I recently watched Dr. John Strange's Youtube video, Did You Know? 3.0 - A John Strange Version, which is based on the Youtube video, Did You Know 3.0, by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod. Dr. Strange's video focuses on technology and the monumental growth of technology. Many of the statistics that Dr. Strange mentions in his video does not surprise me and yet some others do.
The information describing the population in India is very interesting. The fact that 25% of the population in India with the highest IQ's out numbers the entire population of America is startling. With the monumental difference in population I can see this being possible along with the outstanding number of honors students in grades K - 12, who outnumber the K - 12 students here in the United States. The information is amazing any way one looks at it. I did find the projected amount of english speaking Chinese in 2025 rather disconcerting in a way. China is a large country who deals with America in many ways and the knowledge of the English language is necessary. This information makes sense in a way, because of the relationship between the U.S. and China.
Throughout the past few years I have not heard about much of the advancement in India as these statistics provide. I have primarily been occupied with the overcrowding and malnourishment issues surrounding India. This video provides me with new information that opens my eyes to the growth of technology in countries on the other side of the world. The information about China does not surprise me as much. I find it rather interesting, however.
Technology is becoming more and more pronounced. The past few years has seen leaps in the development of new technology and the improvement of existing technology. I could never imagine not having access to the internet to assist me with many parts of my life. This information and statistics provided to me through Did You Know? 3.0 - A John Strange Version opens my eyes to a greater picture of how technology has effected countries other than my own.
Along with Did You Know? 3.0 - A John Strange Version, I was required to watch Mr. Winkle Wakes by Mathew Needleman. At the immediate opening of this video I was taken aback. The story follows a old man who had slept for 100 years, to awake to a modern city. In this city he came across a business building where he saw the numerous technological machines. Seeing this difference Mr. Winkle left and went to a hospital where he, once again, come into contact with these machines. He left once more only to find himself at a school. Here he was comfortable, because of the lack of technology.
I would agree to some extent with Mr. Winkle. I believe that there should be a middle ground in school when dealing with technology. As a future educator, I would like my students to have access to computers and such, but only to a certain degree. Learning should not consist only through technology, but through old-fashioned lecture. A blended course is the best way to go in schools. Students learn in so many different ways that by blending lecture and technology, students would get the best of both worlds.
I find Sir Robinson's video, The Importance of Creativity, quite amusing. He makes interesting points about the future and the knowledge that we lack about the future. His belief in creativity compared to literacy is amazing. I would agree with him that we, as adults, "squander" the creativity of children. They look at the world in such a beautiful and different way from adults. I believe that children deserve respect.
We are meant to teach children and provide them with the best way to channel their minds and talents. Sir Robinson states that "we are educating people out of their creative capacities." We should not crush the creativity of children. I agree with Sir Robinson that we should alter the educational system from taking the creativity from children and let them express who they are. The hierarchical educational system, Sir Robinson states, does not offer enough time and ways for students to express their creativity.
The educational system needs to become more dynamic. I find Sir Robinson and his ideas to be a serious issue that needs to be reconsidered. Children deserve more from the adults that surround them and teach them. I believe that many people want to mold children and include in those children what they want. I personally believe that the medications and diagnosis' that doctors and psychologists put on children hinders who they are. I have seen children change because of these. Children should not be medicated or diagnosed with something that will take away from their natural playfulness.
Could you imagine having the technology that is described in A Day Made of Glass 2? The innovative and interactive technology that the Corning company provides in this video is amazing. I found it hard to focus on the descriptions of the many interactive types of glass technologies shown, because I was focused on the ways it was used. I was blown away by the way technology could provide us with so much. The technology I come in contact with everyday is a grain of sand compared to what is described in this video.
The future has always been a subject of continuous debate. Whether it is a small or large issue, the future holds the answers. This post focuses on technology and the amount of technology that is out there for us to use. Our knowledge of technology grows every second and this knowledge molds our futures. Mr. Winkle awoke into a culture he did not know. We know what is around us and we know how to use the technologies that invade out lives daily. We want to learn more and develop new technologies to help in fields of science, education, and art. Technology has become a part of daily life and in the future, I believe it will become even more embedded in our lives. We as an innovative society welcome change, knowledge, and the future.
I could also write that the 25% of the Indian population with large eyes outnumbers the entire United States population with eyes. The only point that can be made is about how many more people there are in India than the United States. Look the relative populations up (including China) and report them in a comment below.
ReplyDeleteI think your blended lecture/technology solution may be a copout. Just read your last paragraph in this post. We'll see as the course progresses.
According to G. Scott Thomas from bizjournals.com,"estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau put China in the lead with 1.34 billion residents, followed by India with 1.19 billion. The United States is a distant third with 311.1 million people." My point above about the percentage of Indian IQ is still startling, I now know the population differences. There is a definite stretch between India and the U.S. populations, which make the difference possible. The fact that I live in the U.S. and thinking about the population of my home nation compared to India is amazing.
DeleteAccording to G. Scott Thomas from bizjournals.com,"estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau put China in the lead with 1.34 billion residents, followed by India with 1.19 billion. The United States is a distant third with 311.1 million people." My point above about the percentage of Indian IQ is still startling, I now know the population differences. There is a definite stretch between India and the U.S. populations, which make the difference possible. The fact that I live in the U.S. and thinking about the population of my home nation compared to India is amazing.
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog post, I must say that I am impressed. I couldn't find any grammatical errors, your pictures are all sourced, and your blog was easy to read. The only thing I found was in the Mr. Winkle section. You said that you agree with him to some extent, when I watched it, I was horrified. Your idea of a middle ground is a good one. One day it will be our responsibly to teach our students how use technology effectively, and think for themselves. Sometimes combining the two can be a wonderful experience, but only if it done correctly. Take calculators for example. Thank you letting me read your blog.