Final Exam: A look Back

I can this for sure, looking back over the semester; this is not what I expected from the class when I registered for the class. Given that this was just another GE credit class to me, I came in the class not expecting much. At the beginning of the class I wasn't so sure if I would like this class, but as time went by I really stared to appreciate the self-directed learning aspect of the class. Over the semester I have learned a great deal and I a proud to show my friends my work and the insights that I learned. Over the semester I have had lots of views from my blog. I was also glad to find that other people cared and respected my views on issues. Here are some the highlights from the semester.

Historical Content:
http://digiciv-jonesadam.blogspot.com/2012/02/on-17th-century-and-issue-power-in-1629.html
http://digiciv-jonesadam.blogspot.com/2012/01/information-is-crucial-to-civilization.html

Core Concepts:
http://digiciv-jonesadam.blogspot.com/2012/02/on-17th-century-and-issue-power-in-1629.html

Digital Literacy:
Consume:
http://digiciv-jonesadam.blogspot.com/2012/03/social-proof.html
Create:
http://digiciv-jonesadam.blogspot.com/2012/02/most-of-my-research-andquestions-that-i.html
Connect:
http://digiciv-jonesadam.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-one-of-topics-i-have-proposed-for.html

Self-Directed Learning:
I had a chance to read many articles and books. Some of the Books I read:

-Andrew J. Coulson
Market Education: The Unknown History
Market Education explores the educational problems facing parents and shows how these problems can best be addressed. He begins with a discussion of what people want from their school systems, tracing their views of the kinds of knowledge, skills, and values education should impart and their concerns over discipline, drugs, and violence in public schools. Using this survey of goals and attitudes as a guide, Coulson sets out to compare the school systems of civilizations both ancient and modern, seeking to determine which systems successfully educated generations past and which did not. His historical study ranges from classical Greece and ancient Rome, through the Islamic world of the middle ages, to nineteenth-century England and modern America. 

-John Taylor Gatto
Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling.
He was the New York State teacher of the year. In this rare and insightful book, Gatto explains the seven lessons that are taught in most schools. They constitute a damaging and costly national curriculum.

-Also here are some the videos that I watched to inform me of some solutions to education.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IFE3IW4yadA - free market education
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zyswCDwe3uo - Charter School, also the author of the book I read, is one of the commentaries.

Collaboration:
I contacted and worked with Rossier School of Education to use some of their art and information about education in the US and the World. This is where I got the info-graphic for the education group.
http://digiciv-jonesadam.blogspot.com/2012/03/education-info-graphic.html

I will conclude with a thank you to the professors for creating a class like this. I have found that when you try to come up with a solution to a problem, first look to history to see what has been tried, and then second try to tie those practices within the bounds of the information age. I have learned that I sometimes for granted how much technology is changing our world. I have personally enjoyed being able to use social websites for creating conversation and thought rather than just letting people know what you did that day.

Post: Event Report

Post: Event Report

Here is a list of some of things that I did to better the participation form external aspect and the assistance I provide in the presentations.

Invite:

I invited all of my social proof people, Katherine Hurst, Jessica Linford, and Joann Jones. These women are all teachers and eager to see a change in the education system. Only Jessica Linford was able to come via Ustream. I also invited some of my friends who are involved in politics and also would like to see a change in the education system. I also invited some of my coworkers who I have regularly talk to about the chapter I helped right and also the other topics. They were not able to attend, but they are eager to see what solutions are presented in the e-book.

Participation:

My contribution in the Education presentation was that I was the artist in the video; I came up with the sketch and ideas for that part of the presentation. Even though I was not presenting live, I still attended every practice session for the presentation. I provided critiques in how to portray the information and helped the presenters with diction.

I also helped the e-book presentation with being a stand in. Most of the Time during the presentation I was very active in the Ustream chat. For each presentation I provided a thought question and answers for when the education group was on.

What is a Charter School and how does it differ from a public school.

Charter schools are by definition independent public schools. Although funded with taxpayer dollars, they operate free from many of the laws and regulations that govern traditional public schools. In exchange for that freedom, they are bound to the terms of a contract, or "charter," that lays out a school’s mission, academic goals, and accountability procedures. State laws set the parameters for charter contracts, which are overseen by a designated charter school authorizer—often the local school district or related agency.

The President encouraging less regulations on schools?

An Article showing the head of the state(The President) is encouraging a less regulated approach to Education. by Stephanie Condon

The U.S. education system needs to undergo dramatic reform, President Obama said today -- with new investments but also with new policies.

"You can't defend a status quo in which a third of our kids are dropping out," the president said this morning during a live interview on NBC's "Today Show." "You can't defend a status quo when you've got 2,000 schools across the country that are drop out factories."

The Obama administration has introduced a sweeping set of education reforms -- some of which have met some resistance -- such as the $4 billion "Race to the Top" initiative. The program offers educational grants to states that meet certain reform criteria. The president today called it "probably the most powerful tool we've seen for reform in a couple of decades."

While $4 billion is a relatively small figure to spend on education, Mr. Obama said it's "enough to get people's attention."

Furthermore, he said, money alone is not the solution to education reform.

"Money without reform does not fix the problem," he said.

The president said he expects "Race to the Top" to continue to meet resistance from politicians whose states may not be getting aid immediately. He also acknowledged that other players, such as teachers unions, can act as barriers to reform. Yet he said that many unions are cooperating with states to improve their education plans.

"I'm a strong supporter of the notion a union can protect its members and be a part of the solution instead of the problem," he said.

Part of the administration's educational reforms also include plans to close the poorest performing 5 percent of schools in the nation, turning some of them into charter schools.

"There's no silver bullets here," the president said. However, he said, "There are some charters that have figured out how to do a very good job. What we've got to do is look at the success of these schools and find out how do we duplicate them... What I'm interested in ... is fostering these laboriteies of excellence."

But while he said the education system needs to be revamped, Mr. Obama added properly investing in education still plays an important role.

"Those who say money makes no difference are wrong," he said.

For instance, the administration is going to focus on training 10,000 new math and science teachers, Mr. Obama said. He also said spending money to keep schools open an additional month would be a wise investment.

"I think we should have longer school years," he said. "We now have our kids go to school about a month less than other advanced countries."

The president acknowledged his own daughters, Malia and Sasha, would not get the same quality of education in the Washington, D.C. public school system that they receive at the private school they currently attend in the District.

"The D.C. public school systems are struggling," he said