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media type="custom" key="19041912" media type="custom" key="19040822" This video was pretty mind-blowing for me - I learned so much information about topics that I have never really even considered before; here are some of the points that were particularly interesting to me... It's crazy that the entire US population is smaller than the 25% of Indians with highest IQs. Another point that I found very interesting was the fact that we are preparing students for jobs that don't even exist yet. Also, I tend to have a pretty old-fashioned mindset about relationships, dating, and marriage. Therefore, it is crazy to me that 1 out of 8 couples have met online. After seeing the video, I feel much more informed about global issues, as well as how we (Americans) measure up to other countries. I really liked the video! media type="custom" key="19041354"

MY VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTERS:

I consider myself to be a fairly "savvy" technology user. In my freshman year of undergrad, I was given an iPhone for Christmas, and a couple years after that, I was given a MacBook. As an owner of these two devices, I would say that my technology "IQ" has increased quite a bit since I converted to the "Apple Side". However, I have always enjoyed using computers and other forms of technology. I am a naturally inquisitive person, so electronics have always been fascinating to me because I like figuring out how things work.

From a classroom perspective, I definitely think that computers and other technology is a must. In just the past couple of years, I have witnessed how computers and SMART technology are able to greatly enhance the learning experiences of students. While I realize that computer use can produce negative results from a social perspective, I feel that as long as the teacher monitors what is going on in front of them, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Computers need to play a leading role in K-12 education. Everyone says that school is meant to prepare children for the "real world" so that they can go out and get jobs. Computers and other technology are an integral part of our society and culture now. By providing students with computers and other technology, we as teachers are better able to provide students with a more authentic education experience. Additionally, computers provide students with the opportunity to express themselves more creatively, because computers supply multiple ways of working on assignments and projects.

FOUR TED TALKS:

Wii Hack media type="custom" key="20058354" I was so amazed by what Johnny Lee was able to do with just a Wii remote and a couple IR sensors! When he talked about how not all schools can afford technology (such as SMARTboards), I thought about schools I have seen that would benefit so much from his discoveries. I can't wait to go to Radio Shack so I can buy the sensors, because I already have Wii remotes. Even if your classroom does have a SMARTboard, this is still a great idea for group projects, because then more students could have the opportunity to be involved with the technology. That was seriously the coolest thing ever!

Changing Math Education media type="custom" key="20059042" I loved the math discussion. As I have never been a fan of math myself, I completely agree that calculus should not be the top point of math training. Statistics is definitely more useful, helpful, and interesting. Obtaining a bachelor's in psychology taught me the importance and usefulness of statistical practices because we regularly used it to analyze research data. Also, there are many more everyday applications fro statistics there are for calculus. Finally, statistics gives students a more conceptual understanding of mathematical practices, which helps overall performance.

And now the good news media type="custom" key="20059118" The main thing that I took away from the "And Now the Good News" video was his discussion about the "cultural paradigm". It has always dictated that we should pay for technological aids, such as Facebook, Wikipedia, and Encarta. I remember when I was younger and had the Encarta software. I thought it was such a big deal that you could buy a whole encyclopedia. Now, I would never think of paying for encyclopedia software when I have Google at my fingertips.

How to make a splash media type="custom" key="20059168" This video was informative, interesting and funny, and I really enjoyed it. As I watched it, I was reminded of American Idol a few years back when there was a really crummy singer who got sent all the way through to the point where the public votes for their favorite. This guy somehow got a few followers in the process. It became an internet joke between all the fan sites to vote for him even though he didn't deserve it, just to see how long they could keep him on the show. The guy ended up getting voted off eventually, but he made it much further than he ever should have as a result of online social communication. This TED talk and the American Idol situation are both great examples of how much social media sites can have.