Friday 20 November 2009

PLN25

In the article “The world has become a lot more interesting” by David Warlick, talks about how the world is becoming less productive in advancing. First, like in education countries race to have the best education and quantity of the education. Next, with moving fast no one second guess what is going on like in education they don’t think about how the quality of the education is getting worse they just think about being the first. Last, we shouldn’t work to make sure that the student learn more than other countries students but make sure that the students are involved. The students need just to be involved because they don’t always complete homework and just show up to class are those who make difference because that is what they focus on making change. Clearly, the education department needs to rethink their approach to learning for the children of America.

Tuesday 17 November 2009

PLN23

In the article “Brazil: Was the blackout caused by hackers or UFOs” by Paula Góes, expresses the peoples’ views of what caused the blackout in Brazil that was the second largest. First, the people thought that it could be political forces or sabotage that caused the blackout since it appeared that the media knew the blackout was coming. Next, they thought it could possibly be hackers after contacting, “A 23 year old hacker, Maycon Maia Vitali [pt] believes it is feasible. He has showed in his blog the security flaws of the website of one of the government agencies responsible for managing energy:”. Last, some say it was extraterrestrial guest after a few people say that they saw a flying saucer fly across the sky and believe that the aircrafts electromagnetic effect knocked out the power grids. Clearly the blackout has many unanswered questions that have to be answered for the people in Brazil to be happy.

PLN24

In the article “Opening up the network to learners” by David Warlick, talks about how schools in Edmonton are creating open Wi-Fi spots for the students to use the web more frequently. First, they can use internet access to look at school things like grades, assignments, and other information. Next, they can easily look up information pertaining to an assignment or in other words do research without needing a computer lab or library. Then, the world is based around technology so if they have an opportunity to use technology more often then they will adapt better to the future. Last, there was a question posted that was very true about what is being filtered and how protected the students are with an open Wi-Fi that anyone within range can use. Clearly the web can enhance a students learning but with the open Wi-Fi there is much that needs to be improved on.

Wednesday 11 November 2009

PLN22

In the Denver Post the article “Put forth our best writing selves” by Douglas Hesse, the author feels that facebook, twitter, and texting were ruining the English language till he decided it is good in helping us express ourselves.

Sunday 8 November 2009

PLN21

In the article “Reasoning our way in…” by David Warlick, he thinks about the future based on the technology the students today have grown up around. First, the technology of every day use is different like a digital watch has more functions than are needed for what the watch is designed for; the old watch had one knob to change the time and nothing more to it. Next, the new technologies that have made life easier like the internet, the only problem is that some processes are too complicated to remember exactly how to do it. Last, how most products like video games are built around getting people to have to problem solve like in video games they don’t always come with instructions for the controls or objectives. It is easy to see that the future will be built around better, new technologies for everyone to use.

Thursday 5 November 2009

PLN20

In the article “This would be really weird” by David Warlick, its goes into the recession and how women are being laid off less than men however based on the points David makes in the article it makes sense why the men are being laid off more. First, women mostly have jobs like political or healthcare type positions and those positions are needed more than the men’s main positions in construction and manufacturing. The main reason the women’s jobs will last longer is because there are already building and there are a lot of manufactured goods that no one is buying will last till they are bought. Next, the men tend to slack a little more than women do in anything that is a task they have to complete in an open ended time period or no deadline. Last, the men have dominated the work area for so long there is supposed to be a historical reversal and apparently it is true. Clearly, the women of the country are in good positions to dominate the work area based on the statistics and on what they do.

PLN19

In the article “A Gardeners Approach to Learning” by David Warlick, he talks about his change of heart/ viewpoints after realizing “fast food learning” is basically cheating and is only good to use every once in a while just like in life but the idea of learning should be to take all the knowledge in slow. He has written about the need for new technology for educational tools like text books so they can be digital, interactive, social, and a creation that produces good outcomes. The change in heart/ beliefs comes from remembering in his childhood when he was convinced to put a garden in his yard for food. He then learned to wait for the food to grow instead of rushing to the supermarket and just buying what he had needed. The other thing he realized was that the garden cut down on how much grass he had to mow so he got a two for one deal since he got great food he had to mow less just for a little bit of patience. Surely he probably thinks there are thing that can be done to improve education just none that cut corners to finish faster depriving the students of extra knowledge.