It's a Small World After All . . . Let's Take Over Jupiter

Before you go on reading any further, watch this video:

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=661&title=The_Connected_Classroom



No, seriously, watch it before you go on:

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=661&title=The_Connected_Classroom



I said, watch the %$#@*!!! video!!!

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=661&title=The_Connected_Classroom





Now, that wasn't so bad, was it? Did you feel inspired or motivated? Did you get misty-eyed? If so, what the heck were you watching? That's not the video I posted. I posted something serious. That clip entitled "The Connected Classroom" is something that will definitely make you think. And worry (if you think too much and don't do anything about it).

I'd like to propose we don't go back in time to where students regurgitated their lessons and move on to where they apply them. Of course, we will undoubtedly run into the "Why Do I Have to Learn This?" syndrome or it's counterpart the "What Does This Have to Do With Me?" bug. The symptoms of both include laziness, weight gain, excessive video game playing and TV watching, and in some cases even death. That's right--you heard me. Your students may have a pulse and stuff, but if the brain is not being used they are technically brain dead and, in my expert opinion (which counts the most since I'm writing right now and you're not) legally dead.

Sometimes I wish we could find some way to get all of the lazy and stupid people to stop taking so much for granted. Unfortunately, I find myself in that group from time to time. Well, here's my secret to how I leave it---I make a difference.

Students today get the same propaganda I just hinted at. They know their teachers and peers think or believe they can make a difference. So why don't some of them do so (the lazy and stupid ones that is--you bright kids can ignore everything I'm saying--you go and solve a Rubik's cube or something)? I would say the obvious reason is they don't see a need to. They think they have everything they need to survive and they don't see a need to educate themselves. They don't think the future is going to be any different so they don't prepare for it.

Well, as a teacher I'll be putting a stop to all that wherever possible. How? I have no idea. Maybe I should watch the video again:

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=661&title=The_Connected_Classroom


OK, I know what to do now. I need to find ways to make my subject relevant, appealing, and accessible to my students. Really--it's that simple. Example: A lot of students hate Shakespeare (which is absurd; he never did anything to them). However, I know for a fact students find violence appealing. They also love a good laugh. And they also really find (PG-13 statement coming up) sex very interesting (GASP!). Yes, I know you parents didn't want to hear that but it's the truth. Anyways, I bet these students who find Shakespeare boring don't know that all that sex, violence, and funny stuff was appealing to Shakespeare too. That's why he wrote about it in his plays!

Score:

Teacher: 1
Students:1

Yeah--that's right. The score's tied. Teachers and students have the same knowledge: isn't that the purpose of education?