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Historical Content: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.