I might as well start this blog off in an “incorrect” fashion. Instead of focusing on a humanities-related subject, I’ll cross the divide and begin with a post that delves into the world inhabited by those kooky social/behavioralists…
YouTube me:
Your thoughts? (please do send them, either via comments or as an email)
I have some. Shall I share?
In general, I like what Michael Wesch (Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Kansas State University – coincidentally, I went to high school in Manhattan, KS) is doing, but I wasn’t overly pleased with this video. My bone to pick: give us “A Vision of Students Today,” or give us an editorial on education…but don’t give us an editorial masked as “A Vision of Students Today.”
Other thoughts?
Here was my initial reaction:
- Grow up and be responsible for your actions
- Stop feeling entitled to a certain grade/diploma and earn it
- Try learning something for learning’s sake
- Damnit! Arts/Humanities/Cultural Studies shape the way you view the world/other cultures and people…in our global environment, these subjects are increasingly important, not less important because they don’t directly transfer into job skills.
Reaction after reflection:
- Just because I don’t agree with these students’ attitudes toward education, doesn’t make them any less real or valid.
- Students today are who they are because of our society and/or our educational system. As educators/parents/anyone involved with kids/education, we need to take these issues seriously, else we’ll do a disservice to “these kids today” (and those to come).
- Because 1. and 2. are true, we need to find new ways of doing and teaching the same old (and new) stuff. The world changes. This ISN’T/DOESN’T have to be a bad thing. It just might be a bit uncomfortable while we try to find something that works.
Please…I’ve spoken too much…this is supposed to be participatory (is it too much to think that I’ll get response to my first post?).
I don’t think you’re asking too much, and you’ve certainly given readers a lot to respond to!
For what it’s worth, I think many students through the years have pursued learning solely for the tangible ends (job, salary, car, nice house, etc.). Their views are just more visible and audible now, thanks to the technology. Those of us who value different models of learning simply have to use the new technologies as tools to model alternatives. Of course, I say “simply” as if any of this were simple!
Your blog is off to a great start – I found it via WP’s tag surfer feature, and am looking forward to more entries.
Thanks for being my first commenter! It’s fitting that my first comment comes from Pittsburgh.
You know, I think you’re right about so many students through the years partaking in higher learning for the tangible ends, especially post WWII (what with the intro of the GI Bill and the greater availability of the opportunity for higher learning).
To go along with this line of thinking…maybe it’s also just easier to see students not paying attention…a sea of students’ laptops open, with webbrowsers pointing to a Facebook page is more noticeable than doodling en mass.