Forum Post: Cusp

Mark Twain once said, “Never let formal education get in the way of your learning.” While this statement is open to interpretation, I believe that when he refers to formal education he is referring to the standardized, static, and conformist education that we receive in schools. To a certain extent formal education has a set way to do things, there is no exploring, and there is no discovery. When he says that this ‘formal’ education gets in the way of learning, he is really saying that formal education gets in the way of discovery. True learning happens through experience, it happens through trial and error. It happens by trying new things, by taking risks, and by not holding yourself back. While formal education has its value, a teacher can only teach so much. At some point, we can only learn informally, but through our own passion. So what is the role of technology in all of this? Indeed, I think it has very much blurred the boundary between formal and informal learning. Using the Internet to learn is a form of informal learning, and while there can be a lot of very informal things on the Internet, one could also find many sites that are ‘formal’ education. Encyclopedias, databases, Calculus web-blogs, all these varieties of formal education can accessed informally through the Internet. Mark Twain may have felt that formal education is a limit on what we can learn. But in today’s world, where formal and informal education aren’t as easily differentiated, we can learn more than ever before, the sky is the limit.

Cusping Things

1. In the introduction to our weblog it was suggested that because of Web 2.0, “Anyone can learn anything, from anyone, anywhere, at anytime”. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? If you agree, then what role do schools and formal education play in your learning? If you disagree, then what gets in the way of learning?

I agree with the statement “Anyone can learn anything, from anyone, anywhere, at anytime”, as a general statement. I think there are exceptions but that may be because I have not taken advantage of the internet completely. Since the internet does have the ability to screen people and hide them behind pseudonyms, how can anyone really trust anyone else? The human relationships that are built with face to face contact have a substantial and real feel about them. The relationships formed online though are doubtful. That lack of commitment on the internet reminds me of one of the reasons I enjoy school, the relationships, saying "hi" on the path, seeing people you know and care about. The internet doesn't give you that. I don't think it ever can. The commitment of being somewhere at a certain time and place to be with certain people and interacting on many levels is something that I don't think the internet can ever achieve. School is not only social though, I think that in school I understand most concepts and difficult problems through my peers. When they show me a problem by going over each step with me, I learn. This is something that the internet can have as well, but if people were not interacting in this way in the real world, then they would not know how to communicate on the internet. Motivation and competition are more qualities that school holds over the internet. Without the beginning nudge from our teachers I doubt that I would research what I do and if my peers weren't there we would not have vocabulary competitions in Spanish. All in all I feel that the internet can be anywhere, for anyone, at anytime or place, however if we do not hold up the day to day interactions that we have with each other we would lose a great deal.

21st Century Education

In the 21st century of course will be filled with unexpected new technologies that will demand new skills that we have never fathomed. Despite the incomprehensible digital expansion that we are witnessing, it does not completely and irrevocably alter the way in which we ought to teach. Personally, I think that education is much more than just learning material, but an experience. I believe that there is irreplaceable value in being a class room with a structured school schedule. The value of physically being in class could never be replaced by sitting behind a computer screen.

With all of the global issues going on today the most important skill that you will ever learn is problem solving and relating and communicating with people. The class room could be said to somewhat represent the workplace, where there is a manager who resides over people and tries to ensure their quality of work is of the best can possibly do. Similarly, a teacher is there to ensure the highest quality of learning for the students that they can provide and hence ask the students for their full participation.

When you are sitting behind a computer you do are unable to directly communicate with someone face to face and therefore lack the means to develop the communicative people skills necessary in most all aspects of life and the workplace. Also, I honestly think that the relationship between teacher and student when would be virtually eliminated with a completely online education. All in all, there are pro's and con's to both. I would hazard a suggestion at a mixture of the two types of education, with a foundation in class room type educational settings generally.

Edu Cusp

2. Mark Twain said, “Never let formal education get in the way of your learning.” What did he mean by that? Is technology blurring the boundary between formal and informal learning?


Mark Twain puts it quite eliquently. Education should never stop, inside or outside the class, the pursuit of knowledge is a life long quest. So for many formal class room education gets in the way of their actual success as a person outside the class room. Once you leave a classroom the learning doesn't stop it only changes and becomes a more expansive basis to learn from. At CRMS we participate in the concept of education inside and out. Meaning that our trips our active program and interim are all extremely involve learning processes, not just trips for fun. They provide opportunities to learn about one's self and the world around them, while also encouraging independence and self sufficiency.

