Update on what we have been doing in class...

I realized I haven't been posting about things we have been doing in class! Well, well, well ... where to begin? We have been looking at a lot of ways of using the internet in more teacher - oriented ways, ie. webquests, animation, powerpoint, all the tools and games that can be found, etc. It is a great experience to have this class and I highly recommend Alec because he knows a lot of stuff about technology and its tools... I feel I have benefitted and received a lot more knowledge being in his class more than I had in the spring one! Alec is a very passionate guy about his instructing and he has quite the sense of humour, ie with the voice activated screensaver!
We have also been working on our electronic portfolios and our major projects. For our major project, I dont know if I have mentioned this before... but I am going to make an online version of my aboriginal based unit I did in pre internship! I am so excited for this because a lot of people want to know where they can get resources to teach Aboriginal content within the classroom. I feel very good that I was able to experience this and be a candidate that I want to share my information of successes and drawbacks with everyone. So, if you want an idea I have lessons on housing, transportation, animals, etc. Check it out when I am done it!

Do You Believe in a Miracle?

HEY! So, next weekend one of the most amzingly wonderful events is taking place. Yep, you guessed it ... TELEMIRACLE! I love this event for this will be my fourth year coming to the liveaudience and as long as I remember I have tried staying up the whole 20 hours each year it has been on. I can't believe its been 31 years that this telethon has been running, and it is going strong ever since. I have talked to many people about this event and a lot of people say how boring it is etc... I will admit that if your sitting at home in front of your television watching it you may fall asleep, but being there in the live audience, watching the stars come out and the local talent shine is just amazing. Last year in ESST I focussed my historical project around Telemiracle! You can do so many things to incorporate this in our classroom. Amongst teaching children about diversity, special needs, Saskatchewan history, etc; you can also plan fundraisers to get your school more involved in local events. I urge you if you aren't doing anything or need a break from all your studies on March 3rd 9 pm to March 4th 5 pm I recommend taking some time to watch it! Its for a good cause, and you never know when you or someone you love might need their help! So lend a hand!

Bob McGrath one of my childhood favourites

Here is the website: http://www.telemiracle.com/ and if anyone else is going, let me know! I will be there for sure!

As for technology reference, well this telethon is BASED on the dependence of technology. The equipment (speakers, microphones, recorders, lighting), the television, phones, and cameras. In addition to all the stage setup and making of Telemiracle. We also have the equipment that people who are funded by Telemiracle have to carryout their daily lives. This means the electric wheelchairs (shown in the picture below), specialized computers and speaking devices, medical machinery to aide individuals, and more!

One of the many advantages of technology!

Reading Week and Convocation

HEY! So, reading week came to an end and its so sad to know that this is my last "reading week". I had so much fun this week as I got to spend the majority of it in Moose Jaw working. So, I tried life without technology throughout my night shifts and I came to conclude I could possibly do it if I put my mind on it (and if it wasnt for a long duration). However, due to boredom the first thing I turned to was my cell phone where I could send text messages and go on MSN. Other than that, life is going good! I have been in the process of changing my life around and everyone who knows me is shocked by this. I haven't had a drink in two weeks (pretty good start to complete sobriety), my car is clean and can fit 5 people (usually it can fit maximum of 2 people lol), I have been filtering out negative influences / people in my life, I have a new guy in my life, and I've been happy! YAY!
Also, I want to talk about convocation. The other day I think as Jamie said, "realization kicked in when she looked at her reflection in the mirror while taking grad photos". It is so true, I know that this is my last semester and everyone hounding me where I want to work; however, when I put on that black robe and had my pictures taken I felt funny in my stomach. I thought to myself, "In 4 months I will be walking across the floor receiving my certificate, WOW". I was so amazingly shocked. I to remember when we were little tykes in the big university (very scared of our first year especially some of us that come from hicktowns). I know I was scared to be here and I remember filling in my application to enter this faculty as I probably wrote 10 draft copies before I found the perfect one. It was one transition; as I will be entering another one all so soon. 2007 felt like it was far away! But darn does it sneak up on a person. I am not trying to think about convocation or anything like that because it is coming soon and I just want to focus on my studies instead of adding extra stress. But, yeah thought I would write how its been doing, so talk to you all on Tuesday!

Darn Car

So, as I sat here car-less for the past three days... I finally sucked it up and took "public transit". Im sorry to sound bitter or high class snob about it, but I just can't do that. Maybe Im not city enough or something, but I HATE public buses. To be truthful I have never been a fan of buses, so this does not surprise me. I took one in the city about three years ago and using my friend's gidance I managed to get lost. Yeah it wasnt the greatest of directions for a newbie in th city and then the crowds being around me. So, I swore I would never take another one. Well, I sucked it up and did it today and I still managed to be late for classes. I hate how we take the convenience of technology for granted. Like I can easily wake up adn start my car at 10 am and then go to school making it on time... but with public transit, you have to look up the schedules, routes, etc... Maybe I am just too simple - minded for all this lol, but it sure was a change and took forever to get to school! Fortunately, my car is better now! YAY! Sorry I had to rant!

