Project THREE

Check out my project three on the evolution of the ipod and the possible uses in education. Check it out at the site below:

http://socalmyers.com/ETEC_676.html

Let me know what you think!

Project Proposal 3

I am doing a paper on the evolution of the iPod and how it can be used in education. Check out my proposal.

http://socalmyers.com/ETEC_676.html

Session FIVE

What do I think is the future of mobile devices?

I think the future is endless when it comes to mobile devices. I agree with Dr. Newberry about how mobile devices are coming out so fast with new capabilities, such as the touch screen. The next thing I think will be big is the idea of glasses that connect to your phone or other devices to view applications on your device. Another idea I would love to see is the idea of hologram. For example, the movie "Iron Man" Tony Stark is able to view what is on his computer by waving his hand and manipulating a 3D version of the items on his computer. That would be cool.

In education I do not see a use for having the glasses, but in the world I can see an importance of that kind of connection to the mobile device. I think education runs behind the trend of the world. What I mean is that mobile devices are becoming popular in the world, but education is not into the trend of mobile devices because education looks at the big picture and it is difficult to keep up with the trend of the world. What I mean is that they are still trying to incorporate computers into the classroom because education is so big and they haven't accomplished the goal yet. Another belief of mine is the fact the too much emphasis is put onto english and math, that everything else is put on the back burner of issues. When one strategy works for one student, the powers that be thinks it is the solution for everyone, which we all know not all students are alike. More emphasis should be put on technology learning and training in education because that is the future of learning and we should give the students a head start, instead of always being behind the trend.

What have I been up to?

After e-mailing Dr. Newberry and racking my brain about what I can do for my project I finally came up with an idea for it. Working all week finding info about my project. I enjoyed this class and I hope everyone else did. I need to go check on my new puppies. They are a handful!!!!

Session FOUR

Questions- What type of content do you consume using a mobile device? What kind of content have you created for mobile devices? What kind of content would you like to create for mobile devices.

I have to admit maybe a year ago the only thing I did on a mobile device was call and txt, even though if you ask my parents that's all I did was txt. I was a txt-a-holic. Anyway, I have to say I "Live Large" and it's hard to wrap my hands around a handheld device because of the size of my hands and the lack of room on the device. I would always lose interest and go to a bigger more stationary device like a computer, laptop, or gaming system. Just recently, like two or three months ago, purchased an itouch. If you look back at my blogs from another class you would find out I am a tech-a-holic. I always have to have the latest greatest thing. I just got into handheld devices because of the need to be on the move and have access my e-mail for work. I told teachers if they needed my help, then the best idea was to e-mail me, and I didn't realize how hard it was to lug my laptop around campus to keep up with my e-mail. So now I use my mobile device to check my e-mail.

When I first got my itouch, my plan was to use it for my music and my e-mail. Well I found all the applications that I could have on it, I downloaded plenty of them. The most recent application was one to make it easier for me to check on my banking account. I also recently added the twitter application and a game called tap tap (something like guitar hero, but with your fingers). So now you can say that I have gone towards using handhelds because of the simplicity and mobility. It takes so long for me to start my 5 year old computer and get to where I'm going. With my mobile device it takes minutes and then I can turn it off with ease. Now if there was an application to access Blackboard???? Now theres a thought!!!!

What I've done
July 13- Met with Heidi to work on our project, Eman had an emegency
July 14-15- Worked on the enhanced podcast for our project
July 16- Met with the group and finished the podcast for our project, listened to podcast, posted my blog, maybe an idea for project three??????

Project 2

Here is our project for this class. The title is "Pros and cons of handheld mobile devices in all levels of education." Check it out.

http://socalmyers.com/ETEC_676.html

Session THREE (Applications)

In this blog we are suppose to talk about mobile device applications and/or web services.

1). Twitter- I am a twitoholic. (Means I am addicted to it). I use this to keep up with my friends, family, co-workers, and some of my favorite stars. I like it better than Myspace because there are too many things you can do with myspace and Twitter you just message back and forth. I can see this as being a way for students to contact a teacher or for teachers to contact each other for communication purposes or discussion boards. I could also see how this would be good for communicating with parents who are hard to communicate with. On a mobile device it makes it easier to access the program.

2). Chess- This is a free application for the iphone or itouch that people could download to their device and after downloaded the internet is not needed. I don't know about any other school, but my school has a chess program where we teach students patience and strategy to play chess. It's also great for RSP students and students with behavior problems. The students learn how to play chess and they play with chess pieces and a chess board. We also have some computers with a chess program on them, but they are usually being used by a class. Students love to play one another and this program along with the device allows students to play anytime anywhere.

3). Poll Anywhere- Sounds like a cool program and it sounds very beneficial to teachers to get responses from students. For example, think about a time where you asked a question and when some students saw that most students raised their hands then all would go up, but this way the student will not know what the other students are answering so the teacher could get a more realistic count.

4). Ask a word- That is a great thing to have, especially if your a teacher or student. If each student had this then teachers wouldn't be getting so many questions about how to spell this or whats another word for this or what does that mean. I don't know about anyone else but when I was growing up I was ALWAYS told to go look it up if I didn't know how to spell something. I was glad when the computer was affordable to own one and I learned how to use word processing software. This way it did the work for me.

