Nature of The Threat

“So make no mistake: Our future is on the line. The nation that out-educates us today is going to out-compete us tomorrow. To continue to cede our leadership in education is to cede our position in the world. That’s not acceptable to me and I know it’s not acceptable to any of you. And that’s why my administration has set a clear goal: to move from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math education over the next decade.”
- President Obama



The topics that President Obama will discuss at his Facebook townhouse meeting are explored in Critical Thinking 3.0. What does the president know that you don’t know? How is this connected to the countries in Europe filling for financial assistance from the EU to avoid a government bankruptcy? The answer is connected to President Obama’s recent position on cutting the American government spending budget. What does President Obama see over the horizon that Ireland, Portugal, and other European bailout countries didn’t see coming?
Why is Obama beating the education drum so hard? Why did the President tell the Republicans that investments in education and innovation are not up for debate during the recent budget battle? Something is happening on a global scale that will overshadow the destruction the American economy felt during the most recent financial crises. The President has been dropping sound bites in the airwaves. Who is listening to these warnings? Obama is determined to get the word out and this is the reason why Facebook is being used as a platform for his townhouse meeting. There is a chance that the president may not outright say what’s creeping over the horizon. The situation is critical. I’ve been following this quiet storm the president is watching every sense election day. This is the reason why I use his words in this book to introduce the chapters. I am trying to make the link for you. The monster lurking near our borders doesn’t look or smell anything like a typical monster. It is easy to overlook what this monster has in mind for the American economy. Will America take this acute threat for granted? Welcome to the 21st century. The threats we face aren’t found in typical combat situations. These threats have a global reach and are moving quickly toward their target. We will not have John Wayne or Ronald Reagan to take us into the world of make believe where reality is conveniently forgotten until the next election cycle. Our bank accounts will get hit. The future of our kids will be on the line. This situation will require critical thinking. Get your copy of Critical Thinking 3.0 as we began the battle for the best minds and solutions for the 21st century.

standard technology tools

Virtual training is flexible by design and has the potential to address the lack of training that exists in traditional brick and mortar environments. Identifying novel ways that metacognitive principles can be taught by using standard technology tools is the approach I'm taking with my ARP.

ADDIE model

Is the ADDIE model still applicable in today's learning and training environment? How does just-in-time learning compare? Technology is opening the door for creative endeavors in a society and economy that is rapidly changing. Tools like rapid prototyping are adaptable and easy to implement.

whipping out the Kindle

The new Amazon Kindle is entering the college textbook market. What are some of the ramifications surrounding this new partnership? I think the device will be successful in niche markets. Law, literature and medical students navigate huge amounts of text based information daily. The Kindle may add an increased level of convenience for those students seeking an immediate, convenient method for accessing important information. Technology solutions are usually successful when it provides a desirable level of satisfaction. The Kindle accommodates students operating in close quarters, like riding a campus bus, standing in the lunch line, or balancing a cell phone conversation with a classmate.

In Defense of the Kindle

Mobile technology

Mobile technology provides a great platform for educational opportunities. Asia and Europe are taking the lead in providing educational opportunities to young people with cell phones. Is this possible? I think that the US should explore all opportunities regarding education and society.

http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2009/01/09/04mobile.h02.html

paperless organization

Washington State is going paperless. All internal memos, fliers and newspapers and other documents will be resurrected into cyberspace in digital form. The article mentioned the cost savings this move will provide for the University. No groundbreaking savings will be obvious, at least not initially. The idea of a paperless organization is an interesting concept. It's obvious that this change is beneficial to the environment.

1.5 million cellphone ebooks

1.5 million cell phone ebooks are available for download from Google. Access to knowledge is changing at the speed of light. The sheer amount of information at our finger tips pushes our realities over the edge and into the what President Obama spoke of during his campaign run. Welcome to the knowledge economy, too late ,we can't hit the breaks now ! Whatever you do, make sure fear doesn't paralyze your ability to learn and adapt to new things. For every minute you stand still and refuse to embrace “ the change,” our access to more information would've increased 3 fold. Welcome to the age of enlightenment! However, we can't forget about those who are deprived of this rich information. You know who they are, outcast, the faces of the digital divide. 1.5 million e-books, a gift from Google's Android system. They have landed and are ready to get beamed into a cell phone near you.

Obama Team and technology

President Elect Obama has his radar set on improving the quality of education in America. He is viewing technology as an important component in this process. The President Elect is quoted as saying that "...every -American household should have broadband access-." The Obama team is even looking forward to create a “Chief Technology Officer” position to help facilitate these changes. These are some big ideas, I hope the finances are directed toward these areas which desperately need improvement.

Universal Broadband to Impact US Economy

Obama and technology

How Obama Won Using Digital and Social Media

Obama is the first presidential candidate to embed political adds in a video game. Innovative, forward thinking perspective that practices inclusion instead of exclusionary practices. Technology carries the potential to educate, build a platform for to share new information and provide a way to deliver strategic solutions to a broad constituency.

Flights were being canceled

The basis of just-in-time solutions for everyday people is no more than non-formal learning experiences. We have different experiences everyday. My experience at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport...

Flights were being canceled without a reason( good enough reason for me). No one could promise me a flight out to my destination for at least another 48hrs. This would place me at my destination after the Christmas holiday. I needed a solution! Technology came riding in on a white horse, through my digital internet connection, wrapped in Google's wrapping paper. I ended up catching the subway to the bus station. "How did I accomplish this after my first 24hrs in the airport?" I'll talk about later, just recognize the power of learning on the fly with the assistance technology and an overwhelming desire to escape.

Diversity and Learning

In my opinion, culture is a mobile snapshot of the changes that occur in a community, city, state, and nation. The lens we use to view changing global dynamics is usually defined by a collection of cultural beliefs. In the 21st century, the foundation of this cultural pyramid is shifting.