Time-Scout

Ok! Situation solved on how to reduce the amount of screen time exposure. We do want our kids to live a physical and active lifestyle don't we? Instead of watching television, playing around on the computer screen, or video gaming.... Well, I just came across this Time-Scout TV lock website that actually counts the amount of time you watch tv, on computer, or whatever. It's where you can control the amount of time on these things without being the bad guy. Here is the link if you just want to check it out.... http://www.time-scout.com/learn/index.php

What do you think of this invention? Should it be marketted? Is it really going to be found effective? Will this take away from a child's technological skills with a computer... What are your thoughts?!

Video Gaming!

Video games! I have been responding to quite a few blogs about the evils of video / online gaming. Thus, I figure I should rant about it on here too. There's no denying it, video games can become an addiction! Yes thats right, it can become as evil as smoking meth or becoming an alcoholic (may not be that extreme but it does have the potential to harm you on some degree). I watched an episode on INTERVENTION about a mid 20 year old that was addicted so badly to video games that he had to seek help some way. He got right into the games and would sit days on end playing them. It was hazardous to his health, among other things. Video games are becoming a babysitter for some children, and why isn't there that great of a stink over it like there was when TV was called a babysitter previously? Especially the games that are coming out now are more interactive and viewed in first person form that it can become overwhelming for people to get so caught up in games. Mike, a fellow classmate talked about how a single father lost $100,000 of real money to buying fake stuff like a house and furniture for his fictional character on a game! My mouth dropped! I heard of children that as young as 6 years old are ebcoming so addicted to their games. I still say throw away all these gaming systems (yes its my bitterness not only because I barely know how to use the controllers, but its ridiculous) and get a life.

I read an article about the disadvantages and advantages video games have. It was quite interesting. The link is: http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.file/mobj/mobj.579.parents_vid-effects.pdf
Some advantages include:

1. Offer the potential to foster creativity
2. makes kids feel comfortable with technology
3. teach eye - hand coordination

Some disadvantages include:

1. Playing aggressive games display more verbal and physical aggression amongst playmates and objects
2. Desensitization to violence
3. Addiction
4. Reduction of physical fitness

This article also has recommendations for parents, educators, and children. So, take a look if you would like.

GRRR AT COMPUTERS

Okay! Check it! I am fed up with my XP and Dell. People go ranting and raving at how good it was, and I have one and its nothing but a piece of _________! Yeah you know what I mean. While in the middle of an assignment a booter got onto my Yahoo Messenger and the only way to stop this was to unplug my tower from the wall. Well, this has happened before and it worked out fine... but this time when I go into the log in screen there is no box to where I push to get onto my desktop. So when you push ctrl alt del it takes me to the log in screen asking for username and password. Of course I just got this computer so I havent changed the account information yet... thus its under the person I got it from. I DONT KNOW HER PASSWORD though! Is there anyway that I can get onto my desktop yet... or is a lost cause and do I have to reformat/ wipe out my computer and install everything again. COMPUTER BRAINS, if you know, post a comment! I think I tried everything I could....

Mini rant on text messaging

I cannot believe how much more I am noticing how the media is acknowledging technology! Once again I was reading the latest Carillon newspaper as I noticed there was an article called "Texting up a storm". They have contests on who is the fastest texter on a cellphone and you win some really great prizes. What is this encouraging us? One aspect to look at is it is teaching us hand - eye coordination, but other than that is it meaningful??? What are your opinions?

Creepers alert! (sorry for the length)

