Don Tapscott Video Reaction Blog

My reaction to Don Tapscott's "Hey Moron" video was at first okay man, back off. You're supposed to be on our side, but it switched in the middle. In the beginning he was agreeing with the critics who were saying that we are losing our communication skills, we are becoming stupid, we won't do anything but harm in the future. I didn't really like this because I know for a fact that I am not one of those people they are describing. But then he started disagreeing with them, saying that we are in fact getting smarter with our technology and that we will do great things in the future. This made me smile and start to like him again because it's true. I've learned more with the technology I've been using and grew up with than in a regular classroom. It just clicks and that doesn't mean that we can't communicate in person and that we are dumb, it just means that we are learning differently and that it works for us. In the future, more and more people will be using technology than the old fashioned way because things are evolving. The critics may be criticizing us because they haven’t grown up with the technology we have and that it comes more difficult for them, but that doesn’t mean we will not do great things in the future, because we already are.

We Our Digital Selves

For most people there is a clear demarcation between their online selves and their selves in person, but for others, there isn't. For me, I'm the same online as I would be in person. Meaning, that I talk to and treat others like I would talk to and treat them in person. When we are online there are parts of us that people can't see without them being near us like our facial expressions, our motions if we talk with our hands, and our attitudes towards what we or they are saying. People may not get your humor if they can't see you so they could take it the wrong way online. In my opinion, what you put on the internet reflects who you are and what your morals are as a person. You really have to be careful. This means that you shouldn't put any demeaning posts or comments about something, post inappropriate pictures, or use language that isn't appropriate because sometimes people first meet "you" online and you only get one first impression. Now that people use the internet daily, sometimes it's hard to define who people are in person and online so I guess that makes us really undefined.

Tablet Computing

Importance of Staying Connected

In this project, all of us were divided into teams: Mobile Apps, Tablet Computing, Game-Based Learning, Learning Analytics, Gesture-Based Learning, and the Internet of Things. Then we were divided into subcategories: freedom (choice), customization, scrutiny (transparency), integrity (digital citizenship), collaboration, entertainment, speed, and innovation. This project requires international collaboration from students and they were also split up into groups so we were all mixed together. The people put in our groups are the same people we will be working on this project with, so it is imperative that we stay connected as best as we can since our grade will depend on the other member’s participation. At some point I believe, we will need to help another student out with a video and we will need to make it for them. In that case we will need to be connected so we can let the other person know that we have the video done and they can edit it to make it work for their assignment. This whole project is based on staying connected. If we did not stay connected, the project would be a total flop and be pointless. So, by keeping updates on what’s going on on our pages and posting updates, this will keep us in check and on the right track for this project.

Diigo

In class Mr. Langley started a new project called the NetGenEd project and with that came Diigo, an online bookmarking site. Not only can you bookmark important sites, you can also add sticky notes to remind you of something you wanted to elaborate on in a paper and you can highlight important parts of the text you want to remember. Unlike the bookmarking that comes with your computer, often called Favorites, Diigo can be accessed anywhere from the internet which is very helpful. What happens if your computer breaks? You just lost all your Favorites and basically have to start over. If you use Diigo, you will not have that problem because you will have all of your important data and fun sites all saved in your library on Diigo. In my opinion, Diigo is a really nice site and I am glad Mr. Langley introduced it to us. I think I will be using it a lot more instead of my Favorites because it can be accessed from anywhere and I will have to worry about losing data for school, fun, and this project, because that has already happened…twice, so I think Diigo is the new obsession for me.

Team Trend

My team trend is tablet computing and how you can customize it. Basically, everyone in my group researches everything on tablet computing and customization. Nothing is off limits. We can find the simple things like looking up the definitions of tablet computing/computers and customization. That alone can open up so many other windows for research. From there we can research harder questions like how to personally customize certain tablets and phones so it is one hundred percent you. The research is not easy and I found myself getting frustrated a lot, but I am also learning a lot about my team trend. I found out that tablets are not just the Galaxy Tabs and iPads, there are actually a lot more tablets that are not exactly tablet shaped such as the iPhone, Android phones, Barnes and Noble Nooks and Kindle's. I learned that some tablets are more useful than others like the iPad and Galaxy Tab because they can be used for a variety of things like schooling. People nowadays are using these tablets to help teach in the classrooms. Now the Nooks and Kindles are useful too, just not for teaching. Those tablets are usually for reading. And finally, the iPhone and Android phones are used to surf the web and contact people and play on apps when people get bored. All together this team trend is one I can understand and continue to learn more about.

Chapter 5 Reflection

Once again, I have to say that I agree in this chapter. Our generation doesn't learn as well the conventional way than we do with technology and we are dropping out of high school at alarming rates. I think we learn more when teachers take time to re-adjust their lesson so they can interact with us rather than us sitting at our desks taking notes hoping to remember this when we do our homework. Unlike generations before us, we seem to care more about our education. More and more young people now are going to college and getting degrees than before and that's great, but other ethnicities aren't as lucky and that needs to be fixed by providing more tools to give those who are underprivileged a better chance at succeeding, therefore reducing the drop out rate. Another way we can fix the drop out rate is making classes more interesting. Like Tapscott said "Nearly half who dropped out said that classes were either not interesting or just plain boring." If we adjust the way the teachers are thinking, we could keep more kids in school. The key is to spice things up and make the assignments more interesting to learn. I tend to learn better when I can do something that has to do with the material as they are talking about it, sort of like Mikogo. It's all about keeping people interested and then they will want to learn more.

Don Tapscott Reflection Blog

I agree with Don. Our generation is more technologically advanced and know how to utilize our computers, ipods, and phones better than our parents. I think this leaves us to an advantage because our world is becoming more internet based than it was before in a much faster pace. There are the people who have negative comments saying that we aren't very bright, lazy, and self-centered, but they are wrong. We actually do learn more through the internet and are making waves. As students, the internet helps us in so many ways. We can get information for history projects, download books onto our Nooks or Kindles, and get help with any homework problems through virtually any social networking site. We are setting the tone for a faster and better future. Right now, like Don said, we are becoming the teachers instead of the students. Parents are turning to us now to help them with technology because they don't understand it as well as we do and they want to know what we know. Speaking from experience, we got a new laptop and my father had absolutely no idea how to use it. He turned to me to help him set up his own user and even though he's had an email for years, he still comes to me for help on how to do new things. Even though the "new" things I teach him how to do seem like basic things you learn by yourself, I have to realize he didn't grow up with the technology that I grew up with, so it is difficult for him to catch on.

Plastic Surgery Persuasive Speech Critique pt. 2

I think I did a lot better this time around than last time. Last time I was all out of sorts and disorganized. This time I made sure to have everything I need on the Prezi so I didn't have to worry about losing my place and being disorganized. If I could improve some things I would probably try to improve my voice and eye contact a little more. I didn't really talk very loud and my eye contact was better, but it could use some work. I looked at the audience occasionally, but my eyes were still semi-glued to the smart board. I could try to memorize my speech next time so I wouldn't have to look at the board as often. I have a small voice to begin with, so on video it sounds even smaller. I need to practice projection, instead of yelling because that would sound a tad bit crazy. Over time I think my voice and projection will get better. I just need to practice to get all my nerves out and when that happens, I think my voice will get better and louder. All in all, I think this speech was a whole lot better than my last one, but, as always, there are always things to improve with any speech.

Plastic Surgery Speech Critique

I looked over my speech and I have some things to work on. I need to learn to put my conclusion in my prezi so I'll remember (hopefully) to say it. I need to work on my eye contact. And I need to read from my notecards sometimes to stay on track