Uprising: What Should Education Be Like In a Web 2.0 World?

Today's society is constantly evolving. According to Moore's Law, every 18 to 24 months our newest technology will be improved upon, essentially doubling what preceded it. While Moore's Law provides us with the "How?" what we really want to know is the "Why?". Essentially, man kind is constantly aiming to ameliorate our past designs and ultimately make our lives easier. With these new advancements in technology come certain things that must be put into perspective. One crucial thing however, is how an education system should be run with this new technology.

A very wise man once said, "With great power, comes great responsibility". The same idea works with the internet and how we use it in our education systems. There are many new technological devices that can be utilized to their greatest extent in an education system. Devices such as laptops, Smart-Boards, projectors and internet access are just a few things that are essential to create a modern and sophisticated learning environment. Some might say this is a radical and non-traditional idea. However, according to Nicholas Negroponte, it is the exact opposite. Negroponte founded a foundation, called the One Laptop Per Child Program, in which small laptop computers that are virtually indestructible are sent to children in Africa in order to allow them to explore all the knowledge on the internet. This demonstrates the key importance of the internet as a tool for education, making it essential for every student to have a laptop with an internet connection. Thereby, allowing students to learn how to use this new technology but to also contribute to the online community. 

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, once said that the reason he founded Wikipedia was in order to provide an immersive and boundless online encyclopedia to everyone. What Wales has set up is a perfect example of the community one can create using the internet. Thereby creating a perfect atmosphere for learning where everyone can share what they have found or researched online with their classmates. Secondly, it allows for instant sharing of information which is extremely useful in a classroom if it is put to use correctly. For example, if a teacher finds an article that is pertinent to what the class is learning the teacher can distribute this article to his or her students quickly and efficiently. The teacher can also use websites such as Youtube and education.com in order to demonstrate certain ideas to their students using visual aids such as images and videos. 

In conclusion, in a Web 2.0 world there are two main things needed in a classroom, a computer with an internet connection and a projector. Through this, learning can become an interactive and interesting experience. The power that the internet gives us to educate is simply incalculable. Sites such as Wikipedia and Google are terrific tools that allow us to find new and useful information. As we can all see, major changes continue to occur and will keep on occurring in the world of education. The real question is, “Are you ready for change?”, because I am. 

Am I Evil?: What Does It Mean To Be Human?

The Meriam-Webester's dictionary defines the word "Human" as "a bipedal primate mammal". However, as we all know the true definition of this word is much more than just a simple mammal. The true meaning of what it is to be a human cannot be easily described. As we learned from Ingrid Betancourt, there are many crucial things that qualify a person to be a human. Unfortunately, Ms. Betancourt was kidnapped by a group of guerrilla militants known as the FARC and was held captive for six years. After listening to her speak about her six year long kidnapping, there are several rather interesting aspects of human nature that she mentions. So, we must ask ourselves this question, "What does it mean to be human?". 

Firstly, one main aspect Ingrid mentions of what it means to be human is that humans are brutal, mean and harsh. Some might say that this idea is a bit too extreme. However, it's the exact opposite. Let's take what the FARC did to Ingrid as an example. This group of guerrilla warriors attempted to brutalize and humiliate Ingrid in an attempt to ultimately dehumanize her. However, she did prevail against them and escape from her captivity. which leads to the second aspect which is that a human is a determined fighter and will never give up hope in the face of adversity. In this case, Ingrid proves this by surviving six years being held captive by the FARC. Although at some times she seemed emotionally distraught, Ingrid never gave up hope and remained resilient until she was freed. Finally, the aspect that impacted me the most was when she said the following, "No matter how evil a person may appear to be, there will always be a little bit of "Light" in each person.". This statement is completely correct as it's essentially the truth. Even if someone is a horrible person, in the end they are human and have a little bit of good inside of them NO MATTER WHAT.

In conclusion, there are many aspects to what it means to be a human. However, if I were to narrow it down, I could not have put it any other way than I did previously. Although Rene Descartes once stated, " I think therefore, I am.", one cannot truly be human just because they are able to think or simply because they exist. Essentially, what makes someone human is not what we are, but who we are. By making this assertion, one can fully understand both the philosophical and emotional meaning of what it is to be human.