Blog Post #2

Did You Know? 3.0 - A John Strange 2012 Version

This video "Did You Know? 3.0 - A John Strange 2012 Version" by John Strange, a revision originally developed by Karl Kisch and Scott McLeod, makes you truly think, as the title would suggest. The video is full of facts as well as questions to help you tap into that thinking process which the author has clearly done for that purpose.

Nothing really surprised me at the beginning of the video, like the fact that in India students have high IQs or the prediction that by 2025 there will likely be more English speaking Chinese than native English speakers in the rest of the world. What finally grab my attention was learning just how many people watch YouTube...a lot! Data from June 2012 states that in one minute 1,398,148 YouTube videos are watched and that's up 300,000 from August 2011. I seldom, literally, watch YouTube videos and do not have an account, but I have read that that is about to change along with many other technological devices/programs I am about to have to immerse myself into with which I am not comfortable. I guess I might be a little old school or old fashion or just plain old, but it's difficult to teach yourself new technologies in short time periods. I do understand and agree, as the video states, that the top jobs 10 years from now do not yet exist and will use technologies that have not yet been invented and it will be the teachers role to prepare the students for those jobs. I think though that preparation doesn't necessarily mean the actual skill, but can mean preparing for the fact that things change and you always have to keep learning, never stalling.

Mr. Winkle Wakes

"Mr. Winkle Wakes" by Mathew Needleman is a short little satire video showing the differences between technology today in everyday life, but mainly in the work place environment compared to probably most schools in the United States. The author is basically saying that schools have not changed much over the years, even if having the resources to do so. He thinks schools are not keeping up with the technology that is happening all around us, specifically in the occupations that the students will be entering.

I both agree and disagree with the author's point of view. I agree to the fact that most schools probably are not helping the students keep up with the technological advances around us, but also probably for several reasons two of which I believe to be funding and the teacher is behind in technology as well. Maybe if teachers had to have more CEU hours on these advances or the schools had more funding for technology less people would feel as Mr. Needleman.

In my own experience I see my seven year old daughter doing and knowing almost 75% of what I know on the computer. She goes to Gulf Shores Elementary School and uses the iPads there on a daily basis as well as the computers and next year will be receiving an Apple Notebook to complete assignments and do work/projects. Therefore, that's why I believe that maybe probably most schools in the U.S., due to several reasons, are unable to help their students keep up with the technology around them.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

After watching "Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity" a video of Sir Ken Robinson speaking at a conference I realized that I had just listened to a very humorous man arguing his position for more creativity in our education system. He considered himself a person that has a big interest in education as well as believed that our education system was too stringent. He talked about how children, even if they do not know, take chances, that they are not worried about being wrong and that we educate our children out of their creativity.

I think that maybe he took this creativity thing a little too far. I believe that yes, younger children aren't afraid to answer questions or make mistakes and as they get older they become a little more timid in responding due to frightfulness, but I do not necessarily agree that that is because they are educated out of it rather than just the fact that they don't want to be wrong. Younger children are also a lot more innocent and free with their responses and think a lot less before answering due to their age, I believe.

Pinterest: Using Available Resources

I have discovered something really great today...Pinterest! What a wonderfully neat resource sight that could be truly inspirational for anyone, anywhere, and of any occupation. I certainly see its use in the education field, know that I will use it, and feel like anyone who would not take advantage of this site would be losing out, especially for the inspirational aspect (the sharing of ideas, lesson plans, etc.) not to mention organization (huge for me).

After reading "The 20 Best Pinterest Boards About Education Technology" I chose to follow Eric Sheninger- Twitter Resources Apps and Tools. I did this for several reasons, one being the fact that I know nothing about Twitter and during this semester of school that is going to have to change. Another reason for following Eric Sheninger on Pinterest is because I have had no interest at all in Twitter and his page states that Twitter is "one of the most powerful social media tools available to educators" and I would like to learn how and why this is possible and I will, for I have already begun my start.

I will use Pinterest whether I am counseling, as I hope to do, or teaching in a classroom. Pinterest is very interesting to me due to its organizational aspects as well as its inspirational aspects. I like the fact that sharing an idea is so easy and I will learn a tremendous just from that alone.