Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Final Blog Assighnment

1) -Blogs, I found them everywhere once I looked for them, prior to this class I never took the time or had the interest to read blog posts. Blogging definitely opened up a new perspective of the internet.
-Google, prior to this class I used a basic yahoo email account, never thinking of the applications google had to offer. I'm glad I now have the experience.
-Picasa, as much as I like to take pictures I can really see myself getting to know this software better and using it often.
-Podcast,Video cast, and Youtube. I love to youtube, whether its comedians or just random videos to make me laugh, now if I'm ever lucky enough top catch something funny on tape I have the ability to share it with the world.
-Google Earth, fantastic technology, I definitely plan on using this more inside and out the class room.
-Technological literacy, I never claimed to be...but now I can hopefully build on the skills I've learned in EDM class and provide insight to others who can also benefit.
-Future of schools, I think this is the most important topic of the EDM class, I realized this class is here for me to help myself in order to help my students learn necessary skills.

2)Things I'd like to have learned in this class? Well, this class far surpassed any of my expectations, if I had one choice to change something it would only be to add more focus on the big projects and have less tedious assignments.

3)Things I learned that I wish I had Not? This really doesn't apply to me, if anything should be not useful to me, its all the book marking software I had to download. But maybe I will find a reason to use it later.

4)Did the class excite me in anyway? Yes, the class was filled with interesting activities where I learn a lot of new information.

5)Did I find anything in class to be particularly "intellectually challenging"? Not really, mostly everything was interesting but not so much challenging. If there was a challenging part of the course it would be the patients you would have to have to follow videos and instruction, sometimes they were extremely time consuming.

6)were you bored in this class at anytime? Bored maybe..Frustrated definitely, the time we spent in class was not constructive enough, the class time could have been more productive if there were specific tasks assigned.

7)Would I change this class in anyway? Yes (see answer to #6)

8)Am I technologically literate at the moment? Moderately speaking, yes.

9)How will I maintain or improve my technological literacy? I plan on taking several of the tools I've learned and continue to build as a teacher with them, to name a few: blogging, skyping, google applications, and creating podcasts.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

NPR Blog on Wikipedia Assignment for Feb 14

I knew that wikipedia was somewhat unreliable in this way thanks to the Comedy Central show Tosh.O, but I didn't consider it's manipulation to these extents. These articles I can say will save me some valuable research time as well as creditability when searching for the facts. Shout out to Virgil Griffith for his scanner, it's always cool when exposing large companies and their execs scheming and doing dirt.

Blog Post Assignment for Feb 7

"It's Not About the Tools, It's about the Skills"

The writer explains his or her thoughts on technology and the reactions of fellow teachers and parents about the use of technology in the classroom. I guess technology's potential relies on the enthusiasm and goals of the teacher as well as they're students.

I am positive that new technologies will be useful tools in my teaching methods. In almost every audio and video cast I've come across, I have had a better understand for topics in my classroom discussions. So if I can find more ways to communicate and share information with my future students while showing them to do the same I see only a positive outcome in learning.

Pod Cast Assignment for Jan 31

Smart Board Lessons Podcast
I think the information was very useful and well thought out. There was several points the commentator made on the usefulness of these smart boards in the classroom. One being the option of audio conferencing, also to mention if there are any delays in the meeting it could be recorded and edited for better quality. The smart board could also be used by class rooms to get ideas from one another for students and teachers. For example if there is an interest in over seas studies there is a window that shares the classroom experience. Also this technology makes it easy to collaborate with other professionals in your field of interest.

Kid Cast #62
In this pod cast, video casting is talked about, for an example if an audience does not share through verbal interaction the video still can be used as a mean of communication. For example videos capture the facial expressions in a reaction. This also allows complex subjects to be better understood in a video demonstration. By these advantages of video, when students participate they to are developing greater communication skills. As far as involvement, video editing and resources are more time consuming than audio.

Ed TechTalk #158
This pod cast talked about the issue of a bill being passed in congress to expand the availability of broad internet nation wide. Although I am not familiar with specifics of the bill, the just of it is important, being that there be a federal plan set in motion to provide broadband internet service to rural areas throughout the United States. Also allowing more competition among providers to offset costs.

Mac Break Weekly #186
Topics up for discussion in this pod casts were the I-Pad vs. Mac Pro, and Palm vs. I-Phone. Although I do not own any of these products was able to get some useful insight on how big businesses either hit it big or flop when releasing these products on the market. For example the hosts hit on issue like how one product might flop due to its lack of financial backup. Meaning if a company can not dish out the cash needed to fix unseen problems after a product is released, then they will not be competitive nor remain popular with consumers when newer products come on the market.

This Week in Photography #140
Well although I have no experience with photo-shop or even cameras that you don't have to wind for that matter, I was still able to get some useful info from this podcast. These guys and lady talked about and explain to the audience what to expect from different photography trade shows. For example the PMA vs. WPPI trade show which WPPI is based on what to do to make money from your photography and how to do it. All and all, this podcast shared different experiences of the hosts which they all concluded that trade shows are predominately there for the networking aspects

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Monday, April 12, 2010

Project 7 Voice Thread using Vocaroo

Project 6 Skype

I think this is an amazing service, not only is Skype free but it is fast and user friendly. Skype allowed me to get in contact with an old friend from back home in North Carolina. Since Leigh and I both used a wireless connection we were able to give each other tours of our home and I was introduced to her two year old baby girl Emma. I am very excited about continuing my use of Skype and hope to get more friends in other parts of the country involved.

EDM TV Questionaire

Questions and Results

1) What genre of television do you most enjoy?

50% Comedy

20% Reality

10% Drama

10% Action/Adventure

2) Approx. how many hours a week do you spend watching television?

20% 1-3 hrs

60% 3-7 hrs

20% >7 hrs

3) Who do you usually watch television with?

60% Family

30% Friends

10% Alone

4) Thank You for your answers...

20% I really enjoyed your questionnaire

80% Your welcome

0% Whatever Man