Blog Post #2

Did You Know?
This video really makes you think. New technology is being invented all the time! The part of the video that talks about students learning about technology that is not even invented yet blows my mind. I think this puts a lot of pressure on students to keep up with all of the technologies, but with it expanding like it is I think it is almost impossible. Technology is also expensive. When the newest version of something comes out every other month, and you are trying to learn how to use it, the expenses can add up.
I think the world depends so much on technology that we let it take over our lives. The part of the video about the computer being smarter than the human brain scares me. At the rate we are going, and the improvements we make to technology all the time, soon the world will not need teachers. A piece of technology can teach us everything we know. In 2011 we have online classes that students can take. They still require a teacher at the other end, but think about in 5 years... Don't you think that this will not be the case? Eventually we could possibly not even need a teacher on the other end.
I absolutely think that people should know, and be aware of different technologies in the world and this video shows that. I also think that everyone should be careful with how much technology is being used, and everyone should try to keep their lives balanced with technology and the "old school" way of doing things. Technology can take over people's lives positively and negatively, and I think that a little bit goes a long way.

Mr. Winkle Wakes
I think this video makes some very good points. Mr. Winkle wakes up after 100 years and is confused by all of the technology. He is afraid of what he doesn't know. I think that is a very good point. A lot of people are scared of what they don't know and they run from it. It is 2011 and technology is part of our lives. We cannot run from it or act like it does not exist, we have to embrace it. Technology has become a part of everything that we do, and to be successful in life you need some type of knowledge about how to use it.
Once Mr. Winkles finds the school he is happy. It is the only thing he found that has not changed in the past 100 years. He felt comfortable and decided he wanted to stay. I think this part of the video is making the point that the whole world is changing, the school system needs to as well. If the world is flourishing by use of technology then we need to know how to use it. What better way to learn how to use technology then at school? When the world is advancing through the use of technology how are students supposed to keep up just listening, reading, and writing? This video shows that if we do not want to wake up one day feeling lost like Mr. Winkles, then we better start learning how to use our resources... and we better start learning it in school!

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity
This video was interesting and very amusing. I liked what Sir Ken Robinson said about "children growing out of creativity." His theory that everyone is born creative and they have to use their creativity to keep it is very interesting. Not everyone learns the same way, and some people need things like technology to help them ignite their creativity. When these students can be creative they will enjoy learning a lot more.

I also agree with his statement about people and making mistakes. To many adults are afraid to make mistakes and this stops them from being creative. People are so afraid of failure that they cannot bring themselves to try something new. No one is exceptional at everything, but most people are exceptional at a few things. As teachers we need to find those few things in our students and help them grow and learn through them.

Cecelia Gault Interviews Ken Robinson
In this interview Sir Ken Robinson talks about the difficulty in defining the word intelligence. He makes the point that even people who have studied intelligence their whole lives cannot even agree on a definition of the word. With that being said, I think that we should never underestimate our students. Everyone is intelligent in their own way. It is our job to support our students in what they want to do, and teach them things that will help get them there.
He believes that we can teach people to be more creative. I agree with this, and I think that technology can aid teachers in doing so. Technology can open students up to new ideas, and show them how to expand their creativity. It can give them a fresh look at themselves and the world around them.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
Vicki Davis teaches in a rural Georgia town. While I was watching the video, what stood out to me the most was these students talking to students in other countries. I think we need to have an appreciation for other cultures education, and ours as well. This is a great way to see how other people learn, and a way for us to get new ideas about how to learn.
I loved that her students did things on their own. The fact that she did not have to sit at the front of the classroom and lecture to them the whole time had to be refreshing for everyone. They not only learned things by themselves, but they also taught her some things that she didn't know. Being able to figure things out by themselves will help them in so many ways. When they do not need a teacher sitting at the front of the room telling them what they need to know they will be able to teach themselves about things for the rest of their lives. They can constantly learn new things in a productive manner.