Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Labeled Computer Pic



Hope i didn't miss anything...

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Chapter 11 Review

Review Questions page 420

4)When it comes to telecommuntig, there seems to be only advantages. For the owrker, it is more comftable working at home, and it gives them more time to spend with their family, becasue they don't have to spend that time commuting. For the management, it also has advantges.The manager sees more productivity adn more work form their employess, because they aren't distracted form the office enviroment. Telecommuting also helps soceity, in the sense tht it helps the enviroment. It lessens drivers commuting to work and therefore lowers pollution frm cars. There don't seem to be too mnay disadvanteges, except that maybe that it doesn't help when workers need to hold meetings to discuss group projects.

5)Managers can use surveilance technology and software to keep an eye on their employees. They can moniter their employees work, productivity etc. They can also keep track on whether their employyess are wroking or surfing the net and wasting time via surveilance software.

6)De skilling is when you take an automated job and make it simpler, involving less skill, such as cashregisters that simply have the names of the items for sale to press, and all the computng is done by the computer. Up skilling is when jobs become more coplicated with the advances of technology. for example, as offices adopt amail sstems, spreadsheets, and so on, it makes secretarial jobs mroe difficult.

7) Electronic sweatshop s a term coined by writer Barbara Grson to describe jobs where people, often minotrities are paid minimum wage to do minless computer work in windoless rooms, with monitered breaks and so on. it has the sort of opressive feel of the sweatshops in the 19th centruty. Corporations like them becasue it allows them to take advantage of minorities, paying them less to get small jobs done. others feel it is opressive and should be stoped or at least guideleines should be set to make it less opressive.

8)As technolog improves, there will be more automated jobs, but there will also be technology that will need a human behind to run it. Education is critical to get students aquainted with new technologies so they can be prepared for the workforce they are being sent to.

9)The industrial age was desinged to prepare studetns for the workforce. It desinged a sort of balnd school system, expecting students to work quietly and absorb facts poured to them by the teacher. With the information age, the goal is the smae, to prapare children for the workforce, but theres more artistic expressiona and the ways of teahcing vary for the needs of different students.

10) A student needs allt he basics, ut they also need to learn about the different technologies arising at out times, so they can be prepared to use them in the jobs they wil probably get in the fututre.

12)Students and teachers use multimeida often in classrooms often nowadays. Multi media is ususally used to create presentations to help teach classes. Thse presentations can be altered and personalized to meet the needs of specific students. Students can be more expressive by presenting twhat they learn through powerpoints vieos, and music theyve synthesized.

13) Distance education can allow students to connect wth other students worwide and explore different cultures or help others. It can also help us access information and resources from around he world.

14) In order to ensure success students need to be allowed to use the technology to enhance their own strenthgs, and they need to have echnolog incorporated into theri classrooms, not just a trip to the lab once week.

15) Home computers are used to assist in homework and work, as well as with day to day tasks, such as communicting cvia e-mail, and looking up any sort of information or tutorial.They can also be used to shop online, find recipes,and so on.

16)Smart cards look like credit ards, but they have a microprocesso r embedded that can keep track of transactions. it is better to protect against identity theft and so on, so it seems to be a smarter alternative to credit cards in the are of online transactions. they are also used as drivers licenses, food stamps, and keys to sensitive info on computers.

17)Technology is makign home interactive more interactive. It allows us to be more involved in games and tv viewing. It also allows us to connect with and play games with other players in different locations.

Chapter 11 DIscussion Questions

Multiple chpice page 420

4)Running electronic sweatshops with techlnology can maeke prcesses more efficent and accurate, however, many people would lose jobs. however, there may still be workers needed to runa dnc reate technology, so the job market shouldn't change to dramamtically.

6)This is a big conern out there today, and it is, to anextent true. We tend to get to dependant on tehcnology and forget how to calculate, or correct grammatical erros, because we expect it to be taken care of for us. However, coputers allow us to focus on other skills, and unlock potential witht eh help of computers. WE can acheive more with technology, at the expense of being dependant on it for simple skills.

11)There has been a coputer lab at shcool for quite some time, and technology was a class trtaken every year, so i feel ive had a sufficent amount of education in that area.WE also have projectore and calsulators to use in class. However, when it comes to technology for extra cirricular activities, there oculd be more. A vdeio lab, or a photography lab would be nice, technology centered around creaticvity.

12)Home computers can actually weaken a family, if certian memeber ss spend all theri time on the compuiter instead of quality time witht the family.However, teh computer does create menas for communicating with fmaily emmebrs abroad, and in that sense strenthens the family.

