January 16, 2010

Mr. Winkle may be Waiting Awhile!

This short video showed exactly how far behind our schools are in the United States of America. If there is one place we should exceed, it should be in technology. It is very unfortunate that the leaders in this country have allowed education to slip behind the curtain while other countries encourage children.

The advances in computers have helped mankind in simple and complex ways. These advances have made life longer, water safer, even cleaning your clothes easier! What has lacked with this new technology is the commitment to teach the children of today about their future. Our schools are forgetting to teach real world skills. Do not be Mr. Winkle and go along without advance!

Do I Really Want to Know?

I know we do not teach children the skills they need in the real world. Information Technologies may be one of the most important subjects that can be taught. If the jobs of the future are not yet created, we can have no idea how to help the children of today prepare for tomorrow. What we do know is computers will play a huge role in tomorrow's work force. This country will never get ahead if education is allowed to not be accountable.

Sitting back and allowing China and India dominate education will never get the U.S.A. respected. The numbers show that computers are here now more than ever before and will continue to mesh into our everyday lives. When I was in high school computers were things we read about, it actually seemed like science fiction. I am sitting here, this very day helping my sixth grade son make a movie about his dream job. Every child should have the chance to learn and that opportunity should include computers.

Is Creativity Dead?

The one thing that has been successful is our ability to kill creativity. This is not really so great for the kids of future generations. What I am finding to be the trend for education is perfection. Every answer has to be right, there is no arts outside of language, the students are expected to sit still all day because recess has been shortened and in most cases eliminated. We as a society are killing the imagination of tomorrows adults.

As educators, we must take the time to let our students grow. Mistakes do not equal failure, instead they provide an opportunity for learning something new. We all need to stand up to have crayons and scissors in the classroom, they have their place next to computers! If our next generation is not creative, the advances in the world will reflect this lack of individual thinking.

Kids are Digitally Smart!

Vicki Davis should inspire us all to set out and make a positive change for our students. She is teaching exactly what our children need to know! The way she educates the students appears to keep them motivated and focused. She breeds creativity in her classroom.

As I watched the video "Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts", I felt left out. The schools my kids attend do not have this kind of technology available to them. Does this mean that they are being left behind in education? I am now motivated to do well in my EDM 310 class. I will gain an education that will give to tomorrows generation.