How has the course been effective in broadening your perspective and skill set for managing technology for change?
This course and the OMET program have really broadened my perspective of the impacts of technology in today's world. I can honestly say that prior to OMET I never thought about using technology as an agent for learning. I always thought about using technology as a separate facet of learning. Now I feel confident that I can manage technology for change.
Many of the books that we read throughout the year helped me to understand the importance of technology and how it actually helps us to learn. In the book Everything Bad is Good for You, I learned of why reality television and soap operas are beneficial. They actually challenge the brain. The author also explains how different facets of kids shows are actually beneficial. Gaining a new perspective on these issues was very refreshing.
Our Tapped In meetings and discussion forums have enlightened me on how I can become a leader of educational technology and combining learning and technology into one concept. Thinking on a global scale and integrating my curriculum on a global level has empowered me to be a more powerful teacher.
Understanding that change is a big part of our education's future, and I can be a part of that change. Each of my OMET teachers, Bill, Gary, Margaret, Melissa, Paul and my cadreamates have all provided me with the knowledge that will help to build my next steps of technology integration in schools and learning.
Thank you all for this powerful tool!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
EDC 668--Blog 9 Week 7/7
What types of influence do I have in my current local and global communities? How can I expand that influence?
Local Community
In my local community I feel that I have a lot of influence. As an elementary classroom teacher I interact with 30-60 different students on a daily basis. There is much to be said that students look up to their teachers and love to emulate what the teachers do and believe.
Next year my plan is to develop a green classroom. I would love to have an environmentally safe classroom where the students recycle, use environmentally friendly materials, and are more aware of their impact and the role they play in keeping our planet healthy. In doing so, our kids will, most likely, share the message with their friends and family, who in turn will participate in creating a healthier planet.
Another way I can influence my local community is by voting. Through participating in local elections, I am giving someone the opportunity to represent my beliefs in making a difference in our community.
Global Community
Being an active participant in the online community is a start in being a part of a global community. Expressing my opinions and feelings in blogs that are accessible to all is the first step to my contributions. Creating a website and writing articles for the open source online dictionary Wikipedia is another contribution I have made to our global community.
Expanding my Influence
Continuously contributing my thoughts and reflections on my blog, website, and speaking with community and family members is one way to continue to drive change in the community and world.
Ghandi said it best:
You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
Local Community
In my local community I feel that I have a lot of influence. As an elementary classroom teacher I interact with 30-60 different students on a daily basis. There is much to be said that students look up to their teachers and love to emulate what the teachers do and believe.
Next year my plan is to develop a green classroom. I would love to have an environmentally safe classroom where the students recycle, use environmentally friendly materials, and are more aware of their impact and the role they play in keeping our planet healthy. In doing so, our kids will, most likely, share the message with their friends and family, who in turn will participate in creating a healthier planet.
Another way I can influence my local community is by voting. Through participating in local elections, I am giving someone the opportunity to represent my beliefs in making a difference in our community.
Global Community
Being an active participant in the online community is a start in being a part of a global community. Expressing my opinions and feelings in blogs that are accessible to all is the first step to my contributions. Creating a website and writing articles for the open source online dictionary Wikipedia is another contribution I have made to our global community.
Expanding my Influence
Continuously contributing my thoughts and reflections on my blog, website, and speaking with community and family members is one way to continue to drive change in the community and world.
Ghandi said it best:
You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
EDC 668--Blog 8 Week 6/30
From where does global change derive? How can we use global change to promote deeper learning across the globe?
I believe that global change derives from citizens that see a need for this change. After a need is developed, they help others to understand their views and jump on board for the cause. Ultimately though, global change is seen as benefiting most everyone on earth.
After much reflection, I feel that Al Gore is one of the people that has promoted a lot of global change throughout the past decade. He used his fame of being a vice president to show the effects of global warming. Through his efforts, he has helped to promote much knowledge about becoming a green citizen. Recently, more and more businesses throughout the world are joining his campaign to minimize global warming. There is even a cable channel, the Green Planet.
Through communication and technology global change can promote deeper learning across the globe. Joining forces with other nations and helping others understand the need to work together on a world level will help to initiate positive change.
I believe that global change derives from citizens that see a need for this change. After a need is developed, they help others to understand their views and jump on board for the cause. Ultimately though, global change is seen as benefiting most everyone on earth.
After much reflection, I feel that Al Gore is one of the people that has promoted a lot of global change throughout the past decade. He used his fame of being a vice president to show the effects of global warming. Through his efforts, he has helped to promote much knowledge about becoming a green citizen. Recently, more and more businesses throughout the world are joining his campaign to minimize global warming. There is even a cable channel, the Green Planet.
Through communication and technology global change can promote deeper learning across the globe. Joining forces with other nations and helping others understand the need to work together on a world level will help to initiate positive change.
EDC 668--Blog 7 Week 6/16
From where does personal and local change derive? How can we use change to promote deeper learning as individuals and in our local settings?
Daniel Yankelovich's article Ferment and Change: Higher Education in 2015 focuses on 5 trends higher education should consider in the next ten years. These trends help us to see how personal and local change derives.
The first trend Yankelovich writes of is: Changing life cycles as our nation's population ages. "The demographic facts are familiar, but quite dramatic: While life expectancy in the United States in 1900 was a mere 47 years, people in the 21st century are expected to live to be almost 90 a whopping extra 40 years of life. Hardly any facet of our existence will be unaffected by that sweeping change. "
With this fact in mind, it is important to note the job-mentality of today's youth.
"it is difficult for young people to make sound career-life choices without testing them in the "real world" of practical experience. Our culture provides ample opportunities to test choices -- what to buy, where to live, and even sexual-mating choices. But the long-established practice of sequencing education first and work later forces young people to make fateful life choices before they are equipped to do so, or worse, to postpone making them until it is too late."
