I'm teaching an EdTech course for our graduate program this summer. I've taught versions of this course before, and I thoroughly enjoy it! I've again assigned the class to read
Technopoly by Neil Postman.
I love this book.
I hate this book.
This book is such a great help for me in
critiquing our culture and thinking about
how we use technology in schools.
This book makes me feel rotten about
where our culture currently stands
in regard to technology; how
technology has seeped into every
corner of our lives, including schools.
This book gives me hope that
hands-on, face-to-face learning
is still important and valuable.
This book reminds me that I'm teaching
an online course to teachers--some of
whom I've never met face-to-face--and
we're all somehow okay with this...
Technopoly reminds me that there is still
a huge need for good pedagogy, and that
technology should not--and truly cannot--
replace a heart-driven teacher.
Technopoly makes me wonder about the
future of our culture (most broadly) and
school culture specifically. Where are we
headed anyway?