New Machine Era

Last week I watched a video about how society is going through "the new machine age."

(http://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_mcafee_what_will_future_jobs_look_like.html) Andrew McAfee foresees the day when almost all jobs of manual labor and toil will be obsolete due to machines and robots. But he told us not to fear because we have adapted before and we shall adapt again. He wants us to embrace the change in technology and find a way save the blue collared man by creating new and different jobs for him. We will have to change society to do so.

After reading this speech I was told to brainstorm for a couple different speeches. I thought I could deal with how education reform would help transition the blue collared worker and overall make Americans better students. Then I decided to do two other on the positives and negatives a technology specifically social media because I believe it effects everyone. I wanted to analyze how social media is reducing social interaction and causes emotional issues. Then I decided on another that talks about the positives that social networking has not just on us but others and the society. I am really proud of all these ideas because I spent a lot of time cultivating each one. The speech was hard to draw upon for my own speech because I can't talk about the up and coming technology that will change the world because I don't know anything about it. I thought these topics were relateable to people and in a way related to the TED speech.

1. Specific Purpose Statement : At the end of my speech, the audience will be able to name three downsides to social media and the effects on social interaction.

Central Idea: In today's modern world people can interact with people that never had the ability to before, but what are the social and emotional side effects to "living online."

Main Ideas:

            I. People are losing personal skills, verbal communication, and how to act in social situations.

            II. Online social media can lower self-esteem due to the need for social gratification and can lead to social isolation.

            III. Social networking facilitates cyberbullying that leads to suicide and depression.

            IV. Social media pressures people to be perfect and "out-do" one another online by the amount of friends, posts, and pictures posted otherwise people are considered outcast if not "connected."

2. Specific Purpose Statement: At the end of my speech, the audience will learn about three ways to reform the educational system to better prepare for the "New Machine Age."

Central Idea: The education system is not adaptive or teaching children to think critically or creatively and giving them opportunities to succeed in the workforce.

Main Ideas:

            I. Standardized Testing and Material does not allow for teachers to focus on academia and creative and critical thinking.

            II. Schools for the gifted are important to challenge good students.

           III. Trade schools should be more available for students in high school who are from low income families.

3. Specific Purpose Statement: After the end of my speech, the audience will be able to discuss three reasons why social media is beneficial, opportunistic, and connects us to society.  

Central Idea: In a world where technology is constantly expanding, we have have opportunities to create business, meet new people, and make change using social networking.

Main Ideas:

           I. Social Networking has created thousands of jobs, and created more opportunities for businesses.

           II. Social Networking empowers individuals and organizations to make social change.

           III. Social Networking offers platforms for collaboration in education, music, and technology. 

Questions

1. I really like my second purpose statement because it relates a little more to what the TED speech I chose. In the TED speech he talked about changing society to help the blue collar worker. I think public education is not adapting to the change in times and is creating problems in our economy. But in this purpose, I am not sure if my main ideas are too broad. The speech I would most enjoy presenting is the third one because I would love to talk about how social networking technology is beneficial to society.

2. My parents are both involved in education as teachers and administrators. I know many things about these topics from them. Plus I have gone through all the standardized testing. I have been in the classes. I know why it's not working. Students are feeling inspired. They start getting behind in grade school or middle school and never catch up. They need to feel motivated, pushed, and feel valued.

3. The audience is my other classmates and group members. Most have been through the public schools and have experienced these feelings and emotions of frustration and apathy. I think I am bringing up things they have noticed with the hope of reform. More and more people cannot pay for college tuition. Trade schools are a way to give these students a start to a career and a college education.

4. I can use this website called ProCon.org  to look at the negative effects of standardized testing. http://standardizedtests.procon.org/

this is a good article about gifted education: http://educationnext.org/challenging-the-gifted/

This article talks about vocational schools and their benefits

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/08/09/college-vs-vocational-education-better-wages-less-debt/

So let me know what topic you like, find most interesting, and would coordinate well with the TED speech by Andrew McAfee