PLN12

In the article “Do You Believe in Algebra?” it matters to me because I am student who takes math as a class many times a week, to education because I know many fellow students who wonder how Algebra helps them in the real world, and to the world because much of the emphasizes the importance of mathematics.  “Do You Believe in Algebra?” talked about there are very few people who have an advanced degree in some sort of mathematics, something like .03%.  Since I am a student who takes a math class regularly, sometimes I sit in class wondering how this is supposed to help me in the future.  Truthfully, I understand why we learn basic math early on, but on comes trigonometry, and I can’t think of a profession that uses it.  Connecting to education, my fellow students ask the same thing.  I hear at least once a month, “Mr. or Mrs. ___ why do we need to know this?” and usually the teacher has a hard time answering it or he or she just says that it’s in the curriculum and that they are required to teach it.  This matters to the world because the world as a whole emphasizes the importance of mathematics.  I cannot disagree that math is important but I don’t see man articles talking about how there is a shortage of mathematicians in the world because only 0.03% of college graduates have a PhD in math.

PLN11

The video “2020 Vision” matters to me because I am a student, to education because the way education is handled is changing, and to the world because of new business landscapes.  This video was about what Karl Fisch thinks the year 2020 will be like, specifically to education and the world.  Since I am a student, some of the changes the Karl Fisch predicts would have an effect on me.  For example, one thing that was stated in the video was that they would “do away the grades and transcripts all together, moving to a learning exhibition system, routed in the students’ electronic portfolios”.  This is significant because this would change the way my performance would be tracked throughout school.  Another thing that Mr. Fisch predicted was the development of “GoogleCam” which would record a classroom session and upload it onto the internet.  This would be a great help for education in general because if a student misses a day, he or she would be able to find it on the web.  In “2020 Vision” it talked about many new business landscapes, including Google buying Apple.  This would be profound because both of these companies are huge, meaning big changes globally.

PLN10

The post, “A Conversation with My Students”, by Karl Fisch matters to me because I am a student wanting to become a better student, as well as a person, to education because this is a different perspective on what Mr. Fisch bases success on, and thinks that many other teachers should deliver the same message, and this matters to the world because Mr. Fisch thinks that that students in general are getting the wrong message, about how they define success.  This post by Karl Fisch was about how he doesn’t define success with his students by grades and success in school, or even about their labor future sand getting a good job.  He defines success for him as if his students turn out to be good, kind, and caring adults.  This is an interesting concept to me because I have never really thought of teachers as people who should help you build you character.  I have always thought of teachers as people who help you to get information into your brain.  Mr. Fisch takes it to a whole new level.  This shows great commitment and character on his part.  Now the students and I have to play our role.

PLN9

The article “Rigor Redefined” by Tony Wagner, matters to myself because I am a student on my way to becoming a worker, and I need to know what businesses are looking for when they hire young workers, to education because some of the best schools aren’t preparing students to go into the work force properly, and this matters to the world because if workers aren’t properly equipped with the tools to succeed in the global economy, then performances of businesses have a risk of going down.  This article was mainly about how many businesses are seeing a lack in critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, leadership, agility, adaptability, initiative, entrepreneurism, effective oral and written communication, analyzing information, curiosity and imagination.  Knowing what businesses are looking for can really help me be successful because I can show off the skills that I already have that businesses are looking for or I can try to improve on the skills I need to work on.  If some of the best schools are not teaching effectively and preparing there students for the work world, then it can be very harmful to economies all around the world.  This is not coming from a philosopher; this is coming from businesses that are looking to hire US.