In an article from TechCrunch, Bill Gates is to have said that in a matter of years education will be mostly web-based. Web-based, as in online, as in no one has to GO anywhere to get an education. Good news for me as an elementary educator, he also said that "ducational institutions are still vital for children, K-12". However, for college students, apparently, hearing a lecture online is as beneficial as being in a classroom.
I strongly disagree.
I'm sure I've talked about learning types on here before, so I won't go into great detail, but sitting at a computer listening to a lecture could be the very worst way for most students to learn. And even if it did work for some students, it would be so boring! While going to class isn't always ideal, seeing a lecture live and being able to interact with that lecturer enhances the educational process and is much more exciting.
http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/06/bill-gates-education/
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tech Blog: Royal Wedding
With the wedding of Prince William and Kate nearing, look to the web for full access to the event. The wedding will be broadcasted on YouTube and pictures will be available on flickr as well. An article from the guardian.co.uk says "as well as being broadcast live online royal officials will manage a live multimedia blog and augment coverage on a dedicated twitter feed, @ClarenceHouse".
This is a step up from the last royal wedding, because the whole world will be seeing it live with in depth details, or not, depending on what people tune into to. According to the article, those watching the broadcast on YouTube will be watching without the BBC commentators that other live viewers will see.
I find it interesting that the palace staff is in charge of updating the twitter feed and posting on flickr. They will be incorporating "historical information and interesting links" within their tweets to feed the royal-wedding-hungry public around the world.
This is a step up from the last royal wedding, because the whole world will be seeing it live with in depth details, or not, depending on what people tune into to. According to the article, those watching the broadcast on YouTube will be watching without the BBC commentators that other live viewers will see.
I find it interesting that the palace staff is in charge of updating the twitter feed and posting on flickr. They will be incorporating "historical information and interesting links" within their tweets to feed the royal-wedding-hungry public around the world.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Tech Blog: Meal Snap
iPhone just released an app that is supposed to give consumers a rough estimate of the number of calories they are getting ready to eat by taking a picture of their meal. For calorie crunchers, it sounds too good to be true, and in my opinion, it is. The app replies with an estimate of how many calories is in the meal based only on what the picture shows. And the calorie counts are ridiculous... the article talks about a handful of cashews having anywhere from 150-614 calories. The author of the article says that for him, having SOME idea of what goes into his body is good enough, but for anyone seriously watching their weight or counting calories, a difference of 500 is a pretty big deal. I would be interested in seeing how it calculates a whole meal if a small snack comes back with such variation! Until Meal Snap figures out how to calculate meals more effectively, I'd say serious dieters should stick to Weight Watchers. Instead of using technology, Weight Watchers actually analyzes the food you eat using protein, fat, carbs and fiber and rates it on a point system. If you use their online tool or attend meetings, you're given a point target and that tells you how many points you should be eating a day. It if a much more realistic way of tracking what goes into your mouth.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tech Blog: Social Media in the Classroom
In doing research for my broadcast presentation on The Case for the Virtual Classroom, I stumbled upon this site:
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/05/100-inspiring-ways-to-use-social-media-in-the-classroom/
100 ways to use social media in the classroom. I find it so interesting that teachers are using these social media sites as a way to present and interpret information in the classroom. Why not let students use technology that they are so in tune with? It enables the teacher and the students to focus on the content rather than the mechanics of learning new technology. It also teaches the students to use social media sites more responsibly and constructively rather than using them to stalk their virtual friends or use the sites as an emotional vent.
Although I'm sure there are some downsides to using social media sites, such as credibility of information, and age-appropriateness, I think that if the teacher is doing her job and spending adequate preparation time with her lessons, she can find a way around these things and use the sites to make a very compelling lesson. That is, of course, provided that the school removes the firewall feature that blocks most of these sites...
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/05/100-inspiring-ways-to-use-social-media-in-the-classroom/
100 ways to use social media in the classroom. I find it so interesting that teachers are using these social media sites as a way to present and interpret information in the classroom. Why not let students use technology that they are so in tune with? It enables the teacher and the students to focus on the content rather than the mechanics of learning new technology. It also teaches the students to use social media sites more responsibly and constructively rather than using them to stalk their virtual friends or use the sites as an emotional vent.
Although I'm sure there are some downsides to using social media sites, such as credibility of information, and age-appropriateness, I think that if the teacher is doing her job and spending adequate preparation time with her lessons, she can find a way around these things and use the sites to make a very compelling lesson. That is, of course, provided that the school removes the firewall feature that blocks most of these sites...
