Here we have yet another reading about Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. The same tune to a different blog post. Are Digital Natives so very different than the Digital Immigrants and if they are different is it so different that they can't work together in the same ways? The author says that the claims made in the original article are too much. I tend to agree. Humans are adaptable and so of course we are going to change with our environment but Immigrants can be just as proficient as Natives. I really liked what he said about computers being a tool to teach with not the teachers themselves. A computer program is only as good as its programmers. The teacher can use this great tool to help them teach and the processes may change a little bit but learning still comes the same ways it always has.
P: This is a commentary on an article and is full of the authors opinions on the subject.
T: There are arguements from both sides of the fence as to whether Digital Natives and Immigrants are really all that different.
I: Is the claim that Digital Natives are extremely different than their predecessors true?
C: He concludes that no the extremist view is wrong.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Letter from Birmingham
P: He outlined his plans and visions for equality.
T: He addressed reasons why nonviolent protesting was the way to go.
I: Was nonviolence better than violence?
C: He says nonviolence will work and we can have peace if the people live up to their Christian name.
T: He addressed reasons why nonviolent protesting was the way to go.
I: Was nonviolence better than violence?
C: He says nonviolence will work and we can have peace if the people live up to their Christian name.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Is Google Making Us Stupid?
Is Google making us stupid? A valid question. I have seen in myself many of the symptoms that Nicholas Carr points out as effects of using Google and other internet sources for information. I find that I tend to have a staccato style of writing. Of course, having it pointed out to me and noticing when I do it myself, I have tried to remedy it. I feel that yes Google is making us just as stupid as it is making us smarter. There will always be those who fashion a crutch from a ladder. Just like when writing became commonplace, some chose to not memorize things but instead write them down. There are others, I'm sure, who used the new access to information to memorize more things. Google is the same. While reading this article, I was able to search the internet about the creators of Google out of curiosity. I could spend hours learning about Larry Page and Sergey Brin but I'd rather not. The internet gives us the option to learn as much as we want about any subject. Unfortunately, it seems, a vast majority of us tend to choose to learn nothing much about anything. I would say that the more technology we are blessed with, the more polarized we will become. Mean those who fall behind will fall farther and those who can get ahead will rocket far beyond their peers.
I personally love to read books. I like the feeling I get when I'm in an impressive library. I crave information. However, reading takes time, even for those who practice and have a talent for it. I'll admit that I have spent hours at a time on the internet skimming whatever suits my fancy quite often, learning just enough to say I know just enough. That being said, I recognize that the things I know most about are the things I dove into instead of skimming. We simply need to dive. Yes our "skimmer" is the fastest it has ever been but all we will know about the ocean is that it is blue and wet unless we jump off the speed boat and dive.
P: The purpose of this article is to bring to the attention of the reader that the way they think is affected by the way we are now learning.
T: Various examples are shown in which instant information is changing the way we think.
I: Are we losing something valuable in the way we learn in exchange for the newer ways?
C: He declares that if we aren't careful, we will become the machines.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Slave
If a picture is worth a thousand words, and a video is worth a thousand pictures, and a video of Seinfeld is worth a thousand videos, then this should suffice.
I think the moral of this story is something along the lines of "the passionate become legends". I can dig it.
P: This article is telling us about someone that others think is odd but he doesn't seem to care. The purpose is to show what can happen with obsession.
T: The story of a peculiar soup maker is told to entertain and maybe inpsire us.
I: Is the rudeness worth the success?
C: I conclude that in some cases, yes it is.
P: This article is telling us about someone that others think is odd but he doesn't seem to care. The purpose is to show what can happen with obsession.
T: The story of a peculiar soup maker is told to entertain and maybe inpsire us.
I: Is the rudeness worth the success?
C: I conclude that in some cases, yes it is.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Pearls Before Breakfast
Art is often lost. I have often thought about who the fastest man in the world is because for all we know, the fastest man simply doesn't have the means to show anyone. I'm a big believer in liking something because you like it. However, this shouldn't get in the way of seeing and appreciating talent. We are as close to total control of what we listen to and see as we have ever been. This tragically limits us to only what we know unless we make a concerted effort to experience the new. We have more responsibility to seek out the best now.
P: We are missing things and when we don't miss them we don't seem to appreciate them.
T: He basically gives us a play-by-play of an experiment.
