According to Thomas Friedman’s “The World is Flat” speech at the MIT open courseware keynote address, the world has shifted from one that is controlled and dominated by corporations, to the individual (Friedman, 2008). In his speech he delineates the progression of global economics and interconnectedness to the present. We are not flat because now every individual, anywhere in the world has the power to create and share their product, idea, or service, without the intermediary corporation. This has leveled the field at a global scale and simultaneously at an individual scale as well.
What does this say to me as a teacher?
It tells me that I have my work cut out for me! Friedman’s speech, as it progressed, created a huge sense of panic. We are not preparing students for the world that we have grown up in. We are preparing students for a future world we have yet to even imagine! That is a very daunting task. Our school systems are not prepared with the technology or the teacher knowledge to prepare our children for this next level of globalization. The thought of what our work is to prepare these children for their future is terrifying.
However, as I calmed down, and ate my weight in chocolate, I realized that I cannot predict what the future will bring. Then again, neither did Steve Jobs’, Bill Gates’, or Mark Zuckerberg’s teachers. The thing that separates these three individuals from the rest of the world is that they were innovative thinkers. As teachers that’s where the success of whether or not our children are prepared for this broad future, lies. We have to create a group of individuals that are independent, higher order, thinkers. We have to set the foundations for technology, for math, for science, along with the ability to think outside the box. This will ensure that our students are successful in the future where the playing field is level.
Reference:
Friedman, T. (2008). MIT Milestone Celebration/Keynote Address. Retrieved January 7, 2011 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcE2ufqtzyk
I laughed when I read your comment about the chocolate; however, you definitely have a point. Even if teachers are motivated and well-trained to teach STEM, the resources are minimal if available at all. I liked how you acknowledged this but said that our main focus should be teaching our students how to use problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This will take them farther than just about anything else that we can teach them in our classrooms.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about teaching the students the skills and not have to use technology. A few years ago I was a long term Math sub at a private school. There was an exchange student from South Korea and she was amazed that we allowed our students to use calculators in Math. At her school, they were not allowed to use calculators until they reached college. This student had taken Trig and Calculus without using calculators, but she was a very successful student because she had developed skills in critical thinking and using the knowledge she had gained successfully. Students, especially now days, have to realize that technology is great, but it is not what will make you successful, you have to have those critical thinking skills.
ReplyDeleteDon't regret the chocolate! I have survived many times, stressful or not, with the help of chocolate! :)