Blogpost #2

1) Did you know? 3.0 -A. John Strange 2012 Version
Karl Firsch originally introduced this video on the advancement and comparison of education and technology. When shown the comparisons within Dr. Strange's video of other countries verse the United States it is discomforting to see how far behind and outnumbered our students are. When seeing the difference in numbers of the progression of India and Chinas education verse the United States it angers me to think that our government even questions our power and the declination of our economy. For power is invested in education, with our being properly educated how can we expect our future leaders to bail us out of the hole our economy is presently in. It is our job as teachers to prepare our students for jobs and their futures, however we can not provide our students with the means to prosper if as their teachers we are not fully educated. As a teacher we need to take full responsibility of seeking the changes of the world around us and incorporate the dynamics of technology into the learning environment.

When asked what my role is in preparing students for jobs in 2022 I had to stop and truly think about this. Although I do not know what the economy or future will be like in 2022, my job as their teacher is to prepare them as best I can with the latest technology so that they will be prepared to learn and distribute materials effectively. Being educated with technologies advancements is essential in opening the doors for students to recognize and be prepared for whatever may be asked of them in College or when they are searching for jobs. Failure to prepare students for their futures in technology will eventually ruin the advancement all together, one can not progress on to the newest and best component without having the means to operate an older version. Although I may not have the means to predict future technology, I feel the best way to prepare is to continually update and educate students on the latest technology we have at this time.

2) Mr. Winkle Wakes by Mathew Needleman
Mr. Winkle an old man wakes after being asleep for one hundred years. He steps out into the world imagining it to be as it once was before. To his dismay he begins to realize NOTHING is the same. There are strange machines everywhere, people communicating face-to-face with people who are across the country, as well as machines doing things that he thought were impossible. He then moves onto the hospital assuming he could find comfort there only to realize the same thing. Technology had taken over the hospital as well with x-ray machines and computers everywhere! Moving onto the school he finds comfort, comfort in the fact that nothing has changed. This makes Mr. Winkle happy that there is no intrusion.
Although Mr. Winkle is happy with the comforting, non changed atmosphere within the school, it really aggravates me. Mostly because seeing how the business world has changed and technology has quickly taken over so may components of peoples daily lives but it is not being incorporated within the most important place, the classroom. The classroom is not only a place to learn math and english, the classroom is supposed to be a portal to students futures. Futures in which they will be asked to manage and operate mainly around the latest technologies. If these students are not prepared to do so, how can we expect them to thrive and prosper. Being a teacher is of the most important jobs, not only because we are teaching students subject matter to enhance there I.Q's but more importantly teaching them how to be an asset to their future company, family and our economy.

3) Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity
Robinson claims that schools kill creativity, I cant say I could not agree more. These days schools drown students with information and facts and expect them to regurgitate them onto a scantron. In doing so teachers are not allowing students to truly learn and communicate how they feel about a subject, shutting out any creativity. Teachers expect students to always be right, Robinson mentions how students and kids are frightened to be wrong. This fear also eliminates creativity, if they put there input into a subject and it is not "right" they will become discouraged and eventually stop. Robinson also says all children are born artists and eventually grow out of it because of education. I also agree with Robinson because when students begin school they are placed into a "mold", a mold in which they are to be shaped and learn what is necessary to get them a degree and furthermore a job. However, some students do not learn best in a classroom setting.
Robinson speaks or a little girl whose mom assumes something is wrong with her because she can not sit still, the doctor makes the mom realize its not the child its the setting. I feel as though this happens often instead of teachers and or parents taking the time to help their children develop in a way thats best for them they run to doctors for medicine to make them operate like their "supposed to". Furthermore this is just another way creativity is being shut out. Technology and Demography are two things Robinson says we should focus on more, I feel as a teacher it is important to take the time to learn and teach the latest technology as well as taking the time to see what is going on around the students and their learning environment. In allowing students to be diverse and dynamic will aid in fostering the creativity they are born with and hopefully extend the freedom to become to become more individualistic.

4) Class Disruption
Classroom #1
-Introduction to class was more inviting
-Youtube
-Virtual Tours
-Facebook lessons
-Twitter (exposure to resources)
-Attendance was less detrimental, students had more access to lessons, tests, etc.
-Video Chat
- More interaction and options
Classroom #2
-Introduction was boring and uninviting
-Flip charts
-Easel
-35 page article within which information was tested
-No interaction other than text

After being introduced to the two classrooms I would rather be in the teachers class who was more inviting and introduced more options within technology. When allowing students to explore and learn through technology it enhances their ability to want to learn. Opening the doors for better grades, participation, and individualism. Classroom number one is also more representative to classes I have taken in college. Although some teachers are set in their ways and find it easier to not take advantage of technology, the ones that have had had a greater impact on what I have learned as well as continued to internalize. When a student is exposed to more than just the text in the classroom it broadens their attention span and opens their mind to new and innovate ways to learn and remember subject matter in the future. The first teacher uses techniques that are more up to date, by using Facebook, twitter and youtube videos to teach lessons he is communicating with his students on their level. In doing this he allows his students to thoroughly enjoy learning by communicating to them with ways in which they are familiar and find exciting. However, in classroom number two the teacher offers little to no excitement for his students. He does not engage with them on a level they are familiar with. By using an easel, flip-chart, and a thirty five page printed article verse a virtual tour or internet resource he disengages his students. Furthermore shutting their brains off toward the majority of things being taught. The objectives being taught within the two classrooms are on two totally different sides of the spectrum, seeing the look on the students faces is an obvious inclination of which mode is best to adopt when engaging with students of this time period.

When planning my future curriculum I hope to have the means to engage and excite my students like the first teacher has. It was obvious which mode students feel most excited about, I feel if a child is excited to learn and come to my class they will learn and internalize more information. Students use Facebook, twitter, and youtube as a means of communication and for fun as a teacher adopting and incorporating these elements into lessons will allow you to connect with your students on the level they are most familiar with. Thankfully I am already familiar with these websites, so incorporating them will be easier for me. However, it will be my duty to further explore new and innovative technology so I can be familiar with what excites my students. Adding technology into a classroom allows for more interaction as well as options. Attendance plays a huge role in the classroom, although if one was to keep all of the options up to date with the curriculum a student would be able to follow along and not miss out on the information being handed out or taught in a classroom. The opportunities are endless in a web enhanced classroom, which is why I hope the school I teach at will provide me and my students with the essential means to have a virtual learning environment.