Post 4

   Web based resources can be questionable for a number of understandable reasons. Of course, when finding real information on the Internet, one has to wonder whether or not certain information is faulty or limited. Also, plagiarism becomes a much easier tactic in lazy students when given access to the Internet and it's various sources. The way I might deem this a helpful and skillful way to gain access to more information than ever before would be to limit the list of web-based resources to federally approved websites, or one's created by certified educators. There are many websites that give students various web portals that are educationally and federally approved that many teachers would support, some of these websites would include; Ibis Communications and NASA Quest.
http://www.ibiscom.com/index.html
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/

  My personal views on using the Internet for student research have changed greatly over the years. From a cynical teen growing in a modern world, one who loves the tangibility of a paper book or textbook, I used to shrug off the Internet as a resource and assert it as an easy and lazy way out. But, being that I'm not 16 anymore, and in this growing world of technology have to be accepting of the rapid technological advances of our society, my mind has changed. The Internet like everything, has its flaws, but what it does provide, that wasn't possible before, is access to almost all information one might seek at the click or tap of a finger. One student could, with his or her own ambition, gain far more knowledge in a short amount of time than one running across libraries, fingering through pages all over town.

   Since first beginning college I've thankfully had access to wonderful school-based search engines that link me to various article filled sites, and approved educational sites with a multiplicity of online resources. Of course, as we learned as students for many many years, there are certain websites that are usable and others we should avoid at all costs (i.e. Wikipedia). Usually when evaluating a source I regularly check the publisher of the sites, it's credibility through a Google-search, and so on. The access to our library's home page has greatly improved my selection of credible websites.

   I actually very much enjoyed this weeks Inspiration assignments and skill check. I had no idea word had a program like Mail Merger and if I do end up teaching that is something I can certainly see as a very helpful tool to utilize when working on mass communication newsletters/forms and such. As for the concept maps, I didn't particularly enjoy them, and don't see them as the most helpful or efficient tool in our day and age, but it felt good to familiarize myself with technologies I have yet to learn about before.

Post 3

            When critiquing the visual aspects of a website I chose to evaluate the child- friendly educational site titled ‘Funbrain”. This site is meant to enhance math and reading skills through computerized arcade games, making the learning more approachable and enjoyable. As far as general design is concerned, there are no overwhelming sounds or moving designs on the main home page of the site, making reducing any overbearing elements while still being bright and colorful. Also every link is near or associated with a corresponding picture or graphic that makes it comprehensive for young students, and the colorful and fun design affects help engage low-spatial learners. All texts and links on the site are enhanced slightly by animated graphics in a manner that is organized and clear without being excessive, and the only plain text is underlying links with short visually appealing information. What stands out to me is how well they are aware of their younger audience and appeal to them in their stylistic techniques. (See link: http://www.funbrain.com/)

             Open content and education is something that makes perfect sense when it comes to increasing our learning capabilities and growth as people. With the idea of open content constructed the world will, and has, developed a multiplicity of routes towards higher education. It along with open sources has allowed free access to higher education and scholarly content across the globe. Many students I know today benefit greatly from a website titled Khan Academy, which is an interactive and helpful free teaching site for mathematics at all levels. Similarly with open textbooks concepts, the constant reprinting of newer editions is eliminated, and gives millions of students more access to knowledge than they could without the concept.

            The Word and Graphics 2 assignment was one that honestly wasn’t particularly easy for me, but because of it I have newly gained skills and ideas about the website. What I enjoyed about it was being able to make it my own creatively, because I chose not to use a template, and also the designing of the layout to make it concise and clear was something I haven’t had much experience in. What I didn’t like about it was I was a little confused on how the layout would sometimes entirely change because of the margins and other ways the document is set-up. I did enjoy writing short comprehensive stories and making it fun; if I do end up teaching English I know I can have fun with this.

Blog Post 2

Microsoft Word’s role has interestingly grown rapidly in my experience as a student. At a young age Microsoft Word was in its more basic processing levels, with common document options to create clear and coherent virtual documents of various forms. It’s presence in my personal growth as an older student is increasingly prevalent, and if I weren’t able to work these programs properly, being an English major in our modern day- I would not do so well. Similarly my teachers have used these programs more progressively as well, from simple worksheets to spreadsheets, the ease of this program has created simplicity and efficiency between student and teacher.

As the Internet grew more and more accessible, and it begun to be a requirement to be able to navigate and utilize online resources for our own reports and work as students, so did the inherent suspicion about plagiarism and copyright infringement. It was always a heavily enforced rule to cite properly, quote properly, and paraphrase properly- otherwise the work loses its originality and dignity. This is where the increase in accessibility to resources can be seen as an easy way out for some students. As a teacher I believe that the enforcement of using websites like TurnItIn and similar reviewed submission sites are one of the best ways to go about determining original work and thought, as well as limiting the amount of sites used so that if monitoring or checking out specific data were necessary it would be a simple task.

I actually enjoyed working on the ‘Word and Graphics 1’ assignment. I would’ve previously assumed that I would be able to type up a quiz if need be one day with ease, but the assignment gave me more than my previously assumed insight. I had some difficulty with aligning the margins, numbers, and multiple choice questions but once I got the hang of it I understood the majority of what goes on. I enjoyed incorporating a graphic, because as it stimulates me when creating the test, I now know that grouped within plain text questions, these can enhance the thought process and technique of test taking.

Blog Post 1

I believe that computers and computer technology have greatly improved the processes by which students learn and retain information. The accessibility to millions of databases of information throughout the internet are just one reason technology is helping educate students more than we could before the creation of the internet. On the one hand though, I disagree with a portion of what is mentioned in the chapter, that computers allow a higher-level of thinking than one could reach without a computer, I personally think that computers present children with these higher levels of thinking, but it is greater for someone to reach these skills and levels of thinking on their own. But that is not to say I dismiss the beneficial aspects that computers do have on education, I simply think the ease that it creates leaves room for some laziness and short cuts.

As one could assume, the term 'digital native' refers to the modern student, one who is equipped with a specific skill set of his/her generation that allows them to work and maneuver with technologies of today with ease. I can certainly agree with this newly coined term, while I wouldn't consider myself a part of this group, it is more than evident that the youth of today are entirely immersed in technology and the internet from a much younger age than the older generations- thus it only makes sense that they are products of their digital age. I'm not particularly tech-savvy so to say, but I do notice a difference in my minute intelligence and awareness of technology in comparison to some of my older professors. For example, my last math professor was very often confused when operating the different technologies we utilized in the classroom, and it led to a certain disconnect of intelligence between the students and the teacher- I also think that if she was more of a 'digital native' my learning experience would have been better.

Blog Post 0

   My prior experience with technology could very likely match up with that of a confused elderly woman. Honestly, I'm not as tech savvy as someone in my generation would assume. Regardless I am fond of the new advancements and technologies companies like Apple has been releasing over the years. As one with brief knowledge about today's technologies might assume, I am particularly fond of Apple's user-friendly products; the iPhone and the mac-book are near and dear to my heart. So my experience is fairly basic, besides my familiarity with various POS Systems I've used at some of my jobs.

   I am truly hoping this class will bring me to a new level of understanding with technologies and programs, because I do have trouble with lots of websites and television remotes- haha. More particularly I would like to be able to understand how to maneuver around other computers that are not as user-friendly as Apple and improve upon my thought process when I encounter a problem with technology. I'm looking forward to working on this blog because as an aspiring writer in this day and age, I am going to really need to have a good grasp on this skill set.