This quote also explains that the traditional workings of a classroom should not hinder your learning and should not be the only source for it. You must look beyond the classroom even for your traditional classroom education. For example with the progression of technology there are now many new sources for information that may provide information not found in text books. I have found a number of youtube videos and written examples that have helped in further expanding my knowledge base for the bast two rules that we studied in calculus. Technology has been progressively blurring the line between the classroom, the rest of the world and ultimately the idea of informal versus formal learning.

Education never stops and that has become no more evident than in the current modern era that we live in. With the expansion of technology we will more and more sources of media that provide an education and a smaller and smaller divide between when formal education stops and starts.

Anyone can learn anything, from anyone, anywhere, at anytime.

I disagree with this statement to some extent.

This is true, as long as everyone has access on the internet. Here in the US and in other developed countries, people can access web2.0 any time they want. They don’t have to sit in class to learn, nor do they have to be stuck in one place while using the internet, since there are a lot of wireless internet devices in place nowadays. So, if everyone has access on the internet, everyone can share his/her knowledge to the whole world. For these reasons, everyone can learn anything, from anyone, anywhere, at anytime.

However, in some parts of the world people don’t have access on the internet, and only wealthy families can afford the cost of the internet. Most of the times those people are preoccupied with some other activities in their daily lives, and they may or may not know that web2.0 provides all the information they need. Some of them do all they can to go on the internet once and then, but this is not on the daily bases. Therefore, web2.0 can’t be considered as the major source of education to “everyone” since we all don’t have access on the internet anytime and anywhere. Thus, schools are needed.

Experience Life

One's intelligence is often determined through scores on test or grades in school, which is okay but not ideal. Schools teach students skills that are considered important to succeed in life such as math, science and a good knowledge of our history and language. These things are important but I think what people really need to succeed is experience. People to need to see what is going on in the world. Traveling the world and learning from uncommon sources is essential in my opinion. School does a good job at preparing students for the future but people need to see the world for themselves. It is very common for students in europe to travel between grade school and college. A formal education doesn't necessarily get in the way of one's intelligence but I think that it may make someone naive to the world around them. In the US, it is not as common to take a year off because it is considered lazy. This is where I think a formal education inhibits one's intelligence. Many kids go straight to college before experiencing the world for themselves, if they travel at all, and don't apply the skills they learn to the world around them. The education students get in college will mean a lot more if they have a good amount of life experiences first. I think that it is important to travel and learn from other sources than a school teacher.

Anyone can learn anything, from anyone, anywhere, at anytime

To some extent, because of Web 2.0 it is true that anyone can learn anything, from anyone, anywhere, at anytime. Nowadays, a person can find anything online. Whether you have a question on homework or would like to learn how to knit, the Internet will provide the answer. Instead of purchasing textbooks, they are becoming increasingly available to read online, such as our calculus book. Web 2.0 allows us to read the opinions of others, which can significantly help a person understand a problem or a topic through blogs, forums and even videos. For example, in physics we were asked to build a spaghetti bridge. Having the Internet available to research successful structures in terms of videos and blueprints proved extremely resourceful.
Although I believe Web 2.0 is a useful resource in finding many different types of information, I do not believe it should be the sole informant. Schools and formal education, in my opinion are very important components of education. Teachers and classrooms encourage learning and focus. In addition, a student faculty relationship is created, predominantly one that pushes the students to complete their work to their best ability. Internet sources, on the other hand, can often provide distractions. Focus while on the Internet often requires control and restraint in terms of the distractions. I believe the Internet can and does provide a source to find anything from anyone anywhere at anytime, but schools and a formal education are also a necessity in order to create a balanced education.

WROLC- CUSP

5. Describe the essential skills, knowledge and expertise you think you need to master in order to succeed in work and life of the 21st Century.

