3. New Classroom Rules by Education Innovation

New Classroom Rules is a set of rules who's purpose is to show the technology side of learning. I have never seen rules put in this perspective. My favorite has to be number thirteen:

Be quiet in lines, hallways, and restrooms, unless you are at home and logged into your on line classroom, in which case you can dance and play music

It is so important that kids are able to be taught they way they need to learn. If that involves doing long division while dancing to Miley Cyrus than so be it. Online courses makes it possible.



Another important rule is:

Do not cheat, but remix, re-purpose, and sample other peoples’ work and ideas and give them credit.

Teachers need to stress that other peoples work is helpful but needs to be sited. Giving your kids freedom to copy and paste items and call it their own can cause a multitude of problems. Plagiarism is serious.

PLN

Successful Teaching

I have found an educational blog entitled successful teaching. I figured this educational blog would be both interesting and a unique learning experience. I was right.

She states that her Personal Learning Network as created a lot of oppertunities. She is able to blog about useful sites she has found through her network. She created her Personal Learning Network through many sites; twitter, skype, wiki, andplurk, are to name a few.

Most of her posts consists of ways to your students and keep them interested. One post in paticular that I have found very useful. It is entitled Lessons "I've learned from Knitting'. She writes, "Many times I look at a pattern and feel overwhelmed, yet I really want to make the item that looks so cool in the picture. I decide to try it because what is the worst thing that can happen? Then I find out it really wasn’t that hard and if I had given up before I started, I would never have found this out. Maybe that is the way my lessons appear to my students. My explanation may sound more difficult than it really is so I have to be careful about overwhelming them. I need to find ways to simplify what I’m teaching and then when they understand the concept, I can go into more detail"

She goes on to share that it is important to make sure your students correct problems as soon as possible so they don't have to "rip it out and start all over."

Keeping it simple, making sure things a corrected early, and not agnozing over mistakes are great tips I've have learned from her.

Mandatory Post

1.
Access: I have learned a lot about ACCESS. It really opened my eyes to how technologically advanced our education system has become. One day I would be interested in working for this program.

Google Docs: I did not too much particularly care for Google Docs. I would rather use Microsoft Word but I guess that is the difference between a free program and one that costs money.

Blogs: Although at points tedious, our blogs really helped us comprehend the information we have learned. It is easier to remember the material assigned when we are assigned to critically think and write about it.

Twitter: I still fully don't understand this social networking site but I was able to contact most class members through this.

Podcasts: This was very interesting. I had no idea it even existed.

iTunesU: I really like what Mac has done with this. It is very useful to be able to download class information for free to your computer or iPod.

Alex: I will definitely look more into it when I become a Teacher.

Foliotek: Wow! I do not understand yet. This is my first class where it is required.

2. I am trying to rack my brain but this class was so extensive it is hard to add extra.

3. None.

4. This class was exciting. I enjoyed being creative using technology.

5. Other than trying to figure out how to do certain things like: Podcasts, Twitter, and iTunes, there was not.

6. I did not get bored.

7. The curriculum covers a lot of information and requires a lot of work but in the and it is worth it. I have learned a lot

8. At this point in time, I rate myself as good. I would not say Great because I am sure by the time I graduate in 2011, a lot of technology will change.

9. I will have to maintain by practice. I will have to utilize what I have learned in this class and stay up to date with new technological innovations.

At The teacher's desk

The five blogs I would like to discuss are:
1.How do I know I'm not being Selfish?
2.Teachers Need to Become Social Networking Experts
3.It Is Imperative We Help Our Students Create a Positive Digital Portfolio
4.Using Technology for Effective Communication
5.Robert Burns Haunts Me


Chamberlain's blog, Robert Burns Haunts Me. This blog is about the story of an "attempted" skype session. Mr. Chamberlain's class was scheduled to skype a class from another state. Unfortunately, when he arrived the electricity was out. He figured he had no way of letting the other teacher know until he had the bright idea of using his cell phone to tweet on his account. The message was immediately received and the other teacher responded that she understood. This makes me wonder what our lives would be like with out cell phones. We use them on a daily basis... whether it be we have a flat tire or just to talk, it seems to be a necessity.



