Task 3-1 Reflection

Hey y'all... Task 3 ALREADY!

1.    What roles did the members of your team have this week?

Well looking at our rough draft some of us were given the assignment of setting up the Google doc page, monitoring group participation, scenario idea, visuals, conclusion and editor in chief. 

2.    Given your role in the group this week, how did you contribute to group?

I was given the role of choosing the visuals we would use. When searching for what visuals to use I thought I wasn't choosing very good pictures but looking at the final set up I think those pictures turned out great :) 

3.    What worked well this week?

I think emailing each other, posting in our forums and having the google doc open for all of us to see was really helpful. 

4.    What will you do differently next time? 

I turned in my pictures late so I'll be sure to get it done earlier next time :) 

Week 10 Group 4 Current Event

Aloha fellow educators!

This week's current event topic was: As individuals share your opinion on your top 3 computer Internet skills children should develop so that they will be prepared for life in the information age? 

This week our group has decided that among many things internet safety, internet ethics and netiquette are the top 3 computer internet skills that children should develop. 

We believe that in this generation parents are allowing their children more and more time on the internet. With so many appealing social medias out there, children are constantly creating new profiles and giving away their information. We agreed that passwords should be strong and all internet devices should have reliable virus protection. We also agreed that children should be aware of internet ethics. We all have to learn to abide by cyber laws such as copyrights with information and images. And speaking of images we would also like to point out that children should be cautious of not just the information they give out but also the pictures they post. They should understand that anyone can not only see their pictures but also steal their pictures. Children should know not to degrade themselves by the pictures they post. Lastly, we believe that netiquette is an important skill to learn. We believe that netiquette is important not only because it teaches the children the proper way to communicate on the internet but also because it teaches children that whatever they post, it may be there forever. So children should know not slander themselves or anyone else while they communicate on the web. 

Overall, that was our suggestions on the top 3 computer internet skills we believe children should have. Here are a few links that we all thought were a good read: Enjoy :)

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/The_Top_10_Tech_Skills_Your_Teen/

http://www.technokids.com/blog/technology-skills/should-you-teach-internet-skills/

http://honustop3.blogspot.com/

http://www.ehow.com/how_6328584_teach-basic-computer-skills-kids.html

http://www.findingdulcine

Task 2: The Debrief

So Task 2 was pretty cool too. I have not used any educational website or tool before this class unless CourseCompass, TeenBiz and Laulima counts. Like I said in my introduction I really suck with technology so I haven't used nor have I had the interest to explore different web tools. But it's good to know that these type of things are available to me. For this task I chose LiveBinders because it wasn't too complicated to figure out. I'm pretty sure there are other web tools that do what LiveBinders does PLUS other cool stuff but LiveBinders was simple enough for me. I would probably use this tool in my classroom but by that time I think I would have found something more versatile . We'll see :) As for improving the web 2.0 tool selection process, I think the process was good. Having that table to chose from in our resources was helpful. The only reason I chose something other than the suggestions in our resources was because I didn't want to possibly have the same screenR video as someone else. 

Here's the link to my video: screenr.com/xOq7 

Task 1: The Debrief

So Task 1 was pretty cool! Lot's of exploring and experimenting going on! Before this semester I had a Google Blogger but nothing else, no Twitter, iGoogle, Reader or Diigo. I think each tool is great to have! The blog is good for teacher/student communication. iGoogle is pretty fun and is good for quick accessibility  Reader is useful for when I want articles to refer to. And Diigo is just amazing. But I don't see the value in Twitter. I'm not sure if I will continue using these tools. For sure I won't use Twitter, Blogger is a mayyybbee depending if I have time to blog, iGoogle would be good if I set mine up better, Reader is beast so I'll keep that one and Diigo is good if I can just master it. Aha they're all amazing,  it's just the fact that if I had time to get to know all the functions of each tool then I would use them but I don't know when I'll get that time. For now, Google search bar works for me.

