Atomic Learning

Atomic learning is online training video tutorials and technology integration resources designed for schools, districts and educational institutions. Atomic seems to be more application-specific and with greater detail about how-to-do many different items in that application. Learning that the atomic learning library contains thousands of short tutorials on various software programs and operating systems shocked me. We really do live in the future. I think that it can be a good way for people to learn from spots that would normally be impossible to learn in. From anywhere. The fact that there is so much information gives many different opportunities.

21st Century Skills/ Tony Wagner

Wagner talked about seven survival skills for a new economy. The 7 skills are: critical thinking/problem solving, collaboration/leading by influence, agility and adaptability, initiative and entrepreneurialism, effective oral and written communication, accessing and analyzing information, curiosity and imagination. The video does a good job explaining these to us. The interviews and information kind of made me open up my eyes to what we need to do to get our children going. I notice that these skills all incude activity in some way. I think teachers around the nation should listen to Wagner and help him fill the gap.

Waiting for Superman

The film follows five young children and their families as they try to get into schools that have a proven success record. And for the most part that means private or non-public schools. It’s a sad truth when a child’s success is tied to either wealth or blind luck. I was really touched by this film. I had no idea that children go through that. It was heartbreaking seeing the children who really want a great education not get there name called in the lotary of their education. Watching the film gave me perspective on life outside my Minnesota box, and these kids all need a good education and no matter where I land I will do my best to give them that. It is sad to even see the difference between the teachers and supplies at these schools only certain kids can go to. Overall it was a very touching movie.

Two Million Minutes

The documentary film, "Two Million Minutes," highlights bleak contrasts in the educational experiences, perspectives, and expectations of high school students in the United States, China, and India. I feel that American students should try harder to keep their minds in school. They seem to be to busy, worried about whats going on in the streets and with their friends. It also is sad how it really shows America isn't as advanced as other schools in more than just technology. The thing I found interesting was what the film said to be America's four great educational myths.
1. Our kids are more well-rounded.
2. Asian education is rote memorization.
3. Our kids are more creative and more innovative.
4. U.S. education is the best in the world.
This is so true and so sad to think about. America needs to wake up!

The Global Acheivement Gap (Chapter 5)

In chapter 5 there is a discussion about motivating students today for the world of work tomorrow. Business leaders and educators are worried about the decline of the work ethic among young people who are hungry for praise and impatient of promotions. I see this everyday, and can understand that worry. A number of individuals think young people today have a different ethic. Young people growing up in the digital age have become multitasking, constantly connected, instantly gratified and expect the speed of light in things.  It was suggested that in order for young students to respect learning and school, we need to ensure that learning and schoolwork is real adult work that requires both analysis and creativity. The teacher should work as a facilitator rather than an information dictator. This I am not sure I agree with because during high school teachers that would use this teqnique made me not want to be in the class or learn because it was not fun and boring. I as a teacher want to be a good example to the kids, and have authority of course but most of all I want to make sure my students are enjoying themselves (which I know is not an easy task).

The Global Achievement Gap (Chapter 4)

In Chapter 4, Wagner describes his consultation with a group of previous educators which depicts how teachers do not have the agreement on the assessment of an instructional tasks. He uses his personal story to shed light to the realities about the practice and preparation of the teaching profession and suggests that students take a bunch of different of courses that are not coherent among each other for a diploma. Teachers and administrators are having difficulty figuring out how to get all students to be proficient and improve teaching continuously. However, teacher and administrator collaborations are increasing in the profession. This doesn't suprise me because many of us want to educate and will never give up. I think that we should still work on giving kids a quality education with letting them enjoy themself trying out new and different things.

The Global Achievement Gap (Chapter 3)

Chapter 3 outlines issues surrounding the testing mania that is currently sweeping our country. He asks readers to work through several test examples to demonstrate the trivial nature of high stakes tests and the difficulty of creating truly valid tests. One of the major points of the chapter is shifting our collective thinking in the world of education about what we value. He suggests that “In today’s world, it’s no longer how much you know that matters; it’s what you can do with what you know.” I think that this chapter does a lot of good helping me understand the way I would like to teach with different assesment than testing. I myself get anxious and do nad because of it during a test.

The Global Achievement Gap (Chapter 2)

In Chapter 2, Wagner takes us on “Learning Walks” through several high schools. In these classroom observations he observes repeated examples of minimal student engagement, students working independently on low-level tasks like worksheets/workbooks, teachers lecturing, low-level test prep, and few meaningful authentic teacher-student interactions. Sadly, the administrators accompanying him were, in many cases, surprised that these examples were so different from what they saw in their formal observations. He also provides research data that indicates the situation is no better in elementary schools. He states that our students are learning at basic levels but they are not learning to be thinkers! I think as future teachers we need to try our best to give the best to every kid no matter where we work. Encourageing the kids and making them want to come back is what is most important.

Law Schools Go Global

Students now have more options for gaining international expierence. As the world moves increasingly toward globalization,schools are offering students more opportunities to immerse themselves in foreign legal systems and international law. There are lots of student abroad programs that are now available and even forein exchange students all over the world. The programs aren't for everyone. They can be pricey and may preclude a student from taking work or internship opportunities in the United States, which some fear might set them back in landing a job. But many experts disagree, saying global experience has become a major plus on résumés. Clearly, the thousands of students who enroll in these programs agree.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/articles/2011/03/29/law-schools-go-global

In New York City, 3,100 Kindergarteners Waitlisted, Up 1,000 From 2010

The New York Daily News reports that the number of kids waitlisted for kindergarten for this fall has increased by nearly 1000 from last year. More than 3,100 kindergartners have been placed on waitlists for their local schools, according to the data released by the city this Wednesday. This is shocking to me and I think that it just shows how all school should be funded equally. That way every kid has a chance to get the education that they want. Now in order for a child to go to a quality school they have to be put on the waiting list. Though this is based in New York City this happens all around the nation and it is something we should pay more attention to.

http://www.educationnews.org/ednews_today/152878