13)I think computers can make people more creative. Those who would like to stick to other methods of art may do so, but computers provide tools to advocate new forms of creativity. One can edit pictures and videos and so on, and create theri own graphics.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Tech Reflect: 10/22

Tech Reflect: If we fell asleep a thousand years a go and woke up today, what would we do to catch up tot he technology of the times.

Well, considering that we would still be educated and could read, the place to start would be to read books, possibly how to books, on how to use technology. Its obvious that one would also need to consult someone from the technological age to teach the basics. Once one has picked up the basics on how to use a computer, internet, etc, they can go online and access even more resources with would explain how to use any other technology. There are many websites that offer step by step instructions and "how to" videos. There are also documentaries one can watch on TV and so on. nce one can use technology that provides access to even more resources and information, they can pick up on any technology they want to in no time.

What inspired Alan Kay? What did he accomplish?

Since he was a child, Alan Kay was trying to invent things. He composed his own music and built a harpsichord. In college, as his PhD project, he invented the first microcomputer. After seeing a presentation where Engelbert showed a demonstration of the first personal computer, Kay was inspired to create one of his own, a personal computer with even more benefits. He created a computer called the Alto and tried to improve it, but it still hadn't reached his vision of what a personal computer can be. So he continued to work in the world of technology, being hired by apple and then working at Disney. He then started to focus on creating kid friendly software and was awarded the Kyoto prize for his efforts.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Tech Reflect: 10/21

Do you think educational games are good ways for students to learn in schools? Give examples that support your arguments.

Yes, i think educational games are a good way to learn in school. SOmetimes learning through games creates a sense of competition, and students are more likely to study for the game so they can win. Games also keep students more awake in class, and more liekly to participate, especially if there is a reward for the winner of the game. An example that i've done in many classes is jeaporday, which makes me as a student participate more, becasue its more interesting and engaging.

b- What about other games, such as this one?
I don't see how this game is particulary educational, although it may sharpen thinking skills, because it involves stategic thinking. It may be a good warm-up to a class, becasue itll get students into "thinking mode".

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Test 1 Study Guide

Review Questions:
1- Write the URL for your blog.

http://areebasblog.blogspot.com/

2- What is a domain? Where does it appear in the URL?

The domain is the "dot something" that appears at the end of a website URL. It classifies all URLs based on content, or website type. Examples include: .com, .edu, .org, etc. On my blog URL, "blogspot.com" would be the domain.

3- What is Boolean logic? How can you use it to find a passage of Beowulf in Old English?

Boolean Logic is a system that helps one give more precise commands in search engines. If one wanted to find Beowulf in Old English via a search engine, they'd use boolean logic to type in "Beowulf" AND "Old English" to specify that they wanted both words to appear in the article they were looking for.

4- How is using the search engine helpful in different classes? Math? Arabic?

The search engine can be used to find information on virtually anything, be it math or Arabic. One can find necessary equations online, and find online textbook resources via search engines for math. For Arabic, one can find articles in Arabic itself, online translating services, or even simplified lessons published online.

5- What is the purpose of a network server?

A network is a server that provides computers connection to a network of computers. Its purpose is to offer those connected to other computers access to various resources,databases, etc.

6- Pros and cons of USB drives?

An area of impact that a USB greatly effects is education.
Pros include: you can store assignments and easily transport them without relying on the internet. Its easier to share files.

Cons: There may not be enough space on the USB you are using to transport files and you may lose the USB in which case you could lose many files.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Podcast Reviews

1)Discover Spanish
This is a series of podcasts that teaches one how to speak spanish " in just fifteen mintutes a day". Each lesson opens with a catchy tune. =P It also has a corresponding website where one can follow along with lesson plans and activities. In each lesson, the instructor, Johnny "spnaish", teaches key words and phrases based on themes. The first podcasts taught phrases related to greetings and conversation starters. Johnny spanish says each word.phrase with translation, and repeats them a few times, with a co-host repeating them as well. Each is fifteen minutes long and is aimed at teaching spanish to a wide audience in a few minutes a day.

2)MuggleCast
This podcast was interesting, becasue it had advertisements in the begining. Than,it moves on to the "mugglecast". Its about an hour long, and has about 182 podcasts in the series so far. In each episode, mugglecast discusses Harry potter books and movies. In this segment, which was released October 6th, discussed a chapter from the book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. it also related the chapter to its protrayal of the movie. After the discussion, they bring up any updates related to Harry Potter. Its a regular show and has multiple hosts who lead the discussions and segments.

3) Ummahfilms
The popular youtube vlog is also a podcast series with all of the videos in an easy to download format. =)
The format of the show itself is simple, just a guy trying to educate the general muslim public on simple matters. Theres no standard format follwoed, it varries from podcast to podcast, but thats what keeps it interesting. All of them involve some comedy via the protrayal of sterotypical characters anss jokes.