Blog Post #2

Did You Know?
Very fitting title for the clip. Reason being,is i didn't know. Looks like information technology is progressing faster than many people think. One of the things that struck e most was that everything i learning now will, will be obsolete, by the time i finish edm310. Also, never would have have thought the USA would be so far behind other countries, when it came to the internet. We invented it.
As far as the rate the internet is growing, the numbers are staggering.From the radio to the ipod, the rate at which the technology is able to reach people, is almost doubling every 2 years. Who would have thought we are training workers for jobs, that we don't even know will exist. Never would have thought Bermuda would be first in internet usage, USA@#19 and Japan at #22. In a nut shell, we in the US, need to get with it. Other countries have taken the technology we invented and ran with it.

Mr. Winkle Wakes
If anybody can relate to this video, i can. Last time i was in college, was in 1977. No internet or facebook. Mr.Winkle woke up to a different world, after sleeping for 100 yrs. Almost the same as me(34yrs), as far as the classroon and the way teaching is done. After leaving the hospital, Mr.Winkle was in shock. He couldn't relate to anything at that point.
Then Mr.Winkle went by the school, and found his comfort zone. I guess this is the moral of the story. He sleeps for 100yrs, and the only thing that he can relate to is the school. Reason being, they were still using pencil and paper, and the teacher was still delivering a boring lecture. I guess the only thing Mr.Winkle was a little uncomfortable with, was the computer sitting in the back of the classroom, not being used.

The Importance of Creativity
Funny guy, but he was spot on. He spoke of how we take very smart kids and basically un-educate them. Looks like a lot of kids are being diagnosed as add and sedated. A lot of people are being brainwashed into not making mistakes, when thats the basis for creativity.Thats what made this country of ours great. According to the video, kids are born with the ability to understand and adapt to almost anything. Unfortunately, the educational system robs them of there creativity.

The educational system needs a major overhaul. We need to rethink what we are doing now, and how it will effect the future, and take the lead. As a teachers'aid myself, i see this situation day in and day out. The teacher standing up front lecturing, and the student in the back drawing beautiful pictures of cars. Teacher walks back, takes a look, and either sends him to the office or scolds him. Buy the way this particular kid, has been diagnosed as a special needs person. Given the right situation, this kid could be designing cars for a major company.

Cecelia Gault/Laura's Blog Post
This little girl just blew me away with the questions for sir Ken. Looks like the definition of intelligence will never truly be understood. I was quite taken back by the situation, when over 50 professors were put in a room and ask to describe intelligence. None of them could come up with the same answer.
The questions about creativity came up again. Myths about creativity were quickly dispelled by sir Ken, as he explained how all of us are born with it. He also made mention that there should be a closer relationship between the sciences and the arts. He explains that one is just as important as the other. There is a reason that Finland has a 1% drop-out rate verses a 25% drop-out rate for the US. This is with a shorter school day!!!!

Harness Your Students Digital Smarts
This goes to show you that whether you are the farm or in a big city, the internet is the great equalizer. The teacher has taken a small town and put them on the map with technology. These kids are communicating to people in middle east. They are also learning how to make their own movies and out-source them. They are helping to structure the curriculum and are basically teaching the teacher now.
Looks like the whole town in this small town in Ga, have bought into the concept, and have nothing but praise for the program and the school. According to the video, relationships have been formed and trips have been made to the middle east as a results. Another example of how powerful the internet is.