Assignment: The new gate keepers 10/20/12
I once heard a quote that read something like this:
"Some of the worst things in the world were created with the best of intentions."
I would like to believe that statement resonates within this video. I can only hope that the big wigs at Google, Facebook, Yahoo! News, etc. have created these algorithms with good intentions, and not to segregate information out of certain communities. Regardless of the intentions, I'm not sure I agree with the process. I believe that the internet should be a vast trough of information for the users to sort through at their discretion.
When Eli Praiser brought up the point "Egypt" and how his friends had completely different results for the same entry, I immediately thought about education as well as other aspects of my. I have witnessed first hand, two students turn in the same quality of work, yet are graded different. It only takes a quick trip to the court house to see how some people are charged different amounts for identical infractions, and others yet were "let go with a warning" and never had to even attend court or pay a fine. Another example is in the social scene, where women are often allowed to cut to the beginning of the line and/or do not have to pay a cover fee, while men (or non-supermodel women) are left in the cold, like nonexistent cattle.
The internet is scary as is, and if it is to be manipulated without (or with our minimal) knowledge, it becomes a powerful tool in the hands of those who poses it's source. It is a very slippery slope, because we live in a reactivist society. Things must happen, wonderful or terrible, before we make rules, restrictions, and criteria. A popular saying in law enforcement is that "The cat is always going to be one step behind the mouse." because we are not going to make laws for things that haven't really happened or hurt anybody yet (i.e. Texting and driving was not a law until many people had accidents due to texting while driving).
Personally, I would like to have a standard internet without filtration, or at least the option to toggle personal filtration on and off. If I am looking for vacations to Greece, articles on the economic turmoil in Greece, or ancient Greek educational practices, I don't want them filtered out, because I clicked on a concert tour in European countries.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Assignment: Cognitive Surplus 10/21/10
Certain platforms that have currently been developed, such as Edmodo and Khan Academy, I believe are good examples of a culture of generosity. Khan Academy is a free educational service geared toward helping students. Not wealthy Americans, not elite individuals that have the ability to afford yet another advantage in life, but anybody who can get to an internet accessible situation. Clay Shirkey explained it best when he was discussing the website initially dedicated to reporting violence in Kenya. One woman did an amazing job by trafficking information from people of a region to the entire world. Through her blog, the generosity of strangers helped her create a forum that anybody could use to map the violence in Kenya. Good work people!
"Free cultures get what they celebrate" is a great quote and looking at America, especially San Diego, it is quite obvious that America gets what it celebrate. We do not celebrate equality, although we like to say we do. We do not celebrate education, again, we like to think that we do. Instead we celebrate beauty, popularity, and material items. A prime example is "Can you give me a logically founded reason as to why Kim Kardashian is famous, that is not based on her beauty and wealth?" This point resonates further and is the catalyst to the cliche "Nice guys finish last." We pathetically value shiny cars, and fancy shoes, sunglasses with names on them, iAnything, and purses/bags...gag me! Other cultures that actually value family bonding and society, such as Norway, prove it by celebrating it. Norway gives expectant mothers 5 years off of work (at varying pay) with their position frozen for them until they return. It's no shock that this helps the family structure, as you have a parent home raising their own children, as opposed to many American families that often feature a double-income house hold during their child's youth, yet a major portion (depending on your income) of the family salary goes to child care.
Certain platforms that have currently been developed, such as Edmodo and Khan Academy, I believe are good examples of a culture of generosity. Khan Academy is a free educational service geared toward helping students. Not wealthy Americans, not elite individuals that have the ability to afford yet another advantage in life, but anybody who can get to an internet accessible situation. Clay Shirkey explained it best when he was discussing the website initially dedicated to reporting violence in Kenya. One woman did an amazing job by trafficking information from people of a region to the entire world. Through her blog, the generosity of strangers helped her create a forum that anybody could use to map the violence in Kenya. Good work people!
