Friday, May 24, 2013

Growing Up Online

Not surprised:

  1. People have relationships online
  2. It's hard to control what kids do online.
  3. Many teens do not know what to do without the internet.
  4. Parents are unable to control internet behavior since teens bypass internet surveillance.
  5. People insult themselves through social media.
  6. Teens use the internet for plagiarism.
  7. Teens send naked pictures of themselves through the internet.
  8. Teens use the internet to try different identities.
  9. Teens use the internet to feel as different people.
  10. Parents fear is not that they have bad kids but that their good kids will make a bad decision that will mark them forever.
  11. Teens never tell their parents anything at all.
  12. The internet is always an open listener, and one very seductive.
  13. Parents easily ruin a children's High School life.
  14. Cyber-bullying may happen with rumors of homosexuality.
  15. Cyber-bullying can lead to suicide

Surprised:

  1. 90% of teenagers are online. (I thought that since there are many areas of the world without internet access, it would be much less)
  2. Teens think the internet is to complain about adults. (why would they think this? Can't they complain about adults without the use of the internet?)
  3. Teachers need to act as entertainers to catch the teens' attention, and teachers think of themselves as entertainers. (I find this funny, since I can't believe a teacher would consider his/herself a clown)
  4. Teachers let students take over when they do not know how to do something (technologically speaking). Most teachers at CNG don't even use technology appropriately and freak out whenever a student wants to help.
  5. Some teens believe that no one reads books, that everyone uses "Sparknotes". What were e-books created for? 
  6. Some teachers have decided to accept the reality, and believe they should not fight against web. Come on? Teachers not fighting against non-reading and summaries?
  7. Travis, New Jersey is 4 hours from Manhattan in train. I don't even know where Travis is.
  8. Teens used to believe that since they are home nothing will happen to them. Come on, can't a bully go to their home and throw rocks at his window with a bang of friends?
  9. Parents put computer in the kitchen so that they can put an eye on their children. Found it funny, they could also use internet filters and other stuff.
  10. Teens do not give their Facebook password to their parents. Parents could be able to figure them out anyways.
  11. Parents are not able to force their kids' Facebook passwords out of them. Why don't parents just slap them or take some privileges away to obtain the password?
  12. Most kids are not looking for trouble and just socialize with school friends. At CNG, most students do not only socialize with school friends.
  13. Teens should stop being considered victims and more like participants. How come parents do not know this? It is teens the ones who upload all those nasty pics. 
  14. Anorexia is called Ana and anorexics pray to a goddess called Ana. I really don't know much about Anorexia.
  15. I'm surprised that parents were surprised that students put a video of them getting drunk. Did they now know about their kids getting drunk before? How could they not be surprised?
  16. I'm surprised parents were surprised to hear rejections of social help. Most parents are careless about their children, why would they want other people to get into their life?
  17. Internet has created the largest generation gap. Didn't know this.
  18. There webpages that tell you the best way to kill yourself. Didn't know this.
  19. These webpages still exist. Found it!

Stuff that has changed:

  1. "Crank that boy" is no longer Youtube's most viewed video
  2. Myspace has changed interface.
  3. Computer Hardware
  4. Computer software
  5. Cellphone Hardware
  6. Cellphone Software
  7. Facebook and Myspace have more users now.
  8. Travelling by train has decreased exponentially.
  9. Internet Explorer is not really used now. 
  10. Video Games are much more common.
  11. Microphones are now usually incorporated into the computer hardware.
  12. Computers no longer have a box attached to the back.
  13. Internet has grown.
  14. Many more internet safety campaigns nowadays.
  15. Keyboards have changed in design and color. (white to black; or at least most, nowadays)

Monday, May 20, 2013

Swiss School

Sustainability Management School (SUMAS)
This video shows how SUMAS is located in a great place in Switzerland and gives a brief description of it. SUMAS is the first school of its kind that exclusively focuses on achieving a greener future without forgetting the standards society has set for "success". Switzerland is a great place to live because of the great views and it's relatively safe.

