Don't teach Your Kids This Stuff, Please?
Scott McLeod’s is an Associate Professor in the Educational Administration program at Iowa State University. He is also the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education(CASTLE). He is the author of Don’t Teach Your Kids This Stuff, Please?
I believe that he has a great influence in the education field. I could not help but to think of how Americans are lacking in the world in the education field while reading his blog. I think that it is because of our lack of urgency to equip of students with the education that they deserve. Yes, there is a risk of children to falling into the arms of predators while on the internet. But they could also be kidnapped while playing outside, or they could fall and scrape there knee. As an educator, precautions should be made in advance before releasing children into the world of technology. There should also be some type of restraint placed on the child while on the internet to ensure proper usage.
The iSchool
The iSchool video was very informative. I like the many different points that he made concerning the cost of high school. I believe that the concept is great, but putting it into action might take some time. I also believe that some type of testing program should be placed into effect before action takes place. This type of plan would show the numbers, cost and the overall progress of the iSchool .Although, the iSchool has the power to teach, I still believe in student to teacher contact. The I School would create responsibility and also maturity in high school students.
Overall I enjoyed the concept of the I School. It would affect the school system in a dynamic way. Not only would it save money, but also time and effort on disciplinary problems. The iSchool has the potential to transform the educational system and the technological lives of students all around the world.
The Lost Generation
This was a beautiful analogy of how a person can choose his or her own destiny. Anyone can believe the predictions that scientist or experts say about the future. While reading and being aware of what is being said, it is also important to turn the negative into the positive. At first glance, I was shocked by the statements. But after it was reversed, I realized the importance of perception and positive thinking. By choosing to use the negative as a sling shot that leads to the positive, I know the future is bright.
Yes, there are many problems in the world today. War, poverty, economic downfall, and other problems are singing loud in Americans ears today. We have two choices to these troubling problems. We can cut back, pray and support our troops on the front lines of war. Or we can choose to focus on the negative and live in fear of what the future holds. Anyone can worry, but it takes an important person to press forward and create a better future.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir - 'Lux Aurumque'
This was absolutely beautiful. The voices were amazing, and the strategy taken to make this performance possible was awesome. This was a good example of how technology can be used to make the world a better place. I think music is equivalent to medicine, it makes the soul heal.
It provokes many questions in my mind. Will plays and musicals in the future take a technological turn in the future? I really enjoyed the unity and beauty of this video. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this choir. I think this could be t he beginning of something great!
Teaching in the 21 Century
This video was very informative in showing the definition of teaching. Not only did it show me a better way to organize my thoughts, but also my future classroom. This video shows the importance of allowing students to think on their own. Critical thinking is a must in any classroom. Without encouraging student to venture out and explore and discover new possibilities,we would be brainless individuals without common sense.
The definition of "teach" is to direct and push the student into the correct direction. Sometimes teachers get so caught up on perfection, that they miss the importance of allowing the student to make mistakes. The only way for a child to learn is through mistakes then correction. This video shows the importance of challenging the child to think outside of the four walls of the classroom, and takes them on a field trip into the world,
Hi Jessica,
ReplyDeleteIn your reply to "Teaching in the 21 Century" I completely agree with you when you said "The only way for a child to learn is through mistakes then correction." If we never allow our children to make mistakes, they will never learn anything. Yes, we can "teach" a child something new, but in order for that child to fully understand what is being taught to him/her, he/she must make mistakes in the way in order for him/her to learn. I am not saying the ONLY way to learn is through mistakes, but in my opinion one can learn more about something if they make a mistake along the way, then go back and correct said mistake. Sure, we can teach a child "facts" out of a textbook, as we all will have to do in our teaching field as requirements from the Board of Education. But along the way, we can turn the method of teaching straight from the book to allowing the child to think outside of the box, and exploring more on what is being taught to them, such as exploring about a nation online, or turning "facts from a textbook" into a fun powerpoint presentation with lots of colorful pictures about it. It takes a strong individual to become a teacher, as well as it takes a creative person as well to teach that child to think outside of the box, rather than straight from a book.
You said: "Anyone can worry, but it takes an important person to press forward and create a better future." I really like this statement because when I think about that, I think about Dr. Strange. He is the person that is not going to sit back and look at a situation and wonder what people are going to do about it. He is the kind of person who will actually do something about it!
ReplyDeleteGood post Jessica!
Stephen Akins