Week 13- Trends in Educational Technology

Do you agree with all of the assumptions of "ESL in the mainstream?" Explain your answer.

I do agree with a majority of the assumptions of ESL in the mainstream. The assumptions say that overall it is up to the teacher to provide some stipulation and motivation for the students to want to learn. Things that are affecting them directly and relate to what they learn will help them the most with learning. I have always believed that no matter how good the teacher is, there will be times that if the student is not motivated, there is no way to getting through to them.

What were your initial reactions after reading the article about gaming in the classroom?

Using games in the classroom to motivate your students to learn can be very helpful. As a young student, I used to learn a lot of material such as vocabulary and mathematics by playing games on the computer. I did notice though that I would hurry to do my work as quickly as possible to play on the computer which wasn't effective because I would rush through my work instead of concentrating.

Week 12- Open Source Software

What was the most difficult part of writing a software review?

The most difficult part of writing a software review was trying to include enough a synopsis on a software I was relatively unfamiliar with. I think writers of reviews should become very familiar with the software they are rating so that they can truly understand and use some of the features they won't use at a glance. Being familiar with audacity, it was much its easier for me than it was to evaluate RSSOwl.

Were you "wowed" by any of the software?

I wouldn't necessarily say I was wowed by any particular software but I would say I did find some of them useful or at least interesting to look into. With so much software out there, it is hard to decipher which one is the best since some are similar and seem to have the same purpose.

Week 11- Tech Tools for Critical Thinking and Web 2.0

In a sentence, describe the differences between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0.

Web 1.0 (information sharing) is the basic webpages created when the internet began with basic html pages and changed when Web 2.0 (social networking), an interactive system for user that has transformed the internet.

Which corporation had used Web 2.0 tools most effectively?

I think Coca-Cola is using Web 2.0 most effectively by constantly involving their customers in the decision making process and by improving their image amongst consumers. Branding is very important among soda pop and by maintaining it, they can acquire more business.

What was something you found interesting about Web 3.0 and instruction?

Web 3.0 can be changing the way we collect information and the way cultures perceive information. Reality and cyberspace can be blurred thru the use of Web 3.0 applications.

Week 10- Professional Web Presence

What do you think is the biggest mistake people make on their "about me" page?

The biggest mistake people make when creating their about me page is that they don't really tell much about the person. There is a balance people should have between not revealing who you are but maybe including content that sheds a bad light on you.

What advice would you give job seekers in regards to their online presence?

Watch out that you keep it professional and make sure that you have someone look over it. By having someone look at it, it gives you a perspective on what other may think of you when they see your page. Make sure they are honest, because it could mean saving your job.

How "professional" would you rate your Facebook/Myspace Page?

As a journalist, I am inviting people to look at my profile and be curious about what I am doing. I make sure to keep it professional because a lot of possible employees could see it and I want to make sure it doesn't ruin my chances of getting a job. I would say it doesn't have any inappropriate content.

Week 9- Social Networking

The most useful tip I found out of the resources online was the 10 tips of what to do or not to do on website such as Facebook. Since Facebook is pretty new to society, some don't know the proper protocol of content to leave out or include on social networking sites. Raising your privacy settings is one of the best ways to filter what people are seeing. An important point to raise is that people don't realize that because you put something on the internet, does it entitle you to have privacy. By putting it online, you are knowingly putting it online and accepting the responsibilities that come with it.

Here are some tips you can follow when using Social Networking Sites like Facebook:

1. Don’t do it during work time unless you have permission to do so. Better yet, don’t use it at work unless you think it will get you a raise. Commission sales people are less likely to get in trouble over this than someone working in the accounting department.
2. Don’t post anything that you wouldn’t feel comfortable posting or discussing in the lunchroom at work. Some people got busted for posting photographs of things that went on at parties.
3. Remove comments posted by others that can get you into trouble. Edit them directly or ask whoever posted them to remove them.
4. Raise your privacy settings. Be mindful that these settings only prevent the average user from digging out the information. Assume there is a chance that the information can still leak out.
5. Do not ever admit to anything even remotely resembling a crime. Cops and prosecutors know how to use Facebook as well as anyone. You’ll have a hard time undoing such an admission, even if done as a joke. If your boss doesn’t really like you, Facebook might become a good place to turn to find dirt that can be used to get rid of you.
6. Don’t disclose personal information that you are not comfortable having out there. Birthdates are a crucial piece of information used to identify people that might be better left out of your profile.
7. Monitor your information. Google your name often, set up alerts and let people know what your expectations are for personal information. Let your close friends know where you stand so there are fewer issues. This is especially important for the photo junkies who like posting potentially embarrassing photos that may have you in one or more of them.
8. Be considerate of others when you are posting things. If your friend just started a new job as a Whitehouse intern, don’t start posting stuff that won’t make it past the watchdogs.
9. Don’t discuss confidential stuff online. If you aren’t sure, err on the side of caution. Don’t be afraid to ask someone before going ahead and posting something.
10. Be careful if you mix your personal and business online. People often make the mistake of carelessly mixing personal and business contacts. Be somewhat more conservative with your business than your personal contacts to minimize this source of potential problems.

Week 8- Video Editing

What was the most useful tip you read about?

The most useful tip I learned was when and how to use camcorder filters. There are several visual filters you can use for camcorders. Such can be a blue film that is placed over the lens or even the useful ND filter. I use the ND filter frequently to adjust the lighting allowed into the lens. It can be set at 1/8, 1/16, or 1/64. The ND filter is like the glasses for the camera that will allow a certain amount of light for brighter settings.

What was the most frustrating part of the video editing process?

The most frustrating part of the video editing process was adjusting the audio levels and adding transitions so that the audio wasn't a jumble of craziness. Audio levels change in different settings and its important to maintain a constant level throughout the project. It takes time to know how to insert transitions and adjust the levels. It was time consuming and frustrating.