Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Blog Post #5
Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? Post
Again, I love how original the post is. Whether he was being serious or not (I don’t he was) it came across as real. I have extended family around me that somewhat feels very similar to how Dr.McLeod. Sure, we as teachers can teach kids how to use technology and what it should be used for, but as soon as no one’s around they are going to explore the internet. You can only limit what a child (or anyone for that matter) sees or does for so long. Just make sure you’re honest with them about the dangers out there and be smart about what you tell them and what you shouldn’t tell them. McLeod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He's also the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the nation’s only academic center dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and was a co-creator of the wildly popular video series, Did You Know? (Shift Happens). He has received numerous national awards for his technology leadership work, including recognitions from the cable industry, Phi Delta Kappa, and the National School Boards Association. In Spring 2011 he was a Visiting Canterbury Fellow at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Dr. McLeod blogs regularly about technology leadership issues at Dangerously Irrelevant and Mind Dump and occasionally at The Huffington Post.
From an educational standpoint, more technology needs to be in the classroom and we need to think of innovative ways to use more/relevant technologies in school. Seeing both sides to this is very important. Technology, just like everything else on this planet, can be used for good or bad. Example: We've always had a choice to buy a porno magazine and not to, just like we now have a choice to visit those sites or not. Again as parents and educators, we have to see where the fine line is with kids and adjust.
The iSchool Initiative and ZeitgeistYoungMind's Entry Video's
I could write all day about Travis Allen's video's. I've always thought it was only a matter of time until we went to a more digital way or learning in schools. For all the reasons Travis states, and more. I'm actually surprised we're not there yet even in High Schools. I think the University of South Alabama's (and other colleges as well) online system is flawed. If it were me designing and orchestrating how an online site works for a University, it would be very different. For one, EVERYTHING WOULD BE IN ONE PLACE. It only makes sense. Having our University Email in one specific spot, our USAOnline courses in another location, and then there's PAWS. It is absolutely ridiculous. Not to mention confusing. There should be on specific hub for a University with links inside that hub to take us to whatever other sites we need to go to. It would be much simpler for everyone involved.
As for Travis, I'm glad to see he is actually doing this. It's one thing to talk about it and another to put it into motion and make things happen. I think it'll be a while before we go to a more digital way of schooling (I don't think we'll ever go fully digital in our lifetime). There are so many benefits as Travis mentioned not to do it. Helping the planet, saving jobs and money are just a few that are extremely important. I enjoyed these video's very much and I'm interested in seeing what all will come from it.
Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir Video
In all honesty, I don't even know what to think about this. I know that there were a million things running through my head as I watched it. The possibilities seem endless. While watching, I was thinking of teaching an entire classroom of student's as they all looked at me from their room/computer. That just seems so awesome to me.
As far as the actual video itself it is amazing to actually pull off such a feat without practicing in person. I've been in a choir before as well as played other instruments and when you are performing it takes a ton of practice and rhythm. I think it speaks volumes of how well all these singers performed as well as the possibilities using this same technology.
Teaching in the 21st Century Video
Kevin Roberts conveys some very interesting points in his video. He points out something I've been thinking about myself for a long time. There's very little information student's cannot find on the internet. That wasn't the case 12 years ago. So what do we teach them? He really reached me when he said teachers are no longer the main source of information, we are the filter. The information is there to be used and it's our job to teach them HOW to use it and use it effectively.
As far as how it will affect me as an educator, I think there are still some intangibles that can't be solved with technology. Like interacting with other humans in person, forming real friendships, along with the code of ethics and morals students learn while in school. However, I believe it challenges us as educators to not only think outside the box as to how to use technology in the classroom, but also how to be a meaningful teacher when not using technology. We need to be focused on what they can take with them for the rest of their life after they leave our school. To me, that is the real challenge.