I: The question raised is are we able to recognize and appreciate beauty when we are exposed to it?
C: It seems that in general no we do not. This is out done by the conditions in which we are exposed to the art but according to the experiment we tend to miss out.
P: We are missing things and when we don't miss them we don't seem to appreciate them.
T: He basically gives us a play-by-play of an experiment.
I: The question raised is are we able to recognize and appreciate beauty when we are exposed to it?
C: It seems that in general no we do not. This is out done by the conditions in which we are exposed to the art but according to the experiment we tend to miss out.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Cultures of Our Past
I had quite a bit to say in the class discussion we had about this reading today. Being interested in the film and entertainment industry, I have kept a close tabs on what comes out and such. Sousa was worried that by allowing free media, we would lose our main contributors to the culture. I agree. We no longer feel the need to entertain ourselves with our imaginations because of the video games and movies so readily available to us. When imaginations aren't exercised, creativity suffers. It seems movies these days are all sequels to things that have already been made. We are witnessing the wilt of a once beautiful flower.
P: The purpose was to inform the readers of 2 different ways we as a society are affected by copyright laws.
T: The hearing by Sousa, as well as statistics and some defining of what a Read/Write and a Read/Only culture are.
I: The question posed to the reader is how much control should copyrights have?
C: The conclusion is for the reader to decide for themselves.
P: The purpose was to inform the readers of 2 different ways we as a society are affected by copyright laws.
T: The hearing by Sousa, as well as statistics and some defining of what a Read/Write and a Read/Only culture are.
I: The question posed to the reader is how much control should copyrights have?
C: The conclusion is for the reader to decide for themselves.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Amusing Ourselves to Death
As a future entertainer I found that Neil Postman's speech "Amusing Ourselves to Death" struck a familiar chord. I have noticed many of the things he mentions for myself. I think that we as a people are giving ourselves up to the flashiness and glitz of the world much to easily. Our society is like a cat chasing a laser pointer around. We don't seem to care that the thing taking all of our attention won't REALLY do anything for us. It's bright and we want it.
That being said there is a lot of good that can be done if people can 1. recognize that this is a real thing that is happening, and 2. adapt to it. I don't think we can change society back to a more serious state, but why would we want to? The way society thinks is putty, and good people need to help shape it. Don't worry so much about stopping the negatives that will happen either way. Instead, focus on what you can do to promote the good on such an impressionable crowd.
P: I feel Mr. Postman's main message here was to alert of us the state our society is in. He feels we need to know that we are spiraling into a catatonic state of our own accord.
T: He gave a number of great examples in which we have evolved, as a society, into an entertainment thirsty horde. Substance is no longer what sells. The pretty people are elected, while the capable people are not. If a commercial isn't funny we change the channel. Micheal Bay is successful at making movies that are made to be eye candy. I personally believe we are easily controlled. Too much of a good thing really IS our downfall. Part of the reason I want to be involved in the entertainment industry is the power that is there, for good or for bad.
I: The issue is addressed heavily in the topics spoken of here. We are letting ourselves be affected in extreme ways by entertainment value. I agree that it is taking its toll on society. Our current president was elected to office because he ran one of the best campaigns ever, back in 2008. He was fun, exciting, new, and ENTERTAINING. Him and his advisers read us all like a book and chose the ending. The same thing happened when JFK ran against Richard Nixon. JFK was a good looking fellow whereas Nixon was a sweaty stuffy politician.
C: He seems to offer no real conclusion to this problem. He doesn't seem to think anyone has found one. He's correct in finding it much harder to rebel against our own laughter than it is to rebel against bullets of lead. Self-control seems to be the only real answer but it seems to be a little out of reach for most of us.
That being said there is a lot of good that can be done if people can 1. recognize that this is a real thing that is happening, and 2. adapt to it. I don't think we can change society back to a more serious state, but why would we want to? The way society thinks is putty, and good people need to help shape it. Don't worry so much about stopping the negatives that will happen either way. Instead, focus on what you can do to promote the good on such an impressionable crowd.
P: I feel Mr. Postman's main message here was to alert of us the state our society is in. He feels we need to know that we are spiraling into a catatonic state of our own accord.
