Blog Post #8

This is How we Dream

So, call me naive but I feel as though Dr. Strange and possibly several other teachers (that I have yet to have as I am new to USA this semester) are doing a fantastic job of preparing us for the educational world Dr. Miller speaks of. Dr. Richard Miller has been a professor at Rutgers University for over 16 years and is the head of their English Department. He takes reading and writing very seriously and is more than prepared to modify those fundamental subjects to be shared within an instant, all around the world. Dr. Miller outlines a few "incremental changes" which include making print documents also visible online, enhancing projects with visual and audio components, and being able to see the news as it is happening via live feed from newspapers such as the New York Times.
I truly believe that my classmates and I have been a part of this revolution for quite some time. While there are still some classes that stick to the paper and pen, book learning technique, there are several others that encourage us to use web references, add pictures to our projects, find music that is relevant to our topic, and work with others in different regions via internet collaboration. While these classrooms may be considered too few and far between by multimedia enthusiasts, I believe it is better that we get there in small steps than to take none at all.
Dr. Miller also brings a compelling argument for what he believes to be a fundamental change. He feels that with the technology at hand allowing material to be instantly uploaded and composed from several different sources, shared globally, and even altered according to the viewer-in a separate production, we will be able to "push ideas into our culture" freely and instantly. I agree whole-heartedly when Dr. Miller states that information is not one's to capture and hold close forever. It is meant to circulate, change, and inspire just to name a few. He has an idea that because of our expanding worldwide web and the many different tools becoming available to us each day, there should be very few limits in the way we learn, collaborate, write, explain, teach, and simply live. Dr. Miller states in the second part of "This is How we Dream," that the "only limitations we are facing are the ones we put on ourselves." I'm beginning to see a pattern. Are you? Recall what Dr. Pausch said about brick walls. Dr. Miller's and Dr. Pausch's ideas seem to run parallel. The main idea being anything is possible! Dr. Miller goes on to insinuate that by sharing ideas with others and keeping our lines of communication open with educators throughout the world using various internet tools, our culture will come together in the name of multimedia writing and learning to produce a fascinating fundamental change in the name of education.

Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12
As I told Carly in my comment on her blog, I was really blown away not only by her idea but by the videos themselves. As I am someone with terrible decision skills as well, I could certainly see how this YouTube playlist idea made its way into Carly's mind. I would go so far as to argue that this is a phenomenal example of multimedia writing. First of all, Carly shared with many others (and did so instantly), her ideas on education and its philosophy in a creative way that will forever be visible on the internet. Her ideas will not die and will be circulated in the educational community. I really enjoyed watching her videos and some of them gave me a little inspiration for ideas on lesson plans and tools that would be infinitely helpful in the classroom. I feel just knowing about the YouTube playlist will open several doors for the way I will use video in my classroom. Thanks again, Carly!

The Chipper Series and EDM310 For Dummies
While I must admit that I found "The Chipper Series" really amusing, I would like to think that students who are mature enough to be enrolled in this class would be able to fully recognize the sarcasm portrayed by Ms. Jamie Lynn. However, while some students may realize the video is satirical, that is not to say it's not still happening. Chipper's journey seems similar to my first college experience. I really was not ready to be fully involved in college courses and I could not meet all the expectations I needed to, so I decided that waitressing was the way to go! Like Chipper says, it's great money! That's not really true at all. After finding this out the hard way, a husband, and a baby later, I'm back here sitting in Dr. Strange's EDM310 lab wishing that I knew how to NOT procrastinate. I must admit that I am exponentially better than a few years ago, but I know enough to know I could use some work.
I loved the idea of EDM310 For Dummies. I was seriously hoping this book really existed. I actually perused the internet hoping I would stumble upon something similar. No such luck. I think these girls do a fantastic job portraying the fright that is overwhelming at the beginning of this course.
I have been thinking recently of movies that I would like to create. I was having a hard time coming up with just one idea. My poor fickle brain had about twenty zillion ideas floating around that barely made one cohesive thought. And then it hit me! Why not do a sequel, so to speak of "EDM 310 For Dummies?" It could be compiled of tutorials by students on the many different aspects of EDM310 that freak everybody out! Students could be split into groups...maybe I'll stop right here and use this for my "Create your own project" post. I hope you get the general idea though.

Learn to Change, Change to Learn
This video really spoke to me from its very beginning statements. This video opens with profound statements such as the US being ranked last (55 out of 55 sectors surveyed) in terms of technological intensity. How could this statement not knock you out of your chair? It's horrifying! As stated in the video, education is ranked "after coal mining" in terms of its "IT intensiveness." Aren't educators prepping our children for the future? How do we possibly expect to do so if they develop such few technological skills in the classroom? We are entering an era where communication and literacy are being totally redefined. Children are learning these technologies but they are not learning them in the classroom. They need to learn the appropriate sites to venture for their security, how to create blogs, with whom they should be tweeting, how to master wordle, how to create a wikispace, and so much more. All these tools would be so beneficial to children of all ages, and yet somehow we ban the very machines that make this work possible in the schools. Teachers have to be on the verge of emerging technology as well. Even if students will not be allowed to participate in the e-learning experience at school, the teacher can certainly facilitate that type of learning outside the classroom.