It’s seems like the difference between Essentialism and Progressivism in concerns to the comparisons between School 1.0 and School 2.0. The concept of global distribution gives students near limitless possibilities to learn. By gaining feedback from those across the globe, students feel as though they are really making a difference and the education they that gain will really amount to something even in the near future. Technology gave these knowledge hungry students a chance to reach out to their world. I feel that when students are actually able to see the results of their labor and study that they will begin to thirst more for these results. Thusly, in turn this cycle becomes a motivating force for the students as they continually strive to see more and more results in their search for themselves and knowledge. Students become positively motivated when they have a reason to be. Students will rarely just become instilled the motivation to strive for excellence and change their world. We as future teachers (hopefully) will be able to facilitate such a class room environment that students will be able to reach out to the world they live in and make a difference so they realize that what they do matters in the grand scheme of life. So many students feel that their opinions do not matter because of their age, social status or race. It is our obligation as educators to show that they, regardless of their culture matter in the world and that each of them have a very important role to play in the greater good of society and the world.
The first movie was quite good, but when taken into consideration that it was made by seventh grade students it was nothing less than astonishing. Students are trying to make a difference in their world. They are and so should the teachers. The second movie was rather scary, but none the less amazing. I tend to compare schools to the high school or middle school I attended. I recall students caring little to nothing about their education and to see students that are this motivated gives me hope for the youth of America. The third video showed the adamant views the students had about slavery. Eleven year old students are able to do graphic editing in a video. I am rather sure that most people my age cannot even do such a thing. I was shocked to realize how entwined in the learning process students were. The fourth video shows a great deal of critical thinking in the battle of science versus religion. Of all the videos the final one was the most important to me personally. The lesson of tolerance and acceptance was touching and one I feel that almost everyone now and then needs a refresher on.
The situation arises when a school does not have the necessary technology to do what Mabry can do. What happens then? I believe we do just as Mabry did. Start out small. If students are contained by the school’s funds or lack of technology, then that is no excuse to cross the arms and give up on reaching out. Students can still reach out to their community. If the students are given the will and desire to learn then the rest will work itself out. When they are touched at such an early age it inspires them for the rest of their lives and they forget about any boundaries that may be in their way. Boundaries become irrelevant for students when they realize that the world is at their fingertips. We as future teachers (hopefully) will help them open their hands and reach out to their world.