Sustainable consumption & production: a greener world
This shows the effect consumption and disposal has had on our world. By 2050 we will need two planets for Earth to be able to absorb all of the CO2 emissions and the garbage we throw away. Europe has developed a marketing system in which it tags ecologically better products so that citizens are aware of it, and will try to exclusively buy these products; doing something for a greener future.


An Inconvenient Truth | Film Trailer | Participant Media

This trailer of a movie called An Inconvenient Truth shows how the warming up of our world has brought destruction alongside. Most of the coastal cities throughout the world will be submerged since the worldwide sea levels will rise 20 feet. The trailer also shows how several landscapes have changed drastically the past 50 years. The trailer does a great job of convincing people to watch the movie.

FLIGHT MOFFETT TO PHOENIX: BEST OF
The Solar Impulse plane is a plane that runs uniquely on solar energy, which means that it will only run out when the night falls. This solar technology can be used for a variety of things that include refrigerators and homes. The pilot is really excited to board the plane and they are trying to fly across America. This can only be done with stops, since 12 hours of daylight is not enough. The woman who "solarized" Arizona feels really excited that Arizona was the first stop the Solar Impulse plane made.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY: GRADUATION CEREMONY
This video is the graduation ceremony in Arizona that Mr. Borschberg and Mr. Baccard were invited to. They invite the engineers who are graduating not to invent small objects but for them to invent the future because the world needs them. "Every difficulty is a potential opportunity" - Andre Borschberg

ASSIGNMENT
•Please describe how you can apply sustainable consumption in your city.

First, due to the fact that most automobiles have no CO2 emission filters I would suggest to check every single car in Bogota. But then, these cars should all become powered by alternate means, let it be solar or wind, etc. Another way to apply sustainable consumption is by tagging products that are eco-friendly so that citizens know how to support a green future. Another interesting way of applying sustainability, would be to create 2 other trash chutes in every building so that the different types of trashes are classified. This is a pretty ridiculous idea, but a useful nonetheless.

Somehow, roads should be greatly improved because being stuck in traffic causes more CO2 emissions, and no one turns off their cars while waiting for the light to turn green, although it is something they should do. Roads in Bogota are completely destroyed which is why the heavy traffic brings us all out of our minds. If somehow we are able to get rid of corruption (or at least reduce it 50%) we need to fix the roads and build new ones.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Google Apps for Education

Google apps marketplace EDU

What is there?
Google's App Marketplace is an extension of the basic Google Apps (Google Drive, Gmail, etc.). The App Marketplace mainly contains business apps but there is a certain area designed especially for EDUcation. The apps you find in the marketplace are powered by Google but administered by your organization. In this case, the school will be getting GMail, Docs, etc. under their domain: cng.edu

What looks useful and why?

  • EasyBib: Automatic Citation Creator. You are now able to save your citations as a Google Doc.
  • OpenClass: An app for grading and schedules. This app is completely free and offers a set of tools such as gradebook, scheduling, course management, workspaces, and social features.
  • BrainPop: Interactive quiz results are automatically added to teacher’s spreadsheet.
  • Gooru: search engine for learning. Discover millions of standards-aligned STEM resources, including videos, games, textbooks and quizzes, for 5th-12th grade topics.
  • Backchannelrealtime discussion tool.

What might teachers use?
Brainpop, OpenClass, EVERYTHING, since EVERYTHING is EDUCATIONAL.

What would be good for students?
It would not work too well for students, since most will be lazy and would not download the apps the Marketplace offers. Most of the apps there are are designed for teachers and educators, not students and educated. Yet, Brainpop and Gooru are useful tools for students. Backchannel would work splendidly as SharePoint did before. Teachers would create conversations with their different classes/periods, and inform their students of any test or homework assigned. Students would have a way of checking they have done all of their homework. 

What needs to be added?
You are only able to add stuff if you have a Google Apps Account. A Google Apps Account is not the regular Google Account, since the Chrome Webstore exists for these accounts. Maybe apps that don't have such a useless integration with Google.