My "In Your Business" Survey

Wikis: Collaborative Writing and Learning Activity #1

a. What is Wikipedia?
 "Wikipedia is a multilingual, Web-based encyclopedia project, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, a nonprofit organization."

b. How would you answer the question posed in this piece, "How reliable can a source be when anyone can edit it?
From Wikipedia's defenders say: "The problem with Wikipedia is that it only works in practice. In theory, it can never work." More seriously, they put their faith in the "wisdom of crowds," believing that by having many people watching what appears there, errors and vandalism will be weeded out, sooner rather than later. 
    
c. Who do the creators of Wikipedia place their trust in when it comes to weeding out misinformatin?
When one edits Wikipedia, their edit is not published until a society of experts in the particular subject agrees with the edit. It seems to be a very reliable source. 

d. What would abuse or vandalism look like on a wikipedia page?
Before anything is released on Wikipedia there are a society of experts reading and watching for abuse, vandalism, and advertising, and are weeded out so that they will not be published.

e. How does wikiscanner help increase the reliability of Wikipedia entries?
Wikiscanner, checkes IP address of anonymous editors of the site; which exposes examples of self-interested editing by prominent businesses and governments around the world. Wikipedia's leaders hailed the device as another check on abuse at the site.

Collaborate Learning Activity #2

      Collaborative learning is where the teacher becomes a member of the group and is used primarily as a facilitator trying to keep students on track but allowing them to take their own path.  One factor that determines the efficiency of collaborative learning is the composition of the group. This factor is defined by several variables: the age and levels of participants, the size of the group, the difference between group members, etc.
     Regarding the number of members, small groups seems to function better than large groups in which some members tend be 'asleep' or excluded from interesting interactions. Regarding the participants, some developmental level is necessary to be able to collaborate, but this is only an issue for children and does hence not directly concern current distance education activities which mainly concern adult learners.      Deconstrucing Digital Natives, refers to the broadcast model as any communication is  essentially boadcast base; by definition  broadcast model is the transmission of information from transmitter to receiver in a one-way linear fasion. There is no  common understanding  without communication and no communication without broadcast.       Collaborative learning  is a personal philosophy, not just a classroom technique. In all situations where people come together in groups, it suggests a way of dealing with people which respects and highlights individual group members' abilities and contributions. There is a sharing of authority and acceptance of responsibility among group members for the groups actions. The underlying premise of collaborative learning is based upon consensus building through cooperation by group members, in contrast to competition in which individuals best other group members. Collaborative learning practitioners apply this philosophy in the classroom, at committee meetings, with community groups, within their families and generally as a way of living with and dealing with other people.      Don Tapscott, co-author of Macrowikinomics: Rebooting Business And The World, argues that universities are woefully behind the times. "We need to move toward a collaborative model of learning that's student focused, [that's] highly customized and that is a model appropriate for a new generation that learns differently," says Tapscott. He warns that universities are ignoring the changing needs and desires of young people — and they're doing so at their own peril. http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/137853462/rethinking-how-we-teach-the-net-generation  http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2010/06/the-case-for-collaborative-learning/ 
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/deliberations/collaborative-learning/panitz-paper.cfm

SHort Story

Basketball Jones: An Underdogs Tale"The bounce of the ball Either short or tall Will make it to the rim From the effort within" by CGriffith910 on Storybird

Summary:

This is a story of a young boy, Jones that loved to swim with dolphins; but he took what he liked for granted.  When Jones, moved to Chicago he found that he really liked to play basketball and that with some practice he would be really good.  The kids gave him a new name, Basketball Jones.  Jones wanted to live up to the expectations of new friends.  He practiced day and night.  Playing basketball was not a pleasure, but it became like a job.  The coach told Jones to practice because he was going to start for the big game.  Jones practiced, since his friends from back home were coming to watch him.   He wanted to impress his friends.  His old friends from back home could not believe that Jones had a new passion.  They thought Jones loved the dolphins as much as they did. The day of the big day Jones was ready; or so he thought.  Jones did not do a good job.  He embarrassed himself in front of his friends.  He could not make a basket, and his team mates were really upset with him.  Jones old friends felt so bad for him.  Jones thought about what he truly loved.....and realized that he did not truly lose his interest for swimming with the dolphins.   He enjoyed the time with the dolphins and he missed his friends from back home, especially Beth his girlfriend.  Jones father decided that Chicago was not the place for their family.  It was so cold and miserable. So the family moved back home.Jones would never again question the joy of being with his friends and playing with the dolphins; it is where he was supposed to be.

Animation

Presidential Debate by Ksecreto on GoAnimate

Animated Presentations - Powered by GoAnimate.

Double Entry Jouranl #8: 10 Things Schools Can Learn From Video Games

"Video games provide a far lower degree of failure and it’s consequences which encourage players to explore the environment, take risks and try new things." 

According to  

Video Games: A New Path for Education in the 21st Century

By :Beatriz Miyares Kimball

Motivation and engagement play a link between instruction and achievement.  This link is crucial to any sort of school success.  In 2004 the National Research Council concluded that instruction that combines ways to increase student engagement can affect reading comprehension outcomes in a positive way. Educational researchers are suggesting that making a connection between digital media and literacy, content learning and complex academic language may offer a solution to the fourth grade slump.  The interactive capacities of the computer and multimedia are an effective way to make reading less frustrating and more enjoyable.  Computers and other forms of technology provide the necessary practice, support and motivation that are crucial for students who are experiencing reading difficulties.   

