The Strength of Weak Ties

Everyone participates. Everyone contributes. Leveraging the power of digital networks to connect people, resources and ideas to drive creativity and innovation forward...and actually accomplish something!

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Sight Seen

Have you seen the Tylenol commercial with the teacher lecturing? Complete with kids taking notes, in stadium-style seating in a tired, old classroom, complete with a blackboard with diagrams of DNA drawn on it in chalk.

There's even a closeup of the chalk on the board, with chalk pieces flying as she scribbles DNA notes. (it would have been cooler in slow motion...)

Chalkboard? DNA drawings on a board? Who does that?

That's how they see us...that's the picture of education. 1960's classroom, with a chalkboard.

Where's the digital projector, with resources from Cold Spring Harbor? Download some molecular visualization freeware where you can spin and rotate the DNA molecule. And where's the 1 to 1 initiative? Tablet PC's? At least have an interactive whiteboard...!

My guess is that is how the ad people were taught.

Add a very serious image problem to the list inflicting education. But we knew that didn't we?

1 Comments:

  • At 12:40 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Jake,
    You are so right on. That is how everyone still thinks.
    I am proud to say that the school I work at is taking steps to shatter this mold. Aptos Junior High in Aptos California is using LCD projectors and a mobile computer cart to do science simulations. First one is coming up on 2/2. (we just got the cart). In just a few weeks we are going to increase our LCD projectors on campus to almost 10. These are being used by teachers and students alike.
    I hear what you are saying (writing?)Hopefully soon the ad's will get it right. Keep up the excellent blogging. I enjoy reading your content.
    Brian

     

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