Blog Post #2

1. I watched the video Did you know? 3.0-A John Strange 2012 Version based onDid you know? 3.0 by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod. In this video it stated that India has 25% higher IQ's than the United States and that China is a rapidly growing English speaking country. It stated that more and more technological advances are made each year. Teachers need to stay up to date on the leading edge of technology to teach and prepare students for the future.

Large number of people use many technologies including google,youtube, and many other means of internet searches every day, every minute. The question was asked, Who did people ask these questions before these programs were created? Many people all over the world not only Americans are using these technologies.

A number of people all over the world have cell phones. People all over the world send millions of SMS messages just within minutes. Computers are becoming more common in more households across the world, in many cultures and including minorities. With a large growth in technological devices the more people learn, they are ready to advance to the new and upcoming technology.
The question was asked,"Are you ready to become and educator?" I believe that I am ready, but being ready means that I need to keep up with the never ending advances made in technology. I need to continue to learn new programs as they come out to stay up to date to prepare my students to be able to adapt to what new may arise in years to come. I need to teach them to continue to learn and know how to advance their knowledge in solving problems they may not even be a problem yet.

2. In the video Mr. Winkle Wakes by Mathew Needleman,there is a guy named Mr. Winkle and he wakes after 100 years. When he wakes up he realizes that things have changed drastically while he was asleep.

When he goes to an office area he is introduced to advances in communication and computers. This is extremely different than it was 100 years ago. Later he arrives at a hospital and the medical advances are things like ventilators that he never in his wildest dream could ever imagine could exist. When he walks around the city there are major changes in how the building are built and cars driving down roads that didn't exist 100 years ago. Later when he come to the school he realizes it is much the same as it was before he went to sleep. They have technology available, but are not using it.

In my opinion this is sad. The entire world is up to date and using much needed advances in technology, but in schools where it is needed to be taught the most, they aren't using it. I believe that if we have cutting edge technologies and can use it to teach with and help better prepare the students for the future and every day life where they will be using it, then why aren't we? I think this class is helping prepare future educators to not make the same mistake seen in the video on You Tube.

3. In the video "The Importance of Creativity" by Ken Robinson I was enlightened by understanding how important it is to encourage students in their creativity. We do not know what the future will hold or bring, but we need to prepare students to be able to embrace it and to be productive. Teaching students to be opened minded to change is a good way to enhance their ability to move forward and not stay in a sort of comfort zone. Allow them to be creative and encourage students to keep thinking forward. Students that we teach will possibly have or create technologies that we can not even imagine.

All children have talents and we are so worried about focusing on literacy that we overlook students creativity. Children shouldn't have their creativity taken away from them. It will most likely enhance their learning. As adults we are scared to be wrong or make mistakes. "If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with something original" (Ken Robinson). We are teaching people structured learning of literacy and mathematics, that students are loosing their creativity. Thinking of myself I see this as a very true statement. I am scared to do something wrong and I'm very hard on myself, so I tend to not try to be creative or be "out of the box" in fear of being wrong.

In the video he mentioned most everyone is born with artistic abilities. Most of the time these are not advanced, mostly put aside to make room for education. Art and music come at the bottom of most list of importance in school across the world. Drama and dance are at the bottom of that list. We are teaching students just the basic Math, Language and Humanities. We need to also focus on their creativity and I believe it would work hand in hand with learning, maybe it would even enhance learning.

It was mentions that someone times children can't sit still and most people want to give those children medicines to calm them down, when in actuality they just need to refocus on their creativity and teach them in a different way. Children are our hope for the future and whatever it may hold. We may not see what they will see, but we need to prepare them for the future.

4.In the video "A Day Made of Glass" by Corning, a very advanced world was introduced. A world of glass that is all touch screen and very technological advanced. Schools run by solar panels with glass and products in the classroom. This would broaden the classroom experience for students and make it a fun learning environment. Watching this video can be a tool to spark peoples interest and present them with new ideas to take technology in many directions.

Technology has come a long way over the years and is still advancing. It is awesome to think that teaching will possibly be like it was in the video in the future. I am excited to be a future teacher! I only have a few hesitations about this kind of technologies. Other than the cost being a concern, I worry that if a breakdown or bug in the system shuts it down, how would that be handled in a totally computer dependent class room? Another concern with the advance in technology we still need to remember how important exercise is and getting out to do physical activities. Technology can make people more dependent on making life simple and possibly becoming lazy for it. As long as the people understand that balance is the key, then it can be an awesome thing!