EME 2040 AND EDF 1005 - Essay Haiti: Nou Led, Nou La

On January 12 of the year 2010 a destructive earthquake with magnitude level of 7.0 hit the small island of Haiti. I can not imagine how they must be suffering there, however, I can't help but be deeply moved by the mass amounts of heartbreaking images that have circulated around the media and internet. Throughout the past weeks we have seen the devastation that has been going on in Haiti. We have seen footage of parents searching for their children through dust and rubble; we have seen frightened and lonely children begging on their hands and knees to be able to find their parents; we have seen images of Port-au-Prince left in ruins; we have seen families make shelters of anything they can find. Throughout this horrific and unfortunate experience lives have been shattered. Haiti is a poor nation who has already suffered a lot, and this earthquake has only brought them more suffering. Throughout all of this, they still find it in their souls to say "nou led, nou la." But what in the world does "nou led, nou la" mean? This is hatian for we might be ugly, but at least we are alive. Well, first of all, obviously, no one is ugly. There's beauty in everything and everyone. Nou led, nou la is not to be taken in literal context. I believe that this means they are ugly, in the sense that perhaps after recent unfortunate events their environment has been left in ruins. Because of the poor foundation in their construction, most of the island was left in ruins by this earthquake.. Haiti, as 'ugly' as it is now and with people walking around all dusty and with barely any clothes on is not the most attractive site. However, they are still moving on with their lives and living. Disaster strikes, but life continues. Feeling alive during disaster and unfortunate events can be much easier within a supportive environment. With everyone helping each other and taking care of each other, people's nerves can be calmer and there is much more hope. Because life continues, within time Haiti will rebuild the destruction that this earthquake has caused. Perhaps this unfortunate event can be seen in the light. It is a chance to rebuild their towns and architectures with stronger foundations. It is an opportunity to focus on making their environment better so that when disaster tries to strike again, the damage will not be as bad. Just about anything, even the worst tragedies can be turned into a wonderful chance to take advantage of. To me, "nou led, nou la" described this idea of taking disaster and turning into opportunity in just one simple and beautiful statement.

EME 2040 - Reflection 10

In this class I learned of all the different type of lesson plans there are to choose from. I’ve learned the layouts of these lesson plans and the individual purposes that each type of lesson plan can be used for. I’ve learned a bit about educational philosophy and this has helped me to find what educational philosophy I am. I’ve learned how technology is an important thing to take advantage of within the classroom and education. I believe that technology is something we have not had around forever and the fact that with today’s day and age we do have it, and it’s constantly improving, that we should highly appreciate it and take advantage of it. Its uses can vary from so many things. You can use it to tell stories, write lesson plans, do researches, share images, communicate, virtual world tours, videos, and so much more that I can’t even think about all its valuable purposes to write down right now. I feel like it is such a shame to have all this knowledge and information right at our fingertips and some people just do not want to use it. When we’re confused about grammar rules, or the spelling or definition of a word, we have the entire English language right in our hands on the internet. In fact, we have access to just about any language via the internet. My most valuable experiences have been being able to create my very own lesson plans. I see I need a lot of work to do, however. When I’m making them I see myself in the classroom and I find them to be great. That’s my opinion. Then the feedback I get is not the best. I haven’t been happy with my grades so far. With this feedback I am realizing that what I’m creating are not the best lesson plans. I hope that with each lesson plan I make, I am improving as I’m trying to. I’m excited to see how I’ll feel writing lesson plans as an adult. I will probably look back and see that those lesson plans I thought were decent, but ended up getting a low score on were in school really weren’t very great. Hopefully, when I’m further into my career writing them will just start coming naturally. It will feel so much easier than how difficult they feel now. This class would be easier if I didn’t have Professor McNair for two classes in once term. I didn’t think I’d be doing so much hard work. Writing a lesson plan each week takes time and I find it difficult trying to catch up with all my assignments for both of my education classes every week. As soon as I think I’m getting the hang of it one week, I get a bit behind the next week. I’m trying to tough it out, though. Nobody said these classes would be easy, but to be honest, if I knew I had so many assignments I would’ve taken them separately. Nevertheless, I love my classes and what I’m learning and I appreciate Professor McNair and his valuable advice and lessons.

