This video, Did You Know? -Strange Version, revised by John Strange, is kind of scary to think about. I think that high schools and college students already use too much technology. According to the video like 60-80% of those students have smart phones with internet. I’m pretty sure that they all have Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Youtube, and other social network accounts at the touch of their fingers where ever they happen to be. I can’t imagine that in 10 years people with have jobs using technology that doesn’t even exist yet. I know that it is all coming soon and growing every day, but personally I don’t like the thought of depending on it.
In my classroom, I will teach MATH. If using technology will help my students learn their math concepts and procedures better then I will use it. In my opinion though, all technology does in a high school math class is allow the students to cheat. Many people are looking to the future of technology as such a good thing, and it is, but no one thinks about how dishonest high school students are. They WILL find ways to cheat and allowing them to use phones, internet, and computers is just allowing them to cheat. Technology should be used for at home use to enhance learning, not take the place of it.
Mr. Winkle Wakes
The short movie, Mr. Winkle Wakes, by Matthew Needleman, is about an old man who has been asleep for 100 years and wakes up to find that the world is now technologically advanced. He goes into an office to find computers and printers. This makes him sick so he goes to the hospital. In the hospital, he finds all the procedures being done by computers and computers keeping people alive. Since isn’t helping how he feels so he leaves to find something familiar. He finds a school and goes in to see teachers lecturing and students writing and no technology being used. He is now happy because he feels “at home” without the technology.
The movie never says anything about the fact that the students in the school aren’t learning. They are. There is nothing wrong, in my opinion, with old time lectures. This, obviously, is not the same as everyone else’s opinion but it can definitely be argued that not everyone learns the same. I learn really well from lectures. I like having a teacher tell me what they want me to know and having me do work that is a reflection of what they have taught. Others learn better from exploring and figuring things out on their own and watch videos. The problem with this is that students are lazy. They do the bare minimum and that means that you, as a teacher, have to tell them what the bare minimum is that they must know.
Creativity
Sir Ken Robinson’s video, The Importance of Creativity, is very funny and light-hearted. He says a lot in a short amount of time. What I got out of it was that education in today’s world revolves around teaching math and reading and writing. He believes that schools put the arts to the back burner and this hinders students’ creativity. He told a story about a woman who they thought was ADHD but her mother just took her to a dance school instead and she learned there and became a millionaire ballerina. His point was that just because she couldn’t learn in a normal classroom with normal subjects doesn’t mean that she isn’t capable of being successful.
I do agree with many of the things that were said in the video but I disagree with some too. I don’t think that children should be allowed to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives when they are 6. I think that every career requires you to be able to write and read up to a 12th grade level. I also think that math is the reason for people like engineers, astronauts, architects, meteorologists, and many more professions that drive the economy. This includes computer engineers which are necessary for the growing technology that everyone depends on. The arts are used for entertainment and the maths, sciences, reading, and writing are necessary for careers that actually contribute to the society.
I love Pinterest! I have already been developing a board for my future classroom. There are so many sources to use to help students learn. You have to pin a post on your board then you have the link to the page forever, and they are all in one place. The reason that it works so well is because you don’t have to do all the research yourself. Other educators all over the world pin projects, activities, and such so you just click on “education” and it takes you to every link that has to do with education. It is very organized and easy to use.
"I think that high schools and college students already use too much technology. " Really?
ReplyDelete" In my opinion though, all technology does in a high school math class is allow the students to cheat." No kidding. Do I have some interesting assignments for you then.
"I learn really well from lectures." What do you learn from lectures? Facts? What else?
"I like having a teacher tell me what they want me to know..." What if the teacher doesn't care what you know but is passionate about wanting you to learn on your own - to be a lifelong learner?
"...you, as a teacher, have to tell them what the bare minimum is that they must know." Are you really willing to set the "bare minimum" as your goal?
"I do agree with many of the things that were said in the video but I agree with some too." My guess is that the last agree in this sentence. Am I correct?
"The arts are used for entertainment and the maths, sciences, reading, and writing are necessary for careers that actually contribute to the society." Do you mean to say that you think the arts do not contribute to society?
Interesting even though I disagree with many of your positions about education and learning.
Hi Roanna!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post, and I like your fearlessly opinionated personality!
First of all, kudos to you for being a math teacher! I agree that it is difficult to teach math without a pen and paper. My first year of college, my professor tried to make me do my Cal homework online. If I am going to learn and take my quizzes or tests in pencil, then I need to practice homework in pencil as well. Moreover, professors should take time to analyze WORK since we take time to do it. That way, we can understand what steps that we are confusing.
I bet that after we master this technology, there will be easier ways we can teach math through presentations that show step by step work. Furthermore, we can find great teaching lessons or techniques through social networking sites like Pintrest. For instance, if a class is not getting a concept, just search for another perspective on teaching, download it, and present it to the class. Pretty cool.
That classroom Mr. Winkle went to looked pretty boring. That's not what most classrooms look like.
Yes, most people do not know what they want to do when they are six. I didn't know what I wanted to do until recently. Book education is important, however arts are equally important and they do contribute to society. Just think of the history and the reflection of change in society that was portrayed in the arts, dancing, and music: romanticism, baroque, impressionism, neoclassicism. They're forms of language, history, expression, and a way of thinking in that era. Maybe parents should focus more on supporting a child expanding his/her own mind with creativity instead of simply telling a child what to do. Do this, while incorporating the broader curriculum. Rarely is it never black or white.
All in all, I enjoyed reading you post! You are a great writer and you'll make a great math teacher! Check your messages for some helpful suggestions.
Wannetta