What I've been up to????
Met with Eman and Heidi to talk about our project for this class.
Found all my articles through the library and was amazed how interesting some of them were
Worked on my Annotative Bibliography
Been trying to figure out my third project. Have no idea??????


Any suggestions?? All suggestions are accepted and considered.

Project Proposal 2

Check out our project proposal for my second project for this class.

http://socalmyers.com/ETEC_676.html

Session TWO

Dr. Newberry asked me how is it that technology has penetrated almost every aspect of most of our daily lives, but teachers still can't deal with technology? I believe ALOT of it has to do with need and want and have to. Most of us buy an ipod because we don't want to of carry around a CD player and CD's, but we want to listen to music. We do this to make listening to music easier and simplier. In the case with teachers, some teachers are happy correcting papers with their red pens and lugging it to and from school, but the case where the powers that be decide that paper is no more and grades need to be electronic and not on paper, then that throws teachers in a 180 and they find out they have to learn a new way to grade. It sounds simple, but with all that teachers need to do now a days and now they are given a task of learning how to enter electronic data into a computer, which they use to have no trouble with when it was paper and pen. When they do try to learn by going to a training, it is usually someone who has a background in computers standing in the front of the room with a computer showing the teachers how to enter the data into the system. I don't know about anyone else, but when I learn something I am going to need to do in the future I like to actually do it with the help there to assist, not someone showing me.

Well I don't quite understand what we are suppose to do on this weeks blog and I can't open my e-mail from blackboard so I am going to wing it. I have tried to figure out what I exactly want to do for my project for this class and I kind of like to work on a podcast debate/discussion for the project, but I want to see if anyone from the class would like to work together on the project.

The subject I am thinking about is the pros and cons of media Classrooms, like on-line classes and media based learning. Is technology a good thing or a bad thing for students? If you have the same idea or thinking this might be something you want to work on, then please e-mail me at:

william.myers@sbcusd.com (Down on Sunday and don't know for how long)

Also you can e-mail me at:

bigbilltech1983@gmail.com


What I did?

6/29- My only week off of work. Kind of.....
7/01- Listened to podcast. Looked for articles and e-mailed Dr. Newberry about the project.
7/05- Blogged and asked for anyone who would like to work together on the project!

Session ONE

Assignment- Your first post should introduce yourself to the rest of the class and discuss your experiences with mobile devices and even the Apple II if you remember it. Be sure to address why we don't seem to be as excited about mobile technology for learning as we were about the first microcomputers.

My name is Bill Myers and I am 26 years old working as a Computer Technician for the San Bernardino City Unified School District. I have been working with the district for the past four years, first as a substitute teacher, then as a math tutor, and then this job. I also went through school in this district from kindergarten through 12th grade, so I have seen how technology in this particular school district has changed from the late 80's to the present. I remember how excited I use to get to get to play Oregon Trail on the computer. I was lucky enough that I even had one at home that was for my sister who was in high school at the time going into college. I remember taking all my essays home so I could type them up and turn them in all neat on clean white paper, instead of handwriting the whole thing in cursive. Not to mention all the new games they had available on the computer. Amazing thing is the fact I still peck when I type and I've never learned how to properly type with all my fingers. That was one thing that I never learned in school, even though it was expected that you typed up your research papers to put up on the bulletin board. I also remember printing out banners for celebrations and posters to hang. The pixels use to be bigger then the size 12 font now in Microsoft word or Appleworks.

I think the reason why we are not as excited about mobile technology as we were about the first computers becuase for three major reasons. One is because the mobile devices have more capabilites then the first computers did. For example, you were able to type your papers instead of using a typewritter, you can save your papers to look at later, and you were able to play games on them, some you can learn from, such as Orgeon Trail. Now the mobile technology can do all that and more. Some can access the internet, and that brings me to the next reason why we are not as excited as we should be. The internet has alot of things that are inappropriate and this gives them a way to access the material that they shouldn't. Of course districts do a good job of blocking most of this type of material, but nothing is perfect and there are ways around it. And this brings me to my final reason that many teachers, administrators, and staff do not trust students to use the technology appropriately. This is due to the fact that kids are curious and they love to play with the technology and find ways around the rules. This is not all students, but there are enough to hold the excitement to use these devices in the learning process.

Now not all mobile devices can go on the internet, but I still see them not being used properly. One device that comes to mind is a student hand held response device where a teacher can send out a test to the students' devices where they can take the test and the teacher gets immediate results and feedback from the students about a lesson that they just listened to. The students get involved and the teacher gets data back without having to correct it themselves. Now your probably wondering why isn't this technology being used more? Well I have one teacher using this technology and seventeen other teachers not. The reason I see is because all the other teachers are afraid and fustrated with technology because they don't understand it. Some of the blame could be on the fact that some teachers aren't confident in using technology and some blame could go on the fact that alot of these techers haven't been properly trained to use this technology in their classrooms as a learning device. Some techers see it as a waste and still like the old way of paper and pen because they are comfortable with that technique.

This is why I think we are not as excited about the mobile devices as we should be. Me on the other hand love new technology and I always get excited when my school recieves new technology to implement in the classrooms.

What I did?
6/24- Signed up for this class
6/28- After having no internet all weekend, I finally fixed the problem and listened to the podcast and posted my blog
6/28- E-mail Dr. Newberry about the project and to give him my blog URL