T: He gave a number of great examples in which we have evolved, as a society, into an entertainment thirsty horde. Substance is no longer what sells. The pretty people are elected, while the capable people are not. If a commercial isn't funny we change the channel. Micheal Bay is successful at making movies that are made to be eye candy. I personally believe we are easily controlled. Too much of a good thing really IS our downfall. Part of the reason I want to be involved in the entertainment industry is the power that is there, for good or for bad.
I: The issue is addressed heavily in the topics spoken of here. We are letting ourselves be affected in extreme ways by entertainment value. I agree that it is taking its toll on society. Our current president was elected to office because he ran one of the best campaigns ever, back in 2008. He was fun, exciting, new, and ENTERTAINING. Him and his advisers read us all like a book and chose the ending. The same thing happened when JFK ran against Richard Nixon. JFK was a good looking fellow whereas Nixon was a sweaty stuffy politician.
C: He seems to offer no real conclusion to this problem. He doesn't seem to think anyone has found one. He's correct in finding it much harder to rebel against our own laughter than it is to rebel against bullets of lead. Self-control seems to be the only real answer but it seems to be a little out of reach for most of us.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Digital Natives: Myth or Fact
Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Mark Prensky, author of "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" doesn't seem to think so. However, Nathan Bierma brings up some valid points of research that give us an opposing view in "Digital Natives: Myth or Fact". As far was creating an argument, this is an excellent article. I tend to agree with Mr. Prensky in that as a whole, my generation IS more techno savvy than that of past generations. On the other hand I believe that it is because of nurture not nature as Mr. Bierma claims.
P: His purpose was to offer the reader an opposing view point to "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants".
T: His topics included a range of arguments either proving or disproving points brought up by Mark Prensky.
I: Not all the claims made in "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants", such as teachers being replaced, are REALLY happening.
C: The subject is not as cut and dry as originally presented.
P: His purpose was to offer the reader an opposing view point to "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants".
T: His topics included a range of arguments either proving or disproving points brought up by Mark Prensky.
I: Not all the claims made in "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants", such as teachers being replaced, are REALLY happening.
C: The subject is not as cut and dry as originally presented.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
The Chase
Childhood excitement was brought to the surface of my mind by "The Chase" by Annie Dillard. The way she explained and told about the exhilarating chase brought to my mind the times I felt that thrill. Getting away with something rotten was the best thing my young mind could come up with in the realm of accomplishments. Spying was my personal favorite and would I sneak about hearing things that I'm sure weren't as sensitive as I once thought. But just knowing it was worth it.
P: The purpose of sharing her beloved experience was why she shared what she did.
T: Her topic is of a long chase resulting from her mischief.
I: The only issue is "was it worth it?".
C: She concludes that the excitement she felt from running away was worth any trouble she got in.
P: The purpose of sharing her beloved experience was why she shared what she did.
T: Her topic is of a long chase resulting from her mischief.
I: The only issue is "was it worth it?".
C: She concludes that the excitement she felt from running away was worth any trouble she got in.
Understanding Our Digital Kids
I will agree that there are problems that come with this new digital but not enough to outweigh the advantages it brings. The article "Understanding Our Digital Kids" by Adam D. Thierer was able to point out and expound on a book that goes into the subject.
P: His purpose is to inform parents and other adults that are involved with the "always on, always connected" generation that there are sources of help on how to connect with the kids.
T: He spoke of some things suggested by other authors on the subject from both viewpoints.
I: He brought up the point of how involved the teachers and parents should and need to be in monitoring the "always on, always connected" generation.
C: The only conclusion I could find was that he recommends a source to find our own answers.
P: His purpose is to inform parents and other adults that are involved with the "always on, always connected" generation that there are sources of help on how to connect with the kids.
T: He spoke of some things suggested by other authors on the subject from both viewpoints.
I: He brought up the point of how involved the teachers and parents should and need to be in monitoring the "always on, always connected" generation.
C: The only conclusion I could find was that he recommends a source to find our own answers.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Can You Hear Me Now?
"Can You Hear Me Now?" by Sherry Turkle was a very insightful take on the social issues facing our society today. I have seen what she means about the constant attachment that we all seem to have to a virtual world in varying extremities. My father does business internationally and I have had the opportunity to rub shoulders with some very successful business people. I'm not even sure some of them knew our shoulders touched. There is a disconnect. I have been on the other end as well. I have been disconnected. I am trying not to be anymore though.
P: The purpose of this article was to direct our attention to the great disconnect our society is undergoing.
