Discussion on "A Vision of Students" by Michael Wesch

Isaac Shantz-Kreutzkamp
English 100
Discussion on "A Vision of Students" by Michael Wesch, 2007
A video released by Michael Wesch in 2007 argued for the use of modern technology in current classrooms over conventional methods (chalkboard, arrays of static seats, single lecturer writing and talking, etc.) and upgrading them to a setting that is centered around the use of more advanced and technically sophisticated. He debated that students are often able to contribute more to a learning experience than they are currently able to, and attempted to prove this by having 200 of his own students conduct an in-class survey and use the results in a web video that he released under the title "A Vision of Students Today". He put it that a while the standard and older utilities in the classroom like chalk and pencils were perfectly suited for their time (1841), that the new classroom of the 21st century should not resemble one that could have very well been occupied by Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein and Barack Obama. While it is not stated specifically what he exactly wants added to the system, it is apparent that he would be more appreciative if mixed media such as videos, discussion boards or active participation were encouraged, rather than discouraged as in the current state of the classroom. To make his point, he used 200 students in his own classroom of Cultural Anthropology to conduct a survey among themselves and come up with a variety of statistics that are used in the video to illustrate and drive home the point that computers and computer-related technologies should be considered seriously for use within the education system to a larger extent than they are now.

Wesch makes a good point, I would even go so far as to say that his use of the students as an integral part of the video was an inspired move, but it does seem that a few of his points are more a product of the times than they are ripe for use in an educational sense, I do not see how Facebook could possibly become useful for education, social networking with a classroom seems at best tongue-in-cheek, if not outright laughable. Using videos, as Wesch does, is a powerful learning tool; significantly more useful than simply writing words on a chalboard or just talking about the subject matter. It would make more sense to combine the two mediums though, people learn by doing, and it would fit perfectly to both experience first-hand the educational environment so as to keep the professor in touch, at least visibly, with his audience, and the computerized future of teaching that Wesch advocates. Doing this would enable both student and professor: giving the students a soundboard for a more hands-on experience and revive interest in their class by showing them they can modify or at least have a supportive group to help them with their problems. Professors would benefit from constant feedback and knowing exactly which students are progressing normally, which ones need help and which ones are progressing much further along, they would also be able to accurately pin-point the problems and what is going right for the advanced students, a win for everyone involved. Wesch's idea that all of the classical learning environment should be replaced by technology is neglecting the human element, which is critical if students are to remain attached and focused to the subject. Wesch's idea is good in theory, but it will prove much harder to be a positive boon in practice.

ALL COMMENTS APPRECIATED