IDC Blog Entry Number Four

1. In Depth Software Development
2. Web Tools 2.0
3. Netbook Cart Team

Question 1

I chose to put software development to the number one spot because I saw that I get to use video editing software and get to teach it to people. This sounds great because I've worked a few different video editing suites before and I'll be more than happy to learn a new program or become more competent with software that I have used previously.

I put Web Tools as my second option because it seems interesting to me and because I'll get to use something new and recommend it to somebody else. This seems like a pretty good assignment to work on overall.

Lastly, I put Netbook Cart Team on number three, because I'm really not the kind of guy who would want to create "official procedure" type of stuff. I don't think I'd be interested in that and I've also worked with the netbooks for a while and I feel that I need a detour from that.

Question 2

 

Like I've said, I feel that I'm more than competent to use video creation software or to get familiar with different types of it. I also feel that there is a creative side to this, which I always enjoy. Oh and I really loved taking media arts, so I'd be really happy to help improve the course for others.

Question 3

I don't exactly think I'm suited for the netbook team because I don't want to create procedures, because I'm not particularly organized in general. Also, I'm not particularly thrilled to work on the netbooks again because I've spent enough time with them already. I feel that I need something with a slight creative edge to it, rather than just following on-screen prompts.

IDC Blog Entry Number Three

My idea is simple, use the netbooks for two purposes, doing things in old ways a.k.a. handing stuff in digitally and also use them for old things in new ways. This already answers the criteria of Dabbling, as we already have the netbooks, and sort of know what could be done with them. Handing material in or out digitally is going to speed up the classroom environment without taking a toll on the quality of the education. However, the key is using the netbooks for doing old things in new ways. Just as the author put it, there could be material that uses interactive simulation, extensive use of animation, visual guides, etc., all readily available to the student through the use of a netbook computer. From the extensive use of the netbooks new ideas for education are only bound to arise. Students will give feedback on the netbooks, educators will get to try new methods of teaching, all leading up to slowly but surely revolutionizing the education system and bringing it up to needs of the 21st century and beyond. Technology is constantly evolving, and education should follow along.

IDC Blog Entry Number Two

So far this course isn't too bad. I mean it's a little hard to figure out what exactly we're being evaluated on and what criteria the evaluations are based on. A good improvement for the course would be more structure in terms of the things that are expected from us. In general this course is pretty good. Not the kind of class you'd be catching up on your missed sleep at.

IDC Post Number Uno- Self Evaluation

Completion of task(s) and/or presentation of research: 4
I give myself this mark because I have installed all of the required updates and software onto two netbooks. I chose not to work on many netbooks at one time because I thought that I'd rather focus on one at a time and be sure that I've completed everything carefully rather than trying to keep track of many netbooks at the same time.

Cooperative participation in group: 4
While this project was individual, I still managed to help the group whenever the occasional question or concern would arise. Therefore, I think that I deserve the mark of 4.

Creative and Critical Thinking: 4
Although the group was focused solely on setting up the netbook computers, I still provided suggestions in terms of what antivirus software to use. There were suggestions to use multiple programs, however, I provided a suggestion to use AVG Free, which answered the needs completely. My advice was backed by research and it was adopted by the research group.

Initiative: 3
I gave myself a mark of 3 because I took a bit too long with the first netbook, simply because I was getting used to the new Windows 7 interface (I'm an XP user). I think I got off track for about 5 minutes because when I downloaded Google Earth and I played around with it a little bit.