T: She named and explained various ways she has seen people focus on a virtual connection over a personal on.
I: The main issue is the debate of whether the positives of a virtual connection outweigh the negatives.
C: I felt that she didn't make a certain conclusion but left it up to us to resolve the issue on our own. I feel that like with most things, zealotry is not the answer. We all have to find a balance.
P: The purpose of this article was to direct our attention to the great disconnect our society is undergoing.
T: She named and explained various ways she has seen people focus on a virtual connection over a personal on.
I: The main issue is the debate of whether the positives of a virtual connection outweigh the negatives.
C: I felt that she didn't make a certain conclusion but left it up to us to resolve the issue on our own. I feel that like with most things, zealotry is not the answer. We all have to find a balance.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Diagnosing and Treating the Ophelia Syndrome
I love being able to think for myself. I have an opinion on almost everything and if I don't have an opinion right now I will probably get one. I was blessed to have parents and a few teachers who encouraged me to develop a system where I could think for myself and develop ideas on my own. The points brought up in Thomas G. Plummers "Diagnosing and Treating the Ophelia Syndrome" have all at some point been a practice I have engaged in. Now that a clear cut system has been presented to me, I plan on adopting all of them in a more complete way.
P: His purpose was to inform us of the importance of thinking for ourselves and how to do that.
T: He shared ways to break free from the "Ophelia Syndrome " and learn to think for ourselves.
I: The issue is that the things suggested are essentially individualistic and that we must do what works for us.
C: There are ways to think for ourselves but it will require certain things of us.
P: His purpose was to inform us of the importance of thinking for ourselves and how to do that.
T: He shared ways to break free from the "Ophelia Syndrome " and learn to think for ourselves.
I: The issue is that the things suggested are essentially individualistic and that we must do what works for us.
C: There are ways to think for ourselves but it will require certain things of us.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
This I Believe
I
believe in the power of family. My faith in this concept of family comes from
my own family, and the way we handled Robert. Robert is the 5th of 7
children in my family. I was 7 years old when Robert was born. My brother Andy
was 5 and my twin sisters Jamie and Jennifer were 3. We were close before
Robert came. We would have been close if he never came. But he came, and
because he came, we are close. Robert was born on February 12 with a rare
condition called arthrogryposis. He says he kind of looks like a ventriloquist
dummy. The night he was born was not one we thought would end well. An emergency
c section, a name and a blessing from a loving father, goodbyes from crying
siblings and a long wait for a newborn to return to his maker. The wait was too
long. Long enough for the doctors to take back their prediction of death and
cause a flurry of activity to keep this tenacious fellow with us just a little
longer.
The
weeks, months, and years that followed were stressful. Life flights to Primary
Children’s Hospital were a regular thing. Aunts and uncles stepping up to be
there when my parents couldn't a grandpa that went to work inventing
contraptions that would allow his grandson to participate, a father who would
bow hunt with a backpack so that his son could go, older brothers who teased
him because he’s normal, younger brothers who wrestled their fragile older
brother because that’s just how he is, a mother who’s time suddenly wasn’t so
much her own, and the list goes on and on. THIS is the power of family.
Just for the sake of understanding,
Robert is all there mentally. In fact some might say he’s smart. Just don’t tell
him that. It will go to his head. He’s 13 years old now, loves the Steelers and
Clippers, drives a wheelchair with his head and really talks a lot of trash. I
am close to him because, in my family, we choose to be. I have been a part of
some special things because Robert was born the way he was. He’s my friend and
brother and why I KNOW there is power in family.
Monday, January 14, 2013
My Governing Values
I made my list of governing values by listing all the things
that are important to me and things I feel I am or want to be. I then tried my
best to categorize them for organizations sake. I feel that what I have here is
pretty close to how I feel. This is me.
Knowing things/talents.
I like knowing things. I like being able to participate in any conversation
about anything with anyone. I love reading so that helps. I always have a book
that I am reading whether for entertainment or for educating myself. Trivia
games and finding why things are connected are great fun. I like being good at
things. I recognize that I can do a lot of things and I know its my job to be
able to do them well. Music is important to me and I take time to develop that
talent every day.