"Free cultures get what they celebrate" is a great quote and looking at America, especially San Diego, it is quite obvious that America gets what it celebrate. We do not celebrate equality, although we like to say we do. We do not celebrate education, again, we like to think that we do. Instead we celebrate beauty, popularity, and material items. A prime example is "Can you give me a logically founded reason as to why Kim Kardashian is famous, that is not based on her beauty and wealth?" This point resonates further and is the catalyst to the cliche "Nice guys finish last." We pathetically value shiny cars, and fancy shoes, sunglasses with names on them, iAnything, and purses/bags...gag me! Other cultures that actually value family bonding and society, such as Norway, prove it by celebrating it. Norway gives expectant mothers 5 years off of work (at varying pay) with their position frozen for them until they return. It's no shock that this helps the family structure, as you have a parent home raising their own children, as opposed to many American families that often feature a double-income house hold during their child's youth, yet a major portion (depending on your income) of the family salary goes to child care.
Assignment: 20% project 10/14/12
I was initially turned on to education through my work in elementary aged summer camps for low-income youth and coaching high school football within similar communities. I am blessed with the innate ability to connect to youth through hard work and dedication through challenging group activities, such as pushing athletes or students to reach their potential, or at least to progress. Many of my student athletes play video games, a very popular medium at this age. I have always wanted to use the game John Madden Football to design an offensive playbook that I could save and distribute to my team. They would have the ability to take our team's personal playbook and learn it in depth by playing the game on their personal consoles at home. It would be a much more engaging, interactive, and green than traditionally printing out 50-70 bound copies of a playbook, which can be lost, stolen, boring, fall into the oppositions hands, etc.
If that doesn't sound like a reasonable objective, I've always wanted to learn the Michael Jackson "Thriller" dance.
I was initially turned on to education through my work in elementary aged summer camps for low-income youth and coaching high school football within similar communities. I am blessed with the innate ability to connect to youth through hard work and dedication through challenging group activities, such as pushing athletes or students to reach their potential, or at least to progress. Many of my student athletes play video games, a very popular medium at this age. I have always wanted to use the game John Madden Football to design an offensive playbook that I could save and distribute to my team. They would have the ability to take our team's personal playbook and learn it in depth by playing the game on their personal consoles at home. It would be a much more engaging, interactive, and green than traditionally printing out 50-70 bound copies of a playbook, which can be lost, stolen, boring, fall into the oppositions hands, etc.
If that doesn't sound like a reasonable objective, I've always wanted to learn the Michael Jackson "Thriller" dance.
Assignment: A whole new mind 10/14/12
1. The Conceptual Age, as described by Dan Pink, is the process of liner movement from what one could call traditional thinking and tools, to a new wave process of thinking. To be more clear, as a society we have transitioned from analytical based thinking (i.e. Left Brain characteristics) to a more progressive artistry, empathy, inventiveness, big picture thinking is what matters most, now. Engineers, Doctors, lawyers, accountants, careers that were/are in high demand was set up for people with left brain characteristics and training. Now many of these mondane tasks can be outsourced or automated such as TurboTax and 123divorceMe.com automates the need for an accountant and/or lawyer as long as you have a minimal amount of technical awareness, you can save yourself a lot of money and time.
2. Pink believes the Conceptual Age requires a "whole new mind" American education, and subsequently, many of our societies value set is drilling the creativity out of our students/youth and attempting to create a population of systematic drones that can be plugged into the work place like a machine. Anybody with a typical education can equate 2+2=4. We can see how it logically works, insert and repeat the equation without question or attempt to better/change the process. It deals nothing with feelings, social justice, culture, or the changes in society. Our current way of thinking is decaying the landscape of our future society, because it is easier and we know how to do it. Using the right brain and developing empathy, fairness, equality, etc. is very difficult and not easily quantified, thus making it difficult to comprehend simple statistics that "prove" value or lack there of if manipulated correctly.