Pedophiles... I didn't feel as though I had to worry about that at such a young age as the children of today do! I can't believe how people can be this way... its like the introduction to cradle robbers and golddiggers, etc. The world is going nuts! I met my first pedophile when I was 18 while I was at a gathering and standing by this guy having a chat (I usually talk to older people anyways) and then my friend later whispers to me "You know he's a pedophile right?" The look on my face was probably priceless because after I heard that I was rather weirded out by this guy and may have said some suggestive language about him. I just wanted to give an example that people who may seem the friendliest can be an undercover pedophile.
Now, that the internet has been born... its easier for creepers to get their thrills and rob the innocence of younger individuals. As blossoming adolescents, some children may not know the dangers of pedophiles. C'mon, the internet messengers and chat rooms are for fun right? Its a place where we can interact and get to know people all around the world? But in another perspective, it is a place to cause havoc, show r-rated material, and even cause death. Our instructor in ECMP gave us two readings on the dangers of Internet chat and instant messengers which I will link at the end of this blog. I read through these and was disturbed by this. Two 13-year old girls lives ended tragically because of the internet. I won't go into a long winded rant about it, but I just thought I should post this! Too many individuals are fallen victim to chatrooms by giving out personal information, fake identities, etc. You cannot distinguish reality from fiction. I know of too many scenarios of people meeting each other to soon discover that it wasn't the same person you were talking to on the computer. The computer screen can change a person to whatever they wish to be. I admit I have gone to chatroom time to time, and sadly the people you get on there include horny guys that can't get any, complete weirdos/as said pedophiles (ewww 57 year olds hitting on you); but sometimes you do get a normal person that is there to engage in conversation. I did a research paper on chatrooms back in high school as I entered a chatroom as some sexually explicit name (ie. Foxygurl or Sexygirl) and then I entered as jsut an average Joe name (ie Sally) and to see the responses I received from both names was quite interesting... hence with those two 13 year olds taht were murdered it can be assumed that maybe their names were rather suggestive or they portrayed themselves too openly to get to where they are today. I'm not completely making the internet/chatrooms a scapegoat to how the children are growing up or getting killed. I just want to address the increasing awareness because frankly it is all around us in society and the internet is just another factor. I have met a few good people on there and I actually became really good friends with one of them. I know a few of my friends that actually met their spouses on there! Just questions I want to leave to ponder... what can be done to filter the internet further so things like this could be prevented (it said in one of the articles that evena parental filters cannot show parents that their kids are going into chatrooms)? Like the "sex talk" parents give their children, should they also give them an "internet awareness" talk? Have any of you had experiences with chatrooms, messengers, or whatever other source to interact with people which led to questionable things?

http://news.com.com/2010-1071-922124.html
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/1823797/detail.html

MapClustr

What an excellent program to put onto a blogspot or anywhere for that matter! We were introduced to this an the beginning of the semester but I added it about a month later. This site shows the locations in which visitors view your site and I am rather surprised with where some of my viewers came from. I have people all the way in China area, many places in USA, and in Canada. I wonder how they got this site since it is just posted to those in ECMP class and my friends that I know on my MSN. HMMM.... this is just another example to show how impersonal the internet is and how anybody can see what you are doing. So, be careful what you write.... which leads me into my next blog....

Pondering thoughts.....

While in Nokomis for the weekend I was reading a few old Leader Posts and listening to the radio since no one wanted me to talk.... and I came across two important news items that I felt is well worth discussing.

First, on the radio I came across a small debate on whether or not second hand smoke should be considered low grade child abuse. They further questioned whether or not children should sue their parents on being exposed to second hand smoke, so this would make parents aware of their actions. What do you think about this matter? Should children have that FREEDOM or whatever you want to call it to sue their parents? What about siblings that smoke, or their friends? Would they be entitled to sue them to? Or how about people in society... how far would they be willing to take this? Smokers aren't able to have kids? Or what? LOL let me know your thoughts.... I know its not about technology but still I think its getting to be an issue!

In the January 27th, 2007 Leader Post, on the front page there was an article on technology and schools. It speaks about Regina schools putting a limit on cellphone use. The link to the online article is at: http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=93aa9ef3-a562-48f3-b45d-49084fc73b92
As an aspiring teacher would you want one of your students using a cellphone or a mp3 player on the school premises? Does this give students an easier access at cheating on assignments and exams? What are YOUR views on this matter. ...

Tonsil Thursday!

So, I have been gone for what seems forever... but turns out to only be 3 days! A lot has happened since the past ECMP class that I want to address. So, I am sorry if I post a few blogs this time... On Thursday I went to the Pasqua Hospital to get my tonsils out! (FINALLY THE FREEDOM!) It was a little terrifying at first because of all the horror stories I heard, and the fact that I felt so very alone. All I could think of for the 3 hours I was in the admittance room was: "I wonder how class is going? I want my cell phone to at least entertain me some! How short do they make these gowns." Well, sadly enough (and I knew it would happen) they took my cell phone away as well as all my personal belongings as I felt so very alone! The operation went well, am surprisingly I felt pretty darn good for waking up from a "sleep" at 5 pm. However, the doctor requested I stay in for the night because he saw some bleeding (well not to be rude or anything, but wtf do you think you will see right after you cut something out of a person... fricken roses!) Anyways, I was sent to a private room where I pouted for half the time because I had NOTHING to entertain myself like no tv, no cell phone, no magazine even! An hour after being there I got my cell phone so I could text message people and thankfully I had it because it kept me sane (I hate the hospitals)! Then, after being a restless patient I was able to wonder the hospital floor where I found a tv! YAY! Thus I watched ET Now and learned that the YouTube's video on the Freakout Bride was just a bunch of drama students. This goes to show that you can't believe everything you see and hear! But all in all, I just wanted to rant about how cell phones / text messaging can be a good thing (and hey I figured out how to do T9 word texting YAY ME!). Thanks to all that thought of me that day! You guys are awesome! And as for ECMP class, hmm I guess I have to be quiet for some time.... well I will attempt to talk of course lol (won't you miss my loudness ;))... peace