Again, I love how original the post is. Whether he was being serious or not (I don’t he was) it came across as real. I have extended family around me that somewhat feels very similar to how Dr.McLeod. Sure, we as teachers can teach kids how to use technology and what it should be used for, but as soon as no one’s around they are going to explore the internet. You can only limit what a child (or anyone for that matter) sees or does for so long. Just make sure you’re honest with them about the dangers out there and be smart about what you tell them and what you shouldn’t tell them. McLeod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He's also the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the nation’s only academic center dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and was a co-creator of the wildly popular video series, Did You Know? (Shift Happens). He has received numerous national awards for his technology leadership work, including recognitions from the cable industry, Phi Delta Kappa, and the National School Boards Association. In Spring 2011 he was a Visiting Canterbury Fellow at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Dr. McLeod blogs regularly about technology leadership issues at Dangerously Irrelevant and Mind Dump and occasionally at The Huffington Post.
From an educational standpoint, more technology needs to be in the classroom and we need to think of innovative ways to use more/relevant technologies in school. Seeing both sides to this is very important. Technology, just like everything else on this planet, can be used for good or bad. Example: We've always had a choice to buy a porno magazine and not to, just like we now have a choice to visit those sites or not. Again as parents and educators, we have to see where the fine line is with kids and adjust.
The iSchool Initiative and ZeitgeistYoungMind's Entry Video's
I could write all day about Travis Allen's video's. I've always thought it was only a matter of time until we went to a more digital way or learning in schools. For all the reasons Travis states, and more. I'm actually surprised we're not there yet even in High Schools. I think the University of South Alabama's (and other colleges as well) online system is flawed. If it were me designing and orchestrating how an online site works for a University, it would be very different. For one, EVERYTHING WOULD BE IN ONE PLACE. It only makes sense. Having our University Email in one specific spot, our USAOnline courses in another location, and then there's PAWS. It is absolutely ridiculous. Not to mention confusing. There should be on specific hub for a University with links inside that hub to take us to whatever other sites we need to go to. It would be much simpler for everyone involved.
As for Travis, I'm glad to see he is actually doing this. It's one thing to talk about it and another to put it into motion and make things happen. I think it'll be a while before we go to a more digital way of schooling (I don't think we'll ever go fully digital in our lifetime). There are so many benefits as Travis mentioned not to do it. Helping the planet, saving jobs and money are just a few that are extremely important. I enjoyed these video's very much and I'm interested in seeing what all will come from it.
Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir Video
In all honesty, I don't even know what to think about this. I know that there were a million things running through my head as I watched it. The possibilities seem endless. While watching, I was thinking of teaching an entire classroom of student's as they all looked at me from their room/computer. That just seems so awesome to me.
As far as the actual video itself it is amazing to actually pull off such a feat without practicing in person. I've been in a choir before as well as played other instruments and when you are performing it takes a ton of practice and rhythm. I think it speaks volumes of how well all these singers performed as well as the possibilities using this same technology.
Teaching in the 21st Century Video
Kevin Roberts conveys some very interesting points in his video. He points out something I've been thinking about myself for a long time. There's very little information student's cannot find on the internet. That wasn't the case 12 years ago. So what do we teach them? He really reached me when he said teachers are no longer the main source of information, we are the filter. The information is there to be used and it's our job to teach them HOW to use it and use it effectively.
As far as how it will affect me as an educator, I think there are still some intangibles that can't be solved with technology. Like interacting with other humans in person, forming real friendships, along with the code of ethics and morals students learn while in school. However, I believe it challenges us as educators to not only think outside the box as to how to use technology in the classroom, but also how to be a meaningful teacher when not using technology. We need to be focused on what they can take with them for the rest of their life after they leave our school. To me, that is the real challenge.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Blog Post #4
The benefits of podcasting in the classroom Video
I'm very familiar with podcasts. I've done a few of my own over the years as well as a couple with others. I have always been and always will be an advocate of using podcasts in the classroom. It's definitely an effective way of interacting with students that can be unbelievably helpful outside of the classroom. This video shows the things I've known for years and I'm glad you I watched it. Podcasts are a way of learning that students today can relate to and understand making it relevant, new, and exciting way to learn.
