"Virtual Students, Digital Classroom"

Postman conveys a good point on how society basically treats technology (computers and the television) like a god. He believes that we should not rely so much on technology, but on what our schools have to offer. People such as Dr. Ravich, who envision children and adults being able to learn what is needed through their TV, believe that technology is the best tool for learning. What confuses me here is that I have never knew a person who turned on their t.v. for the sole reason of a teaching lesson, instead they watch it to relax and have a good time. There are too many distractions the televising offers, that it would be very difficult to just watch and learn. Hugh McIntosh was another person who believes that technology is the key to studying subjects. He believes in an age where students can teleconference research scientists, create their own physics labs, and design life forms with computer simulation. Also, he believes that technology can be an effective way to replace teachers. it seems so unreal to be able to contact a research scientist just to get help on a homework question. I would think that the research scientist has more important things to do. I think the key concept that these two people are missing is motivation. What makes Dr. Ravich and McIntosh think that children and adults will want learn biology or physics by themselves? Where is the motivation to learn? If I was given the option between learning on my TV or watching it, I would probably choose to watch it. It may or may not be just me, but I would rather learn through a teacher who has a great passion for what is being taught, then by a technology that is teaching because it was told to.

It seems as if Ravich and McIntosh are trying to find an easier and more effective way for children and adults to learn without having to attend school. I believe school is the most important and effective way to learn. When attending school there is the feeling of motivation to learn unlike learning through the television. Instead of learning by one's self, school offers a great way to interact with others who share the same interests and aspirations. People are able to work in teams, answer each others questions and feel proud of accomplishing their goals. Learning through technology just seems so dry to me and I would rather learn with others than on my own.
That being said, I strongly agree with Postman that our society should rely less on technology and to "not put our hopes on it". Technology is never perfect and what would happen if a glitch or virus suddenly occurred? Our main source of learning would be defective and we would of started to realize that we should have kept the most trusting teaching method, our schools.