Another subject that Dr. Strange expressed in this video that I found kind of intriguing was that, "the top jobs 10 years from now do not exist yet and will use technologies that have not been invented". At first glance, I read this and thought very little of it. It is not too far off that the jobs and technology will be more advanced. But when I thought about these two facts more it makes me excited for the future. As seen on TV, the future holds flying cars, microwaves that turn pellets into 3 course meals, and of course time travel. I think back to when I was young and realize how much technology as a whole has grown since the days of game boys and tamagotchi's. Today we have Siri, a phone that can actually have a conversation with a human. We also have touch screens on everything these days. Life 10 years from now has great potential if you ask me.
The next video I watched was Mr. Winkle Wakes created by Matthew Needleman. The story begins about a little old man named Mr. Winkle who wakes up after 100 years to find the world so different and advanced. He is freaked out when he sees computers (especially people talking face to face on the screens of those computers). Also, he is shocked by the weird machines in the hospital that we know as life support machines. Mr. Winkle finally wanders into a school and feels at home. Yes, at home in a school! The place that we dread and avoid at all costs is where Mr. Winkles can finally relax. School hasn't changed much over the years. It's the same boring lectures, books, and homework that Mr. Winkles was forced to endure when he was younger.
This video sheds light on a very good point that tends to get looked over by society. Our homes, offices, and hospitals have more advanced technology around every corner, yet our school systems continue to operate in an out-dated form. Progress in technology has been unreal in the past decade, so why aren't we able to take advantage of these great strides where it counts most. Computers, cell phones, nooks, iPods, security systems, cameras, cars, games, I could go on forever! These things are a major part of our daily lives that continue to get more and more complex as the years go on, and when today's children grow up they will need to be knowledgeable of these products to make a living. So why not start teaching them these skills while they are in school? Our jobs as teachers is to prepare our students to be the best they can be in every aspect of life. Are we cheating are students by holding them back from the technological world?
The video The Importance of Creativity by Sir Ken Robinson really expresses the untold battle of children around the world that have hidden talents. His main point is that the common school set up is so focused on the core subjects and good grades that it robs children of their creativity. When we think about the geniuses and great artists of today's society we fail to see their struggle throughout life. No one person is the same as the next, so what makes us think that all students think the same? Every child interprets things of the world differently.
Strict structures in school systems dim the light inside each child's heart a little bit more every year they progress to the next grade. But it doesn't have to be that way! If schools would adapt to the character and passions of the students generations of people would pour out of school jumping for joy to join the real world. They would be well prepared for the life a head of them because they fed the dim light within them with knowledge about the basic core subjects, as well as what they are interested in. Kids would feel more accepted by their peers because they would be surrounded by people in their specific programs that understand them. I think a good mix between the "must haves" aka math, science, reading, history, etc. and whatever area of expertise that is chosen by the student could influence the happiness of students greatly.
I watched the Classroom Disruption video by Kevin Outland and came up with a list of these differences:
Blunder High- used whiteboards and easels, books, charts, learned via lecture, drowned their students with bulk information, the attitudes of the students and teacher were not encouraging, the administration resorted to money to fix everything.
Oakland High- every student had a computer, the teacher used internet resources like YouTube and movie clips that the students could relate to, all the lessons are interactive, the teacher uses social media resources to connect with his students outside the classroom for more help or extra information, students have personal online accounts that contain all class information, the attitudes of the students and teacher were great and eager to learn.
If I were a student and was told to choose between these two classes I would choose Oakland, hands down. The atmosphere in the classroom is easy going and the lessons are designed to specifically keep my attention. My classes in the past have many, many, many things in common with the first classroom, Blunder. I never enjoyed those classes, and tended to struggle in them. Focusing on a single voice in an empty classroom is torture. It doesn't do anything but shut down the students brains and free their minds for daydreaming.
The differences in the teaching styles alone are major. The boring teacher at Blunder didn't encourage his students to do well. Instead he actually turned down questions and wasted budget money on something he desired. The other teacher at Oakland was eager to teach and gave his students support throughout the class period. The objectives in each classroom are the same, but different. Let me explain, they are the same because the main goal is that the students learn and absorb the information being taught. But they are different because the Blunder teacher just wanted his students to absorb the facts and memorize the information. However the teacher at Oakland was completely focused on his students learning the concepts and grasping the understanding behind the reasons.
Hello Lacie,
ReplyDeleteThis was an engaging post. Good work. Just remember to include images in all your posts with the required alt and title tags. This post is imageless.
Have a great weekend!