iChat

The video conferencing using iChat is neat and could be very useful when you need to speak to someone who's not in the same room as you. The recording of our voices in garageband was cool as well. I think these tools would be very useful in the classroom if it's set up with macs. Students in different classes would be able to collaborate on projects and share information this way.
The film clips we gathered and worked on was also a neat thing to do. I've done some work similar to this in my multi media class in undergard. I could see how this could be useful becuase sometimes there are just parts of movies or several clips that may be helpful to students so using this program, teachers can string them together and cut parts out to enhance the point they are trying to make.

Video 3/30 and 4/6

The video we watched in class the past two weeks has been very interesting to me. I didn't grow up with a ton of technology but we definitely had a computer when I was young (maybe 5 or 6). My brother and I only played games on it but I remember it being really cool. Kids growing up today have so much technology they don't know what to do with it all! This leads to inappropriate uses as well as many appropriate uses. I truly believe that the social networking sites (facebook, etc.) should have stayed only available for college students and professionals to actually "network" and stay in touch once out of school. I know I'm generalizing but there's so much drama that already goes on in schools why have a social networking site to continue the drama outside of school? Kids take things way too far (bullying, etc.) and by having these sites available to everyone, there are those who will take advantage of others and continue their inappropriate behavior outside of school. This is when students taking their own lives because of bullying, etc. becomes an issue. If kids can't get away from others even when they are at home, there is a major problem. I know even if there wasn't facebook or myspace there would probably be something else but parents need to have a good idea of what their children do online especially if they are still younger. I know I had stuff I didn't want my parents to see or read online but that wasn't until I was in high school and college. Kids do need to be kids but parents need to be invested in their lives more today than before.

iPad Prediction

My prediction for the iPad is that it will not take off and it will not become the "new thing to have." Even with it's many "useful" features I feel like it doesn't do enough for today's world users. Even in schools, where it may get it's biggest lead in the market, I feel like it will need to be used for such a wide variety of tasks that it will not be able to keep up. In theory, the iPad seems wonderful, extremely portable, does lots of stuff, etc. but if most households already have a desktop and at least one laptop, why go for an iPad? It's just more money down the drain especially if it doesn't catch on. Those who would have gotten an iPad are stuck with something that will be forgotten about tomorrow. Now, i'm not trying to be cynical but the more technology that floods our markets, the more picky people become. New technology needs to meet a demand and I just don't see the demand for the iPad. If I am totally off base and the iPad does become the "next best thing" then I'll take back what I've said but for now I'm sticking with this!

Grage Band and the future of our teachers...

Yesterday in class I enjoyed playing with songs in Garage Band. Even though we spent quite a bit of time using it, it was entertaining and could be something to use in my classroom in the future. I was surprised to learn that you could take songs (midi files) from the internet, put them into Garage Band then change them to however you like! It was quite simple! I do not see myself as a composer yet but playing with songs is a neat way to get kids interested in music if they aren't interested already. The fact that there are instrument lessons within the program is cool as well. I've always wanted to learn how to play guitar and the piano but I never seem to have the time. If I ever get a mac I may be so inclined to listen to those lessons and maybe learn how to play those instruments!
The fate of the teachers in NYS and around the country seems dire but I am holding out hope that after December of this year when I'm done with my Masters I will find a job I like, where I want. This may be too much to ask but hey it could happen!

Presentations part 2

I enjoyed the second round of the presentations. They were well done and provided good information for the class. The going green in the classroom presentation will make me think about what I use in my (future) classroom even more then I may have before. It was very interesting to me to learn about the completely green school and how parents have moved there just so their children can attend the school. Going green doesn't have to be teacher led either. Students can be just as active in thinking of ways to go green within classrooms and even the school. They can even be the catalyst to make those green changes instead of leaving it to the teacher. Great job everyone!

Class Presentations (part 1)

The class presentations were great last week. I enjoyed how in depth each person went into their subject. That actually kind of worries me because I haven't presented yet and mine is definitely only 10-15 minutes (I thought that was our time frame).
Anyway, each presenter gave me helpful insight in using the educational technology that they spoke about. I found each presentation helpful and even though some ed. tech. takes a while to either learn how to use or keep updated on a daily basis it is well worth the effort. Today's world is changing at an alarming rate and by taking steps to move with it, we can better prepare our students for life outside the classroom.
Great job everyone!