As we enter into the 21st Century, we are becoming increasingly surrounded by digital media. Every day we become more and more sucked into the gargantuan 'Web 2.0.' 20 years ago, this media source did not exist. Now, be it a text message, score check, mindless game, or simply searching for a new app, we as a society are becoming increasingly distracted. Students spend hours each day looking at pictures on Facebook that are meaningless to them. Workers stay up all night playing Halo online. We love to 'play' on the internet. But this is becoming an increasing threat to our cogency and critical awareness as a society.

We are attracted to things that shine. We are enticed by big shadows yet never find their cause. As John Pilger states in his article, http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/09/power-illusion-and-america%E2%80%99s-last-taboo/, we are a nation unknowingly directed by digital media. We can only analyze that which we know, and as a nation, we are only fed information through one lens.

40 years ago, Americans did not know about RAND's Pentagon study deeming the Vietnam war to be not as beneficial as was once pitched to the public. 30 years ago, American business students were not taught about the Just in Time system which made Japanese auto makers so successful. Today, most American students are not taught about the CIA's Operation Ajax (you'll have to look that one up).

However, as we enter an age of unlimited information accesebile with the click of a mouse, one skill will become important above all else. The ability to sift out the media fluff, to stray from the mainstream websites, and to dig for reality's gold. What this means is simple. If people are to gain stride in tomorrow's world, then need to stop reading Perez and start reading NatGeo. They need to realize that the Youtube video of the 4 year old who can juggle with one hand is not as important as the thousands of people who die each day from untreated water. All of the information is out there, accesible via the internet. Our main portals of education are no longer censored. We can find anything. The task is, to realize when one has BS on the screen and to search for something more meaningful and applicable to daily life.

People log more time than they should playing tetris online and less time on BBC. So, as the we enter the 21st Century, the essential skill that people will need in order to sucessfully navigate a meaningful life is to realize when they are being enticed by an illusion and to know how to find significant substance on the web. We no longer have to remain ignorant about the Iran-Contra affairs of our day, we just have to care enough about them more than we do about Brangelina.

New Generation

I chose to assess the 4th question, asking "what should schools be teaching?" given the current changing technologies and young minds. After viewing the video, it is beyond obvious that the world is changing, and drastically. It is hard to even evaluate what we should be teaching students, because as stated, it will likely be outdated before they can even use the information. And if that’s not the case, there will likely be a computer that can do it for them. Maybe we should be working on how to defeat armies of Transformers like in the movies, so far that seems to be the only really likely outcome.

But actually, we are in need of some radical changes. I am under the belief that our generation could suffer a great deal if we do not change our motives. The challenges being left behind by our predecessors could prove to be beyond the abilities of our age group. We face problems such as, but not limited to, incredible environmental setbacks, immense economic responsibilities, and widespread international conflict. We, as a demographic, are the most influential and strongly recruited by companies. We posses much more influence than is recognized. Why not use this authority to change the industries?

My thoughts are that we should shift our efforts from teaching and focusing students on singular skills and careers, to cultivating brains that have the ability asses the current dilemmas. A generation of problem solvers who are incredibly motivated and ready for the tasks at hand. Currently, our generation receives so much pressure regarding our test scores, college choice, and early careers that many kids end up “burnt out” before they even have their first job. Instead, these students should be leaving school incredibly prepared and excited to change the world.

Educational Technology

2. Mark Twain said, “Never let formal education get in the way of your learning.” What did he mean by that? Is technology blurring the boundary between formal and informal learning?

I think that Mark Twain meant that learning is not just studying a text book in school, it's knowing how to think for yourself. Sometimes being forced to sit in a dark classroom all day and be talked at can destroy a student's curiosity but I believe the internet and technology can actually open up a lot of doors to learning if it is used correctly.
Having access to the internet is having virtually all information at the tips of your fingers. The internet has anything anyone would ever need to know. All this information is accessible at any time of the day. As a student I feel that the availability of information today will help foster and address curiosity in the future. Now, I don't have to be at school to learn something, if there is a question I have about anything I can find the answer online. Access to all this information has encouraged me to learn new things every day. Even if the information I'm learning doesn't include how to find the derivative of a function, there are other subjects that are just as interesting and will be beneficial to me later in life.
When the internet becomes more reliable and easier to distinguish what is true or not, it will be the ultimate teaching tool. Formal and informal education could possibly be fused together into a mutant form of education where students learn core subjects (math, science, writing, language, etc.) in a way that benefits each student personally. As we can see from the few forum posts we have begun to write on this blog, everyone has a different style of learning. If education progresses on the internet visual learners will have access to videos and demonstrations on any subject that will directly address those students' educational needs. Every student will learn at their best.
When internet education becomes the norm I believe there will be a new generation of very educated individuals who will change the world in some very interesting ways.

anyone can learn from Internet?

