Blog Post # 2 Video Reactions

Did You Know?   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

I found this video to be very interesting. There were some things that were more shocking than others. Through technology, information is readily available from just about anywhere. I did not know that there were 31 billion searches performed by Google in one month, but I figure at-least a million are done by me. I Google everything. Not only can anyone find educational information by performing a simple search, but it is increasingly easier than ever before to connect with another individual. Social networks such as Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter make it possible to find old friends as well as new ones. It was interesting to learn that if Myspace were a country, it would be the fifth largest in the world. I was also shocked to learn that the number of text messages sent and received daily exceeds the total population of the planet!

This video explains that we are educating students for jobs that do not yet exist. It was shocking to learn that 1 in 2 employees have been at their current job for less than five years. Our students are exposed to more information today than ever before, yet many US schools continue to fall behind. It has been estimated that a week's worth of information printed in the New York Times contains more information than a person living in the 18th century would encounter in their lifetime. 25% of India's population with the highest IQ is greater than the entire US population. They have more honor students than we have kids. I think that it is time to ask, what can US school systems do to better educate their students and integrate this technology that is ever empowering?

Mr. Winkle Wakes  

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm1sCsl2MQY

This video stresses the fact that technology has changed drastically in the past 100 years, but educational setting and process has remained unchanged. Many classrooms do not have proper technology in them and the ones that do fail to use them. The problem may reside in many teachers lack of knowledge concerning the use of various technologies. There may be one computer in a classroom, but it is rarely used to enhance the learning process. Inadequate funding in our schools also contributes to this lack of technological devices provided to our students. 

Students repeat the same classroom agenda year after year listening to lectures and utilizing only pencil and paper to embrace and expel their thoughts, and creative abilities and ideas. If students are not being challenged, they will become bored. Skype, Facebook, and Twitter are technologies used in the everyday lives of many young people. Teachers need to develop ways to integrate such technologies into the learning process. 

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity   

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

This video illustrates the major imbalance between the sciences and the arts present in education  Sir  Ken Robinson states that our schools are killing students' creativity. All children are creative in their own unique way and schools do not set programs into place that encourage creative expression. The Arts are at the bottom of the educational food chain. Many students are told, "You'll never get a job doing that". Because of this popular expression, many kids give up their aspirations towards creative talents and settle into the routine educational experience. 

Children are not afraid to take chances, but the stigma placed on making mistakes deters students from taking chances in the concern that they will be wrong. The dreaded mistake is carried over into the corporate world and in many cases probably prevents new and good ideas from being verbalized. Many creative people think that they are not, because the thing that they were good at in school was not important. It's time to revamp our curriculum so that it educates equally. 

Cecelia Gault (Young Student in Finland) Interviews Sir Ken Robinson

http://blogs.scholastic.com/kidspress/2010/09/breaking-creative-myths.html

Young students understand technology better than most of their teachers. It is important for teachers to be able to relate to their students and in this day and time that means utilizing the newest forms of technology, communications, and interactive materials. Integrating computers into the classroom would prove to be a positive contribution to both the students and teacher's education. Anyone in the education field knows that learning never ends. While students learn from their teachers, students often become the educators. A unity is created when both students and teachers begin to learn together.

 I also think it is possible to incorporate parents into the learning process by utilizing technology. Although it may be far fetched, busy parents who can't make it to meetings may benefit from a Skype meeting with their child's teacher. I have also heard of using twitter to involve parents. Teachers are able to stream classroom information and topics to parents. Instead of mom asking, "What did you do in school today", she has something specific to bring to the table like "Tell me about your class project" etc. 

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-teachers-vicki-davis-video

Mrs. Davis uses technology to teach her students new skills. They are able to connect with students and teachers all over the world through blogging and sites such as Digiteen and the Flat Classroom Project. Technology enables teachers to recognize students interests and strengths. When students are only allotted pen and paper, only certain students will succeed. This video is focused on creating digital citizenship. 

It is important to expose students to new ideas and environments. I know that I feel empowered when I figure out how to do something or learn something new. It's also exciting to accomplish things that you never knew you could do. Technology allows us to succeed further than any other medium.