Today's youth are our future and we need to understand their needs to help make personal and local change happen.
Personal change comes from within. According to http://www.worldtrans.org/TP/perschg.html
"Personal change happens through a journey of discovery. You need to find out more about yourself; how you do things, how you have been limiting your options, how you have created your current situation for yourself. Along the way you will find out a lot more about life and about how you can be in charge of your own. And you will find that you already have a lot of positive resources available to you."
Once a person acknowledges their need for change and has embarked on the journey of discovery, they can impact local change. Local change can be made through collaboration amongst many people. It is very difficult to initiate local change with one person.
Change can be made as a result of reflection and deeper understanding of oneself and their surroundings. Understanding this process can help you promote deeper learning.
Daniel Yankelovich's article Ferment and Change: Higher Education in 2015 focuses on 5 trends higher education should consider in the next ten years. These trends help us to see how personal and local change derives.
The first trend Yankelovich writes of is: Changing life cycles as our nation's population ages. "The demographic facts are familiar, but quite dramatic: While life expectancy in the United States in 1900 was a mere 47 years, people in the 21st century are expected to live to be almost 90 a whopping extra 40 years of life. Hardly any facet of our existence will be unaffected by that sweeping change. "
With this fact in mind, it is important to note the job-mentality of today's youth.
"it is difficult for young people to make sound career-life choices without testing them in the "real world" of practical experience. Our culture provides ample opportunities to test choices -- what to buy, where to live, and even sexual-mating choices. But the long-established practice of sequencing education first and work later forces young people to make fateful life choices before they are equipped to do so, or worse, to postpone making them until it is too late."
Today's youth are our future and we need to understand their needs to help make personal and local change happen.
Personal change comes from within. According to http://www.worldtrans.org/TP/perschg.html
"Personal change happens through a journey of discovery. You need to find out more about yourself; how you do things, how you have been limiting your options, how you have created your current situation for yourself. Along the way you will find out a lot more about life and about how you can be in charge of your own. And you will find that you already have a lot of positive resources available to you."
Once a person acknowledges their need for change and has embarked on the journey of discovery, they can impact local change. Local change can be made through collaboration amongst many people. It is very difficult to initiate local change with one person.
Change can be made as a result of reflection and deeper understanding of oneself and their surroundings. Understanding this process can help you promote deeper learning.
EDC 668--Blog 6
Reflection: How does globalization change the needs and demands on US, K12, higher education and corporate learning environments?
“Globalization is a process of tearing down barriers between nations. This, of course, includes free trade, but it also implies cultural, political and human exchange. A freer flow of goods and services is part of globalization…,” (Mejia-Vergnaud, 2004, pg. 67).
In my opinion, globalization is the key to creating a more knowledge amongst our entire world. Sharing knowledge sparks new ideas, which can in turn help all other areas of life.
US: Globalization changes the needs and the demands of the US greatly. It requires us to be sensitive to others cultures, religions, and the the impacts of these changes. Through globalization, the United States is taking interest in these countries matters no matter how challenging they may be (i.e. epidemics, natural disasters, diseases).
Others argue that globalization is impacting our economy. Many people feel that Americans are leaving the United States to work in other countries and in search of more economic freedom and more opportunities. As a result, our economy suffers.
K12 and Higher Education: Globalization would change the way schools run today. Students would participate in classes all around the world via the Internet. Teachers would also be able to teach a biology class to students in each of the seven continents. Globalization would allow students to experience and collaborate and interact with others of different cultures, economic statures, and governments. Ultimately, globalization would bring education to all students, no matter what economic background they come from.
Corporate Learning Environments: Globalization in the corporate environment is key to advancing new knowledge. Both the Tipping Point and Wikinomics state how efficient working globally will help the development of new medicines, and products. One company even offered to pay the person (outside of the company ) who came up with the latest "cure" for something.
In the end, I believe that globalization will generate more knowledge and be beneficial to all.
Mejia-Vergnaud, A. (2004). Effects of globalization [Electronic version]. Society
Abroad, 41, 66-70.
“Globalization is a process of tearing down barriers between nations. This, of course, includes free trade, but it also implies cultural, political and human exchange. A freer flow of goods and services is part of globalization…,” (Mejia-Vergnaud, 2004, pg. 67).
In my opinion, globalization is the key to creating a more knowledge amongst our entire world. Sharing knowledge sparks new ideas, which can in turn help all other areas of life.
US: Globalization changes the needs and the demands of the US greatly. It requires us to be sensitive to others cultures, religions, and the the impacts of these changes. Through globalization, the United States is taking interest in these countries matters no matter how challenging they may be (i.e. epidemics, natural disasters, diseases).
Others argue that globalization is impacting our economy. Many people feel that Americans are leaving the United States to work in other countries and in search of more economic freedom and more opportunities. As a result, our economy suffers.
K12 and Higher Education: Globalization would change the way schools run today. Students would participate in classes all around the world via the Internet. Teachers would also be able to teach a biology class to students in each of the seven continents. Globalization would allow students to experience and collaborate and interact with others of different cultures, economic statures, and governments. Ultimately, globalization would bring education to all students, no matter what economic background they come from.
Corporate Learning Environments: Globalization in the corporate environment is key to advancing new knowledge. Both the Tipping Point and Wikinomics state how efficient working globally will help the development of new medicines, and products. One company even offered to pay the person (outside of the company ) who came up with the latest "cure" for something.
In the end, I believe that globalization will generate more knowledge and be beneficial to all.
Mejia-Vergnaud, A. (2004). Effects of globalization [Electronic version]. Society
Abroad, 41, 66-70.
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