Double Journal Entry #1 -Digital Upgrade

QUOTE
     "When we criticize students for making digital videos instead of reading “Gravity’s Rainbow,” or squabbling on Politico.com instead of watching “The Candidate,” we are blinding ourselves to the world as it is. And then we’re punishing students for our blindness. Those hallowed artifacts — the Thomas Pynchon novel and the Michael Ritchie film — had a place in earlier social environments. While they may one day resurface as relevant, they are now chiefly of interest to cultural historians. But digital video and Web politics are intellectually robust and stimulating, profitable and even pleasurable."
     "Simply put, we can’t keep preparing students for a world that doesn't exist. We can’t keep ignoring the formidable cognitive skills they’re developing on their own. And above all, we must stop disparaging digital prowess just because some of us over 40 don’t happen to possess it. An institutional grudge match with the young can sabotage an entire culture(Heffernan 2011)."


RESPONSE
I decided to chose these two quotes to show how our society is constantly changing. However, our education systems are not keeping up with the current technology needed for the future. Children of our day and age are constantly using the web to learn. Websites such as Nick Jr., Disney, and PBS have been grabbing the attention of children as young as 2 or 3 to learn virtually. Not only do they provide entertainment, but also learning experiences such as how to count, spell, and some even teach our children a second language. This technology will benefit the next generation of children. But, how are we supposed to live or work in the future with no experience of what is to come. I believe that if you are to work in a social environment such as a school you need to be trained in the technical field. If our students are not properly trained, we are preparing them for a world that does not exist. I mainly say this because technology almost runs the entire world. Technology is our future, without it we wouldn't have made it this far.


VIDEO
This video is showing how even some of our youngest children are benefiting from technology in schools.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOhb4n4ADbM


SOURCES

Heffernan, V. (2011). Education Needs a Digital-Age Upgrade. Retrieved Aug 26, 2012, from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/education-needs-a-digital-age-upgrade/?hp

Minnetonka Schools (2009, August 6) Technology in Early Childhood Family Education Classrooms -YouTube. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . Retrieved August 26, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO2B8PamY48&feature=autopl