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I thought that this video had some very interesting points and statistics. As we mentioned in class, it is a bit sensationalistic. The main point I think still comes across though. To me, that main point is that technology and knowledge is growing exponentially and that we as humans (and educators) will need to be aware of this fact and adapt. The idea that we are preparing students for jobs and problems that haven't even been invented yet is interesting. Emerging technological advances are exciting to me however, not scary. What new problems will arise along with new technologies? How will technology change us as a species? It already has greatly. It is just not something that the average person thinks about on a daily basis. Obviously though, as teachers it is crucial to be knowledgeable about using technology in a relevant and efficient way that engages the student.

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Driver's License Response:

After taking the driver's license test, I can't say that I was too surprised on what I got correct and what I didn't. Etiquette, security, and health and wellness were all pretty easy for me. Digital rights and copyright laws were the sections where I found myself getting a little bit confused and/or guessing. After completing the test, I can't say that it really made me more confident in digital copyright law and responsibilities. Mostly what I learned about that topic I learned from creating my own voicethread and having to cite images and sources in the correct way. I also preferred learning through creating a voicethread because it gave the groups a bit of a creative outlet. We were able to make the topics relative to ourselves and more personal, which helped me learn the content more thoroughly.

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"Do Schools Kill Creativity?" Response: I thought this video made some great points. Creativity definitely comes from an ability to take risks, an ability to be wrong. I think that too many people are afraid, terrified of not knowing. We pretend that we know so we can feel in control. For creativity to flourish, we need to be able to admit that the way things are right now could be wrong. We are not educating our kids in a way that will give them the courage to make mistakes, take risks, be creative. I also believe that he is right about a revolution taking place currently. With student debt mounting and employment after college nowhere to be found; things are bound to transform. People will still have an interest in higher learning to be certain, but the way it looks may become vastly different. We have to be open to that change especially as educators.

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"East vs West" Response: It was interesting to learn some of the Indian myths that were presented in this video. I thought that it was a good way to illustrate the need for empathy. Trying to understand the way others' may view the world is very important and increasingly so with globalization. It is probably hard to understand, from a westerner's point of view, that even in business and medicine there are some "fuzzy" areas in India. Westerners do have a tendency to want to categorize everything in a neat, direct and tidy way. This need isn't going to make sense to everyone across the globe. I thought that it was good that he mentioned Groundhog Day in case anyone in the audience was thinking about how silly the Indian mythology stories were. It is good to be reminded that we also have some very strange ideas and practices that seem nonsensical.

media type="custom" key="23446558" "The Thrilling Potential of Sixth Sense Technology" Response: I had actually not heard of sixth sense technology before watching this video. This video would be considered old almost since it came out in 2009. When he was describing some of the things that the new technology could do, I immediately started thinking about my content area (art). To me it was exciting for many reasons, but when it comes to art I was thinking about all the new territory that this would open up for artists. This technology could be used for installations, performance pieces and painting. This technology could revolutionize the art world in the same way that the invention of the camera and photography did. The possibilities are staggering. Also, I thought that it was an interesting idea to try to keep the "human" element in our activities involving technology. That is something that people often criticize younger generations for; that they do not know how to interact with other people and that the experience becomes sterile in a way.

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"Navigating our Global Future" Response: This video reminded me of the video "Shift Happens". It brought up many of the same points. One point that I thought was particularly interesting, was when he asked the question of "Who will benefit from this new technology and globalization?". Will only the super rich have access to the newest technologies and become a sort of super race? Well, I hope not. Hopefully values change to a more global and humanistic way of thinking. How can everyone have access to new technology? Currently, there is definitely a strong imbalance over who has access to things that make their lives easier, better, and longer. He also mentioned that there will be no retirement. No retirement?! This is not exactly something I wanted to hear. Hopefully, he means that we won't even feel the need to retire because medicine will be so advanced that we will want to stay active our entire lives. All of this does make the challenge of preparing our youth with the tools and skills they will need for the future seemingly a daunting task. This once again comes down to people being open and willing to change and innovation instead of sticking with antiquated systems with which people are comfortable.

Technology in the Classroom and as a User

I consider myself part of a generation that was "raised on computers". I have early memories of playing "Number Muncher" and "Oregon Trail" in elementary school. At home we had a computer with access to the internet when I was in middle school. Of course my main focus was using Aol's Instant Messaging. It just took awhile to get there since everyone was still using dial-up. Although my parents may not have seen the value in it at the time, all of these daily activities contributed to me becoming a "computer literate" adult. I also remember that kids in middle and high school had to take a computer keyboarding class. I would imagine that that class would almost be obsolete now. With texting and typing beginning sometimes around Kindergarten, it is a skill that children develop quickly.I realize that the use of technology is not simply about how fast one can type, but I am acknowledging that at one time, a high wpm score was a very desired qualification one could have. Now, that skill is almost assumed.

I think that computers may not have a place in the classroom for very long. When I say "computers" I am referring to the traditional computer; a desktop or laptop. I think that soon, most technology that will be relevant for our children to use will be handheld like the iphone or ipad for example. I think that the focus should be on how to integrate those daily hand-held devices into the daily activities of the classroom. That is why I think that schools' strict "No Phone Policy" is antiquated. There will never be a time that students will not have a phone on them now, and today that means also an access to the internet at all times. A vast knowledge database at your fingertips and we are trying to deny students their use? Seems a little strange in an education setting, doesn't it?

I believe that we are about to encounter a revolution in education that nothing in history has compared to thus far. Technology is changing at an exponentially rapid rate and access to information is growing with it. I think that there is a natural reaction to be resistant to change especially as we get older. We must realize that that hurts the students most of all. We shouldn't be selfish and only consider what WE are comfortable with, but think about what best benefits the students and prepares them for a very fast-paced, technologically advanced future.