I agree that anyone can learn anything, from anyone, anywhere, at anytime. However, “anyone can” doesn’t mean “anyone will”. Internet is a great source for learning, but it is also a source for spreading harmful information, listening to music, watching movies, playing games, and so on. Only a small group of people usually use internet as a source for learning. Most of people use internet as an entertainment. We can learn from Internet, but mostly we won’t. Internet as an entertainment is so distractive that students could barely focus on learning while they are online. Even though internet is a great source for learning, it is also filled with false and harmful information. Sometimes internet doesn’t teach you the right thing. So this requires people to be educated enough to use internet as a source of learning. That’s why a formal school is very necessary. Formal schools provide student a well organized and scientific system to learn knowledge. Schools teach students not only information, but also how to convert the information to their own knowledge. Schools teach students not only how to be successful, but also how to be a good human. Schools teach students not only how to talk, write and read, but also how to communicate with people. There are teachers and good students in school to be other kids’ goal. There are competitions going on in schools to help kids learn better. There are activities in schools to help kids learn for practices. School provides opportunities which internet can never provide. School is a real life experience whereas internet is just a tool. If you want to use internet as a source of learning, firstly, you need to know how to manipulate a computer, how to read, how write, and how to listen. School can teach you these, but internet cannot.

For people who could control themselves and well educated, internet is a great source for further education. For these who are not really self-restrained, a formal school is very necessary, because it helps them focus on learning and teaches you how to be a good human.

Technology, Information, and Education

2. Mark Twain said, "Never let formal education get in the way of your learning." What did he mean by that? Is technology blurring the boundary between formal and informal learning?

People are curious about things that the formal education could not cover. Knowledge from school isn't what the whole world is filled with. There are lot more information that can be earned out of the school, and sometimes it is more beneficial to get outside of the formal education. Formal education is limited, it cannot provide every single aspect that individual seeks to earn, and here is where mark Twain's quote comes in. "Never let formal education get in the way of your learning." It can only mean one thing. Don't stop seeking for an answer when someone is trying to get just because school doesn't give an answer. Keep striving to find an answer even from outside of the school. Use what you can from outside to find and complete your thirst of knowledge.

Technology is getter better over the course of time flows. Our method of learning changed from social talking into getting it from the text, and now we are learning if from communicating with people who we have no idea who they are. We are in the world of online where the whole world is considered as one town. It is a town formed under the development of internet. Also this was the turning point of our method of learning. Instead of getting information from books, people ask questions to other people online. This led students to have their classes online as well. Students find the information online, do homework online, and even communicate people online.

Back to the question of formal education, actually because the technology is developed and our method of learning changed, boundary of formal education is no more clear enough to conflict our thoughts. Formal learning is what we get from school; however, by providing online classes and online blog posting as homework, we now have no clear boundary between formal and informal education. We all use the information off online, and it is all became our base of knowledge. Development in technology changed our way of receiving information, and it blurred the boundary of formal and informal education.

This is one article I found about how information has been presented to people, and how it will be.

Where is Everyone?

Preparing for Jobs that Don't Exist!

“… schools are preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist…with technologies that haven’t been invented … in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet …” using technology that quickly becomes obsolete. If all this is true, then what should schools be teaching?

I think that it is very true that we are all preparing ourselves for a world that we know nothing about, however, I think it is very easy for us to prepare for this unknown. I think the best things that teachers can teach students are problems solving skills. Though we may not know what awaits us in the future, we can prepare for how we adapt to it by simply practicing adapting. Our blog for example, contains the same math that has been taught in the world for decades, while also teaching us how master new skills in the up and coming electronic world. The world's way of connecting and working is shifting into an electronic era and by adapting to the current technological changes we will be more prepared for whatever changes lie ahead. Teachers teach us to learn, from that we can learn to do anything!!!