I totally agree that it promotes creativity and innovation because very few student's have participated in a podcast before. Amazing things can happen during a student first podcast and it's very fun to see the looks on their faces when you see your student's having fun and learning at the same time. As the video also mentioned, it's great for those student's who miss class for whatever reason. I wish podcasts were available for me up to this point for this very reason. Another plus is creating and participating in podcasts is extremely easy and anyone can do it. There are a ton of ways and different things you can do with your student's to make it useful pertaining to what they are learning. Last, parents get to hear what's going on in class for themselves and I know they will appreciate that. I know my mom would have.
100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better Blog
I think I'm going to thoroughly enjoy the podcast portion of this class. As I said above, it's nothing new to me, and I've been doing this for a while now. It's something I haven't forgotten about, but I haven't used it a ton either. Having said that, there are still quite a few things/programs I didn't know about before reading this blog.
VangoNotes is one I hope to get familiar with and try out. I'm always looking for new and different ways to try out new ways to learn and I'm excited to see what it is all about. I could name 50 more that interest me such as AudioLearn. Any advantage one can use to help them prepare or give them an edge in studying for important tests is student's should eat up. I look forward to trying some of these out and I think this is something every student should take a look at. On a closing note, growing up in school I was always extremely bored with reading the chapters andlooking up answers in the book, reading the chapters, just the old fashioned way of learning, etc. It didn't suit me well. I did it, but things like podcasts make it so much easier for me to learn material. I wish it was around when I was in elementary and middle school. I'm happy for the student's of today and especially my student's, because they will be the best podcasters in the region ha ha.
The Education Podcasting Network Blog
This is a very interesting site and I've long thought about making a site like this myself. There needs to be a central hub (or at least a select few) for teacher's and student's alike to use and help them learn. The idea is genius and I'm sure someone out there has done it already. I envisioned (and this site seems like it's scratching the surface of something much bigger) categorizing thousands of podcasts for their respective field and creating an easy and seamless way of navigating through specific podcasts that reference exactly what you are looking to learn about.
One gripe I have with some certain podcasts regardless of topic, is the length of them. It depends on what you're talking about, but in general I think most of them are too long. Thus comes the idea of cutting audio and pasting together the parts you think are relevant to a particular student. Site's like this are on to something, but I often get frustrated viewing them because of what they could be. Nonetheless, you have to start somewhere. Who knows, maybe if I find the time and money, I'll create such a site that student's from all over can go to and easily choose between the millions of podcasts that pertain to the exact material they need to be studying. It would warm my heart, to know I've helped so many people. Podcasts are an exciting way to learn and I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for podcasting.
I'm very familiar with podcasts. I've done a few of my own over the years as well as a couple with others. I have always been and always will be an advocate of using podcasts in the classroom. It's definitely an effective way of interacting with students that can be unbelievably helpful outside of the classroom. This video shows the things I've known for years and I'm glad you I watched it. Podcasts are a way of learning that students today can relate to and understand making it relevant, new, and exciting way to learn.
I totally agree that it promotes creativity and innovation because very few student's have participated in a podcast before. Amazing things can happen during a student first podcast and it's very fun to see the looks on their faces when you see your student's having fun and learning at the same time. As the video also mentioned, it's great for those student's who miss class for whatever reason. I wish podcasts were available for me up to this point for this very reason. Another plus is creating and participating in podcasts is extremely easy and anyone can do it. There are a ton of ways and different things you can do with your student's to make it useful pertaining to what they are learning. Last, parents get to hear what's going on in class for themselves and I know they will appreciate that. I know my mom would have.
100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better Blog
I think I'm going to thoroughly enjoy the podcast portion of this class. As I said above, it's nothing new to me, and I've been doing this for a while now. It's something I haven't forgotten about, but I haven't used it a ton either. Having said that, there are still quite a few things/programs I didn't know about before reading this blog.
