Laura's Blog

Follow up to project #3

2005-04-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to reflect on project #3. I thought it was the best project so far. The first project seemed more tedious and the second project seemed some what dull. Though they did give me insights that I have never had before, I feel that this last project was really fun and kept my interest. I enjoyed using my imagination to create a learning environment that included technology that we have been learning about. It showed me how to really think of different angles to take when making decisions. For future ICT classes, i would recommend this project to be used again. I thought it was very helpful and applicable to the class as well as fun!

Last Wednesday's Class

2005-04-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

Last class...on Wednesday, April 13 was another class attended online. I liked the chance to sit in my room and have a discussion online with my class. It really took some stress out of my busy busy Wednesday schedule. I do think that I did like working on breeze instead of the forum set up in moodle. Breeze worked much faster and seemed a little more up-to-date on the technology side. But either one works for me. I really like being in the environment of my room.

Just Some Thoughts...

2005-03-22T20:25:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday, instead of showing up to NE-173 the students of ED TECH 296 attended class via the computer. I must comment on how much I enjoyed that type of classroom situation. It was nice to be in the comfort of my one room. I felt more at ease which made it easier for me to consintrate on what subject matter was being discussed. I also did fidgit as much as I would if I were sitting in an uncomfortable chair. It was also nice to be able to get up if I needed to without interrupting the class or the other students. It was very effective and I enjoyed it thouroughly. I don' t think we should use that technique for every Wednesday class...but I do think that we should try it again sometime.

Oh yea....I was just skimming through higgins and decided to mention a technique that caught my eye. They are the eight stages in the Creative Problem Solving Process. Those stages are: analyzing the environment, recognizing the problem, identifying the problem, making assumptions, generating alternatives, choosing among alternatives, implementing the chosen solution, and control.
-Not only do these steps seem useful and successful, but I have had experience in using them...maybe not all of them...but something quite like it. It works!

2005-02-27T15:46:00.000-08:00

My parents and I have quite a few differences.

I know that I don't know everything there is to know about technology...but I do know more than my parents-at least more than my Mom.
It's easy for me to learn and understand all this new technology because I grew up with it. My parents did not. They watched it grow and take over the world. They had to adapt to all the new advances.

My Dad is actually very well informed in the whole issue of technology. As an employee of Agilent Technologies my Dad sometimes knows more than me. He will sometimes have to teach me how to do certain things on the computer or some other things. But I still have to explain the concept of AOL instant messanger to him every time I mention it.

My Mom on the other hand has no idea what's going on in this new day and age. She doesn't even know how to use her cell phone. She can make calls, and with my help she can check her messages. Sometimes she has to have help when working on the computer. She sadly has just recently mastered the simple task of turning on the computer. Last time I was home I was helping her learn how to use e-mail. She is still trying to catch up. I hope those little facts help you to understand how my Mom does not get along with the 21st century.

It's interesting to see how different me and my parents are when it comes to learning and understanding technology. At the dinner table my Dad and I can have a conversation about something to do with technology. I will have to explain quite a few things and sometimes my Dad offers a few explanatory details. But it never fails- my Mom will sit there with a blank and confused look on her face.

Cyberplagerism

2005-02-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

Plagerism has been an issue for a long time now. It isn't anything new. People have used other people's work as their own, without citation. It's wrong, yet people still do it.

But now, plagerism has become easier. Students can now surf the web for any topic they want to find. All they have to do is copy the desired text and paste it to their own paper that they are writing. Students can also look through paper mills and databases found on line. There is so much information out there one the web. It is so simple to find what you want and transfer it to your own work. It is so easy.

Pro's and Con's of Plagerism:

Pro's:
-Saves time
-Less effort (thinking, researching, writing)
-Easy to find topics on internet
-Guaranteed good grade
-Paper sounds intelligent
-Looks like a lot of effort was put into the paper

Con's:
-Chance of getting caught
-If caught, you could be expelled, suspended, or put on probation
-Feeling of guilt
-Constant worrying of getting caught
-The fact that you did something wrong
-Don't get satisfaction of doing own work

Solving a Problem through Problem Restatement

2005-02-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

Problem:
I am a procrastinator. How can I keep myself from leaving everything to the last minute?

Step 1: Paraphrase
How can I get myself motivated to do things on time instead of waiting until the last possible opportunity?

Step 2: Turn the problem on its head
How can I keep myself preoccupated and unmotivated to do any work?

Step 3: Restate the problem in a larger context
How can I be organized with my time and my work?

Step 4: Redirect the focus
How can I get good grades and be less stressed.

Step 5: "why"

How can I keep myself from leaving everything to the last minute?
"why"- Because I end up doing all my homework really late.

How can I keep from doing homework so late when I should be sleeping?
"why"- Because I am losing sleep and am very tired during the day.

How can I organize my time and get more sleep?
"why"- Because I need to get sleep as well as give enough time to do my work accurately.

*Using this method I was able to restate the problem and see other smaller details that were implied within the problem that I had never realized. It led me to see what kind of patterns I was using that kept me from solving this problem.

A New Semester in EDTECH 296

2005-02-12T15:51:00.000-08:00

This Blog is coming a little late. There is a valid reason for that. It turns out that I am technically challenged. That's right. I just don't get a long with technology. I just don't know how to use all the new technologies that are spreading like wild fire all around the world! In fact they scare me. I don't like using something that is smarter than I am! I only know how to use about 25% of the features on my cell phone. The computer is a whole different dimension to me.

The point is, I couldn't even set up a blog account correctly even with help from a friend and the teacher. I had to set up a new account last Wednesday. I think this time I got it right. With all that said, I'm really hoping that this new semester in EDTECH 296 will really help me to learn about technology. Especially how to use it! It will help me be able to really use the internet and all it's functions. I mean so far I have learned what a blog was, and how to find them and read them! I even learned how to create my own ( after a few tries). But I'm working at it! Let's see how much smarter I can get at the end of this semester!