Blog Assignment #8

This is How We Dream-Parts 1 and 2
I think This is How We Dream brought up a good point: How often do we actually write with pen and paper? It's not often.  I know personally I take notes on my computer during class.  When I have a question about something I rarely look for it in a book, I look online.  We don't write papers anymore, we are expected to type them and turn them in.  There is rarely an instance that we actually use pen and paper anymore.

Typically we see children learn to write with pen and paper in the elementary setting.  This is still something that is used in the early school years, but even as students enter middle and high school they are expected to begin to type their papers and present everything in a professional manner-not with pen and paper.  That means that we need to prepare students for this from an early age.

I believe that is is still important to have good handwriting and to know how to do this in the proper way.  I also believe that we should begin teaching our students as early as possible how to type and to write using multimedia outlets.  The same grammatical rules apply so this could easily be used in a language arts setting.  If we introduce this at an early age we will not have to deal with unprepared students when they reach that higher level.

The Chipper Series & EDM 310 for Dummies
I really enjoyed these two videos.  I think the EDM 310 is something that should be created.  This class is a class like none other and when you sign up for the class there is no way you can possibly be prepared for everything that will be required for you.  I think you should include this as the first blog post for those who do not watch it early on. 
If I was creating a video for EDM 310 I would make a Do's and Don'ts video.  I would include tips like DO read the class blog daily.  And DON'T get behind-you WON'T catch up.

Learn to Change, Change to Learn
I think this video brought up a good point-one that has been brought up many times in this class- students can learn through other means than the teacher.  The video points out the excessively stimulating environment students live in in todays world.  The environment that they experience outside of school is much more stimulating than the school environment.  This is partialy due to the fact that we have banned the things that are so stimulating to them outside of school, such as social networks and cell phones, within the schools.  These things are sources of learning that, as teachers, we should be trying to capitalize on in some way.  But, as I have said before, I am not necessarily a supporter of completely relying on these types of sources. 

RSAnimate-The Secret Powers of Time and Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
I really thought these videos were entertaining.  They were interesting to watch and they also showed an important message.  The Secret Powers of Time proposes there are six different ways we look at time.  We either look at the past and focus on regret or focus on "the good ole days".  If we are looking at the present times then we either believe we are stuck where we are or we just don't see any point on planning the future.  Those that are focused on the future feel a drive to make them better. 

The second video was equally interesting-it proposed the idea that when a certain amount of cognitive skill is involved in a process rewards do not work.  This shocked me.  I think these two videos and the ideas they propse are linked to the current trends in education.  People are not motivated to succeed.  The types of incentives we are using the motivate these students are no longer working.  We have got to have the students motivating themselves instead of us motivating them.  This motivation must come from within.