Internet for Educators

       This weeks presenter discussed phones, and how resources are put into creating the amazing devices we use today. The morale behind the discussion was around the ethics behind our cell phones. Weird right? You would think this discussion/presentation would head towards the social media direction, or that we are too glued to our screens. In a way it, somewhat is, as we have made these devices so important in our lives. However, it was more so on the technical development of our devices, and the intensive labor that goes into making them. I found it very interesting when Mr. Redekopp brought up the recyclable phones with exchangeable parts. I find that interesting because I think that its highly resourceful, and avoids us throwing out our phones every two years. But, how many people would you actually convince to use this? At the end of the day, Apple dominates the communication market with phones, so unless they get on board with this, it puts a hinderance on ma...

 For my blog post for this week, I wanted to direct my focus towards how Covid has effected education at this time. I really enjoyed having the principal for the online learning center come in and give his perspective on the situation in Manitoba right now. I found his speaking to be reassuring, and I enjoyed his responses to how how and why the learning center is working the way it is. The first thing I noticed with the learning center is that it focuses on the rural support. I agree to the extreme that rural areas, probably, and more specifically the northern communities need this support. In my placement last spring, I went up north to teach, and witnessed first hand how Covid affected the learning of students in those communities. Now I know that you are probably thinking, yeah kids everywhere basically did nothing during that time. I agree to that 100%. However, there are major differences that I noticed that make it even more difficult for those up north to learn. The first i...

 For this weeks post I’d like to focus on at topic brought up in Mondays presentation. The question/topic was basically asking if machines could ever replace human educators.  This whole area brings me back to a class in my undergrad called “Perception.” One of the things we discussed in that class was artificial intelligence (A.I). A lot if tasks were around that, one of which being completing our own turing test. Basically, if any artificial intelligence can make a human believe that “they” are undistinguishable from another human, they pass the test. No A.I has passed to date. However, A.I today is extremely high tech, and getting closed. Just look at Sophia on YouTube to see what I mean.  So do I think a machine can ever pass a turing test? Yes, eventually. Do I think that once this happens it makes it more likely humans can be replaceable? In short, yes. However, we are not there yet, and I do not believe educators are replaceable. One reason we are not yet replaceab...

 For my first blog post of the semester I thought I would share a little bit of my thoughts in regards to what the internet means to me as a person, and what it means for education. Before I do that, just a little background on myself. I am in the middle years stream of the education program at BU, but love working with students of all ages. I have work experience as a day camp coordinator that ran from ages 5-12, as well as coaching experience for soccer that range from toddlers to adults. I guess with all of that being in mind, I consider myself to be a social person in and outside of the classroom.  Now for what the internet is, I consider it to be one of the great influences of our time, and a great achievement of man. Never before have humans been so connected, and been able to use a device that can communicate, and work in their favor. Interestingly as I consider myself a social person, I am beginning to stray away a little from the social media aspects of the internet. ...