The potential of technology to engage and motivate struggling readers plays a key role in the JUMP project.  The most accurate predictor of school success is the size of a child’s vocabulary. Digital media can allow students to see how complex language and mathematical symbol systems attach to the world.  The Jump into Reading for Meaning (JUMP) Program focuses on the development, delivery, and evaluation of a supplemental vocabulary instructional game for the Nintendo DS Lite.  The curriculum targets low-performing fourth-grade students enrolled in supplemental after school and SES educational services programs to address the “fourth grade slump”. This project is funded by a five-year Star Schools grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
The overall all premise of JUMP is to combine the research-based vocabulary learning with good game design to produce and effective instructional digital game. 
The use of gaming in education is different from most uses of technology in school environments.  When most games are used in the classroom, they are basically electronic versions of pencil/paper worksheets and deemed boring by students.  These are games that are easy to grasp immediately, and can be played in very short bursts of class time.  The games are often curricular, attempting to teach subject matter and stuffed with factual content that is otherwise advanced through textbooks.  They are little more than interactive quizzes. The activity often involves nothing more than answering multiple-choice questions.  Success is measured as a percentage of correct answers expressed as a “score” and presented with a fun animation.

 

Kimball, Beatriz, and Keith Freeman. "Video Games: A New Path of Education in the 21st Century." (2011): n. page. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. bmkimball@ualr.edu

 

This article makes me feel encouraged that our education has begun to effectively use the technology.   As teachers learn new techniques maybe this will move our children from seventh in the world of education to one again.  It is amaging that we the U.S. is behind Germany, Japan, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Hungry.  

According to  Tom Loveless of the Brookings Institution,"Schools have diluted their academic mission, by emphasizing the social experience: sports, proms and clubs."  

"Many countries offer multiple paths to a high school diploma, including career and technical programs," points out Russell Rumberger, a researcher at the University of California-Santa Barbara.
"We have a very monolithic conception of high school, which is a comprehensive high school with a singular diploma that everyone gets," Rumberger said.
The U.S. has placed less emphasis on vocational education because in years past, educators have been criticized for "tracking" children or steering them to certain careers -- especially low income, immigrant and minority students. But many experts say the U.S. should rethink its approach and model itself after countries that offer rigorous, challenging coursework in their vocational schools.
For example, if you want to work in a bank in Switzerland, you can either go to a university or combine your high school courses with professional experience.

"Education Olympics: How Does the U.S. Rank? ." PBS News Hour. PBS, August 12, 2012. Web. 12 Oct 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/08/education-olympics-how-does-the-us-rank-1.html

http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf

 

 

 

Double Entry Journal DEJ #6

"News and Imagery are always a selected truth."

I agree that the media has become biased and pushes hard with their own agenda.
In my opinion,the author of the article: Seven Power Lenses, is conspiratorial.   If news journalist are so pressed for time, how do they find the time to position everything?
I believe that our President has a very hard job, and that he has people around him that help with his reputation and help create his message for the American people and the rest of the world.
The article describes the President Bush wearing an American Flag on his lapel, I was not shocked. He was the President of the United States.  On the other hand our current President, Mr. Obama took his pin off his lapel during his race for president, and there was an outrage.   Imagery matters, for instance.  When President Obama and his campaign changed the United States Flag for their 2012 campaign, there was an anger across America.

A new campaign poster wipes out all 50 stars on the flag, replacing them with Obama’s logo. The campaign is putting the flag up for sale, hoping people will dole out $35 for their own copy.


Below are three pictures that all tell the same story.  The positioning of the presidents seal around Obama's head, has a halo effect, like seen in portraits of Jesus.
The picture at the right is making
 fun of Chris Matthews a MSN news reporter, worshiping Obama. This is similar to pictures of Jesus and his Disciples.   And finally the Newsweek Magazine, says it all.
Comparing President Obama to Jesus "The Son of God" makes me so sad.  But it does show that those in the media are biased.   In my opinion,  "A man put on this high of a pedestal only has a long way to fall."
The media used to tell us what happened, but now they are in the business of trying to persuade using imagery.  It is my hope that as we become more informed of the media practice,  people will use their minds and look beyond the mainstream media, with the hope of finding real truth.

Howerton, J. (Sept, 2012 19). Obama campaign actually replaces 50 stars on american flag with campaign ‘o’ logo. Retrieved from http://www.theblaze.com/stories/obama-campaign-actually-replaces-50-stars-on-american-flag-with-campaign-o-logo/

Media Literacy meets ISTE-NETS.

1.b.Engage students in exploring real-world issues 
and solving authentic problems using digital tools 
and resources.

After reading the article: 
The Status of Nuclear Inspections in Iraq: An Update: by IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei. I further researched Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei and found an article saying,  that he is no friend of the United States and may be controlled  by the Muslim Brotherhood. 
The web-site is:
 http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/02/02/el-baradei-is-no-friend-of-the-us-and-a-tool-of-the-iranians/

In August of 2009 ElBaradei was accused by Israel and France of  hiding evidence that Iran was pursuing a nuclear weapon.

Later that year it was discovered that Iran had built a secret nuclear plant, instead of scheduling an immediate inspection, ElBaradei scheduled the inspection for about a month down the road giving Iran a big window of warning to “clean the joint up” for company. And when the IAEA head arrived in Iran, one of the first things he did was to have a press conference to announce that Israel, not Iran was the thread to peace in Iran.

I guess what I have learned is that it is wise to search the web  and other news worthy agencies and make up our own minds, of what we feel is the truth.