Tuesday, February 23, 2016
#10 Concept Map
U.S. Money
2.MD.8
1. There are three columns of $1 bills. Each column has five rows. How many $1 bills are there?
1. If there were two $1 bills and five quarters, how much money would you have?
1. If there were three $1 bills, six quarters, and four dimes, how much money would youu have?
1. If there were five $1 bills, two quarters, six dimes, and three nickels, how much money would you have?
1. If there were two $1 bills, three quarters, one dime, two nickels, and ten pennies, how much money would you have?
#9 UB Berkeley Students File Lawsuit Against Google Alleging Illegal Scanning of Email
In the article “UC Berkeley
students file lawsuit against Google alleging illegal scanning of email,”
Michelle Leung writes about the legal issue between Berkeley students and
Google. Google was accused of scanning emails through Education Apps and other
online tools. Four students and alumni were the ones to file the lawsuit
against Google. Another similar occurrence happened where emails were scanned
for advertising purposes. These individuals did not agree the right to Google
to have their emails be intercepted. This action violates the Electronic
Communications Privacy Act. Google had disabled ads scanning in Apps for
Education proving that there were previously accounts of scanning emails. This
previous interception invades the privacy of Berkeley as a whole by having
access to their news inventions, the drugs they are testing, or the people they
are collaborating with. It is predicted that there will be more allegations
made towards Google when more people become aware of such invasions.
This is yet again another article
that makes me extremely uncomfortable about the access Google and other
technologically advanced corporations have. Berkeley is an extremely high
ranked institution. If Google could so easily scan their emails, I can only
imagine how easy it is for them to access other peoples’ information. In all
honesty, it is very scary that these allegations have been made to a company
that I so regularly use. It is important for us to remember to read the
consents and agreements to be more aware if there will be any later invasions.
I personally do not have anything to hide in my emails. I am not chatting about
my latest invention or my personal life, but there are people who are. Having
their emails being scanned could result in another person coming up with that
same “latest invention.” Even though I do not have any spectacular emails, it still
makes me uncomfortable that there is an extent of free range that people you do
not even know can have to your personal life. But reading articles such as this
can only make me that much more cautious.
#8 Digital Rights Group Alleges Google Invades Student Privacy
In the
article “Digital rights group alleges Google invades student privacy,” the
author writes exactly that. Google is accused of invading students’ privacy by
checking their Internet search requests. Google disputes the claim, however.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation alleges Google is following the activities
of students’ grade k-12 through their Chromebook computers. Google has
previously signed a “Student Privacy Pledge” which EFF is claiming they are
breaking. EFF is calling on the FTC to investigate further, but Google says
they are following the laws enforced by FTC. Google has previously been charged
after creating a technical loophole to shadow online activities. Now, Google
has agreed to period privacy audits.
Lately,
there have been a lot more issues concerning the privacy of technology. This
article just proves that personal privacy can be easily invaded without your
knowing. I think it is important that the EFF continued with their complaint
about Google. They very well could have left it alone after Google said it was
not true. Since this has been a previous issue with them, it is important that
they had some sort of reprimand. The
privacy settings on technology should always be checked to make sure personal
information is not freely floating around.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
#7 Life on Mars
In Sheyna
Gifford’s article “Life on Mars,” she writes about the potential life without
technology. Sheyna writes as if she is on the planet Mars. Although it seams like
she is on the real planet, it is only a simulated world, sMars, on Mauna Kea in
Hawaii. There are six simulated
astronauts to split the tasks of being a space architect, an engineer,
scientists, and a crew doctor. The first mission had to deal with the “martian”
being released. However, the media that called about this situation had a
20-minute communication delay. In that case, they first found out that they
were unable to take phone calls, have Skype interviews, do live media
appearances, or be filmed, photographed or recorded. So if there were ever any
problems on sMars, the six of them would pretty much have to figure a solution
on their own. They find that their chief concerns revolve around the sun, air,
water, and rock. These items are what work off of each other to produce the
necessities they need for survival. To understand the needs of each other, the
main goal of this project is collaboration and finding out what people actually
need to live, work, and survive together on other planets. Each person is to
use his or her strengths, knowledge, and resources at hand to pull their weight
in making this community run smoothly. The six of these people were sent to
complete this project to help press humanity into the Universe. The task was
created by technology, as will the trip to the actual planet Mars, but having
people on the planet will be more about the physical human bodies living in
cohesion rather than the technology that surrounds them.
Sheyna
Gifford’s approach to writing about technology was very different from the
typical technology article. The discussion of life on sMars and relating that
to the topic was an interesting way to go about talking about using technology.
I appreciated how, in the end, it all boiled down to those six individual
bodies. There was technology that got them to this point, but once they were
actually there, it sort of seemed to vanish. Working together to find solutions
to problems was more of a priority than relying on the use of technology to
solve them. It seemed as though they were isolated. No outside communication
because of the delay meant no call for help. And that was the most interesting
thing to me about this article. They relied on each other and learned what it
was that people needed to survive. I think this whole simulation is very
relevant in today’s world. Everyone gets so absorbed in technology that we
forget to pay attention to those around us. We, as humans, should be most
important rather than the information technology can bring. Technology is a
great thing and we are extremely lucky to have it at our fingertips, but it is
something that can and does negatively consume our lives and our use of communication
with other human beings.
#6 What does research really say about iPads in the classroom?
