"A Vision of Students Today" Summary Response (Edited Version)

Michael Wesch’s “A Vision of Students Today” highlights the effects that new and constantly changing technology has in the United States education system.

“A Vision of Students Today”, a video by Michael Wesch, accurately illustrates the importance of continually developing technology inside the classroom, because if the students of today do not adapt with technology, they will not be successful in the future. In today’s world, technology is a constantly developing industry, with countless extraordinary devices becoming available to humans each month. Two hundred students come together on one survey to share their opinions about technology’s importance in the classroom (Wesch, "A Vision"). The students exemplify how technology today affects their studies, mentioning concerns like, “I pay for hundred dollar textbooks that I never use” and “I complete 49% of the readings given to me. [While] Only 26% are relevant to my life,” (Wesch, "A Vision"). Similarly, Karl Fisch confronts this idea in his video, “Did You Know?” by acknowledging the rapidly changing technology, “The amount of new technological information is doubling every year” (Fisch). It is important that teachers and learners alike jump on board with technology, because it will move to become more advanced, whether the world is ready or not. Although the importance of embracing technology within education is vital to learning, the distraction posed by the new devices has negative effects within the classroom. The students in Wesch’s video explain what they do during class with comments like, “I FaceBook through most of my classes” and “I bring my laptop to class, but I’m not working on class stuff” (Wesch, "A Vision"). Matt Richtel of the New York Times explains, “Students have always faced distractions and time-wasters. But computers and cellphones, and the constant stream of stimuli they offer, pose a profound new challenge to focusing and learning” (Richtel). Though it is imperative for children to learn using technology, schools should block websites such as FaceBook and Twitter to ensure children are learning in class rather than focusing on social media. The importance of continually developing technology inside the classroom, though it may pose a few distractions is imperative, as made clear by Michael Wesch in his video “A Vision of Students Today”.

Bully Summary Reponse

Bully Summary Response

Claire Jones

Summary

In Lee Hirsch’s documentary, Bully, the rising problem of extreme bullying is highlighted, along with ways to help stop the growing problem. Many victims of bullying usually see no way out, causing them to self-harm, develop an eating disorder, or even worse- commit suicide. Victims find it hard to speak up, ultimately making things worse for themselves; alternatively, school authority figures make excuses for bullies such as: “Kids will be kids.” Or “It’s just a phase.” Bullies are rarely forced to see their harmful wrongdoing. Yet, together, people can make a change in society: everything starts with one- bullying, victimizing, stopping.Though bullying is an enormous problem that will never fully end, people can come together to decrease the amount of bullying that happens today.

Response

In Lee Hirsch’s Bully, the horror of today’s society is exemplified through the victim’s stories: when a child is the least bit different, they will not be accepted. Throughout the movie, the main children- Alex, Tyler, and Kelby- were bullied, and they all had one thing in common: being different. Seventeen year old Alex had never been the cool jock with good grades; his vulnerability put a target on his back, eventually leading him to take his own life. Tyler had a birth defect, making him look a little different than other kids. “The sad thing is… if they just got to know him, and be his friend… he would probably be the most dedicated friend they ever had…” Alex’s mother says it beautifully- these kids are just like us. Sexuality is what makes Kelby different. Does that make her a bad person? No, it does not; but, kids are raised to be scared of anything remotely unlike the norm. If the world can Stand for the Silent, it will be a much better place; we just need to learn to accept each other- no matter how “weird” that girl’s glasses are, or how “emo” his music is, those kids are people, too. People deserve respect. The horror of today’s society will never fully go away; though it can be decreased, if we stand together to accept others’ flaws.