Running Head: GRAVA: POSTMAN PAPER

Postman Paper

Alison C. Grava

ET 690 Educational Technology Seminar

Loyola University Maryland

Dr. David M. Marcovitz, Professor

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Postmans Technology Principles - What does it mean?

There is a science to the education of America. At its core is the ever evolving nature of

how to go about completing such an enormous undertaking. With the evolution of man,

technology is and always has been what helps us make such great strides. The earliest inception

of technology had nothing to do with the electronic gadgets we think of today, but rather, the

invention of necessity. For example, the wheel came about because man needed something to aid

in the moving of objects at a faster pace. Initially, the wheel was glorious and helped in the

mobility of man. Postmans ten principles suggests that technology, while helpful, does not

come without its price.

Technology allows the individual to make gains quickly, but often it does not consider

the ramifications it has of the existing state of the society. Back to the wheel. Once this piece of

technology was introduced and it became part of the culture of man. It allowed mankind to travel

where is had not previously, interacting with people that he never had. The drawback, in this

case, involves the spread of germs and bacteria that other groups had never been exposed to

before. In some cases, this caused populations of people to become ill and die. Conversely, the

wheel allowed for a larger gene pool for the spread of population. When you consider the wheel

as it has evolved into a necessity for vehicles today. The automobiles of today contribute to

pollution, thus increasing the greenhouse gases which causes the global rise in temperature,

making each month of 2016 the hottest on record (Perkins, 2016). The wheel, as a new

technology, changed the perspective that mankind had for their ability to travel. There was no

way of knowing that it would impact the Spaceship Earth or enhance the Law of Diversity

involving language (Postman, 1995, p. 145-151). The simple technology of the wheel that came

about around 3500 B.C, which was not originally used for making pottery and transportation,

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would never have been thought to be a harbinger of global warming (Gambino, 2009). There are

many advantages when technology is introduced into a culture, but there are times when the

disadvantages are difficult to predict. This Faustian bargain with technology in the schools could

be the answer to engaging todays student, or it could change the way education takes place in

the world. It is hard to say what the disadvantages will be in the future, but for now, educators

must be willing to explore the most responsible and impactful way to use the various

technologies in our lessons.

Expansion of the Meaning of Principles

When considering the high speed which technology changes and slow pace that education

makes changes, it seems there are conflicting forces at work regarding the two coming together.

Postman continues these principles more directly to the biases that are inherent to the advancing

technology. When looking at the more immediate forms of technology, these biases imply a

litany of areas: intellectual and emotional, political, sensory, social, and content (Postman, 1995,

p. 193). With the ease of accessibility to technology in the present day culture of America, we

often forget about the Spaceship Earth narrative Postman discusses (1995, p. 91-113). Rarely

do we stop to consider what this flood of technology does long term in the sense of such biases.

Technology in the classroom can engage, excite, and expand the way we have structured

education. With more information at our fingertips, there is an infinite way to teach students

about any given topic. The opposing factors involve accessibility, and not just if a student can

get onto a computer to look something up on the web. The accessibility that can take our

students down a rabbit hole and can hurt them. Many schools in order to counter this well-

founded fear have filters on what can and cannot be accessed when in the school building, but

these filters change the moment that we put tiny computers, like smartphones, into our students

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hands where the filter to protect doesnt exist. As an educational system, we both applaud and

condemn the filters that the system has put into place. This filter works to level the playing field

by addressing several of the bias that Postmans principles examine.

These new technologies in education creates the opportunity to learn twenty-four hours a

day, seven days a week. Because teachers have traditionally been the source of all information,

the role must adapt to this. What we may have forgotten with this shift is that teachers are

human and not available all the time. Parents and children alike, contact teachers all the time

through learning management systems and email, whether it be about an assignment, grade, and

often it is done without the thought to the teachers role beyond the classroom. This has taken the

act of educating out of the four walls of a classroom, and it has placed the teacher in a quandary:

How do I shutdown in order to maintain my passion for teaching when I am in teacher mode

every minute of every day? Being on all the time can and will lead to burnout.

