What about those automobile DVDs?

Are they benefiting the kids or the parents? On one level it's nice to have the peace and quiet but what's happening to the kids? When I was a child and our family travelled we would play games, words from letters on the license plate, alphabet games using road signs, flash card games, who can get the most different states off of license plates, etc. Now you drive down the interstate and you see movies playing, especially at night. How is this stimulating the children? Whare are the parents doing while kids are wathing the DVD? What social and communication skills are the kids learning by watching movies.
I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing to have some entertainment in the automobile for long trips but some parents don't want to hear the kids complain when the movie is turned off so they don't turn it off! I actually knew a mother who told her young children the DVD player didn't work because she didn't want to deal with the complaining when they couldn't watch a movie. I think these devices should be used as supprts for parents, not crutches.
Clearly anything excessive has the ability to be harmful and I fear that DVD's in a vehicle could very easily move in that direction. What do you think?

Facebook Donation to Newark Schools

 Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook is donating $100 worth of Facebook stock into Newark, NJ schools. Though Zuckerberg is not earmarking specifically how the money be spent, instead giving the Governor, the Mayor and the appropriated boards the freedom to do what is necessary to improve the education system in the area.
     This brings up two questions related to us. The first, does money make a difference? With more financial resources will the current educational system be improved by the added revenue stream? Such a large amount to a specific area can improve not only the technology and communications base but also reward better and more successful teachers.
     This brings us to the second question. How will we measure this donation to see if it successful. Is it by increased standardized test scores? Is it by increased High School and College graduates? Or maybe it is by an increase in the average income of families in the area?
     If you are interested in this donation here are some links to articles:
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/09/23/newark-nj-schools-to-get-100m-facebook-donation/

http://dailycollegian.com/2010/09/26/facebook-founder-lends-a-hand/

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/education/23newark.html

    If this money was added to our area, what sort of improvements would you recommend to the school board (from a technological perspective) to insure success?
     Then the big question. If it is successful, what does this do to help everyone else? What can the rest of the country and the world glean from this endeavor?
Comment on these or any in the previous paragraphs.

Technology in the Courtroom

While looking for an interesting article dealing with education and technology, I came across this article about technology in the courtroom. During deliberations, a juror decided to use his i-phone to look up the definition of "prudence," in order to help him and the other jurors come to a conclusion. The use of the electronic encyclopedia cost him his place on the jury, as well as the case. It was decided by the courts that his use of technology was not appropriate and the accused received a new trial - and a new jury.

What do you think about this? With dictionaries, thesauruses, encyclopedias, and google at our fingertips, should traditional places such as courtrooms allow the use of these resources to help the understanding of jurors and others involved, or is it to far of a stretch too soon in this technological age? After all, if he has asked the judge to define "prudence" for him, his request would have been granted.

To read the article, click here

Apple iPad

My husband bought me an Apple iPad (32 GB). I would be the first to admit that I just get by when it comes to technology, so I wasn’t exactly thrilled when he proudly brought the iPad home. “Oh no…something else for me to learn,” was exactly what ran through my mind. So, I am ashamed to say, it stayed in my closet for at least a month before I recently got it out and started playing with it.

There have been many reviews done on the Apple iPad and there seems to be just as many pros as cons. So, I would like to address some of both here.

Let me start with the cons. (1) I have read that the iPad is hard to read, especially reading books. After downloading a book and “turning” the pages, I found reading on the iPad to be easy. The screen option, either landscape or portrait gives the reader viewing options. (2) Some wish it had Microsoft applications. Yes, this is somewhat disappointing, but the iPad is not intended to be used that way. I guess that is why there are laptops. However, the iPad can be set up to include the iPad Bluetooth wireless, keyboard. This video will explain how http://www.intomobile.com/2010/04/04/video-ipad-pairing-with-apple-bluetooth-keyboard/ (3) Another complaint is that typing on the iPad can be difficult. Yes, I have found that the iPad’s keyboard is a little awkward for “regular” typing and that I use my index fingers a lot. If there were word processing software, typing would be an issue but since there isn’t, the keyboard is adequate for the little amount of typing that is required.

