Blog Assignment 2

Did You Know?

First of all, I must say, no I did not know! That's incredible. I know that many people use Google, YouTube, and send SMS messages daily, but the fact that MILLIONS of people use them every second just blows my mind. That really goes to show how technologically dependent we have become. I don't know if I am anywhere near being prepared to be an educator. Sure, I know the basics of most subjects. However, I never considered that when the kids that I will teach graduate, the jobs available will be so much more advanced than they are now. I wonder how educators that don't have classes like these will accommodate? I need to learn as technology progresses so I will be able to adequately prepare my future students!

Secondly, you would think America, the strongest nation in the world right now, would be the smartest. The fact that we are a dwarf in comparison to India's intelligence is just ridiculous. Not to mention China will soon have more English-speaking people than the rest of the world! Well, why aren't more of us learning to speak Chinese, or even Spanish? We have so much technology, which increases by the minute, yet there are still millions of people who are so much smarter than us. That makes me question if we are really putting our resources to use. We can have all the knowledge and technology in the world, but it's only good to us if we all know how to use it! It can make us so much smarter, or just that much dumber...

Mr. Winkle Wakes

Wow, this video really left an impression on me. I was a bit confused as to what the video was about at first, and what exactly Mr. Winkle was trying to find. However, it turns out to be quite ironic. The one thing he found joy in was really the thing he should have been most disappointed to see. We put so much effort into technology and appearances, making everything appealing to the eye and to the working body. On the other hand, it leaves one to question: how much do we really care about education? We need to understand that the knowledge base of today's children is just as important, because they are the ones who will control the future!

Another disturbing thing is how true this video really is. Granted, there are some schools and classes, such as this one, which implement the use of technology. More often than not, however, a teacher standing up and lecturing all day while the students listen is the only form of learning. I've had several teachers myself that stood up and just talked all period, and honestly I didn't learn a thing. It's quite easy to memorize the material and regurgitate it onto a test. Until teachers start using more innovative technology and giving the students hands-on learning, today's kids won't be able to reach their full potential.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

I love some of the points Ken Robinson made in this video. I completely agree with his statement that we don't grow into creativity, but rather we grow out of it. It's true that schools basically train their students to fit the mold of whatever the fastest growing jobs are, rather than fitting the schooling to match the child's personality and needs. Our creativity is gradually taken away, and it turns us into the fearful individuals that he referred to. Honestly, it limits our full potential as human beings. When that confidence is taken away, it's hard to get back and some people won't make important life changing decisions, not because they aren't fully capable, but simply because they've been told so many times that they can't do something that they start to believe it.

I can also relate to his reference to stereotyping. Americans are so quick to point a finger and try to label people when they aren't exactly the same as everyone else. Personally, I believe a lot of that just has to do with not wanting to deal with those special kids. They'll label them with ADHD or some other learning disorder in a heartbeat rather than actually talking to the child and trying to figure out why he/she is acting that way. In the long run, that just leads to more problems. When that creative outlet is taken away, especially from kids who learn better actively, that pent up emotion has to come out somewhere, and many times that's where the behavioral issues begin. If we actually took the time to figure each child out, I think we would find that there is a lot more diversity than just the usual 9-5 job that most schools put their students on the path for.

A Vision for 21st Century Learning

This has been my favorite video by far that I have watched today. Whoever came up with the idea to integrate learning into a video game, almost as if to live the life that the ancient Romans or other civilizations did, was pure genius. I completely agree with this learning style. As it is now, students don't learn as they should. They can memorize things, but that's extremely boring and monotonous to them and the information that they learn doesn't stick. Getting a child involved, however, and letting them explore the mysteries for themselves will keep them entertained and they will actually be able to relate to the things that they are learning. Video games really do work too. I can name a half dozen kids who can give you step by step details on how to play and win their favorite game, but if you asked them who the first president was, they wouldn't be able to tell you. The application of the knowledge that they need to learn, along with giving them hands-on interaction, is the key to giving the students a better, more worthwhile education.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

The students in this video had such a sense of empowerment. I believe that most of the time if students are given the reins on their education, they will go over and beyond what is expected of them, just as these students did. When a teacher is able to actively learn from her students just as much as she teaches them, that's when the classroom environment really becomes a success. One of the greatest hurdles in the school age years is getting students to actually WANT to learn. Once that is accomplished and they realize what they can do and how they can be an impact, the possibilities are endless.

The greatest thing about this video and what the students gain is their ability to actively use technology and apply it to their lives, as well as the lives of those around them. For most people, the entire work life revolves around dealing with other people and learning how to successfully interact with them. These students are learning these skills early, not only by interacting with other kids their age all around the world, but also by utilizing their skills and teaming together to accomplish things even though they aren't even in the same country. These students will already have valuable experience, and won't have to be thrown into the working world unprepared like other kids who are instructed in a standard classroom. This kind of learning would make a great impact if all school settings would adapt this amazing teacher's way of communication.