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tech Blog: Text Relief
On campus today a group of Japanese foreign exchange students handed me a slip of paper asking for donations to aid the earthquake and tsunami victims in their home country. To donate, one must text a number and then $10 would be donated to the Red Cross. I was skeptical at first, but after looking it up on the Red Cross's website, it checked out. It works by charging $10 to your wireless carrier, which then donates the money to the Red Cross.
There was also a text donation service for the victims in Haiti and so far over $22 million has been raised through the Red Cross. I found this new way of getting aid to victims of natural disasters very interesting and it seems to be a very effective way of using technology to give help to those who need it.
http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_nolnav_text2help
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/technology/2010/01/haiti_text_90999_american_red.html
There was also a text donation service for the victims in Haiti and so far over $22 million has been raised through the Red Cross. I found this new way of getting aid to victims of natural disasters very interesting and it seems to be a very effective way of using technology to give help to those who need it.
http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_nolnav_text2help
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/technology/2010/01/haiti_text_90999_american_red.html
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tech Blog: A Touch of Technology
For my blog this week, I read an article about a school in South Dakota in which students in elementary classrooms use an iPod Touch as part of the educational process.
The article detalied how they used the iPod to first read a story, then wrote a summary, drew a picture, and then turned those into a podcast, all on the device. These are things that normally happen in an elementary classroom, but I think it is amazing that the students are able to do these mundane things in a way that makes it exciting, easy, and fun.
The kids interviewed in the article love using the iPods, and the teachers had nothing but rave reviews, but I see some problems with using this technology in every subject.
First of all, one of the teachers says that the iPods help first graders with handwriting skills. I would have to object and say that it does not adequately prepare children for writing properly. Using their fingers to write on a tiny iPod screen, while helping with fine motor skills, does not show first graders how to hold a pencil or use their hand to write.
Secondly, one of the students says "you can search anything you want". I, personally, would not want my child being able to have free reign of the internet, even if it is on an iPod. As an elementary education major, I feel that it is the teacher's responsibility to find appropriate sites that can enhance learning. Letting children, especially first graders, search for whatever they want does not sound like a good idea to me.
Another objection I have is that the students are using the iPods as personal dictionaries. If they can't figure out how to spell a word, they type it into their iPod and it corrects the word for them. Learning to sound out words and develop phonemic awareness is critical for students if they will ever be able to write and spell properly in the future. Giving them the easy way out is not benefiting them whatsoever.
So, even though I am a fan of incorporating technology into the classroom, I'm not sure this school is doing it in a way that will best help the students.
http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6373.cfm?Id=111852
The article detalied how they used the iPod to first read a story, then wrote a summary, drew a picture, and then turned those into a podcast, all on the device. These are things that normally happen in an elementary classroom, but I think it is amazing that the students are able to do these mundane things in a way that makes it exciting, easy, and fun.
The kids interviewed in the article love using the iPods, and the teachers had nothing but rave reviews, but I see some problems with using this technology in every subject.
First of all, one of the teachers says that the iPods help first graders with handwriting skills. I would have to object and say that it does not adequately prepare children for writing properly. Using their fingers to write on a tiny iPod screen, while helping with fine motor skills, does not show first graders how to hold a pencil or use their hand to write.
Secondly, one of the students says "you can search anything you want". I, personally, would not want my child being able to have free reign of the internet, even if it is on an iPod. As an elementary education major, I feel that it is the teacher's responsibility to find appropriate sites that can enhance learning. Letting children, especially first graders, search for whatever they want does not sound like a good idea to me.
Another objection I have is that the students are using the iPods as personal dictionaries. If they can't figure out how to spell a word, they type it into their iPod and it corrects the word for them. Learning to sound out words and develop phonemic awareness is critical for students if they will ever be able to write and spell properly in the future. Giving them the easy way out is not benefiting them whatsoever.
So, even though I am a fan of incorporating technology into the classroom, I'm not sure this school is doing it in a way that will best help the students.
http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6373.cfm?Id=111852
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tech Blog 5: Confession: A Roman Cathoic App
At Mass on Sunday, Father Hoye told us about a new technology that helps Catholics in the confessional. This app, available through the iTunes store offers "a personalized examination of conscience for each user, password protected profiles, and a step-by-step guide to the sacrament". It is designed to help Catholics prepare to receive the sacrament.
