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So what does it all mean? It is a very good question to pose at the end of the video. I believe what this means is that as a society we are becoming more and more dependent on technology. With one in eight couples meeting online, it shows that we are even using the internet to form lasting relationships. We need to realize the seismic shift we are a part of and embrace it. As educators, it is our responsibility to take this information we have gleaned from the course of this class and fuse it with the content we must teach. It is an exciting change and the technological possibilities for our classroom are endless.

Ted Talks:

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This unique animation really highlights the present-day problems of education. It was interesting to learn that our schools are set up in a factory-like formation complete with ringing bells, separate facilities, and "batches" of kids grouped in one grade. Our main problem is that we are using an antiquated model to serve 21st century children. The institution of free, public education was developed in the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution. This modus operandi is still being used! I also found it amusing that the presenter said that we were anesthetizing our children with ADHD medication. School should be lively and engaging not a place where you need a prescription to stay focused. 2. media type="custom" key="19403914"

This was a fascinating video where a revolutionary scientist took an everyday item in this case, a Wii remote controller, and manipulated into a teaching tool. He showed the audience how to use the remote's infra red camera to create an interactive white board. Lee simply used a dry erase marker and a flat surface in lieu of an expensive Smart Board. The cost was estimated at around $50.00. While the process is still a bit confusing to me as a lay person, I think the idea behind it could be of great value in impoverished school systems. Imagine what some of these schools can now do with just a few simple gadgets!!

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It all started with a teacher who believed who in her. Kiran Bir Sithi then became infected with what she has dubbed the "I can" bug. This led to Bir Sithi taking a relatively simple idea and setting it into motion in the form of the Riverside School in India. She works to empower children and instill in them the knowledge that they can change society. The first step in this process is to make children aware, then enable them, and finally empower them. It was inspiring to see the students work together with one of the results being that a busy street was shut down so that the children could use the road as a playground.

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This video discussed the ability that technology has to benefit children growing up in slums around the world. For example, a young man deeply engrained in the drug world was lured by a non-profit that donated computers to impoverished areas. His love of technology allowed him to get out of the drug trade and become an educated, productive member of society. The important notion to keep in mind in very poor regions is that learning must be productive and teach practical skills. If education is irrelevant to the lives of people then they will have no reason to continue on an academic path.

My Voki:

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A Song by Me: media type="custom" key="19042016"