W200 final project

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W200 final project

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Emerging Technologies, Pandora!

The last emerging technology I chose to explore was under the title music.  The internet site I chose was Pandora, which can be accessed at http://www.pandora.com/.  I chose this site because I have heard many of my friends and family using this site to listen to their favorite music, and I have never explored it myself.  Pandora is simply an online radio that is set to your liking.  You just type in an artist or song and it makes a radio station that plays music with the same similarities of the artist or song that you typed in.  You can either go onto the website and type in a song or artist, or you can create an account and it will save your stations for the next time you log in!  You can only skip so many songs, so if the station is not fit to what you are aiming for, you can always change it.

This technology is very easy to use and understand.  All you need is an email address and password to sign up.  Also, if you have a facebook account, Pandora allows you to connect with facebook to share your stations or view your friend’s stations.  As well as, Pandora uses your profile picture on your facebook as your profile picture on Pandora.  Now I have my own radio stations on my computer if I don’t want to listen to the same songs on the regular radio.  In addition, if you have internet on your phone, Pandora can be accessed on your mobile phone as well.  Pandora is very useful on and off the computer when wanting to listen to some music.

I made an account of my own when I went to the Pandora website.  As well as, exploring others Pandora radio stations on facebook and created my own.  I have posted my profile/stations on my blog in the above right if you want to see my favorite stations.  I do not have many but I know I eventually will.

Tips:

1.      Web sites that fit your interests are worth exploring.

2.      Same as my other tips, have fun with it!

3.      Others interest can be the same as yours, a way to meet new people!

Emerging Technologies, Online Scrapbooking!

The technology I chose to explore was online scrapbooking and posters.  The website that I further explored is called Scrapblog which can be accessed at http://www.scrapblog.com/default.aspx.  Online scrapbooking is a way to share your life with family and friends online.  You can create a scrapbook, card, blog, video, and much more.  The great thing about this technology is you can use your imagination to create anything!  Creations can vary from weddings, vacations, holidays, or just a fun, family day.

This website was very user friendly!  It was so easy to understand, step by step.  When exploring the web site a little bit, I started by clicking on the different tabs at the top; about us, products and pricing, and explore.  In order to make a creation you have to create an account and make sure your computer is up to date on the Adobe Flash Player.  If everything checks out it is simple to make an account.  All you need is an email address, username and password.  Getting to know this technology was helpful to me because most of my family lives out of town.  This is a way I can show them pictures in holiday greetings such as a Christmas card or scrapbook.  Also, I may use this in creating an online scrapbook for a project in my Multicultural Education course.  Another great thing about this technology is it can be shared via twitter, facebook, or any other social network.  An easy way to access pictures for a creation or to share with many friends and family members!

After creating an account, I made a scrapbook of my very own.  I took pictures last Christmas when I was out of town with family and decided to make those into a scrapbook.  Then, I can make one after this Christmas as well.  The format was easy to follow.  You are able to pick backgrounds, stickers, texts, and different themes such as birthdays or holidays.  However, you have to be careful in picking certain items because they have to be paid for.  Overall this technology was very fun and interesting to me!! Here is my scrapbook creation!


http://www.scrapblog.com/viewer/viewer.aspx?sbid=2861570
Tips:

1.      Not everything costs money, make sure to explore more until you pay for something

2.      Use your creative mind online, like you would in the classroom!

3.      Have fun and share your creations, they are interesting to look at.

Emerging Technologies, Podcasting!

For this blog posting I will be exploring Podcasting.  Podcasting is offered on many websites one being Gabcast.com.  Until exploring this technology for this particular assignment, I have never heard of podcasting.  However, now I have learned that podcasting is an audio or video recording that can be shared with anyone!  The website Gabcast.com is a podcasting and audio blogging webpage that shows an easy way to create and distribute audio content or podcasts.  You can add you podcast on a website or blog and communicate with your friends, family, and/or colleagues.  The website states many different ways and reasons for using podcasts.  You can voice your political opinions or use it as part of a political campaign, record Greetings, or conduct interviews.  You can be a Citizen Reporter, use it for get-togethers, or just simply speaking your mind.

Through searching and exploring this technology I first reviewed the website Gabcast.com to see what podcasting was all about.  The layout is very simple to understand, separated by tabs.  I clicked on the listen tab to see what others use this website for and the types of podcasts they post.  You can browse by category or simply type in a search.  I typed in education to see what types of information I could find.  One post was someone encouraging their faculty and staff to use podcasts.  This way the teachers could voice their opinions, talk about how their day or how lesson plans went, discuss field trips, or school events.  I think podcasting is interesting, but I have not seen it used in any of the classrooms I have been in.  Also, some features on this website are free, and others you have to pay for.  I think podcasting could be used educationally, but it is somewhat difficult to understand.  I would have to see how podcasting is used in the classroom by other teachers, and see have effective it really is!

