Are "spell check", Google, and calculators creating dumber graduates?

Question

Not so long ago, every one of us was expected to write well, know the proper spelling of words, do extensive research with these things called libraries, and do all of our math by hand. Not that I dislike technology, but are things like "spell check" and search engines making for lazier and less attentive students? I often proofread cover letters for recent graduates, and am amazed at how many of them rely on spellcheck even if it's wrong (ex: "sail" is spelled right, but writer actually meant to use "sale"). What do you think?

Answer 1

Sir, I'm old enough to remember when pocket calculators came out, and school kids started using them. We gave away our intelligence, what we had of one, decades ago, and "Spell Check" and Google are just some of the later versions of the "lazy brain" syndrome here in America. I do thank God someone like you asked your question. It shows hope for America. Not that you can solve all our problems that way, but you can, by your own mental health, make intelligence last longer here by doing your reading and spelling and writing and research, AND, when and if the day comes you have kids, you can try to structure a true learning environment. You're gonna get frustrated a lot though since the rest of America will be trying to find the faster and easier way to have the "right answer" or the "best paper" at no cost to themselves. Only problem is, they'll be so stupid that they won't be able to differentiate right from wrong, and they may not even be able to sign their own name without misspelling it. God help us, and God Bless you.

Answer 2

I believe that I write very well for a recent high school graduate, even when I am not using spell check. It is not fair to say that students today do not perform extensive research because they spend less time in the library. In writing all of my research papers, I am able to obtain all of the journals and periodicals through on-line databases, and find and put on hold at the library all of the books I will need. In the past 2 years, I have written four eight-page research papers and spent less than an hour in the library. Search engines are an amazing tool. Where else can an inquiring mind find the answer to a question in seconds? It may seem lazy but I find it productive. I did not use spell check in this response, and I know that you mean college graduates.

Edit: I am not an idiot, and I wish that the older and younger generations could understand each other better. Just to note, I can perform operations in Calculus without the use of a calculator. I can also count change.

Edit again: I would not call forty hours of studying a week during high school "lazy brain" syndrome.

Edit a third time: I am capable of performing research using a micro-film machine and a library index, without the use of a computer. It is my opinion that this "laziness" you refer to is actually efficiency.

Edit a forth time: I just surfed Yahoo! answers for about ten minutes and realized the stupid questions teenagers ask on this website. Please do not take these as an indication of the level of education among youth.

Edit a fifth time: In response to oldGeezer@60, I did go to a private high school.

Answer 3

I am from the same time period as you and I agree with you. "Spell Check" is necessary for people from other countries, where English is a second language but people that were born here are becoming too lazy and depend on it. Technology is great but it is a great deterrent
on education. If the electricity went out or computers were banned for two weeks and students had projects to do, they wouldn't have a clue how to do research the old fashioned way. You and I would have no problem, in fact we might enjoy visiting libraries and using dictionaries. Sorry, won't give up my calculator, I have always been lousy in Math.

Answer 4

I think that spell check and calculators already created dumber graduates. Google has nothing to do with it

Answer 5

The 'average' person with 'average' intelligence -- I'd say maybe. For someone with 'above average' intelligence (not necessarily genius or anything, just generally smart), I'd say it makes things easier and quicker. Personally, I'm my own spelling and grammar checker (Word always misses things), but I can't imagine doing some math crap--Calculus, ugh--without a calculator. I mean, I could do it, it'd just take me a little longer and give me a headache.

Answer 6

I had this same discussion with a kid I work with. Yes, I do believe spell check and calculators are having a detrimental effect on students today. Teachers are telling their students how to push buttons to get the right answer instead of how the process works. What do they do if their batteries die in the middle of a test? (no spell check used in this answer, except my own internal one)

Answer 7

I totally agree. What troubles me is that when a spell checker is available, some fail to use it. And I have also seen what you spoke of about not being able to select the correct spelling when given a choice.

Answer 8

It is creating lazy students. It's so much easier to hit spell check than learn to read, write, and spell

Answer 9

Nah, it just helps some of the people who need help with math.. spell check for those who have trouble with spelling.... come on.. not everyone can be smart in everything.

Answer 10

In a way, yes. Because it limits the thinking capacity of the person to figure things out and retain the right spelling of words and use proper grammar.