Freidman

“You need to understand things in order to invent beyond them” -Bill Gates p351

The educational gaps from both the top and bottom seem to stem from a “Black OR White” mentality. True the world is flat, but it is also gray. Eric Stern points out “People want to do stuff that is fun” (338). Blending what is known about the benefits of rote learning with the idea that using technology is fun for students, could escalate our lagging educational system, especially within the domains of Math and Science (the boring shades of gray then transform into the beautifully crisp colors). We have already encountered many examples of how technology increases the motivation of students in terms of English education, but the same must hold true for other disciplines as well.

As a pre-service teacher, I know that a student’s proficiency in English Language Arts has benefits that reach across all curriculums. The ability to think critically will enable future students to become the great inventors that this country needs to compete on the flattened globe. Stressing what interests our students and not ourselves (remember our purpose in the classroom is not to create an army of English majors!!!) has the potential of igniting their passions, while also stressing the importance of a continued education.