First Day of School Introduction

Salman Khan: Let's Use Videos to Reinvent Education

      Khan has developed a system to help students learn at their own pace. Not a new concept, but a new way of doing it. The students can log onto the system online on their own computers because no access codes are needed, etc. In addition, he proposes the reality of not leaving children behind that haven't totally mastered the tasks that are being taught before moving on to the next subject. Khan Academy sounds like it would appeal to a broad range of students and integrating the video lectures as homework would free up more classroom time to see what the students do not understand.

Article Debates

Sequestration Cuts Will Shortchange Students, Universities Say
     
       I agree with what they are trying to do in a sense.  I don't see the harm in students that are getting the money, poor students, to go to college getting less. Some students are only in college because it is getting paid for and a refund, not because they want an education. In my opinion, a motive should be more closely looked at before handing out loans or grants to students. The states and country, who are so poor anyways aren't they? are having to pay for these educations. This will force parents to think more in a futuristic way when having a child and even more closely about having a child and what the costs will incur. Also, this will cause students to determine if they really need or want to go to college and the respect of Bachelor's degree will go back to where it use to be.
      



Student Database Jazzes Tech Startup, Spooks Parents

         It's scary thinking that a school, especially public schools all over the nation, will know literally everything about my future students and even children. Like my teacher pointed out, what if someone hacked into the system. Also, if this isn't private, isn't that an invasion of privacy? I, personally, don't want my information posted in a system where anyone can see it. In addition, what about those awful people out in the world; pedophiles, murderers, etc. that can access this information? This is endangering our students! It's an outrage that the schools can post my student's or child's records of test scores and/or learning disabilities. That could make them subject to ridicule and/or bullying by others or even special treatment, good or bad.
   
         The fact that the school system has total legal control over their information is amazing, and not in a good way. Also, when individuals participate in psychological studies there has to be some type of consent form, even if no harm is in question. This seems like a study to me, and consent should be required, anonymous or not.

Hardware and Shortcuts Songs

The Shortcuts on the Computer

The keys on the keyboard go click, click, click
click, click, click, click, click, click
the keys on the keyboard go click, click, click
All through the classroom

Ctrl+X goes snip, snip, snip
snip, snip, snip, snip, snip, snip
Ctrl;+X goes snip, snip, snip
All through the computer

Ctrl-O goes open and cancel.
open and cancel open and cancel
Ctrl-O goes open and cancel 
All through the computer

Ctrl+Alt+Delete goes beep, beep, beep
beep, beep, beep,  beep, beep, beep
Ctrl+Alt Delete goes beep, beep, beep
All through the computer

The RAM in the computer makes it go, go, go
go, go, go, go, go, go
The RAM in the computer makes it go, go, go
All though the computer

The red shut down button shuts it down, shuts it down
shuts it down, shuts it down
The red shut down button shuts it down
All through the computer

Ken Robinson Says Schools Kill Creativity

         I firmly agree with all of Ken Robinson's views. He has views that fall completely in line with my way of thinking. I believe that if more people could have a broader way of thinking, as he seems too, then students wouldn't have issues of lessening creativity as they age. The arts and music programs and in schools would not be in jeopardy if children's creativity was still prevalent as it was years ago. All children are different, and we as educators have to recognize that. Not all children understand or enjoy core subjects. In addition, not all children can learn those subjects with out the integration of music or art. We must continue to integrate the arts and forceful creative thinking, outside of Math or Reading word problems, in the classroom and in everyday lessons. Though it is hard, this is all our job as teachers.