VangoNotes is one I hope to get familiar with and try out. I'm always looking for new and different ways to try out new ways to learn and I'm excited to see what it is all about. I could name 50 more that interest me such as AudioLearn. Any advantage one can use to help them prepare or give them an edge in studying for important tests is student's should eat up. I look forward to trying some of these out and I think this is something every student should take a look at. On a closing note, growing up in school I was always extremely bored with reading the chapters andlooking up answers in the book, reading the chapters, just the old fashioned way of learning, etc. It didn't suit me well. I did it, but things like podcasts make it so much easier for me to learn material. I wish it was around when I was in elementary and middle school. I'm happy for the student's of today and especially my student's, because they will be the best podcasters in the region ha ha.
The Education Podcasting Network Blog
This is a very interesting site and I've long thought about making a site like this myself. There needs to be a central hub (or at least a select few) for teacher's and student's alike to use and help them learn. The idea is genius and I'm sure someone out there has done it already. I envisioned (and this site seems like it's scratching the surface of something much bigger) categorizing thousands of podcasts for their respective field and creating an easy and seamless way of navigating through specific podcasts that reference exactly what you are looking to learn about.
One gripe I have with some certain podcasts regardless of topic, is the length of them. It depends on what you're talking about, but in general I think most of them are too long. Thus comes the idea of cutting audio and pasting together the parts you think are relevant to a particular student. Site's like this are on to something, but I often get frustrated viewing them because of what they could be. Nonetheless, you have to start somewhere. Who knows, maybe if I find the time and money, I'll create such a site that student's from all over can go to and easily choose between the millions of podcasts that pertain to the exact material they need to be studying. It would warm my heart, to know I've helped so many people. Podcasts are an exciting way to learn and I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for podcasting.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
C4T Assignment
"My First Experience With Google Plus!" By: Jenny She
My response is below. 9/11/11
My name is Jonathan Giles and I'm in Dr. Strange EDM310 class and I'm assigned to your blog.
I'm getting used to Google+ as well. As you can see where I commented on your blog above, I hadn't yet signed up for it, but last week I did. The circle aspect as well as the Huddle feature have really spiked my interest. I think the possibilities are endless with G+ and I can't wait to see where it's at a year from now. I've enjoyed reading your experience with Google Plus more so because I'm using it for the first time too. Keep blogging!
Jonathan Giles
"Would Google Plus Be Useful in the Classroom" By: Jenny She
My response is below. 9/4/11
I've personally never used Google+ but I've heard many great things about it. I believe if it attracts a huge following it will be another great way of using technology in the classroom. The example you mentioned of being able to connect with students via video conference from their own household is just amazing. We must put things like this to use. I enjoyed reading your article very much.
My Summary of the two comment's I left above: 9/11/11
I've enjoyed reading Jenny's post a lot so far. I like that she's up to date with the latest technology and I like the idea's she has and how she expresses them. As I mentioned above, I love that I'm also experiencing Google Plus myself at almost the exact same time as she is. It's almost as if we are going on this journey together.
I look forward to continuing to read her blog and reading about all of her journey's. I believe we are a lot alike and that's amazing considering how far apart we are. It helps doing these assignments when you're paired with someone you can relate to. I'm looking forward to more of the same.
Jonathan Giles
My response is below. 9/11/11
My name is Jonathan Giles and I'm in Dr. Strange EDM310 class and I'm assigned to your blog.
I'm getting used to Google+ as well. As you can see where I commented on your blog above, I hadn't yet signed up for it, but last week I did. The circle aspect as well as the Huddle feature have really spiked my interest. I think the possibilities are endless with G+ and I can't wait to see where it's at a year from now. I've enjoyed reading your experience with Google Plus more so because I'm using it for the first time too. Keep blogging!
Jonathan Giles
"Would Google Plus Be Useful in the Classroom" By: Jenny She
My response is below. 9/4/11
I've personally never used Google+ but I've heard many great things about it. I believe if it attracts a huge following it will be another great way of using technology in the classroom. The example you mentioned of being able to connect with students via video conference from their own household is just amazing. We must put things like this to use. I enjoyed reading your article very much.