3. I do agree with Mr. Pink that we are moving towards a Conceptual Age. My fears are that the public school system and America as a whole will fall further and further behind the times. We as a nation are becoming more and more divided. If you were fortunate enough to be raised in an affluent area and attend private schools that are geared toward the future of society, you have a tremendous advantage over an individual who is placed in a public school fighting to maintain the facade of "good test scores" which, in my opinion, translate into worker bees with blinders to what is really going on. I often question the fact if this is intentional or ignorant.
1. The Conceptual Age, as described by Dan Pink, is the process of liner movement from what one could call traditional thinking and tools, to a new wave process of thinking. To be more clear, as a society we have transitioned from analytical based thinking (i.e. Left Brain characteristics) to a more progressive artistry, empathy, inventiveness, big picture thinking is what matters most, now. Engineers, Doctors, lawyers, accountants, careers that were/are in high demand was set up for people with left brain characteristics and training. Now many of these mondane tasks can be outsourced or automated such as TurboTax and 123divorceMe.com automates the need for an accountant and/or lawyer as long as you have a minimal amount of technical awareness, you can save yourself a lot of money and time.
2. Pink believes the Conceptual Age requires a "whole new mind" American education, and subsequently, many of our societies value set is drilling the creativity out of our students/youth and attempting to create a population of systematic drones that can be plugged into the work place like a machine. Anybody with a typical education can equate 2+2=4. We can see how it logically works, insert and repeat the equation without question or attempt to better/change the process. It deals nothing with feelings, social justice, culture, or the changes in society. Our current way of thinking is decaying the landscape of our future society, because it is easier and we know how to do it. Using the right brain and developing empathy, fairness, equality, etc. is very difficult and not easily quantified, thus making it difficult to comprehend simple statistics that "prove" value or lack there of if manipulated correctly.
3. I do agree with Mr. Pink that we are moving towards a Conceptual Age. My fears are that the public school system and America as a whole will fall further and further behind the times. We as a nation are becoming more and more divided. If you were fortunate enough to be raised in an affluent area and attend private schools that are geared toward the future of society, you have a tremendous advantage over an individual who is placed in a public school fighting to maintain the facade of "good test scores" which, in my opinion, translate into worker bees with blinders to what is really going on. I often question the fact if this is intentional or ignorant.
Assignment: Community of Practice 10/8/12
Situated learning is a concept posed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Lave and Wenger. In brief, the practice is used intentionally or unintentionally, all over the globe, for countless centuries. Situated learning involves a process the requires engagement of like-interested people who commonly practice their situation in a social circle. In other words people who are doing the same/similar thing that often collaborate to further their trade, skill, etc. “Their model of situated learning proposed that learning involved a process of engagement in a ‘community of practice’.”
A couple examples communities of practice can be a PTA, a college football team, a group of scientists working on the Mars Rover, the history faculty at the local high school, real estate agents in a development seminar, TED, members of AA meetings, or even a dog club like the “Beagle Brigade.” These groups have a common bond that produces a community. Within these communities there are different levels. Often times, the longer you belong to the community, the more comfortable you feel exchanging and accepting information beneficial to the groups participants.
I’m going to elaborate on the AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) community of practice and situated learning. Wether an individual personally decides to attend AA or it is court ordered can already alter your development and acceptance into the new group they are about to explore. We’ll start with the intrinsically motivated individual. When somebody decides to being attending AA meetings, it would not be out of the social norm to be a wallflower; to come in, sit in the back, talk to nobody, exchange no information, and generally contribute nothing to the wholeness of the group. If this individual continues to attend meetings, they will begin to learn layout and process for how these meetings work. Eventually, this individual will start recognizing people, stories, and how the meetings flow in general, thus reducing one’s anxiety because they now know what to expect. They may soon begin to contribute to the group by meeting people, exchanging stories, sharing things that do and do not work for them, even offering help to new comers, as they once were in the same position. Now they have shifted from being “in the margins” to an active member of the community of practice. If an individual is forced into these meetings, they may have a block or a grudge holding them back from becoming an active member of the community of practice. Depending on the length of time spent in the group, and the value associated to the group from the individual ordered to go, this group may take some time or never be accepted by this individual, thus excluding this individual from the community of practice.
