Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Review Questions (pg 420 #s 4-10, 12-17)
4)
5)
6) De-skilling is when the use of technology is so great that there is not much need for actual human skills in the job or area. Up-skilling is when there is actually a positive benefit from it and the workers have to learn new skills in training for the job, using technology.
7) Supposedly, machines and other technological advances will be "taking over" the jobs of some workers in sweatshops. That raises a whole other issue about whether it's "right" or not. Should their jobs be "taken over" by machines? Will it make things easier/better or worse?
8) why is education critical for our future as we automate more jobs?
9) what were the goals of education in the industrial age? which are still appropriate in the information age? which aren't?
10) what kind of an education does a student need to prepare for living and working i nthe information age?
12) describe how multimedia can be used by teachers and students in the classroom. give several examples.
13) give several examples of ways that distance learning can enhance education.
14) tech alone is no guarantee that students will learn better or faster. what else is necessary to ensure success?
15) describe several ways people use home computers.
16) what are smart cards, and how are they used?
17) how is home entertainment being changed by computer technology ad telecommunication?
5)
6) De-skilling is when the use of technology is so great that there is not much need for actual human skills in the job or area. Up-skilling is when there is actually a positive benefit from it and the workers have to learn new skills in training for the job, using technology.
7) Supposedly, machines and other technological advances will be "taking over" the jobs of some workers in sweatshops. That raises a whole other issue about whether it's "right" or not. Should their jobs be "taken over" by machines? Will it make things easier/better or worse?
8) why is education critical for our future as we automate more jobs?
9) what were the goals of education in the industrial age? which are still appropriate in the information age? which aren't?
10) what kind of an education does a student need to prepare for living and working i nthe information age?
12) describe how multimedia can be used by teachers and students in the classroom. give several examples.
13) give several examples of ways that distance learning can enhance education.
14) tech alone is no guarantee that students will learn better or faster. what else is necessary to ensure success?
15) describe several ways people use home computers.
16) what are smart cards, and how are they used?
17) how is home entertainment being changed by computer technology ad telecommunication?
Discussion Questions (pg. 420 #s 4, 6, 11-13)
4) I think that technology will soon replace many jobs that humans take over nowadays. I think it's very efficient, but I also think it's not the best thing to do. Sure, technology can ASSIST humans so that there are less random/human errors. With technology there can be systematic errors, though, but it reduces other errors that come from us. It wouldn't be the best idea because these workers might have that as their only job in the world (as of now). If that job is taken away from them, how will they make a living? Or what if they can't find anotehr job with the same/more pay? It'll affect the workers and their families negatively, but as mentioned before, it'll help reduce random errors.
6) I agree that our children are becoming too independent on computers, calculators, and technology overall, but in a way it also helps. If our students are less concerned with the detailed, smaller things they need to get done, they can get MORE done in less time. But on the flipside, it's also harmful to the students because then they have become DEPENDENT thinkers, not independent thinkers like they probably should be. They will always be relying on something or someone else to help give them answers while they can easily train themselves to do these simple tasks on their own (even if they take a bit more time, with practice it'll become easier and take less time).
11)
12) I think that home computers strengthen families and communities but at the same time also weaken them. When one is too addicted to computers, they spend less time with family. But on the other hand, if there's a family with relatives overseas, then computers can be very helpful. They can chat, go on webcam, use the mic, and everything else that comes with it to keep in touch and always "be together". They can also strengthen communities because there can be many people working to help the community grow or help make programs and get the youth together, and by keeping in touch with computers they can get a lot more done than just having "one on one" meetings and being unable to meet up unless they're physically together. That's one main example of how they would be very useful.
13) I think it all depends on the person using it. If the person gets easily attached to it, then it'll make them less creative. If the person using it can figure out how to use it to their advantage and use it wisely, then it's something that can definitely help them be more creative.
6) I agree that our children are becoming too independent on computers, calculators, and technology overall, but in a way it also helps. If our students are less concerned with the detailed, smaller things they need to get done, they can get MORE done in less time. But on the flipside, it's also harmful to the students because then they have become DEPENDENT thinkers, not independent thinkers like they probably should be. They will always be relying on something or someone else to help give them answers while they can easily train themselves to do these simple tasks on their own (even if they take a bit more time, with practice it'll become easier and take less time).
