As we all know, Wikipedia is pretty much our one stop spot to find out information on pretty much anything. Personally, I have heard good and bad things about this websites. Usually the good users explain how everything is on there and you can edit all the entries. Bad reviewers hate the fact you can edit the entries because it makes the information false. Virgil Griffith must have been a bad reviewer because he created a program called Wikipedia Scanner, which is a search tool to search IP addresses and turn all entries back to its orginal edit from the original creator of the entry.
Wikipedia started off as a "cool" thing. A one spot look up source that if you find something that is not true, you can easily just change it so that future users will not read false information. But, all good things go bad eventually. Big time names such as Wal-Mart and Diebold (a voting machine company) were having their entries changed from positive entries to negative ones. So, who is changing the entries? Research shows, that it was coming from users straight for the head quarters or comany computers. Their own was making them look bad!
If Wikipedia wants to keep up its status of allowing anyone to edit entries, it defintely should be monitered. Perhaps, the Wikipedia Scanner can help out a lot with phishing through unwanted entries and removing them with facts. Maybe the sources that are left can be checked out to make sure this is realiable and truthful.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Randy Pausch Last Lecture
Randy Pausch's lecture was very interesting to watch and listen to. I know the main reason for that is because it was not on something boring, but on something I think that everyone can relate on: childhood dreams. Lucky for him, his most amazing dreams came true. He defied gravity and became a Disney Imagineer. How cool can that be? This man is the coolest guy I know!
Dr. Pausch's lecture was very personal. He laughed and told corny jokes to get the audience's attention. It is apparent that he is a loved and admired professor due to the feedback and the turn out to this. He also used power point with pictures from his personal life. Some slides came up more than once. Those, I would assume were to emphasize a point. Like the brick wall. There will always be brick walls preventing you from something, but you just have to figure out a way around it or accept it.
Something I picked up from his lecture is that asking for help and team working is very important in being successful. He and another man named Dean created a program called ETC and a large part of it involved team work. In this group, you are placed with other people who have similar dreams and interests as you. After about two years in working in the program, eventually you can venture out on your own.
The most important tactic though, that is also made apparent of Dr. Pausch's personality and lectures, is the best way to learn is to have fun! One would forget how hard something may be if fun is the main point. Having fun may be the key of making learning and work "easy". And if it's not fun, don't give up, try harder. : )
Dr. Pausch's lecture was very personal. He laughed and told corny jokes to get the audience's attention. It is apparent that he is a loved and admired professor due to the feedback and the turn out to this. He also used power point with pictures from his personal life. Some slides came up more than once. Those, I would assume were to emphasize a point. Like the brick wall. There will always be brick walls preventing you from something, but you just have to figure out a way around it or accept it.
Something I picked up from his lecture is that asking for help and team working is very important in being successful. He and another man named Dean created a program called ETC and a large part of it involved team work. In this group, you are placed with other people who have similar dreams and interests as you. After about two years in working in the program, eventually you can venture out on your own.
The most important tactic though, that is also made apparent of Dr. Pausch's personality and lectures, is the best way to learn is to have fun! One would forget how hard something may be if fun is the main point. Having fun may be the key of making learning and work "easy". And if it's not fun, don't give up, try harder. : )
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Fischbowl
On November 2, 2007 there was a post about why go wireless? In my mind, it makes so much sense to go wireless for the simple fact that it's easier and everybody can use it. Though, in a school setting, having "everybody" using it may not be the greatest idea in the world for safety reasons and the immaturity level that there is in grade school.
There are so many opportunities though that are available by using wireless. Right before I graduated, my school finally got internet access on the computers in the lab. I thought that was amazing, but that was only a little more than 3 years ago and already pretty much every school in America has internet/wireless connections. In the article, he states that the new generation of students primarily use the internet at their homes, so why not use it in class too? It's something majority of kids like to do, so why not incorporate it with classwork too?