Technology in Education regarding Postmans Narratives/Principles

Consider the advancements that we have made with technology in the schools, Postmans

The Law of Diversity narrative begs the question of authenticity in teaching. Thinking about

the online class and how it has opened up learning for nontraditional students, whether that be

the college student, and now even kindergarten through 12th grade can be done through this

medium. The classmates in this online forum can range in ages, ethnicity, economic status,

basically, in every way imaginable. As most of the learning management systems, the courses

are designed to create that authenticity for the student.

Through the narrative of The Law of Diversity, Postman suggests that, Diversity is the

story that tells of how our interactions with many kinds of people make us into what we are

(1995, p. 144). Through this lens the online experience can enhance the individual through the

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interaction. This narrative includes expressions of diversity surrounding: language, religion,

custom, and art and artifacts (Postman, 1995, p. 145). Education provides a platform for learning

and when it is moved onto the learning management system, the students can craft their language

through discussion boards; thus, allowing them to craft their voice. To consider the advantage

that would fit with the principles presented by Postman, the students can be thoughtful in their

responses by providing process time. When conducting these discussions in face-to-face

situations, some of the students are less likely to speak at this time, but have a lot to offer to a

conversation, are able to express their thoughts that would normally only be given to the teacher

in a reflection of the discussion.

I have experienced this advantage when I place my students into literature circles and ask

them to complete an online discussion. They have produced some fantastic insights that have

contributed to a deeper understanding of a text. When their discussions have been focused on

the language that the author uses in a purposeful way, they are able to explore the use of

language as a study in critical thinking. The learning management system provides them with the

opportunity to pause and reflect on purposeful conversation. This often leads to their ability to

translate that in a stronger face-to-face conversation in the classroom.

Conversely, this narrative of The Word Weavers and World Makers begs to consider

that the learning management system takes away that authentic conversation with their peers and

educator, where there is a more rapid response to issues with the language they encounter in a

reading or writing. Postman suggests, the value of a question is determined not only by the

specificity and richness of the answers it produces but also by the quantity and quality of the new

question (1995, p. 187). I have students who are more willing to post something to have a

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record of the feedback which leaves them with more questions that they do not ask because they

feel that they have already been given their time.

Another technology Postmans principles should address is the movement to a one-to-one

device program in education. When the political bias is examined, there is a wide range of

opportunity to have access to the technology. I work in a large county with a very diverse

population. While every school teaches the same curriculum, they do not have the same access

to technology across the county, as the resources for each school are determined by the

principals vision. This was never more evident than when I moved from one high school that

had a principal that saw putting more technology in the hands of the teachers and students may

encourage engagement. Upon entering my new school, I had to fight to get a smart board in my

room and the LCD was on a cart rather than in the ceiling. This forced a different direction for

the way that I presented information to the students, as well as, the way I set up my room. When

the one-to-one device program is introduced into the system, this inequity will disappear with

regard to the political bias.

The disadvantages that will be inherent with this program comes from the willingness of

the system to allow students access to the open information on the internet. Levinson (2010)

discusses the stumbling blocks when working to create a safe environment for students to use

these devices. He explains that the student voice was empowered and this discourse forced the

system to rework what would and would not be blocked (Levinson, 2010, p. 16). However, these

opportunities allow for student voice, which I believe is a narrative that Postman should explore.

Conclusion

Postmans metaphor of God as purpose is a fascinating way to examine obstacles that our

educational system will face as we move toward more technology in the classrooms. Technology

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comes with both the advantages and disadvantages. As we move forward, it is vital that we keep

in mind the ten principles Postman presents, so that we can address the best uses of technology at

the appropriate time for our students. Just like the wheel, this responsible use of technology

could expand our educational horizons.

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Resources

Gambino, M. (2009, June 17). A Salute to the Wheel. Retrieved September 22, 2016, from

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-salute-to-the-wheel-31805121/?no-ist

Levinson, M. (2010). From Fear to Facebook. Washington, D.C.: International Society for

Technology in Education.

Perkins, L. (2016, September 22) STEM Job Shadow Presentation of Goddard [Hyper wall

Presentation].

Postman, Neil. (1995). The end of education: Redefining the value of school. New York: Alfred

A. Knopf.

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