There was some confusion that this app would REPLACE the sacrament of reconciliation. The Daily Caller claims that the app "erases all sin" but know, absolution can only be granted by a priest in the confessional.
Many are saying that the Catholic Church is finally entering the 21st century with this new app, but what many don't know is that there are many other apps to aid Catholics in the faith. Divineoffice.org and iBreviaryPro help Catholics pray the liturgy of the hours on their iPhone, Blackberry, or Android device.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/confession-a-roman-catholic/id416019676?mt=8#
http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/09/confession-theres-an-app-for-that/
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibreviarypro/id373543658?mt=8
There was some confusion that this app would REPLACE the sacrament of reconciliation. The Daily Caller claims that the app "erases all sin" but know, absolution can only be granted by a priest in the confessional.
Many are saying that the Catholic Church is finally entering the 21st century with this new app, but what many don't know is that there are many other apps to aid Catholics in the faith. Divineoffice.org and iBreviaryPro help Catholics pray the liturgy of the hours on their iPhone, Blackberry, or Android device.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/confession-a-roman-catholic/id416019676?mt=8#
http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/09/confession-theres-an-app-for-that/
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibreviarypro/id373543658?mt=8
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Tech Blog 5: St. Valentine's Day
For my tech blog this week, I decided to look at how technology is affecting Valentine's Day. In my experience, I think of e-cards that are passed around, online gifts or gift ideas. Personally, I find all of these very impersonal. I would prefer to have a gift that had a personal touch, or at least handwriting!
I found an article from The Telegraph, a magazine from the UK in which the author argues that technology is killing romance through text messages and emails, and as for my old-fashioned self, I agree. Who REALLY wants to get an email or text message over a handwritten note or card? Or even worse, in my opinion, who wants a Facebook post or tweet expressing your feelings?
An article by Sarah Kline says that Facebook and Twitter are "fostering a sense of “faux intimacy” among couples. All that texting and posting doesn’t teach people how to develop genuine relationships. “You let your fingers do the walking and you can forget that you need to do the talking,” "
These ways of communication are fitting for today's fast-paced world, but maybe it's time for us to slow down and celebrate our relationships in the real world.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4568243/Valentines-Day-Technology-is-killing-romance.html
http://www.theonlinemom.com/secondary.asp?id=1463
I found an article from The Telegraph, a magazine from the UK in which the author argues that technology is killing romance through text messages and emails, and as for my old-fashioned self, I agree. Who REALLY wants to get an email or text message over a handwritten note or card? Or even worse, in my opinion, who wants a Facebook post or tweet expressing your feelings?
An article by Sarah Kline says that Facebook and Twitter are "fostering a sense of “faux intimacy” among couples. All that texting and posting doesn’t teach people how to develop genuine relationships. “You let your fingers do the walking and you can forget that you need to do the talking,” "
These ways of communication are fitting for today's fast-paced world, but maybe it's time for us to slow down and celebrate our relationships in the real world.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4568243/Valentines-Day-Technology-is-killing-romance.html
http://www.theonlinemom.com/secondary.asp?id=1463
Monday, February 7, 2011
Tech Blog 4: Super Bowl
As a Packers fan, I'd say the Super Bowl was a success, but also as one who loves to watch the commercials, I would have to say otherwise. Although I did like Volkswagen's "The Force" I was left confused and downright flustered at some of the ads I saw last night.
As it turns out, the ads I disliked the most were all for some sort of technology, and I was not alone. According to an article on techcrunch.com, the top three disliked ads were for saleforce: chatter.com and godaddy.com. I read through the comments to see what others were saying about this topic, and I was surprised to find that even those who knew what salesforce was disliked the ads as well because they attempted to mass market a product that only a select few know about. Many thought that the shock factor of the godaddy commercials has worn off. Others thought that the ads weren't serving their purpose because people are more likely to remember the girls than the website itself.
The commercials that upset me the most were those for groupon.com, which I just blogged about the other day. I couldn't believe that they mocked real-life crises in order to market their site. One comment put it perfectly:
"These ads boil down to "the world is suffering, but who cares what happens to the world as long as I can indulge myself." Says quite a lot about the human condition."
I am sure whether people liked the ad or not, it is causing a stir and groupon.com is receiving a lot of attention for it, attention that they do not deserve after such a stunt.
