Blog Post #2

Mr. Winkle Waits

     In the video, Mr. Winkles by Matthew Needleman, Rip Van Winkle awakes after one-hundred years have flown by. He wakes up to a world that is advanced with technology. He is disturbed until he makes his way to a school. Mr. Winkle sees a teacher giving a lecture, and is comforted by the fact that schools have not changed a bit since he was in school.
     I feel that this video has many implications. Personally, I do learn the best by lecture, so I can relate to Mr. Winkle. On the other hand, I do feel that technology does have a place in the classroom. I am thankful for EDM 310 because it is pushing me to step out of my comfort zone to be a technology-literate educator.





Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity


     In the video The Importance of Creativity by Ken Robinson, he expressed his concern for the future of the education system in regards to creativity. When I really think about my educational experience and the academic encouragement that I have been given, there were times when creativity was encouraged. On the other hand, there were many times that every task was grade/strictly information based. The humor that Mr. Robinson expresses lightens up this discussion, and brings the attention back to creativity. Not only was his presentation creative, he is passionate about the way that education is heading in the future.
     This video has awakened me to the fact that we do not value creativity in the educational system like we should. Mr. Robinson mentions the fact of academic inflation. As a college student, this scares me! Mr. Robinson also mentions that "Degrees do not ensure jobs". I see so many college students go to school and graduate, but they are unemployed. I wholeheartedly agree with Ken Robinson. Creativity rocks!





A Vision for 21st Century Learning


      In the video, A Vision for 21st Century Learning, the main arguments that are made are that the "traditional" way of learning in the classroom is passive. This video expresses that the technology of today and tomorrow can shape the face of education as we know it. By comparing the advantages of technology to the passiveness of lecturing and books, this video clearly supports the  rise of technology in the classroom.
     Although I am NOT against technology, I think that lecturing and books still have an important place in education. I am concerned with the fact that technology will take over education, and teachers will not have a personal place in student's lives. With the technology teaching the students, I would think that the teacher would be left out of the education process. The video speaks of "mentors" that would guide the process of learning. Personally, I am concerned with the place of technology taking over the classroom experience. Too much of something has negative effects. I feel that technology does have a part in the classroom, but not to the point of a student sitting behind a computer all day.





Vicki Davis: Harness Your Student's Digital Smarts


     In the video, Harness Your Student's Digital Smarts, the teacher emphasizes her role in the classroom as a teacher who pushes her students to think on a deeper scale. She gives her students new software to learn, and they run with it! Ms. Davis expressed that teachers do not need to go into the classroom with the mindset of that they need to know everything about a subject. Instead, educators need to let students explore and use critical thinking skills to learn the material on their own.
     I think that this classroom was neat. Vicki Davis is an IT director, and she teaches her class in an effective way. Her class seems similar to EDM 310 because the students are doing a lot of learning on their own, and this will prepare them in the future. Technology has a great purpose in this classroom in regards to students using critical thinking skills.