Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

Vicki Davis is a teacher in a rural town in Georgia. Ms. Davis has opened the eyes of her students by using the most updated technology. The students in her class learn different technology each day. In this video, Vicki Davis states that teachers don’t necessarily need to know the material they teach before they teach it. The students in her class teach her more than she knew about different programs in her class. This video is very uplifting and positive when it comes to technology. Students learn in all different ways. Pencil and paper is not always the way to go. Teachers should be open to new ideas and not just stay in their ways. Things have changed a lot since when I was in college 5 years ago. I took this class in 2005. This class in itself has change immensely and has improved in technology. I see the changes are a positive thing and will teach me a lot of new programs and ideas for my classroom.

Did You Know?

This video is very interesting. It states many facts about the past, present, and future. Within the video, it states that other countries such as India and China are more populated and more advanced than the United States. It states that 25% of India’s population with the highest IQ’s is greater than the total population of the US. That fact in itself is astounding. How can the Untied States be so far behind? Most people from other countries can speak more than one language. Why can’t most of us? Jobs are always changing. Times are always changing. Jobs that exist now may not exist in a few years. This video stated a good question when it comes to Google. With all of the Google searches that go on each day, this question comes to mind. How did we find out all of these answers before Google? Our English language has expanded immensely since the Shakespeare times. With watching all of these facts and statements, it is hard to take it all in. The last question explains my thoughts well. “What does it all mean?”

The Importance of Creativity

This video really does make you think about our future. In this video Ken Robinson talks about the unpredictability of the future. He believes creativity is just as important as literacy. I agree with him. He also stated that children are not afraid to be wrong. People today feel as though they cannot be wrong. Our society in itself has tamed our minds to think it is not okay to do anything wrong. Even as adults, you have to be prepared to be wrong. If you are wrong, you learn with a more open mind. Mr. Robinson speaks about the core subjects in today’s schools. Math and language arts are drilled in the schools and if there is time left, the other arts are introduced. Children dance and play just as much as they learn math or any other subject. Teachers are more interested in taming children’s minds rather than focusing on anything else. More and more people are going to school and getting degrees. In the past, a 4-year degree got you a job. Now, in our economy, it’s hard enough to find a job with or without a master’s degree. Mr. Robinson talked about people and how they find their talents. He shared a story of a friend who found a dance talent in an interesting way. We all have the gift of imagination. Children should be encouraged to use their imagination and not to be scared to be wrong. Wrong answers lead to right answers that also lead to many other things.

Mr. Winkle Wakes

This video is about Mr. Winkle that wakes up after being asleep for 100 years. Mr. Winkle wakes to a very different time and place. He first came to a tall business building full of unfamiliar noises and devices. Mr. Winkle did not like what he saw or heard. He was very disturbed about his findings. All around him he saw many people on computers and pictures printing on paper. He felt very uncomfortable. Mr. Winkle decided to leave and go elsewhere. He then came to a hospital and heard similar things as he did in the office building. Mr. Winkle saw more devices and heard more unfamiliar noises. He saw machines keeping people alive and making every breath for them. This made Mr. Winkle very upset again and he left. Mr. Winkle walked and walked until he came to a school. As he wandered around the school he noticed that things are the same as remembered them. He noticed children were actively listening to their teacher and taking notes about their every word. Mr. Winkle did notice one of those devices he had seen at the office building and hospital in the back of the room. This device was not being used. This school made Mr. Winkle feel better as school had stayed the same.

This video shows us that schools in today’s world are not changing as quickly as everything else. As a teacher in Mobile County, I notice there are not working computers in every classroom. Computers are not used in daily lessons. It seems as though computers, smart boards, and projectors are only used at a convenience. With the world changing the way it is each day, I strongly agree that children should be introduced to these new ideas much earlier. I remember when I was in elementary school. I compare that to today in the classroom and things have not changed that much. Schools are getting more and more new advances, but I don’t think they are keeping up with the progress of our new advances.