Module 3- Heather Rogers

Blog Post- Module 3

Rhymes of History

It is built in our nature to possess a desire to explore the unknown, whether a group of individuals sail across an ocean, explore desolate land or travel into space. As society evolves we created ways for the average individual to please this desire, with museums, zoos, planetariums, etc. we are able to experience not so average every day items. Now, in today’s society technological innovations has played a vast role in the downplaying of these places (Laureate Education Inc., 2009).

It is evident that the average person in society will not experience an adventure into space. For generation after generation there has been an interest in outer space, possible because it can be viewed as the most distant form of exploration. When I was younger I would use a telescope or books to “explore” space, now there is a vast array of technology that allows for the same exploration in a more realistic state. Kelly (2007) discussed how the Internet evolves and as it continues to evolve we can expect a wider spread of digital worlds.  

The Apple application Star Walk is amongst the most popular space exploration apps available today. This application allows you to point your phone and see the constellations and other celestial bodies in space at exactly that time. I have used this application with my students on many occasions when teaching the unit on stars. It not only gives them a visual other than in a book, but it becomes real when they see the stars change with the seasons.

References

Kelly, K. (2007). The next 5,000 days of the web [speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los Angeles. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Rhymes of history. Baltimore, MD: Author.