Week One: Day 2

Students participated in their first discussion forum of the semester. I have decided to do my modules around themes. Over the next couple of weeks, the theme will be education.

The students were to choose from six different questions based on videos and the readings. They were to write on three and respond to at least two of their peers. I am doing the discussion forums a little differently this semester. I am having them work in groups of 12 students rather than a whole group discussion. I will see how it works out. The only disadvantage is that with fewer people, there may be lots of procrastinators. I might have to change my directions and have them do their replies by the next day rather than the same night. A couple of students were waiting for others to post. The majority of students will post from 8 p.m. onwards, so the 2 p.m. submitters are frustrated waiting for two people to get in and post so that they become frustrated. I might poll the students on this one when I see them in class next.

Anyway, here are the six questions and some exemplary responses.

Write the answer to THREE of the following prompts. Please refer to the question you are answering.

1. Watch the short films,Second Life Media Zoo, Vision of Students Today, and Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall, Comment on the ideas presented in each of the videos. Using some of the ideas presented in this video, Discuss how technology can be best implemented in our nation's schools and univesities? Present a case for virtual learning? Would a Second Life learning experience be for everyone? Why or why not?

2. According to Brooks in his essay Psst! "Human Capital", why do policies that focus on teaching children skills and knowledge ultimately fail to develop human capital? What policies does he use as examples of such failure? If one agrees that skills and knowledge ultimately fail to develop human capital, then what should teachers be doing in their curriculum to develop human capital?

3. Read Mary Sherry's In Praise of the "F" Word and present an opposing viewpoint to the one that Sherry presents in her essay.Be sure and cite at least one outside source in support of your opposing viewpoint.

4. In Michael Kimmel's A War Against Boys, he primarily focuses on how gender inequality affects boys. Summarize Kimmel's argument and present a counterargument that gender inequality also affects girls. Do some outside research and cite at least one source to back up your claim. What has been your experience in schools with gender equality?

5. Do some research on the type of human capital that many millionaires possess. How did they acquire it? Of the four types of human capital that Brooks describes, which one do you feel is your strongest? Provide evidence that you are strong in this type.

6. Do some research on the concept of capital as used by economists. How do economists define and categorize capital, including the human capital? Be sure and cite your source.

Question 1 was very popular as well as Question 5.

Alex's response:

Watching the short films, Second Life Media Zoo, Vision of Students Today, and Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall, changed my opinion towards online learning. The video about Second Life Media Zoo was extremely interesting because this was the first time that I have ever seen virtual education to this extent. Although it was very impressive, from the looks of it I think it would distract students from their main objective, learning. Watching the video I could imagine myself losing focus because I would be too busy treating the class as a video game.

With regard to Vision of Students Today, the video itself really caught my attention. Most of the facts that the students were holding up I could relate to. Also I could see how technology is about to be the style of education for the future. Pink Floyd's video confused me at first, but what I got from it was that students do not want to be just another "brick in the wall". Technology can be implemented in in our nation's schools and universities by offering some courses that are either hybrid or online. I am not saying that all classes should be like this, but since the future is heading in the direction of technology, we should be trying new ways of education ourselves. Also hybrid and online classes take a lot of time-management and self discipline. These are future characteristics that we all strive to master at some point in our lives. Second Life may not be for everyone because some people learn better when they are in a classroom setting where they are taking notes and are in front of a teacher. Also, students may be less motivated and distracted while they are at the comforts of their computer.

Katie's response to Question 2:

2. According to Brooks in his essay Psst! "Human Capital", why do policies that focus on teaching children skills and knowledge ultimately fail to develop human capital? What policies does he use as examples of such failure? If one agrees that skills and knowledge ultimately fail to develop human capital, then what should teachers be doing in their curriculum to develop human capital?

Policies that focus on teaching children skills and knowledge fail at creating human capital because they are not created for the way people really are. We spend tons of money, more than any other country and still our skills and knowledge are not soaring like they should be. In order to build on human capital, we have to build on more than just skills and knowledge. Like Brooks describes, you have to be well rounded knowing about cultures, how to be social in society, having morals and how to be cognitive. People need wants and struggles, they need ambitions and aspirational reasons to strive for success in life. None of this can be developed with just skills and book knowledge. Policies such as the program No Child Left Behind and Title 1 schools, Brooks, uses as examples of failures. Teachers should have more human relating activities to get students out of books, have games that help students learn how to morally behave. Not to cheat because the game is more fun if you don’t cheat. Doing trust workshops, allowing students to catch another student’s weight would allow students to form trust with people they may not know well. Having culture days where students have to dress up and bring food from places out of their culture to share with the class. There are many things teachers can do that would help create a better human capital and actually, a more exciting class. Teachers are too focused on the books that it takes out the creativity in students. Creativity makes the mind work harder.

The only question that did not challenge the students was the one on how economists define capital. I would delete that one next time around.

Seventeen of the 24 people in the class participated in the discussion; however, two dropped the course after the first day. It will take another week to get some students to realize that a 11:55 p.m. deadline is for real. I will probably lose two or three more students by midterm. I sent out an email to the 7 who didn't do the assignment. I heard back from one.