Like any technology, use is going to dictate effectiveness. If one only manages to figure out the on/off button and camps out on a sofa for hours of undiscerning viewing, the simplistic description of the ills of television come true. If, on the other hand, viewing is done as a social practice (families or co-workers), then it becomes not only an important cultural marker that bonds generations together, but also a key catalyst for discussion … which ultimately is the greatest form of learning.

I get the point of the graphic, but it is very telling that three of the activities with some redeeming value are all actions and the one that is easy to condemn is a device. As some furry monster might say on Sesame Street: One of these things is not like the other.

First, isn’t listening part of watching television?

Second, television can be an active learning experience. I have conversations with my two year daughter when she watches TV. Many times she points to things and says, “What’s that?” I’ll answer and sometimes follow up with my own question like, “What color is that?” I credit our conversations around television for many of the words in Morgan’s ever increasing vocabulary.

As to TV, I love watching the Discovery and National Geographic channels with my kids. I think that there is a lot to be learned there, especially since we discuss the programs while we watch them. Also, as we live in Japan, TV is nearly the only other source of English for my kids besides me…