Blog Assignment 4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff, Please? This is who Scott McLeod is: "I’m an Associate Professor of Educational Administration at Iowa State University and the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). I’m also the co-creator of the Did You Know? (Shift Happens) videos." I fully agree with Mr. McLeod. Kids need to know about the technology that is available to them. They're going to need it eventually, so we might as well teach them the safe techniques to using the technology.
I commented the following on Scott McLeod's post:
It's amazing to me how reluctant people are to accept technology. Sure, there are people that misuse technology, but the advances made through technology are a necessary part of our present and future society. Shouldn't we teach our children how to use technology safely, rather than just let them learn on their own the hard way?


Image via WikipediaThe iSchool- The ischool runs on the premise of saving money. The creator, a high school student in Georgia, concocted the plan to save our broken school systems. I think it was a wonderful idea and with a few adjustments, it can be achieved.
The first thing we need to examine, however, is the practicality of the whole thing. Can we really expect students to keep up with a school owned iPod? The problem I foresee is the iPod  successfully replacing all necessary school supplies. With all necessities packed into one, tiny item, what happens when its lost or simply forgotten for the day? Does the student miss out for the day? Does the school shell out another $150 or does the responsibility fall on the shoulders of a single mother struggling to pack a lunch for her kids everyday? Perhaps we require students to leave their iPod at school; but how do they do their homework.
While I admire this young man's mission, it does seem all that practical. Perhaps with a little more insight and some more planning, this revolutionary idea may come to be a reality. I would love to see that happen.


Lost Generation- This was one of the coolest, must uplifting things I've watched in a while. I wouldn't have understood it, if I had not seen it on my computer screen and been able to read along. Other than that, how does technology fit into this? It's important to realize that with the resources that are  available to us, there's no reason we can't change the world. We can take the resources and use them for something truly great. We can connect with each other and fix our broken planet. We can educate students to take it one step further than we were able to. Who knows? The man or woman who presents a cure for cancer or HIV or perhaps world hunger may be a student of ours. Will we teach them what they need to know? Will we be a stepping stone for them in their journey through life. I will be...


Virtual Choir- First off, I just want to say that Eric Whitacre is one of my favorite composers; the man is a genius. I actually saw this video for the first time the day it aired on the news. This is one of the most amazing feats that have been made by the teaming up of art and technology. It's amazing to think that these people never met and never saw one another, or heard one another for that matter. As a musician, I know the hard work and endless rehearsal hours it takes to put together a masterpiece. Through the use of this technology, these artists were able to rehearse on their own time and submit the video to Mr. Whitacre.  Put all the individual videos together and you've got quite an original work. Very entertaining!