This brings me to the second blog on my list, Using Technology for Effective Communication. In the previous paragraph, I wrote about the necessities of cell phones in respect to communication. In this blog, he states that there are several ways technology can be used to communicate with parents. He uses Facebook as a teacher/parent only website, that informs parents to upcoming activities in the school. He came up with this idea when he found out that 24 out of 29 families at least 1 parent has an account. I think this is interesting. I always thought that social networking sites like facebook were designed for the younger generation. Technically speaking, I believe Facebook itself was designed for college students. All in all, if this technique works with bridging communication then I think it is a good idea.


It Is Imperative We Help Our Students Create a Positive Digital Portfolio is blog about how many stupid things people do and say. He tells of an article about fans storm the field after a collegiate football victory(which is illegal). Apparently, in their investigation, the University Police found a facebook group that was called I stormed the field and lived with many student members. This exemplifies why students should be educated in keeping their business off the world wide web.
This is why, Teachers Need to Become Social Networking Experts


Lastly, in the blog, How do I know I'm not being Selfish?, Chamberlain brings up some important questions. He asks a very important question: Are we pushing too hard a technology agenda, or are we simply trying to catch up with the world outside our walls? I do not believe the agenda is being pushed to hard. We are in a technology based world. It is necessary to be knowledge in the subject.

ALEX

Logo

Alabama Learning Exchange is a website that consists of a variety of communal lesson plans. It has many different courses one can choose from. This includes: sciences, mathematics, driver's and health education, language arts, technology education, physical education, and much more. It categorizes each group of lesson plans under one main topic. For example, one could choose language arts and find 66 lesson plans on 12th grade British Literary.


Information about Alabama Learning Exchange can be found on their website or on Facebook. Their Facebook group consists of just under 150 members. Keith, the creator of the group, provides users with literature. On the site you can participate in discussions and read updates and statuses from both members and creator.

I like the ALEX. It provides many useful resources that makes life a little easier on a hard working teacher. The lesson plan generator is a great idea and that the site allows you to have a personal workspace is even better. The Podcast Treasury has a plethora of topics that are sure to cover all subjects. I'm sure I will use it to my advantage one day.

ACCESS

Access is a website that is designed for high school to take online courses. It is split into three sections: upper, central, and southern Alabama.

There is a variety of reasons why students would choose ACCESS as their form of study. Some use it because it has classes that their high school does not have. This can include languages, fine arts, humanities, and language arts. Some use it as a form to make up class credits. Students are allowed to communicate with each other as well as their teachers. The comfort of being behind a computer screen allows them to develop personal relationships.

Photo Credit


Teachers on ACCESS receive about 150.00 dollars per student per semester. This is one of the many benefits ACCESS has to offer. It does not take too much time to monitor classes. Teachers can do this during their planning periods if they like.


Photo Credit


I think Access is a great program for both teachers and students. It gives students skills such as discipline and work ethic. Teachers get to establish personal relationships with their students and receive nice supplements in doing so.

Intrepid Teacher: Singing Hearts

The website, intrepid teacher, is made by kaia's father. In his blog he writes about why his daughter wanted to do a photo essay, how she did it, and what was the overall experience. He writes about how he was caught off guard when a group of 8th graders from missouri tried to communicate with his three year old daughter in Quatar. They did this through twitter twitter. He contacted the class via to discuss kaia's story with the classes.

In the end of his blog he asks his readers questions about online experiences and children.
Is the risk of exposing ourselves and our children online worth the connections that will be made and the lessons that will be learned?

I believe, it is worth the risk to teach children how to connect with the rest of the world via this technology. In the coming years it is all that will be around. Start children early so it will be easier for them to grasp later.

What is the value in this experience?
The value in the experience is knowledge. It helps people understand how technology contributes to globalization.

Mr. Chamberlain on his blog titled Dear Kaia: Voicethread and Video

This blog is in response to Dear Kaia's "This This That" blog. Since Kaia cannot read yet, Mr. Chamberlain's class sent Kaia a reply via a voicethread and video. On this video each class member stated a fact about either their class or video and some gave opinions.

