Breaking Down the Digital Walls: Learning to Teach in a Post-Modem World (Suny Series, Education and Culture) [Paperback]

R. W. Burniske (Author), Lowell Monke (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Suny Series, Education and Culture | Publication Date: January 4, 2001

An exploration of the benefits and problems of using the Internet in education.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

R. W. Burniske is a researcher in the Computer Writing and Research Laboratory at the University of Texas, Austin and consultant to the World Bank Institute.

Lowell Monke is Assistant Professor of Education at Wittenberg University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (January 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791447545
• ISBN-13: 978-0791447543
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,067,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Technology and the Humanities: A battle engaged, February 16, 2001

By 

George P. Shadroui (Memphis, Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking Down the Digital Walls: Learning to Teach in a Post-Modem World (Suny Series, Education and Culture) (Paperback)

In this important book, the authors tackle an old issue in a modern context. We might recall that Victor Hugo, in the Hunchback of Notre Dame, discussed the moral and cultural implications of the printing press. Burniske and Monke bring this discussion to the 1990s by studying the implications of Internet technology on education. The fundamental question centers on what it means to be educated in the first place. Burniske, for example, makes a distinction between being trained, the language of technology, and being educated, the language of the humanities. This book walks us through specific efforts by the authors to integrate Internet technology into their classroom teaching, but what clearly galls both of them is that deeper questions about how to properly educate students are getting lost in the hype over equipment, technical wizardry and on-line chatter. There are plenty of kids out there who can create web sites, hack into complex systems, and master the language of technology, but do these same kids know right from wrong? Can they critically read a text, or relate to the deep emotions revealed in a play or novel, or even treat fellow classmates or online correspondents with respect? These issues are the real test of education, and if they get lost in the hype, we are building a Brave New World every bit as pernicious as the one described by Huxley. Burniske is an innovator who is trying to find ways to correctly use technology in the classroom, that is, without surrendering human issues or context. Monke is more skeptical, perhaps, but a willing participant in the dialogue -- how can teachers be empowered and liberated to properly educate their students.

Students, by the way, are the real concern of these two teachers. They do not see them as products or consumers, but as a community of people who need to be nurtured, cared about and finally led to a deeper and wiser understanding of their place in the world. Burniske and Monke are teachers in the best tradition of that word. They are about shedding light on the human experience, not simply walking the beaten (and often failed) paths of traditional educational discourse. Whether you agree or disagree with their arguments, you will find the discussion worth the effort. The final chapter is riveting, but the rest of the book provides a rich context for an important, humane and caring dialogue about some very important issues confronting humanity.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful for teachers, March 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Breaking Down the Digital Walls: Learning to Teach in a Post-Modem World (Suny Series, Education and Culture) (Paperback)

As a secondary school English and social studies teacher, I found "Breaking Down the Digital Walls" to be inspiring, thoughtful and helpful. I would like to embark upon a telecollaborative project with my students, and use the Internet for something more than research, but until now, I hadn't felt prepared to do so. This book provided me with ideas and support, and it was interesting to read - thank you!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a REALLY REALLY useful and practical book, April 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Breaking Down the Digital Walls: Learning to Teach in a Post-Modem World (Suny Series, Education and Culture) (Paperback)

I am a high school (Gymnasium) teacher from Germany and I picked up a copy of this book at an education conference. We have been using computers in our school for two years now but have received little training in how to use them to aid our teaching (we have received only technical training). By looking at the case studies in this book I finally have a good, practical guide for me that I can use to help teach my students using e-mail and the Internet. This really opens up a whole new world of learning for me and my students. It is nice to finally read *by teachers* about how teachers are actually using the technology, and not just a bunch of theories on how you *could* use it. Highly recommended.