Response to “Connected: An Autobiography…”

In what way might the film relate to your content area? Give a concrete example.

The film “Connected: An Autobiography…” relates to my content area in many ways, but there is one connection that stands out in particular. In the film, the narrator speaks about how the Internet gives us the ability to connect with other people and when we do that we get a surge of oxytocin, which makes us feel empathetic, think interdependently, and drives us to connect even more with other humans. This medium for which people connect (the internet) relates exactly to school gardens and other outdoor learning environments because these places provide ways for humans to connect with one another and release the same hormones. School and community gardens are a fabulous way to learn not only about how to dig, eat, and be healthy, but more importantly, a way to connect, build, and maintain positive relationships with humans that share a common interest.

What questions does it raise for you?

After viewing the film, I am interested in how long it will take for the world to come to an overwhelming consensus that we are all part of something greater then ourselves. World priorities need to be rearranged and I wonder when we will have a President who will be respected for this view and elected because of it.

How is your content area interconnected with other content areas?

My content area is interconnected with other content areas because math, science, history, and writing can be adapted to include fruits, vegetables, and plants in general. For example, in Kindergarten, if students wanted to grow a plant, they could measure and chart the length the plant grows each day, measure how much water to give the plant each day, write about their observations, learn about the parts of a plant through song and dance, and then take a field trip to the San Francisco Botanical Gardens to view a real greenhouse. Another way to connect content areas to school gardens is to simply take your class outside to the school garden and teach your lesson there. This outdoor learning environment may inspire learners to think differently and become more interested in the lesson.

How does an interdisciplinary lens deepen understanding for a “well-educated person?”

I think an interdisciplinary lens deepens understanding for any type of person, not only well-educated people. When I think about someone who is smart, I believe that they often have a great memory and that they are able to connect information from one part of their memory to another, thus creating a deep understanding of the information. Making these synapses provides insights, allows for prediction, and critical thinking, which deepens understanding for all learners.

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