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What a depressing film. It reminds me of something my Mormon friends showed me. They have a very similar film that they show to people at their church. I think what makes the film powerful is that the characters are faced with a completely impossible choice. Choose the life of the kid or the people on the train. It reminds me of Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan where Spock says "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one."

The idea of self sacrifice is pivotal to our human experience. I think that while we are not forced with such difficult decisions daily, we still have to decide what path we will choose in life and whether or not we should sacrifice what is important to us for the good of the whole.

EDUC 514:

Challenges!

The iPad is a completely new frontier. It is interesting that as a kid we always had to take our camcorder with us. However, now we have video with our phones and iPads. It is really a unique and different thing to be able to video each moment. My students know so much and it is incredible that they are experts. The idea of Digital Native is certainly true with these students.

I think that doing the work and being cut loose is not a bad thing. The only difficulty I have had in class has been this blog. For some reason I thought the blog and Sakai were the same thing. So, therefore out of sight out of mind I guess! Otherwise I am fine with being set loose to do my assignments.

Webquest Progress

My webquest has been slow going! I have the lesson and the pages planned out on paper, now, I am just putting the type to the screen as it were! So far, I have finished the intro, welcome, evaluation and conclusion pages. my goal in the next day or two is to completely transfer what I have on paper to the screen!

Copyright Law

What's the purpose of copyright law? The purpose of copyright law is to protect creators of works from their ideas being stolen. 

What can be copyrighted? Any original work of authorship which is fixed to a tangible medium of expression. 

How long can something be copyrighted for nowadays? Typically the run is 70 years.

How long could you copyright something for a long time ago? 95 years

What's the public domain? Public domain are items that can be copied and/or used publicly without permission. 

What is fair use? Fair use gives open access to copyrighted works. 

What reasons can you borrow something that's been copyrighted? Education and artistic purposes. 

What's the guidelines of fair use? purpose and character of use, nature of copyrighted work, amount and substantially, essentially are you using it for the proper purposes and to not make a profit or defame the work. 

Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives

These articles are truly fascinating. They were written quite some time ago, however, there are many merits to what is being taught. The main idea is that the communication methods of digital immigrants and digital natives is different. Digital natives refer to those who were born into the technology age, and the immigrants refer to those who were not and are attempting to learn current technology.

One such interesting note is that in the article, it is mentioned how a digital immigrant would still print online information, while a native would not. I wholeheartedly agree with the fact that we as educators must teach to the digital native. Though, I am considered a part of the digital native generation, time has marched on since I was in Elementary school. When  I was in Elementary school, I used Mac IIs with 5.25 floppy discs with Oregon Trail on a green screen. Now, however, students all have ipads and can do digital research. Students as young as Pre-K are fluent in technology.

We as educators in the 21st century must be adaptive and responsive to the ever changing pace of technology and continue to adapt to the changing times.

Search Engines

                                                               

                                                          Search Engine Project

For this assignment I typed in the term: Star Trek the Motion Picture

Google: Google has organized search results on the right there is a little about the movie and on the left are results, it is very user friendly.

Bing: On the bing search engine, I am taken to a complex search page with small boxes at the bottom with current news. On the right there is a link to the trailer, the size of the fonts are smaller on the left.

Goodsearch: Is a search engine for charity. The layout seems a bit aged.

Teoma: A very busy search engine for the same topic.

Kids Click: No results for my search

Kid Rex: Very limited results, also, the layout looks like it is several years old.

Quintera: No results for my search.

Educ 512 Webquest

Subject:

5th Grade American History American Revolution

Key Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3
Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.6
Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.

5.7 Students describe the people and events associated with the development of the U.S. Constitution and analyze the Constitution's significance as the foundation of the American republic.

ISTE 5.5A Acquire information including text, audio, video, and graphics

Final Product:

Students will be able to create a powerpoint on an ipad that will showcase a founding father, present as that founding father, and show a different account of the same situation that founding father was involved in. 

Scoring Powerpoints

Thoughts: This is an interesting look into powerpoints and their creation. The author helps us explore the various rules surrounding the creation of proper powerpoints, that will not have the audience fall asleep or will not 'dumb' the audience down. The author uses the idea of "mentalsoftness" which, explores this notion. The author also employs many presentation suggestions such as good eye contact, etc.

Agree: I like the idea about having an organized and specific rubric for a powerpoint covering ideas like copyright, etc. Also, the students having a research log is an excellent idea. I also like the general overview of powerpoint 'rules of the road.'I also like how the author explores how some use powerpoints as the presentation and not merely a part of it.

Disagree: I disagree about the notion that the author shares regarding the powerpoints, that people who use them only explore absolutes. He mentioned the idea of the dam and how participants would only be able to answer the question of the dams in a yes/no and that gray areas are not explored. If a powerpoint is an element of the presentation and not the main driver, gray areas can and are explored and discussed in presentations.

Getting to Know You- 512

President Jimmy Carter

Who you are at home: Well, I am engaged to the beautiful Yesenia Guzman. When we are not out and about I enjoy working on my cars and traveling as well as meeting famous people! 

Who you are at school: I teach fifth grade full time and I am an adjunct Professor of History. I have a M.A. in History and have been invited to speak at the Nixon Library twice. I also have a multiple subject credential and am working on the MAEd. I am a published author with many articles and contributions to my credit. 

Who you are when you are out and about: I enjoy having fun! 

Tell me something unique that happened to you or that you do: Well, I grew up performing in my parent's magic show, appearing out of cages of fire on Norwegian Cruise Lines. 

I have traveled the world and met (and have taken pictures with!) many famous people including: President Carter, Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Speaker Gingrich, Vice President Cheney, Secretary Rumsfeld,  Governor Jerry Brown, William Shatner, Larry Hagman, Jay Leno, Leonard Nimoy, Mickey Rooney, the Cast of Star Trek the Next Generation and the list goes on and on and on! (I've met around 100 famous faces!) 

Jay Leno

William Shatner