"Grad School Barbie"

Ran across this link today and found it very humorous, as I, too, am in Grad School. I feel "Grad School Barbie's" pain - poor thing!

Futuristic gizmos - Assign 8

In my computer class, I have to post different assignments I complete here on this website. This is an assignment where I had to write about some technology that will be obsolete in the next 50 years (like the dial telephone).

The technology that I think will be obsolete in the future is texting. I think so much of our technology will be “hands-free” and quick in the future. Even though texting today is the “future”, I think something will come along to replace it. I think voice-texting will be created and common. Instead of typing in letters or words with the fingers, all someone has to do is to speak the words and the cell phone will recognize it and quickly show it on the screen. I know some phones today can do that, but not many. Also, the phones that do that today do not always type the correct words or meanings. I think that in the future, the programs that do this will be able to interpret meanings of words rather than just the exact word. What is said into the phone will be taken in context of the sentence and quickly typed up on the screen. I also think that cell phones will either be incredibly small or almost invisible. This could result in holographic images instead of a screen. In this case, the texting might be displayed in the air in front of a person instead of on a tiny phone screen. If this is the case, it might also be possible to allow the holographic screen to be touch screen. Then, you could just type or rearrange letters and words in the air in front of you. And everything will be voice activated and voice controlled, adding to the “hands-free” idea of texting. Then, the hassle of pulling out a phone, opening the phone, typing things on the screen, and holding a phone in your hand will seem old-fashioned. The cell phone itself may become old-fashioned. Because of how advanced I think technology is now, it is hard for me to think that these things will be obsolete in the not-too-distant-future and that they will be replaced by “new and improved” futuristic technology.

Assignment 7

I had to do an assignment to define Facebook, Twitter, texting, and Blogs. Then I had to answer some questions about them. Here are two of my questions and answers.

Some schools do not allow students or teachers to access sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Explain why they are correct and give reasons/examples. Facebook and Twitter can be very distracting. It is easy to not pay attention or do the assigned task when you can be on Facebook or Twitter. It would also be very unfair if a teacher was on Facebook or Twitter while at school if the students are not allowed to be. This also shows that the teacher is not interested in the students, and it shows that she is not paying attention to them. It also wastes time. If a computer lab had access to these accounts, students could easily sit through lab time and do nothing for school. Facebook and Twitter are also easy ways to bully. Without immediate access to Facebook or Twitter at school, bullying can be lessened slightly.

Some schools do not allow students or teachers to access sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Explain why they are wrong and give reasons/examples. A person of interest who is on Facebook could be helpful when studying specific things. If a certain farmer’s market is on Facebook (while students are learning about farmer’s markets), the students could see what is happening at the farmer’s market. It could also be a good tool to teach about advertising. Allowing Facebook is also a way to monitor what kids are on Facebook during class. Twitter could also be useful if you are learning about certain people (ex: Tim Tebow), and you wanted to see what they were “tweeting” recently. It could also be an interesting way to supplement what you are teaching (ex: stock markets on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/DTNStockMarket).

Do you have an answer to these questions?

The Future of the Past

For an assignment, I'm writing a paper on some educational theorists of the early years of America. This was the beginning of public school systems. The chapters that I am reading in order to write the paper have exposed the fact that our Country was founded on solid principles, mainly based on faith in God and the Bible. It made me wonder. What greatness has been attributed to our Nation because of this wonderful heritage and foundation? How might our whole destiny have been changed if the Founding Fathers had not strongly believed that God should be involved in the establishment of our Nation? Where would we be now? Without God, how far would we have made it?
Just a thought.

Thanks, Founding Fathers, for seeing the need to rely wholly on God.