Web Browsing

This week in class we took a look at different search engines, the seven stupid search mistakes, and 20 different facts about web browsers and the Internet.  I'd have to say that all of this intrigued me.  Of course I knew that other search engines existed, but never took the plunge to explore them outside of Google and Yahoo!.  I even tell my students that Google is the one to use because it has all the answers!  Now, obviously that is not true, but Google is such a commonality in our everyday lives.  I explored with Exalead, another search engine, and though I won't be switching anytime soon, I feel that it is beneficial in searching.  When doing a simple search for dogs I got 70 million results on Exalead and 170 million on Google.  A HUGE difference in results on both ends, but depending on your end result, you might prefer one over the other.

The one thing that I truly enjoyed was reading 20 Things I Learned About Browsers and the Web.  Though I knew some of the 20 Things, but not exactly how they affected our daily use.  The one thing that sticks out the most is how "old" browsers or not updating makes your old one vulnerable to attacks, slows down the innovation of the web and is keeping you from awesome new applications that are out there.  I'm usually very good about updating my browser, but it's not something that I do as soon as a new update is available.  That goes back to the old saying, "if it's not broke, don't fix it."

All in all, the tools that I've been exposed to in the last few class periods and the new knowledge about search engines and web browsers seem to be expanding my horizons in teaching.  I recently suggested the use of typewith.me to our IT person in the hopes that we can find enough use in it that the district will unblock the site.  I've been pushing for Google Docs, but feel there are too many people "against" it at this point.  I'm excited to see what will discover with the world of spreadsheets next week.  They are definitely something that I find extremely useful.

Using Productivity Tools

As we start a new class, I can't help but wonder how all this information will continue to enhance my teaching.  Technology is constantly evolving and sometimes it's hard to keep up with it.  There are so many things going on around us that sometimes it seems to much.

I agree with the text when it says that there is no perfect way to teach.  I also believe that sometimes technology isn't meant for every lesson.  At times, I feel that information can better be conveyed without the use of technology.

In this course, I hope to learn more free tools that I can take back to my school and my classroom.  All the tools that we continue to learn have opened my eyes as to how I can enhance my teaching and also help my fellow coworkers enhance their lessons.

How Does this Course Apply to My World Part 3

As we near the end of this course, our last assignment is to design our perfect computer. The erect computer is something that I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around. Is there such a thing as a perfect computer? It seems now as technology advances computers lose their value as soon as they leave the shelf. Then when you get the machine home and get it running exactly how you want it, a new commercial comes on for something even better. Any avid technology user can see where I'm coming from.

In the next breath, I can say that a perfect computer is one that meets the needs of the user. This too is something else I've recently been contemplating. As I stated in previous posts, I've always been a PC girl. It's what I've always used and was taught to teach on. Then, when I started teaching, I was given a MacBook. The world of Mac was something that I had explored before, but didn't take too much time looking into it because I aaas so comfotable with my PC. Now, as I type this blog on an iPad given to me by my school, I can't help but wonder if I will purchase a Mac as my next computer.

I've explored my options and noticed that both machines Meet my needs. There is a lot of software that differs between the two, but still serve the same purpose. I'm starting to feel that the Mac is more user friendly and easier to navigate. Though there are certain aspects about PC's that I still love; right-clicking being one of them.

As I continue to grow through technology not only in my career, but also with the help of this program, I still can't help but wonder what is the perfect computer. What are my needs? What purpose will this machine serve me? Is it worth getting a new computer or just updating software/applications?

How Does This Course Continue to Apply to My World

Now that we're halfway though the course, I see more and more how what we're learning and will continue to learn can impact what I do in the classroom.  Being a Business Education teacher means I spend a lot of time with computers. 

One thing that I come across that seems to continue to be an issue is viruses.  Last year, we had a virus attack our entire lab and was unable to use it for 3 days.  Working in a lab sometimes has it's downfall because there are some things that I am not allowed to fix because I don't know how or because I don't have the permission to.  These situations leave me between a rock and a hard spot.  It makes it impossible to get things done with my students and also get my own work done. 

There are a few other teachers in the building that have PC labs who face the same situation as I do when it comes to viruses.  Nothing worse than having to find something for 125 students to do and explain to them why they can't use the computers.  I have told my students that if they turn on the infected computers that it will spread to all in the building and we'll be without them for days!  Obviously not likely, but it works! 



I'm hoping with the help of this course, not only can I learn how to fix some simple virus problems, but also gain the confidence to be able to assist others in fixing their situations.  Also, I'm curious to find out more about where viruses originate and how they can manage to do so much harm in so little time.  I get that some people are evil and find it "fun" to create such disease for computers, but it is still baffling that in such a small amount of time some viruses can wipe out all information. 

Oh the world of viruses!!

How Does This Course Apply To My World

I can honestly say that this course and this program apply to my world in many different ways.  The main way is in my teaching.  This course, has already taught me so many different things about computers and how they operate.  What I'm learning, I can take to the classroom and educate my students.  I find it very cool learning how the inside of the computer is working and showing that to my students can keep them more engaged. 