EDF 1005- Reflection 19

Education has greatly improved throughout the years. Education had gone from just simply lessons in a classroom to becoming social movements! The first schools were founded by Christopher Lambs who began schools only to recite scriptures for children to learn how to read. Education was begun to construct with religion as the foundation within colonial schools with the sole purpose to save souls of children. Lessons were based on the Bible. As you can see from this small explanation of colonial education, modern education has definitely developed to a completely different form. Children first began being taught at home by their parents and grandparents about values, morals, and manners. Women began to turn their own homes into schools in which they would welcome children to learn. These schools were called Dame Schools. The women became teachers of their community for a fee. Unfortunately, Latin Grammar schools were available only for the elite boys who were able to afford this education and those who graduated were held to have high expectations of going on to college and graduating with great success. These boys would become leaders and ministers. Soon after, a school to prepare ministers was established. This school was called Harvard. Education was not in favor of all races back then. Blacks and Native Americans were not allowed to attend schools together with whites. Also, there were not many choices on where to go to school. There were very limited school locations, but northern colonies offered more opportunities. We have developed a lot since then; now children of any race can attend school together. I believe this is important so that children can experience an array of types of people and culture. Many children who are raised knowing only of their culture grow up and don’t handle experiences with other people well. They sometimes grow up not accepting of others, and racist. Religion can’t even be mentioned in public schools unlike how it was back then. Religion is no longer the basis of education, at least not in our American public high school education. Teachers can be fired for bringing up religious discussions within the classroom. This can be a good thing because the teacher may be bias toward their belief. As a result, a student of another religion can spark up some conflict, or feel left out. Also, public schools are available to everyone and are not just for the few wealthy. Education has become implemented into our society as a regular everyday life necessity, like eating.

EME 2040 - Reflection 9

My EME 2040 professor as taught my classmates and I many ways in which we can take usage of technology for advantage for when we are teaching our very own students in our classes. I have learned that technology can be utilized in the process of instructional delivery for something very important that I would like to call, visual learning. Many people and I would agree that students learn better when they are visually being shown and taught instead of just the regular basic speaking lecture. With images and videos from the computer being projected on a large screen for students to view together as an audience, they have a better idea of what the subject matter might be. It also grabs their attention a lot better than just the typical Peanuts cartoon teacher’s “wah wah wah.” I use this metaphor because I think this light hearted cartoon perfectly depicts that one boring teacher that every child has had to experience throughout their education. In the cartoon, you only hear the teacher repeatedly making the sound “wah wah wah.” It shows that the students aren’t even paying attention. Even the character Lucy, who seemed to be so energetic most of the time, was always put to sleep by this type of teaching. In my EME 2040 class we have prepared lesson plans, and we were able to use a website called learn360. Learn360 has so many useful instructional videos. They practically have a video on every and any lesson to show students. Showing these videos as an opening to the lesson gives the students a good idea and teaches them overall about the subject before the teacher even gets to give her own lecturing about it. Technology may be used for students to do research in class or as homework. This teaches children to broaden their horizons and explore not only in the class but even at home online. Today students can communicate with other children from all around the world with the use of internet. They can get a feel of cultures from around the world and have e-mail pen pals. I learned about this when we were studying telecollaborative learning. Students can see how living and school is all around the world. Today, you can even take a very educational virtual tour anywhere you want in the world. I believe the internet and technology is a beautiful thing. We have so much information and any language right at the tips of our fingers for whenever we need it! Many people didn’t have this a while ago, and I imagine when I am teaching my class that I’m going to put emphasis on taking advantage of the great things we are able to do with computers today. I want to teach my students to appreciate what they have and to use it for good and research when they are curious about something.

EDF 1005- Reflection 18

“In America, education has always been viewed as a vehicle for improving society at large.” I agree with this quote. I believe that the basis of a good society stands in a proper education. Students who are given adequate education usually grow up to be intelligent, socially moral individuals. Seeing as I received an 83% in reconstruction/critical theory in my education philosophy quiz, I think it’s only natural that I would agree with this statement. I find that this is true. I see the world becoming more and more of a tough place to live for certain people. I see the America doesn’t want education, they want guns. As a Critical Theorist, I believe it is important to reeducate the world. It will be difficult because one person can only reach so many people, but if those people we reach out grow up to want to do the same and reach out to people and reeducate the world to be a more livable place, then eventually things might turn out for the best. It is a little bit unrealistic, but it’s called hope. I know that hope can never replace action, but the action is education. The world becoming a better place starts with one step at a time, person by person. Seeing as we are regular people, and not anyone in power (i.e.: government) we don’t have the ability to get rid of all the violence, guns, hate, etc. However, by educating the younger society and directing them to become understanding people, we can reshape society. As an educator, I would love to be able to help my students understand the world and other parts of it, not only their own little local world to be able to reconstruct society and have them be open minded and understanding of other cultures. Not only do I believe that a better society should consist of understanding, moral, appreciate their earth and culturally aware people but I think they should be knowledgeable in many areas and be able to provide for themselves and family. A proper education assists in directing a student into the right direction to be able to do this. Many students graduate from high school, if they are motivated, with an idea of what they want to do in college and what career path they would like to choose. Not everyone is wealthy. If education is only available for wealthy people as it once was, only the high class areas will be intellectual and considered a “good society.” Every child has the right to be properly educated and to live in a good and safe society. I believe teaching is a great way to reach out to the younger generation and direct them to grow up to be good adults, so that they can pass on these good habits to more generations to come. The start of a new and improved society might progress slowly but it can start with just one class.