I do believe in communities of practice and find them to be natural as well as structured. Unfortunately, in our society, we base many things on merit. Which, on the surface, sounds like a logical stand point of a structured society. However, things are not always what they seem to be. For example, if you attend Harvard University for virtually anything, people may assume that you a brilliant, on the flip side, if you attend a local state college, people may scoff at your achievement. They may not take into account that this particular Harvard student is on scholarship to play basketball (i.e. Jeremy Lin http://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2012/07/18/jeremy-lin-may-be-the-dumbest-harvard-grad-ever/) and is taking the most basic classes, with massive “help”, to maintain eligibility, while the state student is focused on helping with her family while she takes the top English courses (i.e. Amy Tan, author of the Joy Luck Club). I do believe that reducing anxiety of students in my classes in a mainstay of producing high quality work from all of my students. I believe that once my students truly believe their voice is being not only heard, but welcomed without scorn, that the students themselves will begin to bond. With this bond true learning can take place. Students will not be scared to embarrass themselves because they will realize their social capital is valued. When the students feel connected, they will begin to worry less about their hair, shoes, the cute member of the opposite sex, “sounding dumb in class”, etc. and the essence of the beings will begin to grow together, as compared to masking who they really are to avoid social ridicule. I strive to create a low anxiety classroom where really learning can take place, regardless if you are tall or short, thin or hefty, black or white, etc.
Situated learning is a concept posed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Lave and Wenger. In brief, the practice is used intentionally or unintentionally, all over the globe, for countless centuries. Situated learning involves a process the requires engagement of like-interested people who commonly practice their situation in a social circle. In other words people who are doing the same/similar thing that often collaborate to further their trade, skill, etc. “Their model of situated learning proposed that learning involved a process of engagement in a ‘community of practice’.”
A couple examples communities of practice can be a PTA, a college football team, a group of scientists working on the Mars Rover, the history faculty at the local high school, real estate agents in a development seminar, TED, members of AA meetings, or even a dog club like the “Beagle Brigade.” These groups have a common bond that produces a community. Within these communities there are different levels. Often times, the longer you belong to the community, the more comfortable you feel exchanging and accepting information beneficial to the groups participants.
I’m going to elaborate on the AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) community of practice and situated learning. Wether an individual personally decides to attend AA or it is court ordered can already alter your development and acceptance into the new group they are about to explore. We’ll start with the intrinsically motivated individual. When somebody decides to being attending AA meetings, it would not be out of the social norm to be a wallflower; to come in, sit in the back, talk to nobody, exchange no information, and generally contribute nothing to the wholeness of the group. If this individual continues to attend meetings, they will begin to learn layout and process for how these meetings work. Eventually, this individual will start recognizing people, stories, and how the meetings flow in general, thus reducing one’s anxiety because they now know what to expect. They may soon begin to contribute to the group by meeting people, exchanging stories, sharing things that do and do not work for them, even offering help to new comers, as they once were in the same position. Now they have shifted from being “in the margins” to an active member of the community of practice. If an individual is forced into these meetings, they may have a block or a grudge holding them back from becoming an active member of the community of practice. Depending on the length of time spent in the group, and the value associated to the group from the individual ordered to go, this group may take some time or never be accepted by this individual, thus excluding this individual from the community of practice.