I tried to make my own podcast to post on my blog.  Gabcast.com gives you 5 free minutes, so I created an account.  First I had to sign up just by giving my email address and creating a password.  Then I logged in and clicked on create a channel, gave my podcast a name and description and was directed to call the number on the right of the screen.  I had to type in the podcast password, record at the beep, and it was automatically stored on my page!  However, it did not work the first time, and I could not hear me very well at all.  Also when I tried to put the link onto my blog, I was unsuccessful.  I kept trying over and over and eventually got it.  Podcaasting is fun, not that simple and would definately take some getting used to.  The link below will take you to my first podcast creation.  I also created a greeting, but I could not figure out how to link it on to my blog, so this is my first episode of podcasting!
My first podcast

Tips!

1.       Keep exploring! Don’t give up!

2.       Have an open mind to new ideas and new technology.

3.       If something does not work the first time, try again!

4.       Have fun =)

My Delicious account! (Social Bookmarking)

http://www.delicious.com/taylmorr

Blogging Introduction

My name is Taylor Morrison and this is my first blog.  I am not sure how to work it but I am playing around with the technology!  It is very interesting and fun to post information about yourself and to view other peoples blog that are in the education and technology course.  I would advise students who have not used blogger to watch the video on how to set up your personal blog.  Other then that it is not hard at all.  I went through and personalized my page so that it would best describe me!  I would say just have fun with it!


Critical Thinking Module:

Ten ways to get smart with SMARTboard, is an article about the different ways this device can be used in the classroom.  The author Amber Price said “I found that most of the teachers, being new to the SMARTboard, were not even sure how to use an interactive whiteboard instructionally with their students.”  She provided a workshop for teachers to learn how to use the SMARTboard by modeling lessons, showing them the software, and guiding them towards a more independent use of technology (Price).  Then, she shows the top ten ways to use the SMARTboard effectively in the classroom.  Note taking and brainstorming, games, united streaming, interactive flannel board, click-and-drag activities, interactive worksheets, board games, graphic organizers, interactive websites, and PowerPoint presentations (Price).  All of these concepts can help students learn in a various amount of ways.

What about the schools that do not provide the technology of the SMARTboard?  Yes, the SMARTboard is a great interactive tool in the classroom, but not everyone has that luxury.  When I was in high school, during my senior year at Plainfield High School, we moved to a brand new school.  Each classroom has a SMARTboard.  Before school started, the teachers took a workshop, like the one in the article, to learn how to use the SMARTboard.  However, not everything can be learned in one workshop, there is just too much information to absorb.  Therefore, every so often, it was the students showing the teachers how to use the board.  Everyone thought they were so cool, the different things you could do and the new things you could learn.  It is all about the experiences, and learning from others.

Another question I thought to myself is, is the SMARTboard effective at all ages and at every grade level?  Looking at the examples in the article, I remember the use of almost all of them in the classroom, even as a senior.  Then, looking back at Price’s examples, she used the SMARTboard on grades Pre-K through grade 5.  I would say that yes, the SMARTboard is of great use at every grade level.  For example, the click-and-drag activities were used to review for a test, and it was also like a game.  It would be a fun, interactive way for elementary students to learn, the can look, feel, and touch as well as read, write, and take notes.

The pros and cons of texting and IM, is an article about how texting and IM has affected the world today.  A survey was taken asking 65 high school students about their usage of texting and instant messaging.  Some of the questions were, how many hours a day do you text, do you text during class, do you use texting to cheat on a test, and do you text while you drive, and do you think it is dangerous to text while drive.  It was interesting to see that 49 student’s texting while drove and only 22 thought it was dangerous.  The article goes on to show the effects on class work, and that texting can decrease your writing skills.  Also, the cell phone is a major distraction in the classroom such as students not paying attention, constantly texting, or using texting to cheat (Loftis).

Even though there are many cons about text messaging, I believe that the factor about texting can decrease your writing skills underestimates that texting could increase your writing skills.  Thomas Johnson believes that “students can differentiate between the use of “text-speak” and formal English (Loftis)” He believes that that they know how to speak to their friends versus how to speak to a professor.  Also, that some students use this “text-speak” language to take notes so they can write faster (Loftis).  It is interesting to hear that because I do the same thing.  Sometimes professors go to fast or talk to fast, and abbreviating things that you can understand will help you catch all of the notes.

I will admit that as a student, I tend to text during class and I have tried to text while driving but it was way too dangerous.  Banning cell phones in school would not stop the problem, because students will just find a way to get around it.  Also, I just do not understand people who text and drive, such as my friends.  When I am in the car while they are driving, and they start texting it is not only affecting their life but mine as well.  Also, if you are a parent texting and driving, you are not setting a good example for your children.  Reading the stories in the article about accidents attributed to text messages and the many people that were killed because of texting.  Why take the risk?  There is nothing more important than your own life.  “In my opinion, the benefits are not worth the cost of the distractions” (Loftis).  Yes I agree with the statement by Loftis, but it just depends on the person who uses the phone.  It is the responsibility for your own actions and someone who has access to the text message cell phone, should make wise decisions.