Anyone seen the movie WALL-E?  Is that where we want to end up?  Would we be better off plugged into a screen 24-7 with full meal smoothies fattening us up as we ride around in hover chairs?

Why are we buying into technology’s sugar coating?  Sure, let’s break down the walls of the school, but not for another wall made up of pixels.  Let’s break down the walls of the school and go outside!  Go out into our communities and learn from those around us.  Of course the web has tons of useful information, but it only becomes relevant when applied.  Instead of staring at a screen, go forth and learn!  Gather knowledge from the farmer who has watched her growing season increase by a whole month in the last 50 years!  Walk with her in her fields and feel the soil beneath your feet.  Learn from the local hydrogeologist how groundwater is replenished in a community and then plant a rain garden near your school.  Go to a town hall meeting and learn about the decisions facing the community!  Then write your local representative telling them how you feel.  And after you’ve done all this, if you want to blog about it or contribute to a wiki, do it to share, reflect, and discuss, but NOT as a replacement for doing the same with your friends, family, neighbors and classmates, those who are immediately connected to the content of your education as you are.

Modern technology use has its place in education, but not as this article suggests.  It is a learning tool.  I use it as such everyday (Twitter, YouTube, blogs, wikis, etc…) and it enhances my education, but I am not a lifelong learner because I blog or communicate online.  I’m a lifelong learner because learning is integrated into every part of my life, which thankfully is not always in front of a screen or in a hover chair.

1. e-readers are not cheaper than books.  If you look at total cost, including electricity, maintenance, etc… they are not cheaper.  Further, I can’t see how they would be more convenient when traveling – they break a lot easier, they need to be charged and using one on the beach would a serious hassle.

2. For me it comes down to personal choice.  Sure reading articles online, etc… makes sense, but reading an entire book doesn’t.  I’ve tried and I don’t like it.  e-readers will undoubtedly replace books for some people in specific situations.  But like all technology, the book has its place, just like the bicycle.  I can get to work faster than cars some days, and if you look at total cost to society, the environment, etc… I would say the bicycle is superior technology.

Use what’s good, not what’s new.