Monday, November 11, 2013

The Next Big Thing

History is full of examples of new technological innovations and the resulting impact that they had on human society.  Sociologist Gerhard Lenski has referred to this process of societal change, resulting from the acquisition of new technology, as sociocultural evolution.  Historically speaking, some new inventions have had more of an impact on society than others; some have ushered in changes so great that it eventually led to an entirely new type of society being born (for example, the computer ushered in the post-industrial or information society).  As we begin our unit on Industrialization, I ask you to speculate . . . what will be "The Next Big Thing"?  What new technology will have the biggest impact on our society and usher in the next phase of sociocultural evolution?

The Media's Portrayal of Schizophrenia and How it Affects the General Public's Understanding of this Condition

Watch this video and then respond to the following questions.  What do you know about schizophrenia and how did you learn it?  What did you know about, or what was your understanding of, schizophrenia before enrolling in this course? In your experience, how is schizophrenia (and mental illness in general) portrayed in the mainstream media?  What misconceptions or stereotypes do you believe exist in the minds of the average American in regards to schizophrenia and what role has the media played in developing or perpetuating these misconceptions?  How should we, as a society, go about deconstructing the myths surrounding this disorder?

Rethinking Education for the Modern World

When we look at today's education system, whether it be high school or higher education, we see a system that in many ways has not changed in any substantive way from the education that individuals received 100 years ago.  Sure, efforts are being made to integrate technology into the classroom experience but it often ends up feeling forced, like technology for the sake of technology instead of technology for the sake of education (e.g. writing notes on a SmartBoard instead of a chalkboard).  How should education evolve to meet the needs of a 21st Century society and, more importantly, of the 21st Century student?  Watch this video (oh, this one  and this one too!) and then think about how you would build a university or high school for the modern age if you could start from scratch. What tried and true methods still work in education and which ones need to evolve to stay relevant in the modern age?  Can technology be used in the classroom in meaningful ways (what are your personal experiences with technology in the classroom)?  How do we make meaningful changes to enhance what we already do well in education without "throwing the baby out with the bathwater"?  Do traditional methods still provide any useful experiences or help students develop useful skills that they will need in today's job market?  Do you feel like the education you are receiving will serve you well in today's technology saturated society?  These are only a few questions that come to mind when considering the ways in which education should evolve to stay relevant in an age of ever increasing technology.

Monday, May 6, 2013

"Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds."

One of the most controversial decisions of the 20th Century, or any other century for that matter, was the decision to use the Atomic Bomb on Japanese cities.  President Truman's decision has been scrutinized by scholars, as well it should be.  There are many opposing views on the morality of the decision as well as the military necessity of the bombings, or lack thereof.  Read the sources on the Teaching History page.   You will notice that the essay on this site compares how different history textbooks have presented the bombings in the years since 1945.  How does our textbook's account of the bombings compare to the ones discussed in the essay? Read the other sources presented on this website (listed on the left) and decide where you stand on this historical issue. Do you believe that President Truman made the right decision?  Do you believe that the bombings were immoral or were they necessary to end the war?  Support your position with information from the sources presented.