Reactions to "Engage me or Enrage me"

Go to this link -

http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/rHgOWwKvCU

and leave some comments regarding the article by Marc Prenksy entitled, "Engage me or Enrage me."

To think about -

* How often are you engaged like this in school?
* Do you agree with Prensky's call for updating technology use in classrooms?
* How does he stand in contrast to what Bauerlein espouses?
* How can your relate some of these concepts to what happens here at LHS?

How Millennial Are You?

I'm not sure how it happened, but my score actually went up this year!

Take the quiz here and see just how millennial you are. Be warned, Mr. Froiland holds the record low with 8.

Here is Enemy #1 - or the Prophet of Truth . . .

Jay Walking.  Placement Test.

How can you hope to compete?




Then there is the "myth of nostalgia" - Check this one out.

Sometime before class on Friday, leave your thoughts on one of these pieces in the comments below.  Please sign in with a username so I can give you credit for this assignment.

Questions for Dumbest Gen intro and ch. 1

Keep these questions in mind as you read the introduction and first chapter of The Dumbest Generation. Please be willing to discuss these in class next week.

1.  In your opinion, how true is this statement: "They've been programmed for success, and a preschool-to-college gauntlet of standardized tests, mounting homework, motivational messages, and extracurricular tasks has rewarded or punished them at ever stage"?


2.  What do you think of this statement: "These young adults have graduated from high school, entered college, declared a major, and lasted seven semesters, but their in-class and out-of-class punch cards amount to fewer hours than a part-time job"?

3.  Why would Bauerlein argue that you minds plateau at age 18?

4.  How does your popular culture, digital media, and social networks cut you off from world realities?

5.  Do you believe that an anti-intellectual mindset prevails among your peers?

6.  Why do young Americans excel at acquiring material possessions but fail at gaining adult skills?

7.  What are you thoughts on the long quote on page 37?

8.  Find one quote or statistic that you think best represents your generation.

9.  Find one quote or statistic that you think does not represent your generation at all.

10.  Finally, if you could plead your case to Bauerlein, what would say?  That is, how can you convince him of the strengths of your generation?

Exploratory Essay

Here is the topic for theme #1 -

* Choose a topic you are interested in. Then begin finding sources that allow you to explore the issue or topic in greater depth. As you learn more about your topic, chronicle what you learn about it. Using at least one source, explore your that topic.

You do not have to draw any firm conclusions, as this is an exploratory essay. Maybe you want to weigh both sides of an issue. Maybe you want to play devil’s advocate on an issue. Maybe you want to just learn more about a subject you have never had a chance to explore. Maybe you want to convince yourself that you have selected the right major or college. Maybe you want to research a subject in order to prove someone you know wrong.

Be sure to use your print source to help you explore your essay. Don't simply find a source and cite it in order to get them out of the way. Instead, use the source to help inform or guide the exploration of your position.

My example from last year -

Like many, I've been watching the tragedies in Japan. I'm particularly worried about the damaged nuclear reactors. I would have to see a repeat of the Chernobyl disaster.

So for my essay, I plan to explore nuclear power plants. Now that is pretty broad. To help narrow that down, I'm going to develop a specific position on nuclear power plants. My position will be how to best prevent them from melting down and unleashing massive amounts of radiation. I will let that position drive my exploration of the topic.

Another example from past classes -

I recall one student who was fascinated by the new iPad. They took the perspective of wanting to know if it could replace their laptop. They used that perspective to drive their exploration of the the iPad.

Another student wanted to explore the reasons behind school internet filters. They took the perspective of arguing against school content filters. Again, they let this perspective drive their research. However, because of their exploration, they actually realized that they were in favor of the content filter and wished for it to remain in place.

A final example, a student wanted to convince their parents to let her attend a college far away from home. She researched the university and the program she wished to major in and used that research to help try and convince her parents.

Exploratory Essay Examples

Here are several past exploratory essays.

Exploratory Essay - Death Penalty

Exploratory Essay-Macbook Air

Exploroatory Essay Imagination

Exploration examples

Here is Richard Feynman, nobel prize winner, describing - in a very exploratory way - how our eyes perceive light and how that allows us to experience reality in our own unique way. Just watch how he takes an incredibly complex subject from physics and makes it understandable. Also look at the passion and voice he uses in explaining the subject.



Here is another example from TED Talks. Clifford Stoll is brilliant. His TED Talk, I think, is the very personification of an exploratory essay. This is what exploration and passion looks like in human form. Enjoy.