EDF 2085 Reflection Paper #1

Jackie Lawrence
Reflection Paper # 1
EDF 2085
I cannot imagine living without all the necessary technologies that are utilized on a day to day basis. Cell phones, the internet, cars, planes, and even microwaves make life much more proficient and effective. These technologies were discovered and created by motivated, determined, and intelligent human beings. According to the article, fire may have been discovered by accident because of wildfires, but prehistoric humans soon realized how beneficial they were for cooking and warmth. 300,000 to 400,000 years, ago, humans were actively controlling fires to improve their nutritional content, which ultimately was progressive in the development of the human anatomy and brain. Tools such as the wheel empowered humans to live more effectively. The development of writing improved communication and give historians today a firmer foundation of the past. I believe we were asked to read these articles for a variety of reasons. First, as educators, it is necessary we are knowledgeable in a plethora of subject matter. Even if we plan to be math teachers, we should still have some information available to our students about the beginning of the human race. Also, I believe these articles were meant to reinforce how important creativity is for knowledge and progress to cultivate. If humans never thought to invent the wheel, fire, or writing, we would be living in an incredibly different world today. As educators, we need to encourage our students to soak in as much education as humanly possible. It is easy to float through life by making just enough money to live on and never challenge or reevaluate ways of thinking. But how will society flourish if we all act in this manner? Human beings are the only species on the planet blessed with a mature, complex brain. I feel so incredibly fortunate and grateful on a daily basis to have the power to expand my mind, be open-minded, and experience the beauty of learning. I hope to one day make an impact in this world as significant as those who have discovered fire, the wheel, and the beauty of art and language. Society is based on a time continuum, and it is up to us, especially as educators, to aspire to thrive and prosper in the future. If we instill these values in our students, we can influence and create the next Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King Jr.