The god of Technology

Neil Postman makes several key points about the dangers of overemphasis on what he calls "The god of technology." By 'god' Postman means a narrative that embodies the beliefs, traits, and narratives that tend to elevate something to the status of a god.

Technology, he posits, or at least proponents for technology posit, that technology can solve anything, especially in schools.

Failing reading scores? More computers and reading programs. Students lacking engagement? More keynotes and podcasts. Teachers failing in innovate? Get them more computers, iPods, cellphones and so on.

One of his chief concerns is that while students are isolated on the internet or computers, they are not interacting and exchanging ideas.

That is not necessarily the case. I'd worry more about the quality of ideas being shared more than anything else.

While some of his claims are interesting and even valid, I think a website like Remmi's here puts the lie to much of Postman's concerns.

Now, Remmi is not your average student. But given the proper resources, what could our kids achieve?

And finally, I have to say putting together an interactive, interdisciplinary web site like this would be a thousand times better (and more engaging for all) than sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture or watching a film.

And there is no way putting a website like this together is anything like working in isolation. Just look at all the real world skills one would need just to pull off the little cooking video Remmi has on there (letter writing - to enable her to meet with the people she interviews; group work - to line up people to help film her; revision - to get all the takes right and to line up a coherent show; speech skills - obvious . . . the list could go on).