Class Blog

Yes, I think their is a downfall. False information can get posted at any second. However, I not think that it should be left to just the professionals. False information tends to be corrected pretty quickly on Wiki by other users. Also, people viewing the website also KNOW that anyone can edit and add information, and therefore should be conscious that not all information is necessarily accurate. Wiki is a great jumping board for research to give the basic idea (even offers links to other places), but was never meant to be something professional.

Obsolete Businesses

• The toll people on the interstate, used to be a person who took yo money and ticket, now it's a machine
• Online classes a wee bit
• Factories and producing things with machines as opposed to people
• Tractors instead of plows!
• Music stores, everything is online

Wasting Our Time

I have noticed a phenomenon in my life. Time continues on, yet I accomplish literally nothing. I mean, I accomplish pinning things for my dream wedding and finding Twitter feeds that make me laugh, but in the end, ultimately nothing. I get on my computer to do an assignment, and the next thing I know, an hour has passed and all I have "accomplished" is beating my own high score in Bubble Popper. Then I just get frustrated at the wasted time and the homework that STILL isn't even remotely accomplished. The more I analyze digital technology and how I use it, the more questions I have. Is it my responsibility to ignore all outside forces and focus in on the dreadfully boring history assignment? Or is it my professors duty to spice up that assignment a bit so that I don't want to get distracted of fall asleep? Or play Bubble Popper, whatever comes first. Is there something "wrong" with me that allows me to sit in front of my computer and waste so much time? Is this just an American phenomenon? Or is it all over? Ultimately, it's probably just a matter of self control that I don't possess at the moment and need to work on. First my chocolate, now my screen time, sad world. Yet, there are more exciting things in the world to be doing than looking at Twitter posts that have no affect on my life.

HTML 15

"When we change the way we communicate, we change society." ~Clay Shirky

Texting. You can communicate with a person without ever hearing their voice, much less seeing their face and actually knowing the person. Studies show that a person tends to divulge more information and be more truthful when talking to a person online/via text as opposed to in person. Is this a positive or a negative?

We've moved into an age of digital communication. Does this mean that we are losing the art of being able to read body language. Technology requires us to take everything at face, whereas with actually talking to someone we can determine the value of what is being said through other mediums as well.

However, this new way of communication allows to instantaneous communicate about life threatening/saving things. It now only takes a matter of minutes for an accident to happen and for the ambulance to arrive. How one argue against the good in that? By changing the ways we communicate (through cell phones that can accompany us anywhere) lives are literally being saved.

Critical Consciousness

Science+Technology=Progress

"Science, sketched in simple terms as truth and reason, depended on a belief in the power of systematic observation, rigorous reason, and rationally designed technological tools."

"The project of science had t do primarily with the practical challenge of bringing the natural world under human control"

"Medicine and sanitation were improving life chances, better weapons improved new conquests, and innovations in technology-electric lamps, sewing machines, motion pictures, radio, motor cars, and then airplane-promised a utopia on earth."

Technology+Democracy(+Capitalism)=Progress

"Within such a global system, all individuals, regardless of race, gender, creed, or sexual orientation, could exercise freedom of speech and religion; make choices about local, state, and national issues; and engage in representative forms of government."

"America could be the ideal source of such a technological took, many believe, because it progressive system of democracy and capitalism creates an environment within which technological and scientific progress occurs rapidly and without undue barriers posed by over-regulation."

Technology+Education=Progress
"It is connected in the American consciousness with the literacy and technology link, in general, and, more specifically, with the national project to expand technological literacy.
"These technological projects can contribute in major ways to our country's progress as a nation if we can educate American citizens."

Fun AND School Useful Media

PREZI:

Prezi is an online software that allows the user to create a, what I would call, a PowerPoint on steroids. It is a presentation software that allows the creater to create a presentation for businesses, school lectures, and conferences, as well as providing a great way to visualize things. It has a unique function that allows the presenter to do extreme zoom in and out to add visual effects to the presentation. 