Loyalty. Loyalty
is a huge thing for me. I give it to a select few and I expect it in return. Because
I am so big on loyalty I find it hard to let people in close without spreading
myself too thin. As I’ve thought about it I have created “circles” in my mind
and those within the tightest circles have my purest loyalty. God, Family, and Friends
all have a place on some circle.
I am
loyal to my God and I know He is loyal to me. Our conversations are real and
important as he gives me a much needed sense of peace in addition to advice
given through His spirit. I pray often, I seek out answers to lifes problems in
His word, and I will always be willing to stand for Him.
My
family gets a level of loyalty comparable to my Heavenly Fathers. Being close
to my family is VERY important to me. I make an effort to know and have a
relationship with each of my siblings and parents. Ive also been blessed with
an extended family whose support and love I can share in. Regardless of their
choices they will have my love and support for the good they do. This first circle
consisting of my God and my family is the tightest.
My
friends are right after that. I have only a few people I count as friends where
sharing openly is expected both ways. Quite frankly I’m not all that interested
in finding new ones. I know who they are and I hope they know too. Its always
sad when a friend decides to leave or betray a trust but until that happens I know
where I stand and that is behind them.
Self honesty. I
love self evaluation. I love knowing why I do what I do. Having self control is
big. I honestly believe that you cant control anything if you cannot control
yourself. I want everything I do to be my choice. Self control is big for that
and self honesty is the only way to get there. I like what I like because I like
it. I try not to let anything besides an honest test decide if I like
something. Whether its music and movies, to clothing styles and food. I like it
because I like it.
Perfection. I
believe things should be done right. High standards mean high performance. I have
high standards for myself AND for others. Like I mentioned earlier I like being
good at things and love having success. I plan on being successful.
Reputation. My
reputation is something I give a high value. A false reputation isn’t good enough
either. I really want to be worthy of a high reputation. I am unique. I will be
known as unique. I don’t try to imitate but I can tell when there are examples
worthy of following but I won’t blindly follow. I intend to believe in what I’m
doing and how I do it.
Logic. I love
logic. I love when things fit together. I have a hard time letting something go
when it logically doesn’t fit. That being said I recognize that emotions are
real and powerful, but logic is my go to
response.
Creativity. It
seems as if this one and logic would be at odds but I seem to have found a
happy medium where I am comfortable. In my opinion, creating things is why we
are on this Earth. Learning to be creators. I know of nothing more fulfilling
that making something out of nothing. Story telling, problem solving, music,
art and many other parts of my life are enhanced by creativity. I love it.
I really loved this piece by Hyrum W. Smith called “Your
Governing Values are the Foundation of Personal Fulfillment”. I really enjoy
things like this where you do self assessment and really think about how and
why you tick the way you do. I tried to organize the things that are important
to me into topics and sub topics within those. Some fit better than others for
sure but this list is what I could narrow it down to.
P: He wants us to find our personal governing values because
it will make our lives better.
T: He shared stories that proved this method is effective
and useful.
I: He made the point that when we don’t know our values we don’t
really know who we are.
C: He concludes that when we find and strive for these
values we will be more fulfilled.
Learning to Love Learning
Learning to love learning.
This article by David A. Bednar was very insightful. His
pleas to students to take their learning seriously and to truly learn to love
the process was great. I personally like to learn and so a lot of the things he said already had a home in my mind and heart.
P: His purpose was to convince us that loving learning is
important
T: He spent a majority of his time explaining ways that
learning is important.
I: He pointed out that there aren’t enough people learning
as they ought to.
C: His conclusion was that we must shoulder the gift/responsibility
we have of getting an education and take it seriously.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Everyone is Ignorant
So I was assigned to read an interesting bit of reading in my English class called "Everybody is Ignorant, Only on Different Subjects" by Eliot A. Butler. It rang true in a lot of ways for me and called me back down to Earth in some ways. I simply don't know enough about ANYTHING right now. Shocking I know.
P: His purpose was to encourage us to recognize and eliminate ignorance in ourselves.
T: He discussed ways that we are ignorant and how we can change that.
I: The main issue addressed was that we are all ignorant but most of us don't know it.
C: In the end the only cure for this is to actively pursue understanding.
P: His purpose was to encourage us to recognize and eliminate ignorance in ourselves.
T: He discussed ways that we are ignorant and how we can change that.
I: The main issue addressed was that we are all ignorant but most of us don't know it.
C: In the end the only cure for this is to actively pursue understanding.
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