Since technology on the rise everyday, it is important to have our students be some kind of literate when it comes to using the web as a source of education. As the world changes, computer is used more and more in everyday life. Students should be able to learn this information in school so they can be prepared for life after grade school. Even though most kids are already literate of computers before they get to the classroom, they still need to know of all the opportunities there are at just a click of a button.
There are so many opportunities though that are available by using wireless. Right before I graduated, my school finally got internet access on the computers in the lab. I thought that was amazing, but that was only a little more than 3 years ago and already pretty much every school in America has internet/wireless connections. In the article, he states that the new generation of students primarily use the internet at their homes, so why not use it in class too? It's something majority of kids like to do, so why not incorporate it with classwork too?
Since technology on the rise everyday, it is important to have our students be some kind of literate when it comes to using the web as a source of education. As the world changes, computer is used more and more in everyday life. Students should be able to learn this information in school so they can be prepared for life after grade school. Even though most kids are already literate of computers before they get to the classroom, they still need to know of all the opportunities there are at just a click of a button.
Fall EDM 310 Podcasts
I checked out last semesters EDM 310 podcasts and it really helped me out to know what i have to do when I present mine. The first podcast I watched was Possibilities for Using Facebook in an Educational Setting by Allison and Shundretta. Though very important and useful information was given it sounded like they were reading straight from note cards. Though the information was good things to know, I felt like they were a bit hazy on their topic. The word "um" was used a lot and does not sound as professional. I know these podcasts are just student ones, but they should be the best they could possibly be! Perhaps, practicing out loud with my partner or someone else before actually making the podcast will help out to not make those errors.
I listened to College of Education Classes and Technology Used in Them by Kathryn, Kerrie, and Hanna. I feel like their podcast went along smoothly. It went a little bit better than the first podcast I listened to. The only thing I noticed that may could have been improved was that they talked to each other or asked questions while they were giving the information/presentation. Though, this may not necessarily be a bad thing, because it makes the podcast more relaxed. Plus, I have in mind that these are students just like me, making their first podcast. It won't be perfect.
I listened to College of Education Classes and Technology Used in Them by Kathryn, Kerrie, and Hanna. I feel like their podcast went along smoothly. It went a little bit better than the first podcast I listened to. The only thing I noticed that may could have been improved was that they talked to each other or asked questions while they were giving the information/presentation. Though, this may not necessarily be a bad thing, because it makes the podcast more relaxed. Plus, I have in mind that these are students just like me, making their first podcast. It won't be perfect.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Is It Okay To Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
I think what I liked most about the blog is the way it was presented. There was some serious information that was to be given, but it was not boring to read. This makes me believe more that blogs and technology in general is very important for our society today. I think though as new and future teacher, I know a thing or two about technology. Also, I am required to take a class for it, so I'm not illiterate to it, but what about teachers who have been teaching for at least 10 years and did not have the advantage of taking a course? Should they go back to school to gain the knowledge?
In the blog he asked:
"If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write."
In a way, I see how this is true, but learning how to read and working a computer is not on the same level. I really don't understand how a teacher and teach period if he or she does not know how to read or write. Having a computer is optional and not required to get a "good" education, but it sure does help out A LOT. I do believe that teachers should have some common knowledge about it since time is advancing.
I did not agree with him when he said that if a teacher does not know how a lot about technology they should not have their job. I'm sure when they got the job to begin with this was not a requirement to get their degree. I do agree though teachers should know what they are doing when it comes to technology. Not only can it be useful to their students, it can make their lives easier and less stressful.
In the blog he asked:
"If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write."
In a way, I see how this is true, but learning how to read and working a computer is not on the same level. I really don't understand how a teacher and teach period if he or she does not know how to read or write. Having a computer is optional and not required to get a "good" education, but it sure does help out A LOT. I do believe that teachers should have some common knowledge about it since time is advancing.
