NETS

After reading about the argument of a A Whole New Mind, listening to Tony Blair's speech, and reading this article about NETS, I really have come to see a lot of truth in it all. A Whole New Mind is about being efficient and practical but also having a lot meaning and beauty. Technology is constantly being updating by its creators and users. In many ways, it is an art of its own. People and technology have become so intertwined that it does need to have meaning and it does need to look good. Apple is doing really well right now primarily because their products look "cool". They are clean cut, user friendly, and just plain "cool". But at the same time that creativity is key, Tony Blair's speech about globalization also comes into play. People are more connected now than ever and are wiling to work together to create the best. Collaboration has become so important. I think something interesting about the NETS is that is incorporates skills that students are already learning by just living a in society of technology into the classroom. They are required to apply they tech-savvy skills to projects/homework, and they are forced really realize the importance of it. They already collaborate globally with things like blogs and YouTube. They are already creative at finding ways to hack music, bypassing internet blocks, or simply finding a way to make their MySpace page their own. The NETS just helps students to take these skills and apply them in a school and career setting. I think that the NETSs are a step forward to successfully incorporating technology into the classroom.