Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Postman Doubet
Postman Doubet
Alison Doubet
Neil Postman highlights ten principles in his book, The End of Education, that
history, origin and true purpose of a technology, students will only have a superficial
sense of how the world was made and how it is being remade” (Postman, p. 193).
Teachers rarely ever take the time to examine the origin of a new technology and
what old technology it is replacing. Students are not being taught to consider the
implications and preferences associated with technology. The true purpose of these
tools is being ignored and students are unaware of the history of technology.
Postman admits, “I find it truly astonishing that the great story of humanity’s
perilous and exciting romance with technology is not told in our schools” (p. 189).
technology. New tools are being introduced on a daily basis and schools are
different.
Postman, The End of Education 3
Technology in Education
education. Currently, students are being educated solely on how to use a specific
effects or implications the technology has on our culture. Students are not exposed
to the history or origin of the technology. Because of this, Postman believes that
“Technology may have entered the schools but not technology education”.
confusing the teaching of how to use technology with technology education” (p.
190). Learning the “story of technology” (Postman, p. 192) is much more important
order for them to collaborate and share ideas online. The teacher would spend the
lesson presenting the website and demonstrating the different features. She might
guide students on how and what to post, how to respond to classmates, how to use
the special features and utilize the formatting options. Students are mindlessly
absorbing the new information, eager to communicate in a new way that may be
more comfortable for them. After the lesson, students understand how to navigate
the website and are asked to follow the steps they’ve learned. Soon thereafter, the
class is typing away, posting on a blog and conversing with peers through a website.
Postman, The End of Education 4
The teacher would believe that she has taught a successful technology education
lesson because her students are using a new digital tool independently to
Postman would focus much less on the functions of the website and more on the
than to speak. Students might compare the idea of blogging to other forms of
disadvantages in sharing ideas online and ask the class to consider a population that
would not find blogging appropriate or effective. Students would learn the history of
education lesson.
Schools today are flooded with new technologies. Teachers are working
tirelessly to keep up with the most recent and most effective tools for their
classroom, and students are absorbing and operating these tools at an even quicker
pace. Instruction time is being spent only on teaching the use of a tool rather than
the history of the idea. Students are unaware of the nature of these tools and how
behavior management tool used by teachers, students and parents to control and
track student behavior. The kid-friendly, colorful layout of the site is appealing and
Postman, The End of Education 5
engaging to students and easy to use for teachers. Students recognize the sound
effects, the colorful monsters, the point bubbles, and the positive behaviors
associated with earning points. Teachers might spend a lesson or two in the
beginning of the year explaining how students will be earning “points” and the
incentives involved. Neither teachers nor students are aware of the biases and
Faustian bargain. For every advantage a new technology offers, there is always a
colorful and engaging, and the points and monsters might motivate a majority of
to be addressed as well. Are students behaving for the right reasons: because they
want to be responsible, respectful students and do their best in school? Or are they
simply rehearsing a specific behavior in order to earn a point and boast in front of
their peers? Will students still behave similarly if points are not being awarded
having their points (or lack thereof) displayed in front of their peers? What does
makes people use their minds, in what it makes us do with our bodies, in how it
codifies the world, in which of our senses it amplifies, in which of our emotional and
Postman, The End of Education 6
Class Dojo and it’s lasting effects on students; teachers must understand the
maximize practice time in the classroom. While this new model has many benefits,
there are many biases to be considered with this method. For example, students in
disadvantage. Students who are kinesthetic learners might not benefit from a video
teachers lose the opportunity to discuss, debate and clarify information on the topic
that they might have done if the lesson was taught in person. There are no longer
chances for “teachable moments” in this model, where students can make
new technology does not merely add something; it changes everything” (Postman, p.
192). What is this new technology changing? Is it replacing the role of the teacher in
the classroom? If videos are taking the place of in-class lectures, what is the use of
the teacher? Can learning take place without the presence of a teacher? It is
important to recognize all aspects of new technologies and how it will have an effect
Closure
Postman believes students should be educated on the ten principles and then
technology and describe the advantages and disadvantages of the technology. Part
technology rather than how it’s used will help raise students into knowledgeable,
References
Postman, N. (1995). The end of education: Redefining the value of school. New York:
Knopf.