be in-person, meaning the student still has to actually learn the material.