Blog Post #5

Don't Teach Your Kids this Stuff. Please. by Scott McLeod

Absolutely loved it! This was very funny. On this blog Scott McLeod is writing a letter to parents, teachers, administrators, and board members telling them not to teach their child anything related to the wed. He is wanting the people the letter is addressed to to keep their children use to using only pen and paper in their lesson. No blogging, twittering, scanning, PLNs, and definitely no cell phones. He is being sarcastic saying how parents feel the internet is basically a bunch of garbage only going to corrupt the child later. Some old fashioned traditional parents really feel this way. People can be ignorant to not allow their children the exposure to technology. However there are ways to utilize technology for purposeful methods. Not to say predators are not out there but there are ways to protect your children as much as you can and still allow them use of the web. It is just like dropping off your child at a store and leaving then returning to get them. One trust that their child will be safe and pay attention to their surroundings. Parents can not be everywhere at once so you just trust things will go as planned and hope nothing bad happens. Needless to say the internet is just like that. One can allow their child to learn all they can about things that will enhance their thinking skills and make learning interesting and fun while being safe.
Now who is Dr. McLeod? He is the an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education which is the nations only academic center dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators and was a co-creator of "Did You Know Shift Happens". He has received awards from Phi Delta Kappa, the National School Boards Association, and recognition from the cable industry to include a few. He blogs regularly about technology leadership issues at Dangerously Irrelevant at The Huffington Post. (Information provided by www.bigthink.com/experts.)

The iSchool Initiative by Travis Allen

Does technology belong in our class? In my opinion as a student graduating with 2007 class I say yes. As a future teacher in 2013 I say yes. Technology is needed in our classrooms due to the use of it in todays world. Everyday an individual is anywhere but home they see iPads, iTouch, iPods, and iPhones being used daily. Even if you do not own any of the items one probably use iTunes. There are many new things dealing with computers and the web used in schools. Now there is another way of learning or the iSchool. It does not require books, paper, pencil, or expensive copy machines. It uses email for communication for students, teachers, and parents. It has a chemical table, US Constitution, World Wiki, USA Presidents, star walk, formula app, recorder, scientific calculator, and plenty of other apps that a student can access with a touch of their finger. This iTouch creates instant access for teachers and students to keep up with assignments while parents are able to monitor progress. iSchool saves $600 dollars per student only costing $150 for a student to have an iTouch. Eventually something similar if not this program will exist in our classes. By utilizing the iTouch our schools can go green helping with the green house affect.
Travis Allen is a very well spoken individual. He is truly inspiring for me and I am sure other individuals. The work he has done as a twenty year old student is amazing. His purpose is clearly stated how schools should evolve to survive in today's information age. Not only must we rethink the curriculum and how students learn from the time perspective but we must do so so that our country will grow and remain strong being that our students are the future. We as a country are in a lot of trouble with debt and schools systems failing. The drop out rate is growing and we must figure out why. By rethinking the traditional learning method we can do nothing but succeed, because obviously the "old way" is not working.

Eric Whitacres Virtual Choir

Wow!! I have chills after watching this amazing choir sing. Who would have ever thought of this? It is so perfect. It allows me to see into the web and what you can do with it. It is like a movie where you think oh that could never happen but anything is possible especially after watching this video. I would have loved to be apart of that choir! (lol) All anyone has to do is search, search, search! Their is so much that can be used for good purposes through use of the internet and technology. Many people use excuses for not using the internet relating them to negativity but one must see past that. With technology today you can protect your self from identity theft or predators. If you are alive one way or another you will use technology. You may not have a credit card and use only cash but one will use use something dealing with technology so make the best of it and enjoy it!

Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts

I enjoyed this you tube video. In this video Kevin asks us what does it mean to teach. There are many definitions found in dictionaries and sites online for the word teach. My favorite related to the 21st Century is "to guide the studies of". Just as Roberts pointed out students can access information anywhere  and anytime. Teachers do not need to only provide information for these students in today's technological world but to show them the proper way of finding this information. We must engage our students in the subjects taught in our classes and using a computer, iPad , or any technology one can find ways to help the students help them selves. It can be useful and fun. It would be pretty boring to go to class each day and read the chapter given and answer questions. This is regurgitation. It is not learning  but memorizing for most students. If one is engaged in learning and asked to search for it using the web and then to do a project with the information found, the student would more likely remember the project over reading some words in a book that is hard to get engaged in. I know once the school system figures this out the dropout rate will decrease and test scores will increase.