This video left me with a whirlwind of emotions racing through me. I viewed this at home and I was inspired to have my 16 year old watch it also. He had questions, but at the same time he was in awe. I posted a comment on another blog earlier explaining how I would be willing to be involved in a study on India's educational movement. What are they doing that we can't master in the United States. I guess it comes from them memorizing the tables in Kindergarten and speaking two to four languages simultaneously.
Having 10-14 jobs before the age of 38 gave credit to the fact of the ever changing times. For humans who are creatures of habit, is it good or bad? How can we teach towards the things that we do not know? I guess that is why some individuals take pride in teaching as it was done 30 years ago. We must always be willing to adapt technology and embrace its success, but at the same time I like to tell students that technology is great, but be ready to do things mentally in case the power goes off and nothing was saved.
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When I was younger I had to write my papers with a pen. If my handwriting was messy, my parents made me rewrite the paper. But then computers came out. I now have students in the middle school whose handwriting is so atrocious that I have no idea what they are trying to say. When I question their handwriting, they tell me that "it doesn't matter, I'll type it anyway." Well, if the power goes off on them, they won't be able to share their thoughts. Nobody will know what they are saying. Even though there will be technology that we can not even imagine now, we still need to teach the basics because one day the power may just go off.
I'm glad you had your son read it. I have actually discussed the video with my Sociology students and they were in absolute disbelief. I think if maybe a few of our students saw this and really understood what is means for their future, well maybe a few minds would change and then maybe a few more, and then a few more. I think it will be a slow change process but I sure would like to see it succeed.
I like lindsey's comment on handwriting - what if?
Does it matter the students have bad handwriting? I agree that students need to be able to put down their thoughts in a clear and rational order, but does it really need to be handwritten. The way society is going you barely write anything by hand. You can send e-mail, type memos, you don’t even need to sign your own checks, and when you do hand write something computers can take your handwriting and put it into typed form. Maybe handwritten will be ancient very soon also
I'm with you, Ross. Handwriting is just not that big a deal as long as it is somewhat legible.
Teachers in my district can't let go of it--even when students have fine motor concerns and get OT.
If some teachers can't move forward on the little things, how can we get them to make changes on a much grander scale?
I think you make a great point about student's needing to be ready for what might happen if the technology we rely upon in our daily lives did not work for technical reasons. That is what learning to learn is really about. If we teach the skills of problem solving, creativity, hard work, etc. then our students will be able to prosper no matter what situation occurs.
I think it is funny you said you showed your child the video. I felt the same way and had my fiance see the video. We both learned alot.
I think you should all share your videos!
Also, the what if scenario doesn;t occur too often. We could say that students should learn to use an abacus in case the calculator batteries die? Of course not.
Again, the key is learning skills and thinking strategies to help students problem solve the "what ifs".
I had my brother and my sister watch the video. It inspired a pretty deep conversation with both. I think it is great that you showed your 16 year old. I am interested to know what questions he had and if they match those of adults who viewed the same video.
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