Chapter 1

You need people in order to partake in e-learning. Participants are need to get through this technology process. Someone needs to create/produce an e-learning product. They have to offer the too (usually by a host on the Internet). Finally you need a person/participant/leaner to use or access the product. There are many different steps in the process. The whole activity starts and it can lead back to the creator as well. There are many different types of technology hardware that the Creator and uses have to consider while creating or using computers. Things to consider for example: processor speed, monitor displays, memory size. Software is also important to help the user store or install data. Examples are external storage devices, CD-ROM or DVD. Operating systems depending on what computer platform you use is also important to consider and how do you connect to the Internet. There is a lot of things to think about while creating an e-learning tool and it is important to consider all areas of using the computer as stated above. If you do not consider these area as a Creator...your learners might not be able to use the product that you create. Also, everything in technology changes so fast...you have to keep up to date on the daily changes in technology while creating as well.

Chapter 4

This chapter focused on all of the different types of hardware that e-leaners or creators need to have at home. You have to know about what kind of authoring tools that you might be using or creating..and make sure that you have the correct computer hardware to service your needs. Each person might need to look to purchase certain types of hardware for their own personal or maybe even a work computer. There are so many different types of hardware devices that you could have. Things to think about..processor speed, memory, hard drive capacity, are you playing/inputting video or even photos or audio. You will need ports on your computer to handle using these different components. Cameras video or USB ports, microphones (audio ports). Not only do you need these devices on the computer...but you will have to purchase video camera, cables, digital cameras, microphones etc. There is a lot to picking hardware....I would like the chapter to talk about the cost of the various components. It could be quite expensive to purchase (depending on what you are creating) a computer with all the "hardware" that comes with it.

Social Networking Class Slides

All the presentations by my colleagues went very well. All seemed to share how great some of the various social networking sites and gave some great examples. We seem though to get back to the same issue regarding social networking sites. "they are great" but you can not always use them in the school districts. There is also quite of few negative impacts that might effect to learner or content sharer. There is such an excitement about using the tools, but we seem to get frustrated with the safety concerns and board policy's to follow. I guess we have to learn how to work with the tools provided as well to work with the school boards.

Impact of Cyber-bullying

The difference between cyber-bullying and traditional bullying is that cyber-bullying takes place at any time or place or even in the comfort of the home. Traditional bullying usually takes place within a schools boundaries. Physical as well as mental aliments can be caused from cyber-bullying which is a type of online harassment. This can happen to anyone..child and adult. Cyber-bullying seems to do more damage to the youth (according research by Willard) low self esteem, anger, anxiety and depression are just a few effects. Because cyber-bullying is "written words" the victim can read the words over and over again to relive the experience. This negative experience can happen at anytime...there is no way to stop it. Education about cyber-bullying...can help your students or children become more aware. To educate about caring and respectful behaviors, to teach tolerance and impartiality are just some ways to help to promote awareness of this issue.

Schools and Online Social Networking

Willard discusses three basic factors that exist for students using social networking sites. These factors are that parents do not pay attention to child, teens make bad choice while on the sites, sexual predators are on the prowl. She talks about how filters can help within the district although students can find their way around that at times. ..Schools should as I mentioned in earlier blogs have a policy for students to follow related to educational needs. Students need to be educated and responsible for online Internet safety, students must be monitored and appropriate consequences must be enforced.

Creating and Connecting

ok....what is a tween??? thank you for the urban dictionary...I did a search it means not a teen yet, the group of children between the ages of 10 and 15. "not yet really a teen. The most interesting fact that I read is that today teens spend aprox 10 hours watching tv and 9 hours using social networking sites. In comparison to TV...although we park our selves down in front of the computer as well as the TV. The article says that teens are more interactive and use more communications skills and engage in higher order of thinking while on the computer. Students are using (sharing content) with music, words, pictures, videos, and graphics. I was surprised that a genera of students using social networking in a more "aggressive, cutting edge, breaking boundries etc....were called nonconformist. It surprised me that although these students are spending a lot of time and possibly breaking the rules...the nonconformist are more in tough with their parents. (are they more in touch via these devices or via the old school in person way) the article did not say. Nonconformist..a least the ones that I know...never got along with their parents...wow are times changing. Safety policies are part of the rules that school districts must deal with. Most districts do not allow social networking, and their is a high percentage of districts that have students sign a safety policy. It seems like the circle is here again. We have these great sites to share with our students...and most schools do not or will not support the Internet use with social networking. I feel that it is important to educate the student, teacher, parent and administrators about the safety importance and value to use social networking sites. Policy's need to be in place and students need to know what rules to follow while using the schools computers. I feel that we need to embrace this technology especially since it has been found that students actually learn better while using social networking sites. I am not sure that the schools are ready to take on this vast area...although it could benefit their student body.

Blogging 101

I found this article interesting especially that the elementary level student liked the blogging experience. And why not. It seems like Cassidy presented the student blog in a positive a fun way to learn. They are learning to reflect and share their experiences online. The blog even helped with cross continent learning with students in other countries. It helped them learn about different cultures in the world. An all around learning experience for the students connecting all different types of content including different subject areas and cultures. I was also surprised that the school system seemed to sponsor or support her use of a blog within the classroom with children so young. Parents and other people could respond. I am having difficulty trying to have a class blog. My school is concerned about using web based programs...rules to follow and safety concerns. The school seemed to be open about the whole thing. I wish that I new how she set this up and if their were problems or concerns about the "safety" issues that come with people using this type of social networking site.