The pros are endless. (1) I had heard the iPad is great for gaming. While I am not a gamer, my 10 year-old son and I played Flight Control on the iPad. All I can say is, what fun! (2) The iPad’s speed and navigation have been praised, and I agree. I have found that the iPad is faster than a lot of desktop computers. (3) Many iPad users say that the iPad is simple to use. Being technology challenged, I can say that the iPad is extremely user-friendly. (4) One of the best advantages, is there are so many iPad applications to choose from—from gaming to finance. What is amazing, is many of the applications are free. Here’s a link of iPad Application Reviews - http://www.ipad-application-reviews.com/ and http://www.cnbc.com/id/39278839/ that you may find interesting.

You may have heard that colleges and universities around the country are now requiring iPads for learning. Here is an example:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/campuschatter/2010/07/ipads-for-everyone-at-seton-hills-university-.html.

Also, businesses are now using the iPad -- http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/profiles/ .

Do you think iPads will work here at JMU?

Other than cost, what would prevent you from using an iPad in your classes and research?

Google God !!

As I prepare to deliver my testimony this upcoming Saturday to a group of high school athletes, my mind can not help but ask how do I reach this generation. The material that I have in my presentation is awesome and makes sense in my mind, but once again how do I present this so that they learn the message.
These questions lead me to the most utilized source in today's generation, technology. I began to ponder different ways to use technology in delivering my message. Today's youth uses so many social media tools, and communication gadgets that it seemed that it would be easy to access a feasible tool to put my ideas and thoughts together.However, this was a lot harder than I thought it to be. I know for me that much of my learning came in groups where the pastor or bible study leader preached the message to me. In learning more of universal design and e-learning, I feel that this generation would really benefit from using a mixture of different learning tools.

Here is a interview by Tom Ferguson who speaks on how technology plays a great role in Religion; http://www.technewsworld.com/story/33078.html?wlc=1284952818


In writing this blog I wonder how many of you guys use the internet to seek or " Google" your foundational faith source. If not, do you think spiritual growth is an area of your life that can really be sought via technological sources?

facebook in the classroom...for elementary students

Social media and it's many uses is a very 'hot topic' in the news these days. It seems that there tends to be two points of view about it's many uses. One school of thought expresses the usefulness social networking sites, like facebook, have in an educational setting. The other thought is that the outcomes of such use will be more negative than positive.

Coming to the AHRD program, this is the first time I have used any type of social networking application as an instructional tool (using facebook for discussions). I think that in the setting of higher education, with the assumption that students are more mature and responsible with/about information, these are very useful tools connecting students with their peers and teachers.

I found this clip on CNN in the technology section.

Check out this clip

I wanted to know what you guys think?

Is the use of this technology positive or negative (somewhere in between), and why?

I thought the idea of parents checking on what their kids are doing, really changes their relationship with teachers, is this a good thing? will teachers become too focused on updating parents; could parents become to questioning of what is going on in the classroom with this new information?

Finally, I think the point that the fourth grade teacher brings up in the end about kids using social networking outside of school is inevitable, so why not teach them productive and responsible ways to use it? A great point I never thought about...

What do you all think?

Multimedia Around You!

During the week, observe the use of multimedia for teaching/learning around you.  Have you encountered a particularly effective website?  Did you observe a multimedia installation in the mall or other public area?  Comment here on a particularly effective (or not so effective) use of multimedia for learning.  Based on your reading this week - what elements were effective (or not) and why?

Example:
As I was waiting to attend a meeting in Miller Hall, I sat on a bench outside of the planetarium.  Even though I had my computer and was checking email and attending to a bit of work, I noticed a large HD flat screen mounted to the wall.  On it was a rather powerful presentation on the solar system - no sound - just an intense black background with vivid images and some text.  The text was used carefully - I noticed fonts that were consistent, easy to read and placed in close proximity to the item being described.  Each screen progressed slowly, so that I could read and look carefully at each image without feeling rushed.