EDF 1005- Reflection 17

Education and society now in America is very different from colonial New England. Education of colonial New England had a huge emphasis on religion. They used the bible instead of a text-book to teach the basic subjects we have in today’s schools, such as reading, writing and math. Religion played a large role in the education because schools were initially made just to teach children about religion in earlier times. The intention for schools was to save the souls of children in those times. It was believed that to be a better spouse and parent; children had to learn how to read scriptures. Today, the complete opposite is taking place in today at U.S schools. Religion isn’t even permitted to be mentioned in the classroom because of the controversy that can be sparked up. A teacher may even have her career in public schooling revoked just for trying to influence students on their views, or embed their beliefs inside the classroom. Earlier education, however, was at home. Many women began welcoming children into their own homes, in which they would open to teach them themselves. These one-woman-home-made schools were called dame schools and the women who taught in their homes would eventually become their local neighborhood’s official teacher for a fee. Today a woman can’t just randomly open her home to teach the local kids. A person who wants a career in teaching must attend college and have a degree for their subject before becoming a teacher. School attendance is another major contrast between colonial New England education and present day U.S education. Once the girls became literate to become adequate house keepers, they were sent back home. The boys who could afford continuing their studies transitioned into a Latin grammar school. Transitioning from their original school to the Latin grammar school is similar to today how students come from middle school to high school. The students who had the special privilege of attending this colonial “high school” had high expectations from society. They were meant to graduate college to find wealthy and powerful careers, most likely within the church, as leaders or ministers. In present education children of both genders may attend the same school together and attend wherever they’d like (or what they and their parents can both agree to). People of color and Native Americans were not allowed to attend school. Although, unfortunately, we are still living amongst racist people and some discrimination today, in education you will never see this. Perhaps amongst the students, but if a teacher shows discrimination to any race he/she are highly likely to be fired. Gender and race were big problems within the education system of colonial New England, fortunately unlike back them, modern day America do not take gender and race as a preference for deciding what child may or may not attend schools. Public schools today consist of children with any race, gender, and ethnicity. Every child deserves a fair education.

EME 2040 - Reflection 8

I took my educational philosophy survey a few days ago. It was not a pleasant experience. My eyes began to tire from such a large amount of questions. Many of them I answered neutral to. Some of them were difficult for me to answer. I scored highest in Reconstruction/Critical Theory and Existentialism. I received an 83 in Critical Theory and an 81 in Existentialism. I find that this is true. I see the world becoming more and more of a tough place to live for certain people. I see the America doesn’t want education, they want guns. As a Critical Theorist, I believe it is important to reeducate the world. It will be difficult because one person can only reach so many people, but if those people we reach out grow up to want to do the same and reach out to people and reeducate the world to be a more livable place, then eventually things might turn out for the best. It is a little bit unrealistic, but it’s called hope. I know that hope can never replace action, but the action is education. The world becoming a better place starts with one step at a time, person by person. Seeing as we are regular people, and not anyone in power (i.e.: government) we don’t have the ability to get rid of all the violence, guns, hate, etc. However, by educating the younger society and directing them to become understanding people, we can reshape society. As an educator, I would love to be able to help my students understand the world and other parts of it, not only their own little local world to be able to reconstruct society and have them be open minded and understanding of other cultures. I can also see how I received a significantly high number for existentialism because I would definitely agree with Sartre’s “existence precedes essence.” Humans differ from a manufactured object, such as a letter opener because we don’t have a creator to tell us what purpose we serve. Man is first before all, surges up into the world, and then finds himself later. The universe cannot define what we feel, or how we should be. The idea of what is beautiful should always lie within our own minds, and not what the rest of society considers beautiful, similar to Kantian Idealism, in which Emmanuel Kant illustrates that we all live in our own world of perceptions and what is beautiful to one person, might be ugly to another. As an educator, I would love to be able to direct my students into learning ways to be able to discover themselves.