Reflection #1

1. What worthwhile skills were learned and/or applied by the student in order to
successfully create this project?
I order to complete the project successfully, the student had to apply many
worthwhile skills that helped create this unique project. For example, the student
had to use their basic web knowledge and build upon that. They needed to know to
how to search for reliable and scholarly information in order to use correct data for
their project. This is a worthwhile skills because it is important that the student is
not only learning the correct information, but presenting reliable information to
others. Also, the student needed to build upon their basic web knowledge by,
searching and saving images to their project. This helped create another visual
element to their project. Also, they applied their skill of geography to the project
show comparison or location. This is the most unique aspect of the students project
because they were able to use a complex site in order to present what could have
been a very boring and basic project. They were able to apply many worthwhile
research and web skills and applied them to one site in order to create the
presentation. They used their worthwhile knowledge of geography, reliable
research, and grammar in order to apply it to a creative image and web based
presentation. They created a project that was very organized by time and
geographical location.
2. Suppose the student was in a class with a teacher who did not know anything
about Google Earth. And suppose this teacher assigned the student the same type
of project: "Write a report that addresses how historical and social references are
made in the poetry of 15 different poets, and discuss if geographical location
influenced the imagery used in their poems." How might this project be different for
the student, and how might Google Earth make the entire process better (or worse)
for the student?
The student and teacher who did not know anything about Google Earth
would have a completely different project. I believe the project would have less
imagery because it without Google Earth it would be hard to present geographical
location for each poet. They would have to directly state where each poet was from
and describe to location features in words, rather than simply presenting a map.
The student would have a harder time easily conveying the location differences
between poets and how that affected their work. I think the student not using
Google Earth would have a longer, wordier, and more in-depth project. The format
of Google Earth does not allow for much detail, where as a more typical report
would allow for more examples per poet. I think for the purpose of this project, the
student that used Google Earth would complete a better project. They easily
identified geographical locations and time periods and conveyed it to their
audience. I do not think that they needed much more information per poet because
they provided links for more examples of the work created by each poet.

Refection #2

1. Papert asks the following question following his parable of the time traveler from 100 years
ago who lands in an operating room, as well as a classroom, and sees two very different levels of
advancement:

Why, through a period when so much human activity has been revolutionized, have we
not seen comparable changes in the way we help our children learn?

How would you answer this question?

This would be a hard question for me to answer, because it is so disheartening for me to

think that after 100 years that nothing in the classrooms has changed. I think that there
has been a greater advancement in technology for doctors because they are now able to
do intricate work that 100 years ago wasnt possible. However, the basis of learning;
reading, writing, and arithmetic has not changed from 100 years ago. I believe that the
problem lies in that people arent sure how to fix the many widespread problems in the
classroom. The classroom today faces many new and complex challenges today that
teachers didnt face 100 years ago. There isnt a simple solution to help our children learn
or to better our education system. However, I think that educators have produced a
number of new techniques to help instruct and teach their children. I believe that if you
paused technology in the classroom, students still have the chance to learn and grow. On
the other side, if you paused the technology in an operation room the doctors wouldnt be
able to continue their surgery. Technology has provided many new techniques and
opportunities for educators to help teach their children. It has provided shortcuts and
research opportunities for many students. Technology and advancement could be a
distraction for the students and their ability to learn.

2. Papert seems to believe that video games are particularly educational. What have been
your personal experiences with video games? In what ways are your feelings about the value
of video games the same or different from Paperts?

I have mixed emotions about the value and worth of video games. I do believe at some
point most video games are just toys. They provide an escape to reality and give people a
chance to play a game in an outside world. Video games are meant to be entertaining and
captivating. On the other hand from my experience I agree with Papert because most

games I have tried to play are very hard and require skill and knowledge about the
activity on the screen. However, video games can provide another outlook to educate and
instruct children. Students might be more willing to play an educational video game to
learn multiplication facts rather than memorizing it on paper. Games often come with
bright colors and sounds to keep the players interested. If we allow our students to play
educational video games, it might be helping in their interest level and keep them
focused. There should be a limit to the amount of time spent on a computer or watching
TV each day and students should be able to learn without technology, as well as with. Not
all learning is face paced and immensely compelling.
3. Papert asks the following question related to instruction:

In trying to teach children what adults want them to know, does School utilize the way
human beings naturally learn in nonschool settings?

How would you answer this question?

I think that adults will always try to teach children what they want them to understand
and know. I dont think children at the age of 7 would choose to sit down and learn
arithmetic and learn how to properly write. I think that children need adults in the school
to help them grow and build on their knowledge each year. Schools now are providing
may different ways to teach their students to help keep them all interested. Schools give a
safe place for children to question and think about the world around them. School
provides a level of expectation, respect, and punishment. I believe this helps that the
students are provided with a clear and set level of rules in order for them to learn and
grow in the safest way. Even in non-school settings, there is an unsaid proper behavior
for children to follow. Through interests that students find at school, they are able to grow
far and beyond what school can provide in non-school settings.

4. After Paperts story about sleeping giraffes, he mentions the possibility of the creation of a
Knowledge Machine. The book was published in 1993. Do you think the Internet is the
Knowledge Machine Papert envisioned in the early 1990s? If so, does it work the way Papert
envisioned?

Yes, I think that Internet is becoming the Knowledge Machine. The internet is become a
source of endless knowledge on any topic or question. A student can search for any topic
big or small and find an answer. Students rely on the computer for all of their research
and questions. It has provided a way to explore the world father than what a few
textbooks can provide. The internet has provided social media and news right at their
fingertips to stay connected to the world around them. I think it works the way Papert
envisioned for the most part, but has created a superficial level of learning. Schools use
technology to teach every subject which has created benefits and consequences for the
students. It is important that students are learning how to think for themselves and given

the capacity to question.

5. After envisioning the introduction of a Knowledge Machine into the classroom, Papert asks
the following question:

How would the introduction of Knowledge Machines into the School environment
compromise the primacy with which we view reading and writing-that is, childrens
fluency in using alphabetic language?

Assuming the Internet, as it exists today, is the Knowledge Machine Papert envisioned, how
would you respond to this question?

I believe that the internet provides many wonderful ways to research and
gain knowledge. However, it can and I believe has already caused problems
in fluency and using the alphabetic language. Students, including myself, use
Microsoft Word for any writing project that underlines and auto-corrects any
misspelled words and grammatical issues. Students are not learning the
proper way to spell and write. Instead, they rely on a program that tells them
when they make a mistake. Also, students are now writing papers and essays
in text form. Teens are used to short forming words to quickly send a
message. This in turns affects the fluency in students writing. Most students
are reading for enjoyment and in turn influences the fluency of their writing
and vocabulary.