Blog Post 2

"Did You Know?"
The statistics shown throughout this video are just shocking! Who would have guessed that China would soon become the largest English speaking nation?...Not I! It also amazes me how less advanced countries are performing better in their schools than the US. The US has so many resources available, more advanced, more funds; so why is the US falling behind? There are more honors students in India than kids in America. WOW! I cannot say I am shocked, though. My family supports several children at an orphanage located in India. My adoptive brother's name is Naveen Kumar. These students attend school Monday-Saturday. They learn and read and study from the time the sun comes up until the sun goes down, and they are eager to learn (you don't hear about that with students now days). Sunday is the only day the kids take off, and that is only to spend the entire day in worship. Naveen has learned English on his own, and currently attending school to become a Mechanical Engineer. I just thought I was smart at math in school; Naveen can perform math problems I would not have learned until I took an advanced college level math. These kids amaze me! However, they learn differently than students do here in American. They perform dance, they build things. Right now they are actually building a new building, literally. They are making their own bricks, counting, architecture, art, math,...etc. They make a lot of their own clothes, they make up and perform plays, they practice preaching in front of each other to promote public speaking. To top that off, the students are having so much fun learning, they want to continue to learn. They teach themselves English at night. They make up their own quizzes to practice MORE. I wish I could be that kind of students!

Also, it is so mind-blowing to see how far technology has advanced in such little time, and how much more advanced it will be within such few short years! I think classrooms should adapt to this change. Unfortunately, most technological tools are prohibited in classrooms. Students should learn the technology and how to live in such a technologically advanced world. Not only books can be used for resources; the web contains so many resources that are available at the click of a mouse. After all, there is a whole world out there to explore! However, I do believe there is one MAJOR downfall to all this technology...communication is no longer the same. I believe relationships struggle because they no longer know how to talk face-to-face. I believe text messaging is most young peoples' only form of communication and they lack the skills needed to carry on a conversation in person. I believe grammar skills also suffer because of short-hand forms of words used through texting and online social networks such as Facebook. I guess, "Every rose has its thorn", right?



"Mr. Winkle Wakes"
I assume in today's time, there are a lot of people out there that feel the same way Mr. Winkle did. Like I said above, technology has came such a long way. Many of my elders grew up in a world of black and white televisions with dials (if any at all) and record players. They now live in one of the most technologically advanced societies in the world. How cool! It is hard to believe that my generation and generations to come will be experiencing even more advances.

As a previous nursing major, I would like to point out the importance of when Mr. Winkle goes to the hospital. Advances in medicine are just astonishing and allowing doctors to perform surgeries that were never thought possible, they are discovering hundreds of new illnesses and medications each year, and lives are being prolonged. It is remarkable!

At the end of the video, it showed a computer in the back of the classroom that is never used. I will agree with Mr. Winkle, schools are outdated. Sitting and listening to lectures while taking notes for hours can be so boring (not to mention all of the day-dreaming going on). I think students learn better and retain more when they are having fun.



"Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity"
First, I would like to say I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Mr. Robinson knows how to keep his crowds' attention (by making it fun). I do agree with him that students' creativity is killed in classrooms. You always here teachers telling their students to be creative, but are they really given the chance to be with only pencil and paper? I do agree with him that all people are born creative and the arts should be just as important as any other subject taught in school. I took part in art, drama, and chorus while in high school, and I can honestly say I WANTED to go to class. Not only was I taken out of my comfort zone, I learned I was talented. I learned about other talented artists. I learned about the art itself. We as high school students were able to use our imaginations and creativity.

One thing Mr. Robinson mentioned during the video that constantly bothers me in my daily life, is why when we have a child that is "hyper" we put them on medication and tell them to calm down? It breaks my heart to see a child go from bubbly to zombie. I do believe some kids may just have discipline problems and few may REALLY have an attention disorder, but is medication really the answer for ALL? If a student cannot sit still, maybe they do learn better while they are moving. Standards can be taught in a creative way. All standards can be met if WE "teachers" are creative in the way we teach and allow our students to be creative. We should be creating life long learners, not teaching for the test. Again, I enjoyed listening to Mr. Robinson and I plan to search for more videos!



"Cecelia Gault's Interview"
I feel that going straight to the source and performing interviews are one of the best ways to find out information. In EDF315, we took part in different culture interviews. I interviewed a lady from Iraq, and that experience was one of the most eye-opening experiences I have ever had. I think it is wonderful Cecilia was able to go speak with such an inspiring man.

During the interview, Sir Robinson states his opinion of how science and arts should be more balanced in school curriculum. I, for one, am a firm believer of this. Intelligence is diverse! Why do the arts take a backseat to other subjects. The learning experience can be enhanced so much by incorporating arts and other creative ideas. Students remember the fun lessons. Can you remember field trips you went on while you were in school? Can you remember projects you done while in school? Can you remember a lecture? I remember going to the zoo, to a play, to the capital, to the planetarium, making a plant scrapbook, a volcano, history time-lines...etc. However, I cannot remember a specific lecture.  Just something to think about...    I would absolutely love to be able to see Sir Ken Robinson for myself someday, and would love even more to be able to take my students. I hope I can inspire my students to be life long learners.



"Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts"
I love that Ms. Davis is trying to step out of the norm and teach in a creative way. She is teaching her students about technology and she too is learning along the way. Empowering your students is a must and she definitely allows that to happen. I think we need more teachers in the education world to try to bring new creative teaching methods to their classroom to make learning fun and empower them.

Although I do think Ms. Davis in on the right track, I do not believe ONE type of method should be used to teach. I believe multiple methods should be used in a classroom such as: computers, books, paper and pencil, arts, discussion, hands-on...etc. Lets don't forget that there are 7 different learning styles. Not all students will perform better using a computer rather than paper and pencil, and vice versa. I, for one, could not sit in front of a computer all day. My vision is horrible and I experience severe headaches after staring at a screen for long periods of time. I think that is something teachers should take into consideration, no ONE method is necessarily correct.