Week 8- Computer Security Blog

I have often been bothered by the pop-ups I get from computer security software. It seems the paid subscription or free trial has expired then the software will no longer defend you against website and email threats are constantly interrupting me. After a few years, when my first computer crashed, I found that if the software is always alerting you don’t ignore the messages or turn it off – it’s trying to protect your computer and save you from the hassle of cleaning up after an infection. I have my own internet connection at home. My laptop is connected to internet vie LAN. All Security essentials that came with Windows Vista like Firewall, Defender, Automatic updating, and Malware are active or turned ON. And one free anti-virus software program called Avira is also scanning my computer 24hrs a day. It seems to work, thus I haven’t had any problems since my last crash.

When it comes to our school, the alerts seem to be at a minimum. Our school uses Microsoft Windows Defender, Windows Defender is software that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. The real-time protection monitors the system, makes recommendations, minimizes interruptions, and helps you stay productive. Hancock County schools also use PC Tools Anti-Virus. With PC Tools Anti-Virus you are protected against the most nefarious cyber-threats attempting to gain access to your PC and personal information. The best thing about using the software company’s security is the fact that all I have to do on my computer at school to renew the schools system is click 3 buttons. To make it even better, our school Computer Technicians email use the dates to upgrade. It is easy and no hassle. I think our Technicians are second to none!

Week 7- Web 2.0 tools

As educators, the use of Web 2.0 tools is transforming our work, and more specifically the way we support students in the classroom. We bring more technology into classrooms, and put more technology in their students’ hands. So we should make sure teachers and students are prepared for the constant and quick technology evolution we are currently going through at the present time. I believe the State and National Standards are going to increase and update their requirements of technology each year. For my first lesson of the school year, I chose Glogster. Just a reminder, Glogster is basically an online poster web page.  Students can combine text, pictures, graphics, video, and audio to create an interactive online poster. I had my students create a poster of the things they did this summer, but it wasn’t that easy.

First, on Thursday, I presented Glogster to my class, and showed them examples of how the website works. We then all tried to create an account. My students are range in cognitive capabilities, so creating accounts wasn’t that simple. However, everyone got an account up and going. The next class, I gave the students a hard copy of instructions to guide them through the process. Some read and used the instructions well, others didn’t. After the second day, I had 2 students finished. The next day will be tomorrow, however, I wasn’t planning to spend 4 days on this exercise. I wanted to spend 3 at the most, but I need to make sure all the students have an opportunity to finish. My plan was to view and talk about all the students’ summers in when they finish.

There are many things I would change in this lesson. First, I would give the students a whole class period, just to play and get used to the website. Second, I think I would make a minimum number of media allowed on the Glogs. Many students had a picture and one word and then they said they were done. Next, I would make sure I was friends with all my students on Facebook. I could have my Facebook account projected on the board. The reason, many students got on Facebook, by being their friend, I could monitor many movements on their Facebook pages. So, if the make a comment, if would ding on my board and I would know who is working or not.

Things that went well included student interest and the level of the task. The students wanted to work and use the computer to do the assignment. Also, the level of work fit all the cognitive capabilities of my students. There was no wrong answer when the students had to explain them to class.

I thought it was a good first run, but practice makes perfect. I’ll try it again in the future, with alterations. Have a good week.

Week 6 - Webquest                      http://questgarden.com/147/16/5/120805080920/

Webquest was the theme of the week.  I read and found out quite a bit about the site. Webquest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web. The internet, which is interactive focal-point of the lessons, is interactive and accessible to a great deal of people at once. It has the ability to provide endless amounts of information that can be used to motivate students to conduct investigations on any given topic. As an interactive tool for learning, teachers can use the Internet to stimulate creative thought and guide students to develop critical thinking in their "quest" for knowledge. WebQuests are a great way of introducing students to a variety of points of view, and help encourage critical analysis of both the point of view and the website that holds up that point of view.  Webquest also allows the teacher to clearly state and outline state and national standards.  Very useful educational tool!

However, when I sign-up to use Webquest, I had some problems. First I had issues registering. I had to reload the page 3 times. After I finally was a registered client, I started to get to work. The template was easy to read, but I had problems right from the start. The overall design only displayed 26 topics. I had to read around the website, to understand that the design only has these 26 templates. I finally choose one and continued on. As far as myself, I only struggled in one other area: clip art. I couldn’t place a picture in my Webquest that I wanted. If I picked the picture I wanted, the format was wrong. It wouldn’t fit. This may not be a Webquest problem, it may just be me; but I have used many sites where I have to upload pictures. I felt pretty confident, but I couldn’t do it.

Problems that I heard others have included time. WebQuests can take a considerable amount of time to develop, and teachers may not have the skills needed to create the required web pages. The news from the web also questions the authenticity of the information. People can write anything they want, so validity could be in question.

All in all, I think Webquest is loaded with a wealth of educational information that I can use for my students in the classroom. The cross-over from lesson planning along with technology, makes Webquest a 21^st century technology.