Waiting for the Download: A New Metaphor to Describe Education

ABSTRACT

Metaphors have been a vital part of the history of education. Schools, for example, have been described as banks or factories. Nowadays new metaphors have become prominent that are related to the widespread presence of computers in society. These new symbols, however, are especially problematic and can increase student passivity cynicism. Accordingly, rigorous philosophy and practice will be necessary to introduce creativity and critical thought into the classroom, given how students and learning are portrayed by these computer metaphors.