Shcools and Students Need to Step it Up

The article “Rigor Redefined” by Tony Wagner exposes the truth about what kids aren’t learning that will set them back in a twenty first century workplace.

Somehow, this article didn’t shock me that much. I was alarmed at how secluded kids can be, but I mostly knew about these types of problems. Young adults are hiding behind text rather than talking face to face. I have come in counter with many kids who won’t even look at an adult. I don’t know if it’s a matter of shame or if these students don’t want the adults to judge them. This fear is irrational because adults are “adult” enough to not read a book by its cover. I am always social with adults. I practically am one. I see myself as more mature than the average person, in the aspect of knowledge. I sometimes prefer talking to adults. Older people understand my jokes. The ability to socialize face to face is important in finding a job and being effective in a work force. Social skills are mostly associated with teamwork. Teams for companies are now across the world. That one slacker in the group can actually happen in real life. I have been lucky to be taught these social skills.

This article really stresses on critical thinking and problem solving. Many companies look for this in their employees and it is a great skill. This is where school systems have ignored their students. Students are hand fed answers without developing the mind. My 6^th grade science teacher used to say, “Now this isn’t information that you regurgitate back up after learning it.” She meant that you have to retain information instead of just memorizing it long enough to write it on a test. Teachers are supposed to ask questions that make us use problem solving skills with new techniques to find answers. This is what sets us up to succeed in business.

Another core skill that students aren’t learning is adaptability. Some students do attain this skill, but most don’t. In an ever changing world workers need to be able to change with the times and roll with the punches. There are new problems every day. There has to be new thinking every day to solve these problems. Our schools aren’t preparing us enough for these challenges. It’s not just the schools fault. Students have lost the will to care. They don’t see that what they do now determines what happens to them in the future. These skills are vital to the survival of our future workforce.

What is the "Machine"?

The video “Web 2.0 … The Machine is Us/ing Us” by Mr. Wesch expresses the fact that we can do so much more with the web 2.0 world than just a paper and a pencil.

The “machine” is us. Simply put, we created the internet and the web; therefore it is a part of us. The web started out small. It was only used to find information. When we started making it more complicated, we added things to simplify it. We added learning to the web to make it this 2.0 version. Now we can do so much more with the web because it still has information, but it also has opinions, and the ability to share, trade, and collaborate.

This video was right. When we enter this world we need to rethink everything. We can’t have the same mindset of a two dimensional world anymore. A pencil and paper isn’t right for this job anymore. We need to think about the efficiency, simplicity, and new functionality of the web 2.0. We teach the machine by clicking on links and adding information, opinions, and ideas. Then we learn from the machine. We take opinions, ideas, and information and teach ourselves. The video mentioned rethinking copyright. In a web 2.0 world, there is a lot of gray. What’s right or what’s wrong. Everyone uses what they hear on a daily basis, it’s basically the same thing, but in text format. So the web 2.0 is more of a median that we can connect and share through.

So when the video says “The machine is us” or “We are teaching the machine” we truly are teaching ourselves but as a human race, not individually.

Life's Rollercoaster

                The blog “Letter to my daughter (in the wake senseless tragedy)” by Vicky Bell clearly communicates that no matter what happens, its going to be ok.

Vicky mentioned the tragedy that occurred when a college student killed himself because his room mate posted a video of him having sex with another man. She used this in a positive way. The post that she had written was for her daughter (who I assume is a college graduate because of a picture). She talked about no matter how low you can get, it will always get better.

I completely agree with Vicky’s idea. There is no example of when something embarrassing happens and it never blows over. The fact is, people don’t care enough to continuously bully someone. Like in the post “People have short memories…” I don’t think people are truly that callous either. There is still good in people, but apparently not good enough to make them want to step in.

When I was in 6th grade, I usually played kickball at lunch. We had a rule about no bunting. One day, someone bunted the ball and everyone yelled at him. I argued back and said “No, it was a power bunt.” These kids thought it was hilarious that I said that. They started calling me power bunt from then on. I felt pretty low and stupid. Eventually they forgot, it took two years, but it stopped. My example is very small compared to other people, but the point stays the same through and through. There is always going to be a way to get through it (besides suicide).

I always wonder what goes on in a person’s mind that would lead them to suicide. Shouldn’t they know that there is always someone that loves them and will accept them for who they are? Every life is worth living, even if you’ve gotten off to a bad start. I guess we don’t know that we will always be able to get through tough situations with all of the bad things that can happen in life. When we make this clear to people, we can make a difference. This is why Vicky Bell wrote her daughter this message.

