iTunes University

iTunes University is an educational branch off of the iTunes store. It uses the same services that an iPod gets from iTunes in an educational light, such as the ability to download audio and video files from schools across the country. It's my guess that schools like Duke University are using the services that iTunes University provides as a means for their experimental program.

Much of the material posted using iTunes U can be shared with a specific college, alumni, surrounding community, colleges across the world, and even people that just love to learn. More than half of the nation's Top 500 schools are already in on this movement that seems to be catching on rapidly.

I think this is a really neat way to learn. It is generally the same thing that Duke University is doing with its students using the iPods, but on a much larger scale. I truly believe this could enhance the learning experience for many students, but it is very much unrealistic at this day and time considering the cost of materials (ie. iPods).

Duke University

Duke is relying on i pods not only to play popular music, but also to download lectures and books. They give out a number of i pods to incoming freshman that already hold the academic calendar and freshman orientation material. The school has okayed it with apple to have a sort of special site for its students to go to. At this site, students can download language lessons, audio books, lectures, and of course music.

The school is making an attempt to think creatively about educational processes. Duke notices the huge impact i pods have made in the world of music and the staff is hoping i pods will have the same impacts on their students and education. This is an experimental program and only the incoming freshman were given the i pods. Upperclassmen were loaned i pods for the duration of the course that required it.

If I were to use i pods in the classroom, I would do very much the same things Duke University is doing. I would download lectures, foreign languages, and even books. There's just one huge downfall . . . teachers can't afford to supply a classroom of students with i pods. So, even though this is a nice idea for an upscale college with money to throw around, it is more than unrealistic for an elementary education teacher.

Wikipedia

Wikipedia is probably one of the biggest jokes out there in the internet world. Anyone can edit the information on the site; therefore, anyone can change words for or against themselves, their companies, or others. It's amazing that anyone would trust wikipedia encyclopedia to have good reliable information because the description they give of their site acts as a disclaimer or an excuse for the lack of truthful information. In my opinion, wikipedia should never be trusted unless someone is trying to come up with a paper of really inaccurate information or unless the information is almost identical to the information from a legitimate site.

It Might Come In Handy . . .

So, I actually think that this whole deal with designing our own web pages might be really beneficial. I'm in the process of planning a wedding and for my sake it seems as though designing my own web page will be a huge help to me. I'll be able to create links to every site that has anything to do with my wedding, from the place where I got my dress to my cake maker and caterer. I think this might be a big help to me. I'll know for sure when we learn a little more about this and I develop my site some more.

Three of the Many Things I Can't Live Without

My child!!! My little puppy Ren is the best
little dog a girl could ask for. She is most
definately spoiled, but just look at that face . . . you can't help but love her.




My little sister!!! She is without a doubt my
best friend! I love her more than any thing.
She's so precious to me. I hope everyone
gets the priviledge of having such an amazing person in his or her life.


My wonderful fiance!!! Isn't he cute?! He is
one of the most influintial people in my life.
He is so sure of who we are as a couple. It
really is a blessing to have such an amazing man in my life.

Only Nature Make Pictures This Awesome

I was on a bus, with a ton of friends
from high school, and we were on our
way home from Sandusky, Ohio. I
look out the window and see one of the
most beautiful skylines ever. You know
I had to take a picture. . .

Beautiful Beach, Beautiful Girl

Check out those amazing
photography skills. haha.
This is my little sister! She
is beautiful!!! We love the
beach and love taking
pictures. I think she has
serious model potential . . .

High School Graduation

This is me and a few of
my friends at one of our
senior events. It was
a luau held at our
high school,
Mary G. Montgomery.

Picasa 2 Pictures

Disney World












A Little Girl

A Cultural Revolution: Agree or Disagree?

A Cultural Revolution and the previous article we reviewed go hand in hand. Most Americans either love or hate this change that is taking place. It is amazing that someone could have predicted these changes and the severity of them 12 years ago, but it was done. I will say that I believe that for as long as people have the option to read and write they will do it regaurdless of technology. Some might not, but most of us will at some point or another. I don't think society would be very willing to switch to only listening and watching. Somebody will have something to say, otherwise there would be nothing to listen to. In my opinion it was somewhat "out there" to predict this change, but then again it's kind of a risk to predict much of anything because life is unpredictable.

Also, I very much blame all of this change on the predictions and the anticipation for the change. I feel that this made those capable of carrying technology farther feel obligation to do so. Now, many Americans that worried this would happen and wrote papers and so on are looking back thinking, "what has society turned into?"

I still worry for my children and grandchildren because I've seen so much change in the short twenty years I've lived and I hope that at some point things slow down. If we aren't given the time to catch up before new technological advancements are being thrown in our laps, how are we going to give any guidance to our children and our students? What keeps me at peace about all of this is knowing that at some point things will have to slow down, or possibly even come to an abrupt stop. All I can do is hope and pray for one of these things to happen so that people can be given a chance to relearn what life is really all about.

My Picture in Sepia Tone on Picasa2

 

My Picture in Black and White

 

Professor Seymour Papert

He is considered the world's expert on how technology can be used to learn. I guess, we can all blame him for this "computers in the classroom" stuff. Professor Papert is accountable for being the first person to get computers in the hands of every student in a state (I'm guessing Maine, which is where he taught at a University). Click here for more information.

This man is one of the original people studying artificial intelligance. Seymour Papert used mathematics to discover ways in which children could use technology to learn more in depth. He has written books and created philosophies. Professor really wants to see people exceed and take technology to the next level. He's been there with it from the beginning.

Paper's Future

This article brought on a mix of emotions. But here's my perspective. We can't stop the world and how it's changing. I don't like it one bit and yet I am part of this "intelligent" generation that's taking the world to the "next level." I think that society is getting ahead of it's self in a power struggle to be the first to do this or that. People are wasting so much time being tied up in all of this junk that they think will make the world a "better place."

Call me crazy, but I want the simple life, the life my grandparents had. I want to live on self sustaining land and spend the weekends with my family and friends. I don't need to be the world's next greatest anything except for what matters . . . wife, mother, daughter, teacher. I don't like the thought of my future grandchildren being more technologically advanced at the age of five than I have ever been or will ever be. It's all way over my head and I know there's nothing I can do to stop it or slow it down. The only thing I can do is try to keep up. But I can promise everyone of you that I won't be found supporting the change.