My Summary of the two comment's I left above: 9/11/11
I've enjoyed reading Jenny's post a lot so far. I like that she's up to date with the latest technology and I like the idea's she has and how she expresses them. As I mentioned above, I love that I'm also experiencing Google Plus myself at almost the exact same time as she is. It's almost as if we are going on this journey together.
I look forward to continuing to read her blog and reading about all of her journey's. I believe we are a lot alike and that's amazing considering how far apart we are. It helps doing these assignments when you're paired with someone you can relate to. I'm looking forward to more of the same.
Jonathan Giles
Blog Post #3
It's Not About the Technology
This article is very insightful and one in which I agree with in many ways. I also believe technology needs to be pushed and we need to find new ways to use it in the classroom. However, in my time in school, some of the best teacher's I had that had the most impact on my life were the old school teacher's that had been around since my parent's were in school. They taught me about the most important things in life. About family, values, honor, how to be a man, etc. Technology isn't needed for these things. I hope as future teachers, we don't lost sight of what some of the old school teacher's brought/bring to the table.
Kelly hit some key points in her post citing teacher's must be learners and that technology is useless without good teaching. While I stand by my first paragraph above, I believe this is where I think new teacher's such as myself, can have a greater impact than those from the last generation. I hope to be somewhat old school in how I interact with my student's (when I'm not using technology) but i love technology and it fascinates me so I plan on bringing the best of both worlds to my future students. I think it is very important not to forget the teaching we received, the principles we learned as student's, and how they're still relevant today. Once we can do that, then we can move forward by making our own mark in new and exciting ways for our student's of the future. I look forward to doing both and eagerly accept the challenge.
Is It Okay To Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
I can completely understand why Karl Fisch won the award for the most influential post of 2007. That blog entry was definitely ahead of its time. I agree a lot with Fisch in how far technology has come and how it is a part of our daily lives. My father is 60 years old and is more active on Facebook than me. I'm 22 years old and it's amazing what all has taken place just since this article was written and it's only going to continue. I depend on technology and I love it. Not only for my personal life, but there are plenty of ways I hope to utilize it more and more when I become a teacher.
The time we live in is changing rapidly and I think Karl hit the nail on the head when he said "If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write." That's a bold statement but it's one that is so true. I encourage everyone to embrace technology. Not run from it. One thing that I tell those i encounter who say they don't know how to use technology and never will is that it's not that difficult. I see a future where you almost have to know how to use it and use it well, or your future may not be a bright one.
Social Media Count by: Gary Hayes
This really opened up my eyes. I love statistics so this is right up my alley. It summarizes just how fast everything is changing. As a future teacher this screams to me many things. The longer we wait to get our student's involved in using technology for their own benefit the worse it's affecting them and their future.
Also, it tells me that if you're planning on getting into the teaching profession, you better get ready to adapt and roll with the times. Either be committed to it, or get out. With technology, social media, etc becoming more mainstream, you have to know how to use and learn to use future technology as it comes out. I believe GOogle+ is becoming the next Facebook. I believe the groundwork for how student's will learn in the classroom has recently been layed. Now we just have to learn how to incorporate it.
A Vision of Student's Today Video
This is a wonderful video. It highlights so many issues we as student's have to deal with today. "If these walls could talk, what would they say." "I buy $100 textbooks I never read." This video describes student's lives as they are right now. There is no telling how many textbooks i've bought and never really used. I think this video points out many flaws of our educational system.
If those walls could talk I think they would say that "Not much has changed." As I've pointed out before, that is good and bad. Good in that school for the most part has remained a constant in a world that changes too fast for most to keep up with. The negative side to that is that if there is one thing that should have changed with the times more so than anything else, it is school.
This article is very insightful and one in which I agree with in many ways. I also believe technology needs to be pushed and we need to find new ways to use it in the classroom. However, in my time in school, some of the best teacher's I had that had the most impact on my life were the old school teacher's that had been around since my parent's were in school. They taught me about the most important things in life. About family, values, honor, how to be a man, etc. Technology isn't needed for these things. I hope as future teachers, we don't lost sight of what some of the old school teacher's brought/bring to the table.
