Georgia Standards Website

After viewing the website, I was particularly interested in the credit recovery program. The credit recovery program is an excellent idea. Many students are often unable to meet the requirements of a class the first time around, be it due to family problems, not working hard enough, not being in a good learning environment, etc. I am pleased to hear that the credit recovery program is available online. I was under the impression that the credit recovery program is often facillitated in an educational environment.

I do believe if the program was offered throughout Georgia, in the comfort of your own home; then the No Child Leff Behind Act would truly be utilized. Sometimes, a student often learns better in an environment that is more comfortable, such as their home. Independent learning is also emphasized with this program; which I believe is a good idea.

If the program is not available throughout Georgia, then it should be. I believe this credit recovery program could be a sanctuary for those who would otherwise not meet the requirements for graduation. I cannot stress enough, how much I am impressed with this program.

Wendell Berry essay and responses

My initial impression was that Mr. Berry was in denial. By ignoring the value of computers given to schools “in need of books” I thought he being very limited by his own short-sightedness. Indeed, the internet gives access to literally thousands of books, articles, newspapers, etc. Mr. Berry comes across to someone entrenched in this generation as typical of the oldest living Americans. He appears to be literally afraid of computers, looking upon them feeling palpable fear. Wendell Berry does much to add to the perception that he is ignorant.My opinion on Mr. Berry was changed dramatically after reading his response to his critics. Digesting the venomous responses of his detractors, he perceives that he has, “scratched the skin of a technological fundamentalism,” consequently that he represented a, “a threat to their complacency.”

From this statement one can view Mr. Berry as simply entrenched on his own side of the generation gap. His intelligence comes across clearly; his philosophy therefore becomes “different” rather than “ignorant.”

There were traces of this intelligence when he originally pointed out that new tools should be cheaper and easier to use. This would cast him in the role of the staunch pragmatist, by definition rational and thorough. One thing that throws the modern reader is his moral justification for not buying computers. His opinions are easily perceived as elaborate self-deception. He paints his critics in this very same light when he responds to their ill-informed attacks on his wife, labeling them, “audacious and irresponsible gossips.”

Overall, I found this article to be very enlightening. Berry challenged my preconceived notions of older generations.

Dr. Tison

Dr. Tim Tison was a speaker regarding a certain Middle School. Apparently Dr. Tison has a personal relationship with the students at that middle school. There are some very bright students at the middle school. Dr. Tison emphasizes School 2.0. School 2.0 differs from school 1.0 in that it emphasizes learning outside of the classroom and utilitizing what is learned to benefit others. The students at that middle school wanted to keep learning during the summer due to the challenge that Dr. Tison presented the students. He challenged them to making the best project, and the best project would be presented on I tunes.

            The I tunes prize really encouraged the students to do their best work. The students worked diligently towards making the best project. Many of them went on field trips to see world renowned scientists in order to do the best possible research. The parents of the students even got involved in many cases. Dr. Tison was successful I his endeavor because he offered the prize. Many kids want to do hard work, but they want to do it if and only if they know they are going to be rewarded for it. I think that is the important thing to remember in this situation. In real life, people are rewarded for their hard work, whether it is a paycheck, recognition, or something to those means. That is precisely what kids expect now. Other wise they are just going to do what they can get a way with to earn a grade that is equal to their standards.

            Dr. Tison was also considerate to let two of the children speak on behalf of their own work. The kids seemed well spoken and intelligent. The videos were fabulous. I couldn’t believe they were accomplished by middle school aged children. The videos were intriguing. They posed adult type questions that so many people don’t think about in their every day life. This goes to show that those children were taking what they absorbed in the class room and bringing it to their home life. The processed food video was a great example of how the children were influencing others with the knowledge they took in. Dr. Tison is doing a great job and I believe his ideas and philosophy should be spread on to other administrators in his position. Technology can change the world, if we only allow it too.