Blog Post #2

Did You Know? 3.0- A John Strange 2012 Version

The video Did You Know? 3.0- A John Strange 2012 is a video by John Strange based on Did You Know? 3.0 by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod. This video presents a series of statistics on topics pertaining to technology such as the percentage of students who live in a home where a computer is accessible and the percentage of students who own a cellphone. Not only does the video present the data, it also compares it to other periods of times to show how the percentages have evolved over time. Also, to eliminate some variables that could be questioned in the data the video presented, it also compared statistics from minorities, such as African Americans. The data shows that over time, technology has become more and more accessible and used more by people even at an early age.
As time continues to progress, technology is increasingly becoming an necessity. The video stated that the top 10 jobs of 2022 are not even in existence yet and will be controlled by technology that has not yet been created. With this phenomena, the video poses a very interesting question, "Are you ready to be an educator?" After viewing all the statistics and posed with that question, it really made me think. I realized that in order to be a good educator, I have to have the ability to instill in others what I have learned. However, to be a great educator, I have to be able to instill in others what I have learned, but also be eager to learn even more as well. In order to be able to truly educate, I will need to be able to utilize the current technology at the time. Thus, I will need to be an eager learner.

Mr. Winkle Wakes

Mr. Winkle Wakes by Mathew Needleman is a short video about a man named Mr. Winkle who slumbers for 100 years and awakes in a world filled with technology that he doesn't recognize. He sees computers printing documents and pictures, machines keeping people alive in hospital by breathing life into them, and business men and women talking and viewing each other from opposite sides of the world. This new world was very strange to Mr. Winkle an made him very uncomfortable. He ventured this new world to discover that these new technology was everywhere. However, he was finally able to find one place that everything was exactly how he remembered it. This place was a school where students filled desk and were lectured all day by teachers. A place where technology really was not present with the exception of one old, worn out computer.
What I take from this video is that the world is becoming increasingly more technologically savvy. However, the places that we are suppose to learn how to use these new technologies in order to be able to function in society are either not really allowing these lessons to be taught or are not technologically savvy themselves. Some may argue that students really don't need to know how to be able to use computers, but to be honest the world functions today mostly off computers. There is a software for almost any task that needs to be completed. However, if students aren't taught how to use these tools effectively, how will they be able to function?

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

In Sir Ken Robison: The Importance of Creativity, he speaks about how schools are really killing creativity. When it comes to education, creativity is extremely important. It shows students individuality and also helps students grow by allowing them to discover who they are and who they want to be as they grow older. Without creativity, students would have a hard time of actually learning material because things would be lifeless. Creativity helps catches the attention of students and helps peak their interest into wanting to learn more and participate more.
One example of how I see creativity slowly being killed in schools is the slow removal of the arts in school. The arts include band, choir, drawing, etc. Classes like these are really one of the biggest ways that students are able to express themselves and discover their passions. I agree with Sir Ken Robinson that schools does take away creativity. However, creativity in school is what should be expressed the most.

A Vision for 21st Century Learning

In the video, A Vision for 21st Century Learning, the creator argues that in order to prepare students for the modern world, technology has to be integrated into schools. Students passively learn in class by memorizing facts but do they truly learn and understand the material. By integrating technology with lessons, students will have to the ability to utilize hands-on learning and learn in ways that were never before accessible. I agree with the basis of this video because almost every aspect of society is somehow tied to technology in some form. If students are deprived from being able to use these tools, when they get older a lot of things that most people are capable of doing with computers will be a total shock to them. Unfortunately, they will always be one step behind because of some thing that was out of their control.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

In the video, Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts, we get an inside look on the teaching strategy that a Georgia teacher named Vicki Davis has developed with the help of her students. She uses tools such as blogs to help her students learn but also teach her new things she had no clue about. Another key use to her method of blogs is that it also connects her students with students around the world. By integrating technology, not only do students learn what she teaches them but they also learn how to do things for themselves.
I like Vicki Davis's methods of educating her students. After view this video, it appears as if her students also appreciate her style. They learn how to utilize tools that most adults are not even capable of doing themselves and also work collaboratively with each other. As time continues to progress, it is essential that students be able to use it. With this type of teaching style, students will not need to worry about being technologically savvy.