Click the blue link to read the excerpt from "The Fun They Had" by Isaac Asimov then answer the questions below using specific examples from the story as support:
This story was written in 1951, only a few years after televisions became popular in homes and long before computers and the internet were a part of our daily lives. What are some similarities you see in the way Margie & Tommy attend school to the way students learn online today? (Use specific examples from the story as support.) What are some differences? (Use specific examples from the story as support.)
The story is set in the year 2155. How do you think our modern-day schools will have changed by then? Provide examples to support your opinions.
Your answer should be TWO paragraphs long. Remember to include the TAG- title, author, & genre (type of text) in the first sentence of your answer. Be sure to answer ALL of the prompt questions and use SPECIFIC examples from the story as support for your answers. Read through your work BEFORE you submit it to make sure you have used correct spelling , punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.
In the short story "The Fun They Had" by Isaac Asimov, similarities can be seen between the way Margie and Tommy attend school and the way students learn online today. One similarity is the use of technology for remote learning. In the story, Margie and Tommy each have their own customized televisions which display their lessons and assignments. Similarly, students today often use computers and the internet to access their school materials and complete assignments. Another similarity is the individualized learning experience. Margie mentions that she doesn't have to go to a physical school and instead learns at her own pace, with her teacher being able to adjust the difficulty of the lessons based on her progress. This mirrors online learning today where students have the flexibility to learn at their own pace and receive personalized feedback from their teachers.
However, there are also several differences between Margie and Tommy's schooling in the story and modern-day online learning. One difference is the lack of social interaction. Margie mentions that in the past, students used to have real teachers and classmates, whereas now she only interacts with other students through a screen. In contrast, online learning today often incorporates discussion boards and video calls to facilitate interaction among students. Additionally, Margie mentions that she never sees her teacher in person and is taught by a mechanical teacher. In modern-day online learning, although teachers may not physically be present, they can still provide live instruction through video conferencing or other virtual tools.
In 2155, modern-day schools are likely to have undergone significant changes. Technology will continue to play a greater role in education, with virtual reality and augmented reality being more commonly used in learning experiences. Students may have access to holographic teachers who can interact with them in a more lifelike manner compared to the mechanical teacher in the story. Additionally, with advancements in artificial intelligence, personalized learning experiences could become even more tailored to individual students' needs. Furthermore, the physical school building may become less prominent as remote learning becomes more prevalent, with students able to access their education from anywhere in the world. However, it is important to recognize that human interaction and social experiences will still hold value, and efforts will be made to incorporate these elements into the education of the future, even in a predominantly online environment.