ZOTERO

This is a site that allows the user to do research much like a database. It senses the content and gathers all the information that the key words signified. It pull from scholarly journals to pfd's found online. You can then create an online library to house our research and quickly find it in one place. This site also allows the user to cite sources as well as collaborate with other users.

PINTEREST

Pinterest is an online   pin board. It allows the user to create different boards of interests in which you can "pin" pictures to the board. You can go online anywhere and pick a picture that fits your interest and pin it to your board. This site also allows users to follow each other and view each other's boards, and once a picture is clicked on within a board, it will lead you to the link/website the picture originally came from for further instructions. SUPER COOL site!

STUMBLEUPON

This site also allows users to pursue their interests. A user will type in their interest and then the site finds websites related to that interest and every time the "stumble" button is pushed a new website pops up relating to that interest. I have used this to find articles for a topic I am interested in, as well as relaxing and wanting to have a goo laugh.

Technology Within a Business

Technology is used all throughout any business. I mean, name a business that doesn't use it. I'm not sure it's possible. Even farming uses technology, from the huge devices that water fields, to no longer manually milking the cows, picking crops and much more. A standard businessman uses technology through e-mailing, conference calls, sophisticated presentations, and much more. I think it is impossible to be a part of a business and not use technology.

Response to Chad's Video

Earlier in the class we discussed that once upon a time the pencil was the newest form of technology, yet today, as was discussed in the video, technology is considered to only be things that are digitally related. I liked, and agreed, with the point that technology is not computer education. It is everything that has been designed around us. While it is important that computer skills are taught, it is also important that the different programs, apps, and media sites are taught as well. Beyond that, cars are a form of technology, and it is important that we learn how to use those as well. Point being, when we learn about "technology," it shouldn't just be computers.

Security

I openly admit to being an avid user of social media. Facebook, MeetMe, and now Twitter are part of my daily routine. I do have security settings on all of them, and I am careful about what information I put up, I am probably not careful enough. Hacking is a relatively simple thing to do that doesn't take much training and on social media sites like these probably aren't too terribly hard to hack in to. It is never the technology's fault that secrets are found out and cyber bullying happens, it is the people's fault that put that information out there for others to find.

As a future teacher I try to be super careful with my accounts. I don't put inappropriate pictures up and I don't swear. Anything that I don't want my grandmother or Jesus to know about, well it isn't put up on the internet. Yet, with all my precautions, I feel like there is more information out there than I realize. How many complete strangers can find my house, either of my houses actually? 

I love being able to meet new people and keep in touch with old friends from high school, is it ultimately worth it? I don't plan on making anyone mad enough so that they feel the desire to dig up secrets about me, but I am sure there is undesirable information out there, after all, no one is perfect. I guess my point is, in the end, are the social media sites worth it if they aren't secure and safe?

American's Laziness

Soon after I arrived home on Friday night I asked my mom what we were having for dinner. "Pizza Hut," she responded, "There's a new one in town." While I wasn't thrilled about Pizza Hut, food is food and who was I to complain? Then, I look over and my extremely computer savvy mother, yet seemingly semi hater of technology, is ordering our pizza online instead of calling it in.

Now, while I realize that calling in the pizza is using technology and is also a lazy feature of ordering pizza (I mean, what happened to making your own food), ordering online just seemed to be a whole new level to me. It's not just ordering food online though, it's all over the place. Technology is taking over jobs that people used to do. Automated check outs in stores, automated voice message systems when you call in about a problem, paying bills online, doing your banking online, school online; you name it and you can probably do it without even talking to a person.

While I am not a hater of technology, I do a problem with losing human interaction. It is fantastic that we can make life convenient and everything can be done so quickly, but does this mean that we sacrifice the knowledge of human interaction? I watch people who have no idea how to handle a social interaction, or are so impatient about a situation because they are used to the fiery quickness of the internet or automated services. (In fact, on my drive home Friday I stopped for a drink and got impatient about how long the checkout process was.) I just don't think that all of this automated technology is good for our society. People skills and knowing how to communicate are still an essential skill and will always be needed.