Kelly hit some key points in her post citing teacher's must be learners and that technology is useless without good teaching. While I stand by my first paragraph above, I believe this is where I think new teacher's such as myself, can have a greater impact than those from the last generation. I hope to be somewhat old school in how I interact with my student's (when I'm not using technology) but i love technology and it fascinates me so I plan on bringing the best of both worlds to my future students. I think it is very important not to forget the teaching we received, the principles we learned as student's, and how they're still relevant today. Once we can do that, then we can move forward by making our own mark in new and exciting ways for our student's of the future. I look forward to doing both and eagerly accept the challenge.
Is It Okay To Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
I can completely understand why Karl Fisch won the award for the most influential post of 2007. That blog entry was definitely ahead of its time. I agree a lot with Fisch in how far technology has come and how it is a part of our daily lives. My father is 60 years old and is more active on Facebook than me. I'm 22 years old and it's amazing what all has taken place just since this article was written and it's only going to continue. I depend on technology and I love it. Not only for my personal life, but there are plenty of ways I hope to utilize it more and more when I become a teacher.
The time we live in is changing rapidly and I think Karl hit the nail on the head when he said "If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write." That's a bold statement but it's one that is so true. I encourage everyone to embrace technology. Not run from it. One thing that I tell those i encounter who say they don't know how to use technology and never will is that it's not that difficult. I see a future where you almost have to know how to use it and use it well, or your future may not be a bright one.
Social Media Count by: Gary Hayes
This really opened up my eyes. I love statistics so this is right up my alley. It summarizes just how fast everything is changing. As a future teacher this screams to me many things. The longer we wait to get our student's involved in using technology for their own benefit the worse it's affecting them and their future.
Also, it tells me that if you're planning on getting into the teaching profession, you better get ready to adapt and roll with the times. Either be committed to it, or get out. With technology, social media, etc becoming more mainstream, you have to know how to use and learn to use future technology as it comes out. I believe GOogle+ is becoming the next Facebook. I believe the groundwork for how student's will learn in the classroom has recently been layed. Now we just have to learn how to incorporate it.
A Vision of Student's Today Video
This is a wonderful video. It highlights so many issues we as student's have to deal with today. "If these walls could talk, what would they say." "I buy $100 textbooks I never read." This video describes student's lives as they are right now. There is no telling how many textbooks i've bought and never really used. I think this video points out many flaws of our educational system.
If those walls could talk I think they would say that "Not much has changed." As I've pointed out before, that is good and bad. Good in that school for the most part has remained a constant in a world that changes too fast for most to keep up with. The negative side to that is that if there is one thing that should have changed with the times more so than anything else, it is school.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Blog Post #2`
Did You Know? 3.0 YouTube video
This video really opened my eyes. China becoming the #1 speaking language is unreal. It makes sense with them having so many more people, but it's just something i've never really thought a lot about. The part about 25% of India's population having higher IQ's than the total population in the U.S. is unbelievably alarming. Growing up in our educational system, we've always been told how much smarter China and India are, but I had no idea the gap was so huge. The individual with internet access no longer has to ask the people in their lives personal questions to find out the answers. They can just google it.
The biggest thing I took from the video though, without nitpicking through each stat it gave, is that our world is now evolving at such a rapid pace. And it's able to do that because of the equipment/machine's humans have created and their capabilities. I think it is imperative that, as a society, we don't let the world evolve at such a fast pace that we can't keep up anymore. It makes one wonder what direction our world is heading in. And with all that goes on every second,minute,hour,day,week,month,year,etc how long will this world last? As teachers I believe we need to do the best job we can at staying on top of our profession as much as we can with how fast everything changes. These are exciting, but also scary, times we are living in and one of the reasons I'm excited about being a teacher is because I can help shape the future generations leaders and make a difference.