In Jeanne
Carey Ingle and Tanya Moorehead’s article “What does research really say about
iPads in the classroom?” they discuss whether the use of iPads is a good or bad
thing. Jeanne is a teacher and part-time professor who has written several
grants to bring technology into her schools and Tanya is a professor who loves
using technology as a teaching tool. The two of them conducted a study in which
they assigned fifteen pre-service teacher interns to an elementary school. They
assumed these younger teachers would automatically know how to use an iPad, but
they were wrong. So, they had to train these interns just like they would have
to train the students because not all of them know how to use such technology.
They found that iPads were not the cause of an improvement in classroom
learning, but teachers who integrated the technology for Project Based
Learning. The research also claims that iPads improve student engagement by
letting them help train their classmates or by allowing them to choose an app
or the like for class that day. They concluded by sharing how research has
demonstrated that iPads have the potential to level the playing field for all
students. They discuss how the research was conducted in inclusive classrooms
with diverse learners. And how this research showed that the more teachers use
technology, the more comfortable children will be using it. The use of iPads in
classrooms helped provide an innovative learning experience for each student.
During my
k-12 schooling, technology was not incorporated into the schools as much as
they are now. We had a library with
numerous computers to use when we were to do research papers and there were a
few classrooms with smart boards. When I graduated, a nearby school granted
each student with either an iPad or iMac. I thought this idea was absurd. But, after
reading this particular article, I feel a little differently. I particularly
like when Jeanne discussed her experience with Edward and his use of the iPad.
There are so many students who do have both home and learning challenges, which
are the main causes as to why they do not perform well in schools. Noticing the
strengths and interest of each student and then incorporating that into the
lesson will help to make them feel important. I also like the idea of allowing
some freedom for students to determine which apps they use during class because
I feel like that is another way to get them more excited about learning. Jeanne
and Tanya wrote how they conducted their research in an inclusive setting,
which is important to me as a future Special Education teacher. I appreciated
how they took such a variety of students to incorporate the use of iPads. When
I do become a teacher, I am sure I will definitely use technology. And I hope I
will use it in such a way so that each student is fully engaged.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
#5 John Hunter
John Hunter: World Peace Game
- Experimental Education career
- Job interview in 70's for teaching gifted children
- After hired asked "What do I do?"
- Had the reply of "What do you want to do?"
- Started World Peace Game in 1978
- Four layers of different environments
- Where children can make meaning out of their own understanding
- Intended to solve world crisis
- Hoping this game will help the children learn how to fix the world in reality
- Self evident assessment- not teachable
- Only way to win is if everyone succeeds
- Social, economic, warfare issues
- Determining what is right from their own selves
- Taught compassion
#4 10 Most Engaging Uses of Tech Integration
Technology in the classrooms can be
used to enhance student engagement if used effectively. There are ten examples
listed of ways to incorporate technology. Audio and video feedback helps for
students to not solely focus on the grade they received, but more clearly
understand why they were given that grade. This type of feedback is more
personal and also helps to accommodate both visual and auditory learners.
Digital portfolios are used for students to be able to share their work and
have their peers, parents, and teachers comment on them. Blended learning gives
opportunities for students to learn at their own pace by having alternate
resources such as a course website, Facebook learning support groups and
recorded podcasts that they are able to access at home. It also frees up time
in the class to allow for questions and deeper thinking. Social media enhances
students’ engagement, if used properly, with tools such as Facebook or blogs.
Game-Based learning helps for students to recognize their achievements causing
them to be more mindful of their progress. Collaboration tools allow for
students to show off their multimedia skills by giving more freedom in what
they share. These types of tools also create a deeper interaction between the
students. Design thinking lets the students choose more of what they want to
share, helping to keep themselves more interested. Another example is given for
reaching individuals and groups by explaining how technology allows for
students to maintain access of projects they have done by saving them in an
online folder and being able to share those later. Allowing the students to
track their own progress using technology helps to create a sense of
self-advocacy for them by being able to monitor all of their previous work.
Visual literacy is also a great accommodation for those who are more-so visual
learners. Each of these ten examples describes ways in which technology can
help foster a greater development for learning.
Saga Briggs did an excellent job
composing this article. By listing these ten factors separately, she was better
able to clearly define them. She provided a lot of content in her work, which
helped to show her credibility. Each bullet was also followed by an example,
which helped to paint a picture of what exactly was being said. I do agree that
technology can be very beneficial in classrooms if used properly. I also firmly
agree with the quote from David Geurin that was used at the start of the article,
“Classrooms don’t need tech geeks who can teach; we need teaching geeks who can
use tech.” Technology cannot be used effectively in the classroom if the
teacher is not knowledgeable of how to use it. However, if the teacher is
knowledgeable, it is up to them to decide which ways of using technology would
be most beneficial for their students. For example, I have never been provided
an audio or video feedback for my written assignments. After reading Saga’s
explanation on this topic, I think that is a great idea for teachers to
consider. It happens all too often that I wonder where I went wrong or what I
actually did well because of a lack of explanation. I also really like the idea
of game-based learning due to the fact that I would consider myself mainly a
visual and kinesthetic learner. I think this use of technology helps to
accommodate different styles of learning and helps to keep the engagement
because it makes class time more exciting. Because of Saga’s descriptions, I
was able to understand these ten specific ways that technology can be used to
enhance students’ engagement. Her written account of this helps for me as a
future educator to better understand effective ways of teaching.
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