Blog Post #2

Did You Know 3.0
The video "Did You Know 3.0" by Karl Fisch literally took me by surprise. Many of the statistics that I saw really made me think about the world today and how much it is changing. The speed of technology is growing everyday such as the high speed cable being built in china that is expected to double for the next 20 years! Another portion of the video that i found interesting was that by the time a student reaches their third year of study, all of the information learned in the first year would be outdated.

I showed my little brother (who just graduated high school) this video and he was just as shocked as I was. Anything and everything you want to know in todays world, you simply Google it. It seems crazy to think back to what America used to be like. If you wanted to send a message you had to have a man on a horse deliver it. Now with Myspace and Facebook, it takes less than a second.  I really liked this video and recommend it to anyone that has not seen it.

Mr. Winkle Wakes
I really like the comparison in this video of what is used in the world today versus what is being taught in the classroom. I understand that students need the basics in high school, but by the time 10th grade is reached students classes should be more focused on material relevant to what they aspire to be. For instance, no doctor or dentist needs to know about English literature involving the Canterbury Tales and such. They should be more focused on their field and the technology in it.

I have however noticed teachers making strives to incorporate technology into the classroom. I had a class this past week where a teacher used a Smart Board. It was the first time i have ever seen a projector that displayed on a touch screen.  I have also noticed teachers using Ipads to give lectures from, and instead of teaching from Powerpoint. Sadly, i have only noticed this change in college, not so much in the local high schools. I really agree with the point of the video and getting technology into the students hands.

The Importance of Creativity
I really enjoyed hearing Ken Robinson speak. He has a great theory on creativity and this theory should be modeled by all of todays educators. When a teacher becomes angry with a student and passes them off for misbehaving, they could be passing off the next Shakespeare of this world. Its hard to let a child reach their full potential if a teacher is hindering their creativity.

I like the story of the dancer that just could not sit still. Fidgeting for this little girl lead her to a successful career in music, dance, and playwriting. Every student is different and sometime i think teachers forget that. They feel like if they teach something in a class and a few people understand it then everyone should. I hope that teachers of today will use more of Sir Robinson's methods and install confidence and creativity in their students.

Cecelia Gault Interview
This interview raised some great questions that had some fantastic answers from Sir Robinson. One point of the interview that stuck out to me was the "balance of curriculum" comment made by Sir Robinson. In America, for someone to make a career in music or the arts is almost looked at as the same  probability of becoming a professional athlete. People try to focus on math and science in order to get a good job in todays economy. Thus, students loose their sense of creativity and drive to do something different as they grow older.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
This video is a prime example of teachers incorporating technology into todays classrooms. Ms. Davis has her class connected with student from all over the world. Another thing that impresses me is the location of their school. Many of these student have probably never used this type of technology and never would if it were not for a teacher like Ms. Davis.

For many student living in small towns such as the one in Georgia grow up thinking they will just get a job in their local town after high school. I really believe that when a student is introduced and connected to the world as this class has been that they gain confidence. With this confidence they feel as though they can go out into the world and make a difference.