Virtual Students

In his essay, Virtual Students, Digital Classroom, Neil Postman argues that in today’s world, technology has reached such a high level of devotion from humans that it has become a sort of religion, or even a cult following that threatens our social way of life. He supports his claim by countering the technologically inclined views of Dr. Ravitch, and Mr. McIntosh. In order to prove his point, Postman adds to his claim by suggesting that future generation’s social development in school and outside of school will be hampered by our addiction to infuse technology into everything, saying that if Little Eva is stuck on the computer learning all day she’s not going to bother playing outside with Little Mary, stating that Little Eva might even be annoyed by the thought of interacting with her peers.
For the most part, human technology has been a blessing in man’s life. It, like most all other human innovations has help man on his journey here on earth. Everything from the simplest stone tool to the modern day computer chip has helped us in one way or another. True there have been instances where technology has failed us and there are many scenarios in which technology could even destroy us, but for the most part, it has helped us progress with time. It has made things easier, faster and increasingly efficient for the people using it.
Although I think technology has helped us advance our learning capabilities and has helped out a lot with things you don’t pick up in the classroom. I do agree with Postman in that it would take a whole new breed of children, willing to study algebra on the computer late at night as opposed to learning it at school, to make it truly work. This in my opinion is a fantasy, beucase for every child who is academically inclined and loves to learn, there are several others who are not necessarily at that same level. In addition to that, what is stopping that particular child from picking up a book if he or she is so motivated? Would the simple fact that you are using technology to study algebra motivate you enough to study it late at night? Why not just use that technology while at school? Just because it’s easier to do, doesn’t mean everyone is going to enjoy doing it. It’s still Algebra and it is still work.
The use of technology has been incorporated into our everyday lives. Everyone has a cell phone, most everyone has a computer, and the next big thing is just around the corner. It makes our lives easier, and now helps us communicate with others across the world instantly. However I disagree with Postman in that I don’t think humans would allow their social habits to disintegrate to the point that you would not want to interact with your peers. Humans are social creatures by nature and they wouldn’t allow it to happen. I don’t think that little Eva would choose to live a solitary life run by technology if she knew she could be playing outside with her friends. I feel that humans should realize that technology is here to help us, but we should not let it overtake us. As much as it makes our lives easier, we must not rely upon it for everything but instead use it only when needed. Schools, as dysfunctional as they may seem at times, still provide the perfect environment for learning and human interaction needed to succeed in life.

On Keeping a Notebook

I find it amusing that the author had such a vivid imagination at the age of 5. In reference to the story about the women dying in the Sahara desert, I find it a bit more outstanding that she was able to convey her thoughts onto paper at that age as well. Looking back myself and my childhood, I always wanted to or told myself that I should keep a journal of the day’s events. However I never started one or took the next step into starting one partly because I knew that if I ever were to start one, it would probably have ended up in the hands of one of my siblings, or lost, or forgotten after a few days or writing in it. So I never did it.

Later in my teenage years I also pondered the thought of keeping a journal but again I shot down the idea. By the time I took the idea of keeping a journal into consideration for a second time I figured I wouldn’t need it. I thought I could remember everything that was going on in my life, every person’s name, every memory and experience. Sad to say that I’m 20 years old now and I don’t remember many of my peer’s names, a lot of my middle school days are stored deep inside my memory without much access to them. I find myself speaking with old friends sometimes and they’ll recollect experiences we shared that I have vague recollections about.

I guess it was up to me whether I should have kept a journal throughout my childhood and youth and it’s my fault for not doing it, but I don’t regret it. Keeping a journal on the day’s events would be meaningless if you did not write down how it affected you. You might as well be reading about someone else’s day. I like that the author kept a notebook and only wrote in the random thoughts that popped into her head and how it felt to her. That is what allows her to reach back into that notebook decades later and feel what she felt at the time. It makes each entry in the notebook unique in that each has its own feel to it, its own personal touch. Instead of reading the same thing in each entry about what you ate for lunch that day as you can step into that world through your memories and even if it’s for a split second, you get to be in touch with the old you. You feel what it felt like to be that old kid again. And who doesn’t want that?

Reading this essay has almost convinced me into keeping a notebook the likes of which Didion kept so that at least I can be in touch with my 20 year old self 20 years from now, if of course ever decide to read it then or even start one now.

Practice post

does it work?