Mr. Winkle Wakes Video
This was such a wonderful video to watch. Poor Mr. Winkle. It's amazing how much the world has changed in the last 100 years. It's frightening to think what our world will be like 100 years from now. So many things have changed that it's hard for people to keep up with everything that goes on around them. It makes total sense to me that older people don't understand the internet, how it works, etc and their fascinated by it and technology in general but most of them don't know how to use it themselves.
Mr. Winkle depicts this in the video. One glaring thing that the video points out however, is how school operates for the most part has not changed in the last 100 years. I believe that's good and bad. And regardless of what I believe, it won't be that way much longer. College has already changed. Everything is online. Just about everything is there for everyone else to see, like, or comment on. School doesn't need a total revamp, but it does need to be more modernized and take advantage of the tools that are out there for better learning.
The Importance of Creativity Video
Education means a lot to people. It's a very personal subject. As teacher's our job is to educate our students and help prepare them for the future. But one thing this video pointed out is we don't have a great idea of what the world will be like 5 years from now much less 20 years later and beyond. The video also mentioned that music and arts have always been viewed as not as important as the other main subjects. It's usually the last two in order of importance. I've often wondered that myself and this video rekindled some old thoughts. I don't exactly express myself through art or sing in music, but the few things that I do in each are very special to me. They are a direct reflection of who I am. I agree that a bigger emphasis needs to be placed on music and art.
Another thing the video talked about, and I agree whole-heartedly with is how the entire curriculum is designed strictly for the ultimate goal which is to determine what you will do. Where you will work. It classifies human's as grades. It shows our mistakes. We're educated to limit/eliminate mistakes which ultimately kills creativity. We must find a way to place a bigger emphasis on how people express themselves and stop funneling everyone down a path that limits their creativeness.
Cecilia Gault Assignment
I think in order to make the U.S. more competitive we have to think outside the box. We have to push creativity to the maximum. In my opinion, and judging by the article it would agree, that we need an overhaul in how we judge success in the United States. Grades are important. In my opinion they need to remain as the most important aspect in judging someone's educational success. However, creativity, arts, music, ways that people express themselves should be right up there with grades.
We need to find intuitive ways of incorporating technology in the school system. Find ways to use this technology and make it actually useful for students in the real world. I believe in order for the U.S. to get on par with the other elite academic countries we have to practice what we preach. I think to get there, the leaders who orchestrate our system have to do exactly what I'm talking about right now. Think of creative ways to achieve the success. Creative ways to express the educational ability of our country. Be innovators, not followers.
Vicki Davis Assignment
This video is exactly what I've been talking about throughout this entire post. What the teacher was doing in the video I believe is only the beginning. What she did with her students was awesome. I think it's crucial that we show our student's the world and connect them to it. I think it's helpful for them to know how to do this and beneficial for them as well. It opens up the mind. There are many, and I believe I belong in this group, that learn so much better by working on a computer, doing things ourself without a pencil and piece of paper. It allows us to flourish where maybe before, we weren't being reached.
I personally believe video blogs are next and they'll be a huge way of the future, as well as video conferencing. Perhaps in Spanish class in America for instance, speaking with a student that's fluid in Spanish wanting to learn English, connecting them via video conference, partner each with a teacher beside them to help each student out and I bet each student would progress so much faster in each study. That's just a starting point. The possibilities are endless in ways you can integrate technology in the classroom and what the teacher did in this video is wonderful and the start of it.
This video really opened my eyes. China becoming the #1 speaking language is unreal. It makes sense with them having so many more people, but it's just something i've never really thought a lot about. The part about 25% of India's population having higher IQ's than the total population in the U.S. is unbelievably alarming. Growing up in our educational system, we've always been told how much smarter China and India are, but I had no idea the gap was so huge. The individual with internet access no longer has to ask the people in their lives personal questions to find out the answers. They can just google it.