I do believe in communities of practice and find them to be natural as well as structured. Unfortunately, in our society, we base many things on merit. Which, on the surface, sounds like a logical stand point of a structured society. However, things are not always what they seem to be. For example, if you attend Harvard University for virtually anything, people may assume that you a brilliant, on the flip side, if you attend a local state college, people may scoff at your achievement. They may not take into account that this particular Harvard student is on scholarship to play basketball (i.e. Jeremy Lin http://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2012/07/18/jeremy-lin-may-be-the-dumbest-harvard-grad-ever/) and is taking the most basic classes, with massive “help”, to maintain eligibility, while the state student is focused on helping with her family while she takes the top English courses (i.e. Amy Tan, author of the Joy Luck Club). I do believe that reducing anxiety of students in my classes in a mainstay of producing high quality work from all of my students. I believe that once my students truly believe their voice is being not only heard, but welcomed without scorn, that the students themselves will begin to bond. With this bond true learning can take place. Students will not be scared to embarrass themselves because they will realize their social capital is valued. When the students feel connected, they will begin to worry less about their hair, shoes, the cute member of the opposite sex, “sounding dumb in class”, etc. and the essence of the beings will begin to grow together, as compared to masking who they really are to avoid social ridicule. I strive to create a low anxiety classroom where really learning can take place, regardless if you are tall or short, thin or hefty, black or white, etc.
Assignment: What are you passionate about 10/7/12
I am incredibly passionate about social justice. I believe that every child deserves the opportunity to have access to the most current information and practices available. I do not believe that education should come with a price, because it is for the betterment of the city, county, state, country, continent, and world to have higher educated residents.
I believe that the American penal system is the product of a poor education system. I do not believe it is an accident or coincidence that are prisons and jails house drastically more minorities per capita than our society reflects. I believe that fear, racism, prejudice, greed, and I'm sure other entities that I have not discussed or yet to discover are a major factor in this situation.
I hope to reach low-income, minority youth through education and athletics and show them they are valued and have a solid chance to make what they want out of their lives. I currently coach softball and have previously coached football. I also substitute teach, but eventually want to become a full-time teacher and work my way into an administrative position.
If I had to narrow down my passion to one specific aspect, and time and money were not an object, I would love to focus on authentic care between teachers and students and see if that bond can create successful education for students of all backgrounds. There is so much untapped/squandered potential in our youth, we must find a way to extract it and let the next generation spread their wings, instead of clipping them to fit in a cage.
I am incredibly passionate about social justice. I believe that every child deserves the opportunity to have access to the most current information and practices available. I do not believe that education should come with a price, because it is for the betterment of the city, county, state, country, continent, and world to have higher educated residents.
I believe that the American penal system is the product of a poor education system. I do not believe it is an accident or coincidence that are prisons and jails house drastically more minorities per capita than our society reflects. I believe that fear, racism, prejudice, greed, and I'm sure other entities that I have not discussed or yet to discover are a major factor in this situation.
I hope to reach low-income, minority youth through education and athletics and show them they are valued and have a solid chance to make what they want out of their lives. I currently coach softball and have previously coached football. I also substitute teach, but eventually want to become a full-time teacher and work my way into an administrative position.
If I had to narrow down my passion to one specific aspect, and time and money were not an object, I would love to focus on authentic care between teachers and students and see if that bond can create successful education for students of all backgrounds. There is so much untapped/squandered potential in our youth, we must find a way to extract it and let the next generation spread their wings, instead of clipping them to fit in a cage.
Assignment: Google Yourself 10/6/12
After Googling myself, my results brandished a mixed bag of results. I went as far as 20 google pages and did not find myself. However, I did find that I, well...Darrell Turner is a Ph.D, in a band, a business owner in Michigan, a Pastor, and scariest- a high school football player (who wore the same number as I did, 32) who was shot and killed in TN.
I thought I was a resident with visitor-like tendencies, but these results may prove otherwise. While I currently posses a Facebook (had a MySpace), Twitter, Edmodo, Yahoo!, various internet accounts (i.e. Utility bills, banking access, car payment, etc.), I suppose I would backpedal on my prior post and assume that I am more of a visitor than I thought!
I'm a fairly open book, so I wouldn't be alarmed if certain things came to the forefront through Google, but I was pretty surprised that I did not even make the first 20 google pages! I suppose I feel a little insignificant, and in comparison to other individuals whom share the same name, it looks like I need to pick up my game considerably. I'm not a business owner, nor in a band. I don't wish to be a Pastor or MD, but those are highly touted achievements nonetheless. Eventually, when I finish my education and become a principal, I can proudly proclaim that I am google-worthy.