Laptops and music

Last class we talked about a school in PA that used software within the laptops (which were given to each of its students) to track the said laptops if they were stolen. The webcams and audio devices can be turned on remotely by administrators if a laptop had been reported as stolen. In one case, a boy was reprimanded for his "inappropriate actions" INSIDE his own home. Maybe this was unintentional or a mistake but the webcam shouldn't have been activated in the first place seeing as the laptop was still in possession of the student it was given to. I don't think this method of laptop retreival would be effective at all and the fact the webcams can be turned on (possibly) inadvertantly is not ok. The student involved has every right to be upset and the school should rethink its procedures when it comes to being able to track stolen laptops.
The music portion of class was vry interesting to start. I had gotten the idea that the lower the megabytes (or whatever they are) the less quality there would be to the music but I didn't really care all that much. Honestly, I still don't. As long as I can hear the music I want to listen to and it doesn't sound awful I'm good. It was interesting to hear the radio stations and to see how low the megabytes they use really are. The quality was fine to me so it's interesting to see that they can accommodate their listeners without using too large a bandwidth (is that you'd call it?).

Fritz Chips

The end of the in class video dealing with Fritz chips was interesting to me because in one way I can understand companies trying to protect certain codes and software but on the other hand, couldn't monopolies happen if only one company is making a piece of technology and it's protected by a Fritz chip? It almost seems to me that a Fritz chip is a "super patent" if you will. On top of being protected on paper, the software/technology is protected internally. Interesting...
If only a few companies has the codes and technology then how will improvements be made? "Outsiders" often have different views and ideas so improvements may be made to better the technology in question so by protecting it so carefully, are companies limiting their growth potential?

Media, copy writing, etc.

Without media (dvd players, tivo, cd player, etc.) humans would have very different forms of entertainment. I would actually be curious to go back, change history, come back to the present time and see what we would be doing for fun but seeing as I can't do that I'll just imagine on my own time.

The actions of lawmakers have decided what would be considered piracy, copy writing infringement, etc. and then taken products off the market that violate such laws. This has shaped what we come to know as different forms of entertainment today but have they gone too far? or not far enough? If I were taking into account the lack of parenting I see when I sub and talk to other teachers, students and faculty as well as the massive amounts of technology produced purely for entertainment and not for anything educational, I would have to say that law makers/decision makers have not done enough. Although taking entertainment products off the market or stopping them before they could be made would probably be violating some of our rights or something like that... Ok, enough ranting!

Crash Course Response

After watching the Crash Course video I was distressed to think this one person could figure out that our country and world are not doing well (to put it nicely). Though he stayed positive, I cannot see how we can keep doing what we're doing and still have a world to live in and function in in twenty years.
I was also filled with uncertainty, not for myself but for children today. I don't have any children myself but I can't even imagine bringing a child into this world even in the next few years. The world is so unstable that it makes me wonder if there will be a livable world for our children to live in twenty years down the line.
I was also constantly asking the DVD (Chris M.) what can I do as an individual? The feeling of hopelessness filled me as I thought that that I am just one person in the midst of millions and millions of people world-wide. I felt like no matter what I would do as an individual, it wouldn't matter. Yet Chris was still upbeat!
At the very end of the DVD I had some hope and even curiosity as to what will actually happen in twenty years. With the rapid decline Chris showed us I sincerely hope those in power will realize VERY DRASTIC things need to happen in order to make our future and the future of our children a good future.

The iPad Release

First I have to say that I've had trouble with my gmail account along with everything else so needless to say I have a new gmail address, site, blog, etc.

Saying that, the release of the iPad is exciting but I can't say that I would purchase one. The iPad is portable and looks like a smaller laptop and a bigger iPhone. Having no "cover" to speak of, I would be afraid of breaking it. The abilities of the iPad seem broad and cover a large spectrum which is nice but I would think it might have limited memory and certain capabilities.
As a teacher, I can see grants being written to get iPads for classes in place of new books and new laptops. I can also see business people and specialists (doctors, etc.) using the iPad as a means of portability and consolidating information.