Comments on: Does Not Liking Computers Impact One’s Ability to Be a Successful Online Student?

By: Judy Unrein

Judy Unrein — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:19:21 +0000

I started thinking about this article again tonight, when I was watching a new documentary about Apple. People in the documentary kept making the point that computer users make a personal connection with their computers, especially when they use them frequently, for long hours. Mac users say they tend to become fans because those computers don’t make them feel stupid.
I would say that not liking your computer is like not liking your teacher in that sense, but the courseware is just as apt an analogy to the teacher, maybe even more so. And the good news is that the courseware is far more within the designer’s power to control… to make it “less onerous”, as Mark says.

By: cheap computers

cheap computers — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:06:14 +0000

I think this seemed to be an issue with lack of justification to faculty about the anticipated advantages of the proposed uses of technology and providing them with the training and support to not overburdened by the increased workload.

By: shweta

shweta — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:51:48 +0000

I like the question. I would say yes; it may hamper your attention span.

By: Mark Notess

Mark Notess — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:08:29 +0000

Interesting question. I would say that disliking computers is NOT the same as disliking your teacher. It’s more like disliking teachers (or people) generally. In fact, some people are misanthropic but are nevertheless forced to deal with people anyhow. Some people dislike cars, phones, animals, insects, ball point pens, elevators, etc. I tend to view computers in the workplace and learning-place as largely inevitable, so I work to make them less onerous for more people. That way I feel less abusive when I’m responsible for creating or deploying computer-based things people are forced to use.