11)
12) I think that home computers strengthen families and communities but at the same time also weaken them. When one is too addicted to computers, they spend less time with family. But on the other hand, if there's a family with relatives overseas, then computers can be very helpful. They can chat, go on webcam, use the mic, and everything else that comes with it to keep in touch and always "be together". They can also strengthen communities because there can be many people working to help the community grow or help make programs and get the youth together, and by keeping in touch with computers they can get a lot more done than just having "one on one" meetings and being unable to meet up unless they're physically together. That's one main example of how they would be very useful.
13) I think it all depends on the person using it. If the person gets easily attached to it, then it'll make them less creative. If the person using it can figure out how to use it to their advantage and use it wisely, then it's something that can definitely help them be more creative.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Homework (October 22, 2009)
Find a product involving computer technology for the following areas: entertainment, publishing, medicine, airlines, and science. Post a link to the product’s home page on your blog.
Entertainment:
http://www.apple.com/ipodclassic/
Publishing:
Medicine:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/xrays.html
Airlines:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-06-05-bodyscan_N.htm
Science:
http://www.labx.com/v2/spiderdealer2/vistaSearchDetails.cfm?LVid=6639752
(for lab equipment)
Entertainment:
http://www.apple.com/ipodclassic/
Publishing:
Medicine:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/xrays.html
Airlines:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-06-05-bodyscan_N.htm
Science:
http://www.labx.com/v2/spiderdealer2/vistaSearchDetails.cfm?LVid=6639752
(for lab equipment)
pg. 337 Questions (for October 8th, 2009)
1) What is SMS?
SMS is practically texting from one phone to another or to a database.
2) How is it used in Kenya?
In Kenya, SMS is used to help figure out and record info on the children with malnutrition. This is just a more efficient way of recording the data because there are so many children there who are getting their records down for malnutrition and I don't think they want any errors in their data, especially when it's being recorded. This makes it easier for them and helps the "patients" who really need special attention right away.
3) Social and Ethical issues:
Reliability: If the person who records the data makes a mistake when recording it, well that just won't be good. Also, what if the connection doesn't work where the people are at? That'll just cause more problems.
Privacy and Anonimity: Just the fact that the information is being sent through a phone doesn't make it seem too professional. Not that it isn't, but doesn't it mean that it goes through some kind of process to get sent somewhere? And when that happens, isn't there a "copy" saved? If not, can't other people read them? (not other normal people, but people who work with these things).
4) How can this be used in education?
This would actually be a very good use for educational purposes. A teacher can even assign homework and easily send SMS to their students. If a student wants to ask their teacher a question, that can easily be done at any time, anywhere. And I'm sure there are other advantages to using SMS in school, but I just don't know of all of them.
SMS is practically texting from one phone to another or to a database.
2) How is it used in Kenya?
In Kenya, SMS is used to help figure out and record info on the children with malnutrition. This is just a more efficient way of recording the data because there are so many children there who are getting their records down for malnutrition and I don't think they want any errors in their data, especially when it's being recorded. This makes it easier for them and helps the "patients" who really need special attention right away.
3) Social and Ethical issues:
Reliability: If the person who records the data makes a mistake when recording it, well that just won't be good. Also, what if the connection doesn't work where the people are at? That'll just cause more problems.
Privacy and Anonimity: Just the fact that the information is being sent through a phone doesn't make it seem too professional. Not that it isn't, but doesn't it mean that it goes through some kind of process to get sent somewhere? And when that happens, isn't there a "copy" saved? If not, can't other people read them? (not other normal people, but people who work with these things).
4) How can this be used in education?
This would actually be a very good use for educational purposes. A teacher can even assign homework and easily send SMS to their students. If a student wants to ask their teacher a question, that can easily be done at any time, anywhere. And I'm sure there are other advantages to using SMS in school, but I just don't know of all of them.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tech Reflect and reading question (10/22/09)
1- TechReflect: Imagine you were asleep for a thousand years and suddenly woke up in this technological age. What are some things that can help you get up-to-date with using technology?