I also feel that knowing what I'm working with on a daily basis will make my life easier.  Obviously I know how my computers work, but only the software part, not necessarily the hardware.  This course has and will provide me with so much knowledge on the hardware I deal with on a daily basis.  With that, I'm hoping that I will learn enough to maybe be have to troubleshoot on my own more and not have to wait for someone to get to it for me.

Like I've mentioned before, my school is a 1:1 school, so learning about different operating systems and free software really can help me to expand the vision of our 1:1 program.  

Computer History for Allie Zusan

It's funny that our post is about our computer history.  Earlier this week, I was telling my students about our very first family computer.  It was 1995 and my dad finally broke down and bought a computer after a LONG time of convincing.  The computer was a Gateway, I can't remember what model, but I do remember it was white, with a VERY large monitor.  After we got the computer, all I wanted to do was play "Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego."  A few years after we got the computer, my parents decided to get the Internet.  Due to the fact that we lived in the country, all we could get was dial-up.  I thought it was so cool listening to the dial tone as the computer tried to connect to the Internet.  A neighbor came over and taught us how to navigate and even set me up with my own e-mail account.
We had the Gateway for a long time.  My dad decided to get a Dell when the Gateway just wouldn't run anymore.  When I went away to college, I convinced my parents to get something better than dial-up.  It still wasn't DSL, but it was MUCH better than dial-up.  For college I got a Dell myself, that my grandma bought me as a graduation present.  I LOVED that computer.  It wasn't until my sophomore year that I decided to get a Compaq laptop.  At the time, I was a nanny and it was easier for my to bring my laptop with me to work on homework, than to constantly be switching between flash drives.
Last year, after my Compaq stopped charging the battery and would barely connect to the Internet, I got an HP Laptop.  It definitely it was my favorite computer that I've ever owned.
Besides having personal computers, I'm a Business Education teacher, so I use computers ALL DAY long and teach others how to use them.  My lab is a PC lab, but our school uses all Mac's.  It has taken me some time, but I'm definitely getting used to the Mac.  I still prefer to teach from the PC, but the Mac is growing on me for personal use.

Online Storage?? Social Bookmarking??? Who would've thought!

Before this class started I never knew that online storage and social bookmarking existed!  I sure wish I would've known these things in college...would've saved me a lot of time!

Online storage is something that I find very useful.  I'm still getting used to it, but I can definitely see myself using this in the classroom.  I have the students do a few assignments about themselves and I also run a digital scrapbooking club.  If I introduced my students to online storage, it would alleviate students not being able to bring in pictures from home because they forgot or didn't have a flash drive.  If they saved the pictures to their online storage, they could access them at school and be able to participate in the project.  In the past, students that haven't been able to bring in photos, have just found clip art photos or used celebrities as their family members.

Personally, I plan on using online storage for keeping files that I use on multiple computers.  It will be way easier than e-mailing back and forth or always needing a flash drive handy!

I'm still playing around with social bookmarking, but find it interesting.  It's great that I can save all my bookmarks and access them on any computer.  I'm not sure that I would necessarily use this in my teaching because each student's internet history is cleared each time they log off, but again, I could see myself using this if I were working on something at home and needed to showcase at work.

It's so exciting that we're learning about all these technologies!  I can't wait to put them to good use and explore what else they have to offer me!

The Beginning of a New Chapter

Less than two years ago I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Business Education degree.  I knew that the majority of what I was going to be teaching would revolve around technology and that eventually the students were going to know more that I did.  Well, I'm in my second year of teaching and that has already happened.  I teach 6th-8th grade business education at a 1:1 Middle School.  The 1:1 stands for 1 laptop for every 1 student.  With this being said, my entire school revolves around technology.  There are programs that the students use that I had never heard of until I started working there.  On a daily basis, the students are showing me new things they figured out just by "messing" around.  On a monthly basis, we have staff meetings where staff members showcase what they figured out just by "messing" around.  I always knew technology would be a huge part of what I did as a teacher, but I never expected the students to be showing me how to navigate through software. 

When I began thinking about what I wanted to do for a master's program, all I could think about was how technology is everywhere and we depend on it more than food sometimes.  When I learned of the program at Cardinal Stritch I was thrilled.  Not only was it going to meet my needs of wanting to keep up with technology, but also to give me the ability to help others keep up with technology.  I'm looking forward to everything about this program.  The names of classes intrigue me and I can't wait to see what I can bring back to my classroom. In the first week of class I was already thinking how I could use Google Docs and Blogs to enhance my teaching.

I love that fact that we can all meet together and still be in the confines of our home.  I'm hoping that it will make working full time and going to school full time more easy.  During our first class, I was amazed at how we all had different ideas to bring to the table.  I never knew how convenient Google Docs was and I only wish I would've used it through my undergrad.  It was great to learn how the small things can make a HUGE difference.    

I have high hopes for the program and hope that it can bring me the "wow" factor that my students bring when they show me something new.  I can't wait to enhance my teaching with all the new skills the program brings and to help my school maybe become a 2:1 school!