I did not agree with him when he said that if a teacher does not know how a lot about technology they should not have their job. I'm sure when they got the job to begin with this was not a requirement to get their degree. I do agree though teachers should know what they are doing when it comes to technology. Not only can it be useful to their students, it can make their lives easier and less stressful.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Pod casts
Podcasts are becoming more and more popular in today's society. I was listening to KidCast and the guy was talking about how podcasts are really helping out students in making learning fun and engaging their interest in school studies. What is also helping out is kids making their own pod casts as a learning tool.
Podcasts is like specific news and/or information. If you want to know about something, you can search for podcasts and most likely something will come up and interest you. Honestly, I thought podcasts were just tv, cartoon, or movies that you can view. I think that it is really cool that there is education podcasts as well. And what also makes podcasts worth checking out is that most of them are free!
The SmartBoard podcast's first 10 minutes gives the vibe of a talk show that is discussing education news and information. In a way, it is actually pretty boring. I have had podcasts before but I could actually view a video. All the podcasts I downloaded, it is just listening to people talk.
I decided to switch up some of the podcasts and downloaded Teachers Teaching Teachers. I found it under education and the K-12 section. It is about keeping it real in the New York public school system. All the teachers are sharing how they engaged their students in the classroom. It also gave a lot of praise and positive testimony's toward using podcasts in the classroom.
The EdTalk was more interesting because there was a video for me to watch. iMovies is pretty cool because you can make your own video and upload it to itunes and share with the world and it is extremely easy to do. It's nice that technology is getting easier to use so that everyone can use it. Now being too young or too old is not a valid excuse on why one cannot use a computer or all the new helpful technology that is available to us!
Podcasts is like specific news and/or information. If you want to know about something, you can search for podcasts and most likely something will come up and interest you. Honestly, I thought podcasts were just tv, cartoon, or movies that you can view. I think that it is really cool that there is education podcasts as well. And what also makes podcasts worth checking out is that most of them are free!
The SmartBoard podcast's first 10 minutes gives the vibe of a talk show that is discussing education news and information. In a way, it is actually pretty boring. I have had podcasts before but I could actually view a video. All the podcasts I downloaded, it is just listening to people talk.
I decided to switch up some of the podcasts and downloaded Teachers Teaching Teachers. I found it under education and the K-12 section. It is about keeping it real in the New York public school system. All the teachers are sharing how they engaged their students in the classroom. It also gave a lot of praise and positive testimony's toward using podcasts in the classroom.
The EdTalk was more interesting because there was a video for me to watch. iMovies is pretty cool because you can make your own video and upload it to itunes and share with the world and it is extremely easy to do. It's nice that technology is getting easier to use so that everyone can use it. Now being too young or too old is not a valid excuse on why one cannot use a computer or all the new helpful technology that is available to us!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
International Schools Using Blogs
The International Schools Island (isi) has a blog that list important dates and upcoming events for teachers around the world with special emphasis in South East Asia. This blog is a little different from a blog that students and/or teachers write in to share with everyone else. In this blog, it gives information, but also allows others to discuss prior events and the information given. On the right side of the blog there are links available to find out more information about the program and other useful links. Here is a flier for their next up and coming event:
The second blog I found was from the Green School in Bali, Indonesia. Their school has about 100 students and goes from preschool to 8th grade. All students here are considered gifted and talented. Their primary goal for students is to learn using 21st century learning materials. On the blog there is information about what the Green School is how you can enroll your child, how you can help, and any other information you would need to know. Here is a picture of Ronald Stones, one of the founders of The Green School, in front of the school:
The second blog I found was from the Green School in Bali, Indonesia. Their school has about 100 students and goes from preschool to 8th grade. All students here are considered gifted and talented. Their primary goal for students is to learn using 21st century learning materials. On the blog there is information about what the Green School is how you can enroll your child, how you can help, and any other information you would need to know. Here is a picture of Ronald Stones, one of the founders of The Green School, in front of the school:
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