-- I would be freaked out like crazy. I would think I was on a different planet or a different country, not knowing how far apart countries are and how they've advanced in this so-called "technology". I would probably have to learn to speak the way people do nowadays because only a few would actually understand me. After that I'd have to learn how to use a computer, telephone, and all the other things that have become "necessities" for living in this age. A car would be like something we've imagined back then, but nothing we ever thought we'd actually make. It's kind of like us thinking about flying cars and not actually having them. Who knows. Or maybe it's even too "out there" for us to imagine...something totally different we haven't even thought of. I would learn to use computers and go to local libraries to research on the "past" (which to me only seemed to be yesterday) and see what's been going on, which King has fallen and who the president of the U.S. of A is. There would be so much more for me to find out and learn about the present day and how things work around here. It would be difficult but entertaining, too. :)
2- What inspired Alan Kay? What did he accomplish?
-- He became an Air Force programmer before attending college and he built one of the first microcomputers for his Ph D. project. He was a leader of Xerox team researchers. He made Macintosh and 12 years after being at Apple, he made a graphical programming tool for children called Squeak. His inspiration may have been children altogether. He says, "start with end users, usually children, and try to think about the kinds of experiences that would help them grow in different ways." So, he might have just wanted to make technology fun for children so they can learn and grow.
-- I would be freaked out like crazy. I would think I was on a different planet or a different country, not knowing how far apart countries are and how they've advanced in this so-called "technology". I would probably have to learn to speak the way people do nowadays because only a few would actually understand me. After that I'd have to learn how to use a computer, telephone, and all the other things that have become "necessities" for living in this age. A car would be like something we've imagined back then, but nothing we ever thought we'd actually make. It's kind of like us thinking about flying cars and not actually having them. Who knows. Or maybe it's even too "out there" for us to imagine...something totally different we haven't even thought of. I would learn to use computers and go to local libraries to research on the "past" (which to me only seemed to be yesterday) and see what's been going on, which King has fallen and who the president of the U.S. of A is. There would be so much more for me to find out and learn about the present day and how things work around here. It would be difficult but entertaining, too. :)
2- What inspired Alan Kay? What did he accomplish?
-- He became an Air Force programmer before attending college and he built one of the first microcomputers for his Ph D. project. He was a leader of Xerox team researchers. He made Macintosh and 12 years after being at Apple, he made a graphical programming tool for children called Squeak. His inspiration may have been children altogether. He says, "start with end users, usually children, and try to think about the kinds of experiences that would help them grow in different ways." So, he might have just wanted to make technology fun for children so they can learn and grow.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tech Reflect: 10/21/09
Tech Reflect:
a-Do you think educational games are good ways for students to learn in schools? Give examples that support your arguments.
I think educational games are a great way for students to learn in school. It's a fun way to get them to think and learn things even without them knowing. There are math games, spelling games and even if you come to think about it, there are a lot of other games that are just for skill and strategy. For exmaple, there are game with problem solving but not even in a mathematical sense. Like a maze, for example, or even snake. They allow you to find new ways of solving the problems or not biting your own tail. Also memory games help. All kinds of games can help, it just depends on what the main thing behind it is. What do they help you learn?
b- What about other games, such as this one?
Yes, this game can also help. It's not just a "for fun" game. It helps you think "outside the box". There are ways you can get to the flag, but you have to use your own strategies to see how you can get "around it" or get to it in a way where you won't "die". This helps with critical thinking and other such things, like finding new ways to get to a certain goal or a certain conclusion. It's a "hidden" benefit, but it sure does help. :)
a-Do you think educational games are good ways for students to learn in schools? Give examples that support your arguments.
I think educational games are a great way for students to learn in school. It's a fun way to get them to think and learn things even without them knowing. There are math games, spelling games and even if you come to think about it, there are a lot of other games that are just for skill and strategy. For exmaple, there are game with problem solving but not even in a mathematical sense. Like a maze, for example, or even snake. They allow you to find new ways of solving the problems or not biting your own tail. Also memory games help. All kinds of games can help, it just depends on what the main thing behind it is. What do they help you learn?
b- What about other games, such as this one?
Yes, this game can also help. It's not just a "for fun" game. It helps you think "outside the box". There are ways you can get to the flag, but you have to use your own strategies to see how you can get "around it" or get to it in a way where you won't "die". This helps with critical thinking and other such things, like finding new ways to get to a certain goal or a certain conclusion. It's a "hidden" benefit, but it sure does help. :)
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