Gaining Momentum

A comment was made in class last week (Oct. 19) regarding human literacy and application of technology..."Is the learning changing or the vehicle to learning changing...Or perhaps both." I thought this was a very interesting inquiry and very much a open ended question. Certainly one for debate! The way in which we share information has changed and the amount of information we share has exponentially increased....Thus, dubbing the next generation or the times, 'contributory society'....Hence, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and so on. The brain is a social tool and is in need of stimulation and meaningful connection. I suppose that is why the students in the classrooms today are in greater need for learning that comes alive and makes sense to prior knowledge and/or real world application.

The video, '2 Million Minutes', was long coming in light of the above statements. Because the world can connect on so many levels, it was a matter of time before other countries gained a solid footing on the road to education and career advances. Technology being the largest contributor to making such social advances and life changing movements. As mentioned in the video, "Education is the passport out of poverty." It was fascinating to hear the students from the other countries speak so passionately about learning and the idea of challenging themselves to fulfill their highest potential. Whether it is built into their cultural identity or a family dynamic, it is still refreshing to know that young people have big dreams and it starts with the fundamentals of a strong educational background.

The impact of technology on international education and overall affairs is just starting to be felt. I think the we are just scratching the surface when it comes to the true possibilities of technology and cultural literacy and world affairs. Globalization in the classroom will be a topic that cannot be ignored and I think the students from the US will greatly benefit the most.