Reflection #1 - Cisco, "The Human Network"

I don't know about the rest of you, but I watch a lot of TV (unfortunately), and as a result, I see a lot of commercials. My love of Ellen Page not influencing this, the following two commercials have found have found themselves on my favorite commercials list (there's not actually a list - its all just mental).




So to reference the syllabus/assignment sheet:

WHAT?
- Both commercials are from a networking company called Cisco Systems Inc. Cisco was founded in 1984 and generates a 9 billion dollar revenue. Here's an overview of the company from off of their website:

At Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) customers come first and an integral part of our DNA is creating long-lasting customer partnerships and working with them to identify their needs and provide solutions that support their success. The concept of solutions being driven to address specific customer challenges has been with Cisco since its inception. Husband and wife Len Bosack and Sandy Lerner, both working for Stanford University, wanted to email each other from their respective offices located in different buildings but were unable to due to technological shortcomings. A technology had to be invented to deal with disparate local area protocols; and as a result of solving their challenge - the multi-protocol router was born. Since then Cisco has shaped the future of the Internet by creating unprecedented value and opportunity for our customers, employees, investors and ecosystem partners and has become the worldwide leader in networking - transforming how people connect, communicate and collaborate.

The commercials are recent and feature one of Cisco's most revolutionary products/ideas: "TelePresence." Some view it as an over-glorified "Skype," but the reality is that TelePresence is installed. You don't have to worry about having Wifi and the like. It's bigger, faster, better.

SO WHAT?

Both commercials preview interactions between a class from the US and China. So what? So... with technology like this actually in the classrooms, teachers and students have an outlet to actual people, actual culture. The connections students can make through interactions with other students/persons from different cultures that they are learning about, are invaluable. Even having students participate in actual-time conversations with one person - CEOs, famous people, people with inspirational stories, etc - can teach students more than a teacher standing in front explaining things to them can.

NOW WHAT?

Although this sort of classroom, this sort of network, is the ideal, it is also very expensive. Especially when you consider schools in areas of low SES or under-financed schools. It brings me back to the discussion about interactive white boards. There are usually two reasons that schools don't have interactive white boards: 1 - not enough funds; 2 - the teachers are anti-technology (to say it bluntly) and don't want to have to relearn how to teach their students. I've already mentioned the first one in relation to the TelePresence systems, but as far as the second is concerned, it probably applies to this situation as well. I'm sure there are plenty of teachers who would be truly excited about getting this technology in class. On the flip side, I'm sure there are plenty of teachers who are semi-against this idea. There is so much extra work involved in this sort of equipment that it just might not be worth it.

Unfortunate.

And again, I write a very long post. Pat yourself on the back for reading all the way through.

Until next time.