Blog Post #2

Did You Know? 3.0 - A John Strange 2012 Version 
Did You Know 3.0 A John Strange 2012 Version discusses the explosion of technology in our world today uses statistics to convey the point that our world is rapidly changing. In addition to pointing out the many changes that are and will occur, it also gives it's viewers the impression that our nation is falling behind to others. For example, the video states that 25% of the highest iqs in India outnumber our entire poplulation. This is scary to know that as the world grows smaller through technology, our population has fallen behind in academics and intellect. In addition to India, the video references China. Eighteen million Chinese now speak English and another three hundred million are learning. I am not as frightened by this fact as the previous in that I believe that the peoples of China's fluency in English will have little impact on anything but improvement in foreign relations and commerce. China has surfaced as a leader in the world market in the facets of commerce, trade, and technology. I do not feel as though it is entirely bad that the majority of them can speak our language. Im flattered. I don't know a lick of Chinese. I was flabbergasted by the statistics in the video pertaining to technology in our world. For example, over a million Youtube videos are watched every minute. It blows my mind at the magnitude of Youtube and it's influence on the world. Along side Youtube, Google, and cell phones, the technological advances in the past couple of decades have changed the world forever. The advances have changed the workplace for socities in the modern world. With that, there has to be a change in the education system to prepare our students to excel in a changing world. Other countries have the jump on us and it is scary to think that our once great and powerful nation is slipping in academics. We as educators must change our approach to teaching. Instead of spending precious instruction time on information that will most likely be obsolite within a couple of years, we need to teach our students the art of learning and give them the tools they need to adapt to the rapid changes that are so abundant in the modern world we live in.

Mr. Winkle Wakes by Mathew Needleman 
Mr. Winkle Wakes is a short video describing the world as we know it today from the perspective of a man that has been asleep for a hundred years. The video does a great job of communicationg the differential in technilogical advances in the working world and that of the education system. It uses examples of a hospital, and an office building to point out the differences in adaptation in our workplaces and our schools. Our schools and subsequently our students are neglected of cutting edge technology that other parts of the world are utilizing to prepare their students for an ever changing world. This video as simple and short as it was did a fantastic job of pointing our education system's flaws. It's example of a single old labtop in the back of the classroom versus the high tec equipment found in a hospital is a great example of our desparities in education. While I do not think that the majority of our population is oblivious to this growing problem, it takes metaphors and a media presence to ignite a change. While I do not think that Mr. Winkles Wakes will make too many appearances in Congress hearings and State Government functions, it does have almost fifty thousand views. It is a good message that our education system needs reform, and maybe if enough Youtube videos are viewed on the subject, people in power will take action.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity 
In the video , The Importance of Cretivity, Ken Robinson discusses our education system and what he believes to be a major problem in it. In an extremely entertaining lecture, he discusses how we are literally sucking the creativity out of our students with a traditional and obsolete form of education. He explains that intelligence is interactive, dynamic, and distinct. We have to dwell on each with our students to not only find, but nuture the talents that lie in each student. He explains that our education system was built for an industrial world. In our hierarchy of education lies the subject matter that will best prepare learners for an industrial world. While the mathematics, languages, and humanities are so vital, we must learn to embrace each student and really tap into their creativity. He mentions that children have an enormous capacity for innovation. Initially, they are not scared to be wrong. But as they progress through our education system, they are not only taught that mistakes are the worst infraction, but that creativity should be left outside of the classroom where traditional 19th century instruction rules. We "stigmatize" mistakes while simoultaneously squander talents from children. Ken Robinson does a wonderful job of conferring upon his listeners the nature of our education system as well as what we need to do to improve it. The more educators that subscribe to the teachings of Ken Robinson and other progressives like him will see their students not only excel, but excel at what they are naturally gifted at. I took alot from this video. It inspired me to educate myself on how to make myself a highly effective educator and diligently look for ways to help my future students by finding the creativity within them that is so vital for their personal success.

Corning's narrated video A Day Made of Glass 2: Unpacked. The Story Behind Corning's Vision, Project Glass: Live Demo at Google 
Corning's narrated video A Day Made of Glass 2 depicting the possibilities for future use of glass is eye opening. The use of glass for display and interactive tools is exciting. It seems as though some of the possibilities could really benefit future generations in every day life. Specifically, education in the United States would see a tremendous change in it's system. Seeing as though education is far behind in technology with other areas of life in our society, a change of such technological advancement would do wonders to help students achieve academic and professional success. There is no doubt in my mind that students would not only learn more with the tools featured in the short film, but students would see endless possibilities in expanding not only their mind, but their creativity. it is encouraging that of the few examples Corning used, school was one. With the future of our country at mind, I think it is imperative to make sure that our schools are included with the rest of the world in technological advancements. To let our schools fall further behind is to put our students at a severe disadvantage at suceeding in the future. The examples in the video suggesting the large displays and convenient ways to project tablet information would really put endless possibilties at the fingertips of our students. It would be hard to imagine that a school of the future, like the one featured in "A Day Made of Glass" would not see an output of more creative, dynamic, and intelligent students than those of a school found in todays technological stoneage. I am excited for the future to see what advancements our schools adopt and the magnitude those advancements will have on our future students.