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/07/tech-super-bowl-ads-didnt-hit-home-salesforce-and-go-daddy-most-disliked/
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/06/save-the-money-groupons-super-bowl-ads-may-spark-faux-outrage/
As it turns out, the ads I disliked the most were all for some sort of technology, and I was not alone. According to an article on techcrunch.com, the top three disliked ads were for saleforce: chatter.com and godaddy.com. I read through the comments to see what others were saying about this topic, and I was surprised to find that even those who knew what salesforce was disliked the ads as well because they attempted to mass market a product that only a select few know about. Many thought that the shock factor of the godaddy commercials has worn off. Others thought that the ads weren't serving their purpose because people are more likely to remember the girls than the website itself.
The commercials that upset me the most were those for groupon.com, which I just blogged about the other day. I couldn't believe that they mocked real-life crises in order to market their site. One comment put it perfectly:
"These ads boil down to "the world is suffering, but who cares what happens to the world as long as I can indulge myself." Says quite a lot about the human condition."
I am sure whether people liked the ad or not, it is causing a stir and groupon.com is receiving a lot of attention for it, attention that they do not deserve after such a stunt.
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/07/tech-super-bowl-ads-didnt-hit-home-salesforce-and-go-daddy-most-disliked/
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/06/save-the-money-groupons-super-bowl-ads-may-spark-faux-outrage/
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tech Blog 3: TeacherTube
In classrooms from kindergarten to college, teachers are trying to find ways to incorporate technology into their lesson plans. TeacherTube is a video sharing site that allows teachers to upload and view classroom-appropriate videos to enhance the learning process. With a convenient search tool, teachers can find videos, documents, and articles, and lesson plans related to whatever topic they choose. It is a free service and can be used for any grade level.
What I found interesting about TeacherTube is that many of the videos are made for students BY students. It has been found that much learning is done by teaching others, so the idea of having students create informational videos to be used in the classroom is beneficial to both the students creating and the students watching. They are learning how to use technical equipment, digital presence, and the classroom content, all in one project!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120649011463564023.html?mod=pj_main_hs_coll
What I found interesting about TeacherTube is that many of the videos are made for students BY students. It has been found that much learning is done by teaching others, so the idea of having students create informational videos to be used in the classroom is beneficial to both the students creating and the students watching. They are learning how to use technical equipment, digital presence, and the classroom content, all in one project!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120649011463564023.html?mod=pj_main_hs_coll
Tech Blog 2: Groupon
www.groupon.com was created in 2007 to offer deals for "the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy in more than 150 cities around the world". Groupons are awesome for the consumer, who gets to save money, and for the business, because large groups of people come in to save 50-90%. Consumers purchase the groupon online and take it in to receive a service. The deal of the day today in the Kansas City area is a two-hour photography course, which usually runs for $100, for just $45.
I recently used a groupon with some friends at an ice cream shop in Lee's Summit. My friend's sister purchased the groupon for us and all we had to do was go in, show the groupon, and we got ice cream without paying anything additional. We even had enough left over to buy some chocolates to take home.
Now, in addition to printing groupons, there are iPhone, Android, and Blackberry apps that allow users to keep track of their purchased groupons by location and expiration date. They are redeemable just like the paper copies.
Check out the deals in your area!
http://www.groupon.com/learn
Tech article found:http://www.crunchbase.com/company/groupon
I recently used a groupon with some friends at an ice cream shop in Lee's Summit. My friend's sister purchased the groupon for us and all we had to do was go in, show the groupon, and we got ice cream without paying anything additional. We even had enough left over to buy some chocolates to take home.
Now, in addition to printing groupons, there are iPhone, Android, and Blackberry apps that allow users to keep track of their purchased groupons by location and expiration date. They are redeemable just like the paper copies.
Check out the deals in your area!
http://www.groupon.com/learn
Tech article found:http://www.crunchbase.com/company/groupon
Tech Blog 1: Pagemodo
In order to "help small businesses develop an online presence across the web" Webs has added Pagemodo to their list of online solutions. Pagemodo uses Facebook as a marketing tool for those companies that can't create their own website and Webs, a website creation service, is offering Pagemodo among other third party applications such as Picnik, PayPal, and Youtube.
Webs is making online marketing much easier, and many businesses are benefiting from it. Now that there is a way to utilize Facebook to access millions of users, more businesses will be able to reach more people, without much effort.
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/01/webs-buys-pagemodo/
Webs is making online marketing much easier, and many businesses are benefiting from it. Now that there is a way to utilize Facebook to access millions of users, more businesses will be able to reach more people, without much effort.
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/01/webs-buys-pagemodo/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)