Also ScreenR is beast so I'm sure I'll use that one!

Here's my video! screenr.com/2Vc7 

Week 6 Group 4 Current Event

Hello everybody! This week our Current Event topic was:


Current Event Topic: iPads are they all that they are made out to be as they relate to whole classroom?  Identify an article, blog post or website that takes a position (which you agree with) on the usefulness of the Apple iPad in the classroom.

Explanation: From what you know and from what you have researched are the iPads an important tool for your classroom.  Would an Andriod based tablet be a better fit?  What about a cabinet of laptops?  What about a cabinet of less powerful notebook computers?   What about traditional desktop computer stations?

This week Jason chose our winning article:

http://edte.ch/blog/2011/05/11/apple-ipads-or-android-tablets-see-what-more-than-1000-educators-decided/

In summary our group agreed that iPads are better than Androids when comparing the overall benefits of using technology to enhance education in the classroom.The biggest issue that this article discusses is if the iPad is worth it's money. Here are a few key quotes from the article that defend why tablets are useful and why iPads are more efficient:

"However, the potential to enhance teaching and learning with the freedoms provided by mobile devices becomes a different story; the capacity to excite, engage and personalise learning is undoubtedly present. With the flexibility and portability of tablet devices many of the former obstructions fell away – the enhancements were only enhanced!"

"Crucially, no other Android device provides anything like the scope for enhancing teaching and learning like the iPads..."

"Apple is better for such a deployment of multiple devices include the following:

-          The Apple OS is upgraded and installed much faster and more effectively than equivalent Android OS, therefore apps on iPads continue to get faster and better, particularly in areas like iTextbooks etc.

-          The back up, synchronising and cloud storage of iCloud is far superior to any Android equivalent, therefore student work is more secure

-          OS support is proven to be more consistent from Apple

-          Malware, viruses are considerably more common on Android devices and security on Android devices is significantly weaker. The gatekeeper control of Apple means the downloading of apps is more secure and their system provides excellent systematic protections for multiple devices

-          The range of Apple apps is currently significant larger and of better quality (a quality controlled by Apple)

-          Apple development and support is more consistent and systematic than Google’s Android model – this is crucial for our needs over the next five years. "

Lastly the author of the article using this quote to conclude his claim: “pay cheap, pay twice” and our group agrees with him. 

I'd also like to add another article from our group mate, Michelle. http://edte.ch/blog/2011/05/11/apple-ipads-or-android-tablets-see-what-more-than-1000-educators-decided/ . Don't take our word for it, check out this article that shows what educators have chosen. Apple iPad or Android Tablet? Click on it :)

Self Introduction

Hi, my name is Johanna Rose Mindo but everyone from school calls me Mindo. 

My favorite technology gadget is my laptop Solomon. I figure that he's my favorite because there was this one day that he wasn't working very well and I had to take him to the laptop doctors (Geek Squad) and leave him there over night. IT WAS TORTURE! I went home and I tried to do things but I realized how much I needed him. I couldn't play music, I couldn't do homework, I couldn't do anything! I can't even recall much of that day, it's like I dropped off my laptop and the world stopped. I sound pretty lame but that is literally what happened that day. So long story short, Solomon my laptop is my favorite gizmo :)

My group work style is people friendly. I like to hear out other people's ideas first then throw in my own ideas. Unless I'm in a group where nobody talks or nobody wants to contribute, then I usually delegate. I'm really lame with technology and I consider myself technology illiterate, hence why I'm taking this class. I'll usually do the bulk of the work or the parts that no one wants to do- just don't count on me for fancy tech stuff until after this class. So if I'm placed in your group then know that I will make an effort to make sure all voices are heard and that I am down to do my share of the work! :) Excited to see who I'm grouped up with and how this will work since we're an online class. 

Also I'm late to the class so I hope no one chose this link! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNxaSct3UHs