This past week marked the 10th anniversary of September 11th, a day that we, as a nation, will never forget. Most of us can still remember vividly the images from that fateful day. These images were shown on televisions and computers all across the world. This past week, the students at the University of Central Florida were shown a never before seen image from that tragic day; the image was a red bandanna, and the story behind that bandanna touched the hearts that make up the 50,000+ student body population. A week before September 11th, 2011, ESPN did a special segment on the show “Outside the Lines”. The segment was entitled, “The Man in the Red Bandanna”. It was 13 of the most powerful, moving minutes that I have ever witnessed on television. It was the story of Wells Crowther, a former Boston College lacrosse player who died on September 11th, 2001 while saving his coworkers from the World Trade Center. Wells was known for always wearing a red bandanna, to which the segment explained in detail. When Wells turned six, his father game him a red bandanna to wear. From that moment on, Wells carried that bandanna everywhere with him On 9/11/2001, Wells again had his red bandanna.
On September 10th, 2011, UCF was scheduled to play Boston College at home in what was being called the biggest home football game in UCF’s history. A few days prior to this game, two UCF students, who were so touched and moved by Wells’ story, used social media to create an event that would highlight and celebrate the heroic actions of Wells Crowther on September 11th, 2001. The two UCF students created a Facebook event in which they asked the students, faculty, and members of the UCF community to wear a red bandanna to the UCF vs. BC game on September 10th, 2011. Within minutes, dozens of students responded that they were going to attend this event. Within hours, those numbers jumped to the hundreds. Within days, the number of attendees was well into the thousands. On the day of the football game, a sea of red bandannas filled Brighthouse Networks Stadium. News outlets had caught wind of the story and were in attendance to capture the tribute. Wells’ sisters even made the trip down from the Northeast to show their appreciation for how their brother was being honored. It was one of the most moving tributes I have ever seen, and I can say, without reservation, that I had never been more proud to be a Knight than I was on September 10th, 2011.
Social media has transfixed the way we communicate and receive information. This story is a clear example of how much our times have changed, and how quickly information can be spread from one individual to another. Just as the textbook, Teachers discovering computers; Integrating technology and digital media into the classroom states, “The ability to communicate information instantly and accurately has changed the way people conduct business and interact with each other, and the way students learn” (Gunter, Gunter & Shelly, 2010). This quote is certainly holding true.
One social media site. Two students. Seven days. 50,000 plus individuals touched by the actions of one heroic man.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6929979
References:
Shelly, G., Gunter, G., Randolph, G., (2010) Teachers discovering computers: Integrating technology and digital media in the classroom. Course Technology, 6th ed. pg 56
Your posting truly demonstrates how technology impacts the world around us on a daily basis, even something as simple as a football game. I was very interested in reading your comments related to “how quickly information can be spread from one individual to another” with the help of the Internet and social networking. The story of how the Facebook group grew from two students into a stadium full of people is incredible. I have seen this happen frequently with emails and social networking sites, but nothing as touching as the red bandanna story. Whether it’s a funny YouTube video, an E-mail chain letter or a Facebook revolution, technology helps define the choices we make each day.
ReplyDeleteI thought your posting also related well to this week’s topic of connectivism in education. Connectivism encourages students to make multiple connections from different information sources to improve their own understanding and learning. This concept relates to your quote posted from the text “The ability to communicate information instantly and accurately has changed the way people conduct business and interact with each other, and the way students learn” (Gunter, Gunter & Shelly, 2010).
When students are given access to information on the Internet, like a wiki or Facebook group, they may interpret it differently from their peers. The student can take this information: change it, add to it and pass it to another peer. The information may eventually get sent back to the student in a format that’s very different from the beginning. But throughout this whole process the student was required to check his/her own understanding and “interact” with other students. Thanks for a great story of how influential technology can be!
WOW, what a stunning example of how important technology is to our lives! I must live under a rock, because I missed it... but I will DEFINITELY be trying to find it after reading your post!
ReplyDeleteI was on campus when Obama was elected. I was new to the main campus, leaving class, and got lost on my way to the car! I was so upset... and then I heard his voice. I followed our new president's voice into the student union where I found hundreds (if not thousands) of fellow students crammed into every nook and cranny of every level of the building. Everybody was listening intently and cheering when Obama took a breath. It was the most amazing feeling! There is no way I would have gotten that from my couch at home. My point is, I think I kids of understand what you mean. To be able to use technology to highlight a point in time; a point that will become our history, both as a country and as a person, and be able to share it and experience it... That's priceless. That is the gift technology gives us. Even in this day and age where it's easy to take it for granted, there are these moments that still take our breath away. Thank you so much for reminding me of that!