Anything, Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime

1. In the introduction to our weblog it was suggested that because of Web 2.0, “Anyone can learn anything, from anyone, anywhere, at anytime”. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? If you agree, then what role do schools and formal education play in your learning? If you disagree, then what gets in the way of learning?

Yes, I do agree that anyone can learn anything from anyone, anywhere, at anytime. However, I think that physical schools, teachers, and classmates are vital to learning. For me, there is something about learning from a real life person that betters my learning. Explanations are easier understood when given by a real person for a number of reasons. First, they are spoken rather than read. Secondly, visuals that go along with the explanation are happening right in front of you. And finally there are hands on activities (like the scary clown one) that you can do that really give you a good idea of how whatever you're studying pertains to the real world.

Some might say that all of this can be given through the web, but not in the same way. You can get verbal explanations along with visual aids through videos. There are plenty of learning activities through the web, and a social network of people that act as teachers and classmates, however, you cannot stop a video in the middle and ask what's going on, and commenting back and forth on blog posts to clear up something you don't understand could take weeks. Though the internet is definitely a huge aid in learning and teaching, I don't think the web could ever replace real human interaction. Not only this, but with the internet, there is always a question of validity. Though this exists to some extent with people too, it is much harder to tell if the information you are getting off the internet is right. Though this is not math related, think about foreign languages: an online translator could never give you the same results as a real person. Yes, you can get a real human to translate a language for you through the internet, but they cost money. And why would anyone pay for that when we have Dan Pittz?

An Online Education

Internet Schooling

The internet has a bountiful amount of information that exceeds all other sources. Take for instance this blog, any person in the world can read this blog and learn the second semester of calculus without ever setting foot in a classroom. If I wanted to figure out how to use the slide rule, if I wanted to learn Spanish, even if I wanted an in depth analysis of Hamlet, I could find that online. In fact I have used Google to figure out how to make soda from a guy who lives in Indiana and made it as a kid with his parents. It has never been so easy to gather or share information. No longer do you have to go to the library to get a book, it is there on Google Books, three feet away at your desktop computer.

There is one simple flaw to this avalanche of information called the internet. Students are not interested in simply learning, most kids go to school because they have to. On the internet what will stop them from playing games, checking Facebook, or looking at a more interesting site? Students already have a hard enough time completing the assigned homework, part of the force behind doing homework is that the students will see the teacher and their disappointment the next day when they don't finish their homework. Anything that a student doesn't understand in class but needs to know to complete the homework can be found online, I don't think that is should go any farther. The internet is not as good at teaching as a human, and not as demanding.

Forum Question: www.edu-cusp

Do you remember the definition of cusp? Today we are at the cusp of a momentous change in teaching and learning on a global scale. Your generation has grown up connected to the world. The toys and tools of the Internet are an integral part of your daily life. According to our Student Internet Use Questionaire you spend an average of 1-2 hours online each day. Marc Prensky called you digital natives in his essay, Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. You think and process information differently than those of previous generations. You are used to getting information really fast and like to multi-task. You prefer graphics and games over text and tasks. You are impatient; you crave instant gratification and thrive on frequent rewards. Prensky suggests that your brains are physically different because of the digital input you receive growing up. What does this all mean for you as you try to navigate through the information wilderness that lies ahead?

Read through the following questions, and then choose one on which to write a thoughtful reflection.

1. In the introduction to our weblog it was suggested that because of Web 2.0, “Anyone can learn anything, from anyone, anywhere, at anytime”. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? If you agree, then what role do schools and formal education play in your learning? If you disagree, then what gets in the way of learning?

2. Mark Twain said, “Never let formal education get in the way of your learning.” What did he mean by that? Is technology blurring the boundary between formal and informal learning?

3. How do schools need to change to better serve the needs of you digital natives?

4. The video Did You Know presented a provocative view of the world of the 21st century changing at an exponential rate.The video states that , “… schools are preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist…with technologies that haven’t been invented … in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet …” using technology that quickly becomes obsolete. If all this is true, then what should schools be teaching?

5. Describe the essential skills, knowledge and expertise you think you need to master in order to succeed in work and life of the 21st Century.