After Googling myself, my results brandished a mixed bag of results. I went as far as 20 google pages and did not find myself. However, I did find that I, well...Darrell Turner is a Ph.D, in a band, a business owner in Michigan, a Pastor, and scariest- a high school football player (who wore the same number as I did, 32) who was shot and killed in TN.
I thought I was a resident with visitor-like tendencies, but these results may prove otherwise. While I currently posses a Facebook (had a MySpace), Twitter, Edmodo, Yahoo!, various internet accounts (i.e. Utility bills, banking access, car payment, etc.), I suppose I would backpedal on my prior post and assume that I am more of a visitor than I thought!
I'm a fairly open book, so I wouldn't be alarmed if certain things came to the forefront through Google, but I was pretty surprised that I did not even make the first 20 google pages! I suppose I feel a little insignificant, and in comparison to other individuals whom share the same name, it looks like I need to pick up my game considerably. I'm not a business owner, nor in a band. I don't wish to be a Pastor or MD, but those are highly touted achievements nonetheless. Eventually, when I finish my education and become a principal, I can proudly proclaim that I am google-worthy.
Monday, September 24, 2012
TED-Dr. Michael Wesch
I really enjoyed Dr. Wesch's view points on society, media, and education. As a new "qualified" educator in America, I find the structure of education to be based on a society that no longer exists. Furthermore, this structure is skewed to fit a model of upper middle class caucasian people that could be plucked out of a Norman Rockwell work of art. Life is a game and the rules are created by the people with power and/or money. These rules are essentially a reflection in fear of change and the unknown, set not to enhance and progress society, but instead to retard the uprising of others whom the rules were created to stifle in order to protect these particular individuals greed and need for control.
When I substitute at various schools around the county, I often pose questions to the students that are completely open ended and unusual in a "traditional" school setting; for example "Why are you here today in this class? Explain." Usually, I get blank stares and then cookie cutter answers. Dr. Wesch's view of creating the motivation to learn and fix complex issues collaboratively is astonishing, especially the route he takes to enlighten his students.
As an educator, I want students to have a drive to find answers to questions they do not know exist yet. I believe this can only happen when they feel comfortable in a low anxiety environment and are not pigeonholed into studying to the test. A major issue I see, is being an educator who wants to differ from the system, yet would like to keep his position (not that I have a full time gig, but you get the drift) as a teacher in a fractured/broken system. I truly believe that we have not discovered the cure for cancer and many, many other elusive solutions due to how we educated, or lack there of, only a small population of our own people.
Dr. White-Tall Blog-Visitors and Residents
I believe it is important to have a working knowledge of technology and how it pertains to both, our lives as well as the students we are attempting to educates lives. I currently see myself as a Resident under the conditions Dr. White detailed. I was initially resistant to Facebook when it arrived several years ago due to the segregation of admitted users; i.e. only University students had access to FB. I wasn't happy about that as I deemed it unfair for a variety of reasons. Even after FB went mainstream, I resisted creating an account for over a year. I now use FB daily for many different reasons and see it as a valuable tool in staying "in the know" for things I personally deem important, regardless of what others may think.
I was pretty clueless to the power and speed in which Twitter operated, now that I was "forced" to sign up, I can see the value is vast and in real time...quite an amazing tool. I will definitely use technology such as Twitter, Edmodo, and other communication devices in my classroom (if/when I get one) in the future. I can only imagine what the next platform to be released will be; I'm actually excited!
When it comes to personal/family related information, I tend to lean on the Visitor side of the internet/social media. As for things that I like to do and/or learn about (i.e. tickets for events, travel, what friends are up to, educational information I can use to better my craft, etc.) I am progressing more and more to the Resident side of the matter.
Darrell 9/24/2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
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