Pedagogue Pressure

While it is commonly noted the pressure that peers exert on us, it also noteworthy to mention the influence that teachers have over student decisions. For example, students are free to choose the software they use for write reports or giving presentations. However, if a teacher is unwilling or unable to accept the student’s assignment(s) in certain formats there will be a sense of pressure on the student to buy compatible software. This pressure interferes with the personal freedom of the student as well as putting financial strain on the student or their family. Additionally, there can be a sense of obligation to buy a computer with the same software and operating system that the department regularly promotes and uses[nbnote ]http://med.stanford.edu/irt/software/[/nbnote] [nbnote]http://www.law.duke.edu/computing/incomingstudents#Specifications[/nbnote]. For this reason computer software vendors have significant incentive to pressure schools into using their solutions[nbnote]http://techrights.org/2010/05/11/locking-down-education/[/nbnote].

It is important to promote flexibility and information sharing across platforms just as it is important to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. We can find out where our truths combine, as do overlapping circles (or sets), and witness the beautiful geometry that diversity and cooperation create.