Blog Assignment 2

"Did You Know?"
I was shocked at some of the statistics that were given! I couldn't believe that there were more honors students in India than there were kids in America. However when they started talking about how we are preparing for jobs today that don't exist yet, I found it very true. I guess I never thought about it that way though. There are technologies being invented every day that we couldn't fathom 20, 15, or even 10 years ago.
The way we do things now days aren't the way that we used to do them. We don't meet people the way we used to. The statistic that said 1 out of every 8 couples that were married last year met online was surprising to me, although I don't know why. With everyone having Facebook and Myspace accounts it shouldn't surprise me at all! We have lost the element of meeting and speaking face to face. I think in a way it has made us a poorly mannered society. Kids now days don't even have the communications skills necessary to speak to one another. They use IM and texting a sole means of communication. Phone skills are even lost in among all new technology.
The expanding in the world of technology is almost scary! For them to say that by 2013 there will be a computer that can operate better than the human mind is a little bit unnerving. To think, a computer doing the things of the human mind.

"Mr. Winkle Wakes"
I liked this video. It was kind of funny in a way, but I think a lot of elderly people feel this way sometimes. There are things that they'd never thought they see, things they couldn't even imagine. Even our parents see things that weren't around when they were younger and I'm sure that it will be the same with our generation as time goes on.
The part of the video where Mr. Winkle goes to this hospital was particularly important. Medical advancements are an enormous part of our changing society. The things doctors can do now are incredible.
I must agree with the end of the movie. Schools are rather outdated. Students tend to get bored with the same lecture type set up. That's why classes like EDM are important. They can help us make school more fun for our future students.

"The Importance of Creativity"
I agree with Mr. Robinson completely. I think we do kill creativity in children. We raise them in an ever-changing, extremely creative world and we don't encourage them to be creative in the classroom. I like where he says that we have to prepare to be wrong in order to be creative. Kids don't have that censor. They have no fear of judgment that we do as adults. We are so scared of what others will say about opinions that sometimes we stop children from giving theirs. I guess in fear that they will get hurt.
I also like when he said that Shakespeare had to be in someone's English class. It was a funny thought, but a true thought. This made me think, since I want to be an English teacher. Someone that is in my class one day may be an aspiring writer and it would be extremely important for me to encourage their creativity.
I also agree completely with him when he says that the arts can be just as important as mathematics and sciences. We don't put enough emphasis on the creativity in art, whether it be art or drama or whatever else. I was in drama in high school and I loved it. It took me out of my comfort zone! I had to get up and speak and perform in front of people. That gave me the courage to get up and speak now in front of people.

"Harnessing Your Students' Digital Smarts"
I like that Vicki Davis uses technology in her classroom, however I don't agree with her statement "with paper and pencil, only some students will succeed". I think that it could be the same way with computers and technology. Some people just aren't good with computer work.
I think that technology is very important in the classroom, however it shouldn't be the sole thing we rely on. I think that doing only computer work may hurt the students who are better with paper work. Like myself for example. It's hard for me to sit in front of a computer for an hour doing work.