The biggest thing I took from the video though, without nitpicking through each stat it gave, is that our world is now evolving at such a rapid pace. And it's able to do that because of the equipment/machine's humans have created and their capabilities. I think it is imperative that, as a society, we don't let the world evolve at such a fast pace that we can't keep up anymore. It makes one wonder what direction our world is heading in. And with all that goes on every second,minute,hour,day,week,month,year,etc how long will this world last? As teachers I believe we need to do the best job we can at staying on top of our profession as much as we can with how fast everything changes. These are exciting, but also scary, times we are living in and one of the reasons I'm excited about being a teacher is because I can help shape the future generations leaders and make a difference.
Mr. Winkle Wakes Video
This was such a wonderful video to watch. Poor Mr. Winkle. It's amazing how much the world has changed in the last 100 years. It's frightening to think what our world will be like 100 years from now. So many things have changed that it's hard for people to keep up with everything that goes on around them. It makes total sense to me that older people don't understand the internet, how it works, etc and their fascinated by it and technology in general but most of them don't know how to use it themselves.
Mr. Winkle depicts this in the video. One glaring thing that the video points out however, is how school operates for the most part has not changed in the last 100 years. I believe that's good and bad. And regardless of what I believe, it won't be that way much longer. College has already changed. Everything is online. Just about everything is there for everyone else to see, like, or comment on. School doesn't need a total revamp, but it does need to be more modernized and take advantage of the tools that are out there for better learning.
The Importance of Creativity Video
Education means a lot to people. It's a very personal subject. As teacher's our job is to educate our students and help prepare them for the future. But one thing this video pointed out is we don't have a great idea of what the world will be like 5 years from now much less 20 years later and beyond. The video also mentioned that music and arts have always been viewed as not as important as the other main subjects. It's usually the last two in order of importance. I've often wondered that myself and this video rekindled some old thoughts. I don't exactly express myself through art or sing in music, but the few things that I do in each are very special to me. They are a direct reflection of who I am. I agree that a bigger emphasis needs to be placed on music and art.
Another thing the video talked about, and I agree whole-heartedly with is how the entire curriculum is designed strictly for the ultimate goal which is to determine what you will do. Where you will work. It classifies human's as grades. It shows our mistakes. We're educated to limit/eliminate mistakes which ultimately kills creativity. We must find a way to place a bigger emphasis on how people express themselves and stop funneling everyone down a path that limits their creativeness.
Cecilia Gault Assignment
I think in order to make the U.S. more competitive we have to think outside the box. We have to push creativity to the maximum. In my opinion, and judging by the article it would agree, that we need an overhaul in how we judge success in the United States. Grades are important. In my opinion they need to remain as the most important aspect in judging someone's educational success. However, creativity, arts, music, ways that people express themselves should be right up there with grades.
We need to find intuitive ways of incorporating technology in the school system. Find ways to use this technology and make it actually useful for students in the real world. I believe in order for the U.S. to get on par with the other elite academic countries we have to practice what we preach. I think to get there, the leaders who orchestrate our system have to do exactly what I'm talking about right now. Think of creative ways to achieve the success. Creative ways to express the educational ability of our country. Be innovators, not followers.
Vicki Davis Assignment
This video is exactly what I've been talking about throughout this entire post. What the teacher was doing in the video I believe is only the beginning. What she did with her students was awesome. I think it's crucial that we show our student's the world and connect them to it. I think it's helpful for them to know how to do this and beneficial for them as well. It opens up the mind. There are many, and I believe I belong in this group, that learn so much better by working on a computer, doing things ourself without a pencil and piece of paper. It allows us to flourish where maybe before, we weren't being reached.
I personally believe video blogs are next and they'll be a huge way of the future, as well as video conferencing. Perhaps in Spanish class in America for instance, speaking with a student that's fluid in Spanish wanting to learn English, connecting them via video conference, partner each with a teacher beside them to help each student out and I bet each student would progress so much faster in each study. That's just a starting point. The possibilities are endless in ways you can integrate technology in the classroom and what the teacher did in this video is wonderful and the start of it.
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