Special Blog Post

A world where grades will be left behind

In the article, written by Mary Beth Marklein it discusses Udacity, an alternative way of getting an education founded by Sebastian Thrun . He believes in the next thirty years Udacity will be in full force. Udacity will consist of free learning, no tarries, no failing grades, and lessons which look like Angry Birds. Udacity will be taught by some of the world’s greatest professors around the world. Mr. Thrun is not only the founder of Udacity, but he is also the vice president of Google and a Stanford research professor. He is best known for his part in building Google’s driverless car.

During the process of creating Udacity, Mr. Thrun felt as if he had taken the red pill, and seen Wonderland. He discusses how there are two pills a red and blue one. The blue pill would take him back to the typical classroom and the red pill would take him to wonderland. In so many ways I feel like Mr. Thrun because being in EDM310 my eyes have been opened to a whole new world of technology. Being in EDM310 has made me even more want to get into the school system, so I can use all the tools I have learned in class.

Mr. Thrun believes that "You want learning to be as much fun as it is to play a video game.” I agree with Mr. Thrun. From experience, when students are engaged in a fun learning in environment, they tend to take in the learning process easier. In my opinion, a teacher should teach with what attracts the students. Many students in lower levels are attracted to working on the smartboard. Many of my pre-k lessons are done on a smartboard and they tend to go better than when a lesson is done without the smartboard. Technology is the new classroom and I believe as a teacher, we should evolve into being the professors on the other side.