Blog Assignment #5

iSchool Initiative

Travis Allen made several great points in his video, The iSchool Initiative. He introduced the argument that the iSchool could be more efficient in the areas of “going green”, saving money and conserving space. His example is the iPhone and all of its applications. He stated that the applications can go beyond greater use than video games and entertainment. It can assist in everyday classroom learning.

I thought he had a great idea. I think it’s even greater that he was in high school and made such a huge impact on technology’s society and our eventual way of learning. I would love to learn in a classroom setting with the assistance of this type of technology. I don’t think I would enjoy our entire learning curriculum on the iSchool, though. I feel like I would get distracted throughout the day with having the iSchool. He had an example of using a globe on the iSchool instead of a physical one in the classrooms. In my opinion, some things are just better to be seen and learned hands on. It could eventually pose a problem for people that require tactile-style learning, like myself, with remembering what they are studying. That is my only objection to his idea. I enjoyed watching his second video, ZeitgeistYoungMind's Entry. I thought it was awesome that his program has launched to become so big. It’s very inspirational. Also, just a thought, but, without the technology of YouTube and other internet sources, it is very unlikely that his idea would have been discovered and turned into the program that it is today.

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

Eric Whitacre pulls together hundreds of people from all over the world to make a virtual choir. The choir sings “Lux Aurumque”. I have seen this video, Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir, before. It gives me chills every time I listen to it. It’s absolutely stunning that we have the ability to make something so beautiful being so spread across the world. I would have never thought, imagined or dreamed of anything like this ever happening. This man is a musical revolutionist and genius.


Teaching in the 21st century

After watching Dr. Strange’s version of Kevin Robert’s presentation, Teaching in the 21st Century, my mind was blown. I had never thought about the fact that teachers are no longer the source of knowledge and that the internet is. Our new job, as instructors, is to show our students the proper way to use this resource. As much as I really don’t want to admit this is true, it is. I think that this class, EDM 310, is a perfect example of how to teach the proper way to do this. I have already learned so much from this course that I will definitely carry over into my future classroom. Education is changing today. This means our jobs, as instructors, are to learn to adjust accordingly, also.

Flipping the Classroom

The idea of flipping the classroom is BRILLIANT! I have never thought of that. When a teacher "flips" the classroom it simply means that they are now putting their lectures online via videos accessible at home. They students will go home, watch the lectures and come into the classroom with previous knowledge about that lesson. The teacher can then, address any questions or problems during the class time. This is what is being discussed in the following videos: Why I Flipped My Classroom, Dr. Lodge McCammon's FIZZ - Flipping the Classroom and Flipping the Classroom - 4th Grade STEM

I can see how easily this process would encourage the students to be engaged. I think that it may help their parents get involved, also. I remember when I was younger and would struggle with math problems. I always came to my parents and asked for help, but they never knew how to help me, because they could not understand it themselves. With flipping the classroom, parents will now be able to watch the lectures for themselves. This might help eliminate questions the students may have for the teachers the next day in class.