Michael Wesh’s YouTube lecture on the introduction of YouTube has many points, concerning the internet and the connections made, noting not all of them being a negative thing. He mentions the “Numa Numa” trend and how it is presented in a fun and positive trend. He mentions that this trend had reached a global audience allowed for connections to be made, and saw a positive reaction to the original video, snowballing others to give it a shot, and “spread” that fun, and confident movement.
One thing everyone can agree on is that there have been many technological advances, and there continue to be more and more advances and new technologies coming out. We as humans today have the ability to have computers do most of our thinking for us. This seems to be harmless, but the future of the classroom could be in jeopardy if there is not a healthy balance between technology and teaching. In saying that I mean, it is more often then not, we witness humans relying on computers to give us answers. We see less and less textbooks, and more online versions, owners manuals for vehicles are now digital, etc. Which requires less work to learn how to read, write, comprehend. I do however believe that teachers, and students do need to understand how technology works, but due to the fact it is nearly impossible to get away from now a days, and the advancements in education around technology have been a growing industry.
Wesh takes the viewers through a process of his video he had uploaded to youtube and how it had grown exponentially throughout a few days, he strategically timed his upload and followed it around, to see all of the different site’s it had ended up on and the impact they had on his views, to sustain him at the top spot, even after the Superbowl, in which his prediction was it would knock his video down very quick. This process is to teach the audience I believe, the impact that the internet has and how influential it can be. I think as teacher and future educators we have to understand and appreciate the “old fashioned” ways of teaching, after all we are still humans and need human -to – human relationships to function. It is more appreciated and it more likely to “stick” when we are taught and challenged by other human beings. Education will need to ensure a healthy balance between technology and human connections. I think using creative ways to teach students, as opposed to relying on technology to give us the answers, will help create the balance needed and educating more people on the harms too much technology can hinder a growing mind. It is greatly influential and should be used appropriately, and accordingly. Teaching students the dangers of the internet, and the realty of “if it is on the internet, it is on there forever” concept is very real.
