To iPod or not to iPod?

That is the question...
Have you noticed the various rules and regulations that are put in to place to manage all of the technology around you? Take for example, the iPod. Most of what I know about the iPod is that it plays downloaded music (and videos). Take a moment and read the article about how Georgia College and State University is using the iPod:

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6211
http://ipod.gcsu.edu/

As a part of the Oldham County Board of Education policy 9076: possesion of personal telecommunication devices, it states that students are not allowed to have/use these devices during the school day.

What do you think about this policy? In knowing what you do about how universitites and colleges are using "emerging technology", do you think this OCBE policy is out dated? After all, isn't high school suppose to prepare you for the future?

Tell what you think??

Mrs. Hoene

Why do you think...

people are so free with their personal information? Why do your peers feel safe enough to put their personal information on the World Wide Web? In recent months, much has been said about certain online journals (MySpace, FaceBook, etc.) including how much information teenagers are willing to put out there for anyone to see and use. Take a moment to review the following websites dealing with online predators using MySpace and other online journals to "shop" for their next victim.
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,70254-0.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11655531
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11064451/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10272868/

I think you will find that this news is disturbing. MySpace has been quoted as "a parents worse nightmare." Why? So...can you speculate about why your friends (or maybe even you) post personal information on these sites?? OR maybe you don't have a "space" on MySpace...why don't you? I am curious...

Thanks,
Mrs. Hoene

Independent Projects...Part 2

From what you said in the survey's about the independent project, most of you are interested in creating video's and designing websites. A few of you are interested in building a computer and even learning some basic programming language. I will do my best to taylor the project ideas to these wants, however, there must be some guidelines.

In today's comment, I would like for you to elaborate a bit more on what exactly you would like to do for your independent project. If it is a video, what would your video highlight? If it is dealing with programming, what language would you like to learn? If it is dealing with photoshop, what will you do with photoshop? You get it? I need more specfics! Think about the easy button from Staples...if you had an easy button, what kind of project would you like to be involved in?

So, take a moment and do some free writing/brainstorming for your project. Remember, these will begin sometime after Spring Break.

Imagine away...

Mrs. Hoene :-)

Where is Mrs. Hoene??? March 8 and 9, 2006

Good Morning...or afternoon! So...you have a sub today...I am sure you will survive! In class today you need to focus on these few things:

1. Finish revising your feature article. BEFORE you print a clean copy, please have someone else read it (on the computer screen) just to be sure, and THEN you can print.

2. You will need to put your english teacher's name on the clean copy, somewhere. And turn in BOTH the clean copy and the rough draft to the sub.

3. Then you will switch DTP applications. Refer to the board or ask the sub if you are unsure about your new assignment.

Finally, if you haven't taken a moment to read some of the comments from the last post (Time to Switch), you might want to. Find Mrs. Hoene's commment and read it. Take it to heart. For some of you, it might be a bit cheesy...but for those of you who see the cup as "half-full", I think you will understand.

Oh...one more thing...the ONLY printing to occur today should be the feature article. DO NOT print anything from the DTP applications. If you get stuck on something (especially you Photoshop people), jot down your delima and give it to the sub. You can then move on to the next activity.

Okay...I think that is it...for now. Have a great day!

Mrs. Hoene :-)

Time to Switch...

Yes, it is time to switch to the next Desktop Publishing (DTP) application. If you were using Paint, you will now move on to Photoshop. Those of you using Photoshop will move on to Publisher, and finally, those using Publisher will move on to Paint. But before you do...tell me what you learned from your current assignment. Be brief, but descriptive.