Blog Assignment 2

Did you know?

Dr. Strange created a video entitled Did you know? It gives statistics and quotes about the united states population. The first statistic states how India has more k-12 honors students then the United States has students. Then we move on to a prediction stating that by 2025 there will be more Chinese-English speaking people then all of the native English speakers in the Untied States (Gerdon Brown, UK finance minister 2005).

In one minute on YouTube 1,097,220 videos are being watched, on Google 1,393,519 searches are going off, and 11,453, 577 SMS messages are being sent. In theory you are not alone when you search, when you watch, or when you text. In one minute a ton of things are going on at once. No matter what you do you are never alone. Someone somewhere has been there too or done that right along with you.

Two years ago according to the Kaiser Family Fund 93% of 8-18 year olds had computers with 89% African American and 92% Hispanic. Two years ago 85% of 15-18 year olds had cell phones. Just imagine what those numbers would be today.

It is hard to imagine that any country would have higher number of honor students let alone more of their population being honor students then all of our students put together. I have some doubt believing that so many students have computers in their homes. I know of  many students that do not have computers but they may very well be the 7%. I find it scary to know that so many videos are being watched every minute. It scares me because i am a shy person and it terrifies me to know that someone will be seeing my videos that i will be posting later in the semester.


Mr. Winkle Wakes

Mr. Winkle Wakes is about an older man that wakes from a hundred year slumber. He wakes up to a new world full of machines and gadgets he has never seen before. He frightened and overwhelmed by this new world.  He first finds himself inside a huge skyscraper where new machines are everywhere and people are busy doing work on these machines. People are able to talk to other people on opposite sides of the world. He starts feeling sick and ends up in a hospital. There he finds people staying alive by machines. There are things called lasers and x-rays. He becomes even sicker and runs out into the street. He wonders until he finds a school.  At the school he finds only one machine that is dusty and hidden away in the back of the classroom.The teacher is lecturing and the students take notes.  He finds comfort in knowing that after a 100 years the schools have not changed.

I don't feel like this holds much truth. When I am in a classroom I see computers and a smartboard. I don't just see the teacher up at the front of the classroom solely lecturing. Although if you are in a college campus then you will see the teacher lecturing and students taking notes.  I though as a teacher will involve the students more in activities instead of just lecturing. I have recently came across the idea of student lead curriculum for the math and science subjects. I find this concept at first hard to understand but with farther explanation i find it easier to grasp and even more believable to accomplish. In student lead curriculum you basically ask them questions and guide them along to grasp a concept rather then just lecture. I feel that it is going to be harder for the younger students.

                                                                                Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

       "Creativity is as important as literacy" Sir Ken Robinson talks about the importance of creativity "original ideas that have value".  He feels that creativity should be treated with the same importance as the core subjects. Young students show little fear to doing anything wrong, usually they wing it. By the time you become an adult you live in fear of making mistakes. You are "educated" out of creativity. Everywhere across the world holds the same hierarchy: mathematics and language are at the top of the bar and then the middle subjects such as history and science with the lowest point being the arts. Everywhere students are taught the things that will be most useful for work. Your favorite things being frowned upon. You are constantly being told do not do that because you will never get a job doing that. People that are creative do not feel as though they are such because that is how they are taught.

In my heart creativity is key in the classroom. As a teacher i am going to try my best to allow times where the students can show off their talents. I want to acknowledge that not every students heart's lie in the core subjects. They should have time to dance, draw, and sing. I realize that every student learns differently and has certain subjects that they flourish in and certain subjects where they lack confidence. As a teacher it is my job to help the students where they lack confidence and help put in place building blocks to help them throughout life.

A Vision for 21st Century Learners

The main argument is the repeating trend of students passively learning. It tells you of how we need to prepare the students for the 21st century. We need to start using technology further in the classroom.  Most students have been on a computer by the time they hit kindergarten. Yet students are still being taught through textbooks and being lectured. If we show the students further in technology then the teacher becomes more of a mentor and the student become more like teachers.

I find a hard time including some forms of technology in the classroom. I find technology rather intimidating and at times difficult to use. I am rather blind when it comes to technology I feel as though technology only helps in some ways but would be rather difficult to use as a whole. I feel as though the world is too connected to technology and would be better if it became a little unplugged. I don't allow my daughter to watch television. I feel as though reading is more beneficial and helpful. I feel like technology can at times be a hindrance. I feel like you have to pick and chose what and when you use any form of technology.

Vicki Davis:Harness you Students' Digital Smarts

This video shares the idea that every student has the ability to learn. The problem comes into place when you use only one form of teaching. As a teacher you need to broaden your teaching tool box and provide an assortment of teaching styles. One way to hit home with the students is by providing the use of technology in the classroom.  She has the suggestion to provide new terminology and not define it for the students. Instead have them look up the word via Google. That you should be teaching to make any type of technology comfortable with the students. She has the idea that as a teacher you don't need to know everything in order to teach it. You learn right along with the students. They feel empowerment when they figure something out on their own. Vicki Davis created two environments Digiteen an environment for students all across the world to collaborate together and  Flat Classroom Project a project designed to expand the idea of the typical classroom setting.

I feel as though the amount of technology used in the classroom depends on the grade level. The video shows high school students using in my opinion pretty advanced skills. They are creating a terraform which is basically a digital world. I don't feel this is appropriate for elementary students. In the classroom i did my field experience and my classroom only had four computers. So that in itself makes it difficult to use as a main source of teaching. I feel like as time grows then more and more computers will be placed in the classroom and new teaching styles will be put in place. For as it stands right now that will be difficult for many classrooms.