Blog #8

Chapter 8 was very informative because I just got the Trojan horse virus from corrupted music files. The Trojan virus is a file virus that can completely ruin your computer if not caught. In this chapter I learned that there is a set of computer ethics, which I never knew existed. They are used to determine what is right and wrong with computer use. I learned there are 3 types of viruses, boot sector viruses, file viruses, and macro viruses.

I learned this week to NOT download music illegally and not accept files from another persons computer, even if I know them. My roommate had no idea she had a virus on her laptop and then she passed it on to me through the Beatles Anthology. Who ever thought the Beatles could do such harm? I had to reformat my laptop and I lost all my music files. Although I got them back off my IPOD through a program called Sharepod. Its great. Use it if you must!

News: I also put a new password on my computer because I am not risking losing all my documents, programs, and files again!

Blog #7

Chapter 7 discussed, in depth, integration strategies. I thought this chapter was pretty interesting. I am really learning a lot through this book, like the 3 types of technology integration in the classroom: Multi-Computer Classrooms, which have several computers for students to use simultaneously, One-Computer Classrooms, which have only one computer for students to use individually, and Schools with computer labs, which house a computer for each student outside of their home classroom.

Hm...I didn't really learn anything new outside of class. I guess I have learn a lot about Excel recently. I have been playing around with it ever since I completed the SAM lesson about it. I never realized you could perform so many functions, such as average and rounding.

Exciting news: One of my best friends from home just had a brand new baby girl! Her name is Bianca, from the pictures I can tell she is so cute! I can't wait to go visit her on Thanksgiving break!

Blog #6

Chapter 6 discussed the ASSURE model. The ASSURE model helps develop many types of lesson plan instructions. This chapter made me want to make sure I know all of the resources available for technology in the classroom for when I teach. This chapter made me anxious to get started planning lessons with this technology because I learn how much it can increase student motivation and attendance.

I got a new cell phone this week! I spent a few days trying to figure out how to work it without the manual but then decided I needed it. I learned all about how bluetooth works, not that I will ever use it, but it was interesting to read about.

On other news, I volunteered today for my service learning hours for another class. I am doing them at Gretchen Everhart, a school for special needs students. I find classrooms which are used to teach special needs children are full of new technology and it is very helpful for the students and teachers.

Blog #5

In Chapter 6 I read about an integrated learning environment. One way to accomplish this is to provide the students with many different types of technology and teaching them the different tasks where technology can enhance their learning experiences. Integrating technology can provide the students with a new way to learn. I talked about using technology in lesson planning as well and I think this is one reason why education had improved in the past few years.
This weekend I learned that my computer has some kind of virus that I got apparently from corrupted music files. I am glad that I am reading this textbook though because it had really helped me understand technology better.
Something I would like to share with the class is that I love the fall. I like the fall semester so much better than the spring because it is more exciting with the football games and slightly cooler weather that I am hoping will show up soon.

Blog #4

I have to admit I never really understood exactly how a web page works but I enjoyed learning about it in this chapter. I now know what HTML means ( Hypertext Markup Language) and how it is used when designing a website. I never realized how much work actually went into making a website but now I can appreciate the websites I used everyday so much more. It made me laugh when they defined displaying pages from the Web one right after the other is called "Web Surfing." I never realized that was a technical term and not just what internet nerds called it.
Something new I learned is how the internet work. Apparently it operates by dividing information into packets and sending them to a specific destination. I am starting to think I am more interested in technology than I thought. I found this chapter to be fascinating.
Something to share with the class is how excited I am that Grey's Anatomy is starting again this coming up Thursday. I love that show and I am also excited that The Office is starting again. If you have never seen The Office I highly recommend you watch it this Thursday on NBC. It is probably one of the funniest shows I have ever seen!

Blog #3

In Chapter 4 I learned all about output devices. I learned that an output device, in general terms, is a device used to show the user certain information. I learned that some common output devices include copy machines, speakers, monitors, headphones, and overhead projectors. I like how this chapter put the definitions of things we use everyday into such simple terms.
A new skill I learned while reading this chapter is how to store things on a Flash Drive. I have used flash drives before but I never really understood exactly how they worked until I learned in this chapter. I am glad that now I know exactly what is happening when I used a flash memory stick.
Something to share would be that I thought I really wasn't going to like the SAM software but I have learned so much using it. I was doing something on Microsoft Word the other day and I needed to use the table feature, which I hadn't used until SAM taught me how, and it was so nice to know exactly where to go to get what I needed!

Blog #2

Something I found very interesting in Chapter 3 of the text book was the part about the new note taking software. I was in math class the other day and I saw a student using a Tablet PC as he was taking notes. I had never seen one before and wanted to know more about it. I learned all about it when I was reading this chapter. I think it is very interesting that these notes you take in your PC can be searched and edited in a typed format. This is a neat idea and I'd love to be able to understand how it works.
I didn't learn anything new by experience since the last blog but I think I am going to ask the kid in my math class how he likes using his tablet PC for taking notes. I also heard about this new type of IPOD they are coming out with called the IPOD classic and I hope to learn more about it sometime soon. It sounds like a cool new product from Apple.
I can't really think of anything interesting to share. I have been thinking about my career for as long as I can remember and I never thought I would want to be a teacher. Its funny how things turn out. I think I will like teaching. I am enjoying my education classes this semester so far. I have learned a lot in my teaching diverse populations class and I really like the teacher.