What don't the coaches see?

                After the freshman football game on Thursday vs. Bear Creek I got pretty upset about how the coaches don’t even know about the talent that is not in front of them.

                First of all, we lost to Bear Creek 21 to 20. That alone upset everyone. Now we are 5-1.

                A lot of people on the team didn’t get to play that game, me being one of them. I am a second string cornerback. There are about eight corners. This game and the last one vs. Heritage were disappointing to me. There are two new cornerbacks that switched over from being receivers have been corners for three days by the time of the Heritage game. We had our first string cornerbacks in and we were doing fine on pass blocking. Then, all of a sudden the coaches sent in the two corners that switched. They messed up on about two or three plays and apparently that determines that all of the corners aren’t good enough to play. The coaches moved the other two safeties in as cornerbacks. I didn’t get in at all that game and neither did the rest of the cornerbacks.

                The game at Bear Creek was very much the same. We have been working hard this past week and it is all thrown away because the receivers on the other team were tall. The safeties played as cornerbacks again. None of the other cornerbacks got in either.

                This makes me furious. I have been working hard to be able to play in these games. When the first string corners cant even go in games, what does that say for the rest of us? What’s the point of working hard when it’s not going to amount to anything? If the coaches would have left the regular corners in, they wouldn’t be having this problem. They could just be trying to cover up for their mistakes. The only time second string players are put in the game is when the score is absurdly in our favor.

                The coaches seem to make a lot of promises that can’t quite be kept. They said that they weren’t going to do the same thing they did when we were vs. Heritage. They ended up doing the same exact thing. I have lost a little respect for the coaches in that aspect.

                I also see a bit of favoritism. When does it make sense that a new cornerback, who have been practicing with us for three days, plays in a game before the second string cornerbacks, who have been playing in the position for five weeks? Again, I have lost some respect for the coaches.

                Is winning too important? When the coaches think it’s too risky to send in the “dreaded” second string, or even the first string? It’s not right in my opinion. Before the game the coaches said “Have fun.” Standing on the sidelines isn’t fun. After we lost, the coaches said “Think about what you could have done better.” I can’t come up with a way to improve how good I am on the sidelines. I just want to get out there and show what I’ve got. I know that I can do that in practice but how am I going to prove myself in games when the first string corners cant even get on the field?

                There are only three games left. I’m going to do whatever it takes to convince the coaches that the corners are big enough to handle pass coverage and that I’m ready to step it up.

Is the Education System Ignoring a Possibly "Great" Tool?

The article “Footprints in the Digital Age” written by Will Richardson, demonstrates that the education system is not taking interest and teaching children how to harness tools such as the internet and social sites.

The big issue for me is that why does leaving a footprint on endless webs of random information trump the importance of physically getting out into the world and benefiting it in ways other than blogs, social websites and other devices on the internet? In the beginning of the article, it sounded to me like the writer didn’t want his kids to get a poor reputation when they get older or be thought of badly by people who see that there isn’t much information about them. Of course it is important to express ourselves and show who you are.  It’s a part of our identity.

“A recent National School Boards Association survey (2007) announced that upward of 80% of young people who are online are networking and that 70% of them are regularly discussing education-related topics.” If 80% of young people are using this tool and are actually learning from it, shouldn’t the education system use it and teach it? The internet will become more and more a way of life for people, whether we like it or not. Let’s get a jump start and harness its power for good. An easier way to teach ideas and lessons is always welcome and appreciated. When we talk about the ways of simplicity, we also have to think about traditions. At what point are we sacrificing tradition and what we know and love for the easy way to get things done? When e-mail was created people got a little too caught up in it.  I for one have forgotten how to mail a letter.

Perhaps the most important concern about the “digital footprint” philosophy is the safety. How do we know when our youth is safe from people on the internet that want to do them harm?  I guess that it’s up to the education system to teach right from wrong and how to be safe. This could also be partially why the education system doesn’t want to have anything to do with these “tools.” They don’t want to be liable if some mishap occurs and all the blame comes rushing onto the ones that taught the students.

The story of Laura Stockman, the ten year old, is an example of success in this realm of blogs and social networks. If a ten year old from Buffalo, New York can make a difference, imagine what a teenager could do for his community or even the world. This issue is divided between using this tool to make a difference and leave a good “footprint.” The other side of the battle is that we could lose our traditions and, possibly, our safety.  But a good question is:  Why is the education system (the system that creates what we know) not stepping in and doing something about it?