Mr. C's blog also states that he had Kaia's father talk with his class through skype about kaia's adventure.
skype

Dr. Strange wrote a comment that caught my eye.
"I hope you grasp the enormity and magnificence of what is happening. here. You are witnessing the emergence of the new learning paradigm which will, I believe, be what either replaces schools as we know them today, or what will allow them to survive."

I also believe that technology is rapidly taking over schools and one day might change them forever. For example, student's are now using PowerPoint's vs. poster boards for school projects. I did not know what a PowerPoint was until High School and I didn't know what a voice thread was until now.

This class's curriculum continues to amaze me.

Dear Kaia

The blog this this that by Dear Kaia is about a young girl who makes her first "photo essay." A photo essay is a collaboration of digital photos and audio downloaded onto a slide show format video. Her goal was to take pictures of her surroundings and use technology for all of blogger.com members to see.

Kaia in Action:
Photo 1
Photo 2


... more photos.

I find it refreshing and adorable that a child of that age is intereseted in today's technology. She was able to take a camera and her voice to create an online video masterpiece.What does this say about tomorrow if a young girl can use this kind of technology to her advantage? I can honestly say that I have no clue how to construct a photo essay and the fact that she wants and knows how to, blows my mind. I enjoyed watching this little girl.

New Media Literaces

NML's staff, video clip, is about the skills needed to survive in the 21st century. The necessary skills include:
• Judgement
• Negotiation
• Appropriation
• Play
• transmedia navigation
• simulation
• collective intelligence
• performance
• distributed cognition
• visualization
• multitasking



I think the skills I possess is judgement, multitasking, and play. I am good at depicting creditable sites. I like to get a lot of my information from sites such as the Alabama virtual library. Multitasking can be very easy for me as is for most females. As of right now I'm toggling between several screens to gather this information, tutoring someone in math, and somewhat listening to the news in the background. The clip describes play as a form of branching out from the norm to achieve a common goal. I am all for trying new ways to learn things. I hope to acquire the rest of the skills.
Multitask Skill


I think all of these skills are necessary in the 21st century. Especially the skill play. It is needed for all of us to learn new things. Judging what is credible is also important.

The Networked Student

Wendy Drexler's "The Networked Student," is a video clip about connectivism. The narrated story gives examples on how technology can work in the educational system. Wendy suggest that students can use different social networking sites and manage them through a reader. This would provide an organizational tool and help broaden Internet knowledge. They could then visually connect with other classmates through programs such as skype. Skype would provide a more convenient way to communicate.
photo credit

The movie states an interesting point of view on what on online teacher actually does. They say that he/she is a synthesizer, change agent, learning architect, modeler, networker, and a connective learning incubator. I believe an online teacher is there to help you whenever you need it versus there whenever everyone else needs it. To elaborate, when a student needs help about subject he/she can write an email to his/her teacher. The teacher can have more time to personalize their response to fit that specific student's needs than in a classroom setting.


At this moment, I am not prepared to be a "network" teacher. I am not familiar with too much technology. I have never even been interested in an iPod. This class is teaching me new things that I believe will be useful to me in the future. I am sure throughout my years of teaching, I will gain a lot more experience with Technology and then I could say, I am prepared.

How We Dream Part 1 & 2

Part one of "How We Dream" talks about how written text is converting to web text. Dr. Miller tells his life story about how he was always interested in books. He wanted to have them, read them, and eventually work with them. He got a job writing for magazines. He wrote about the deadly shootings at VTech but was required to post it on the web as well. He stated that magazines are becoming obsolete. They are reaching a mailboxes and slowly making their way to the trash. This is a powerful statement. He conveys that web text will be forever there where as written text will not.


Part Two of "How we Dream" elaborates on the topics of part one. In this clip he states the future of what is currently being done. People are now composing digital media vs. using word documentation. These clips are available on websites such as youtube and/or iTunesU. His dream is that eventually all students and teacher will use this format to teach and learn. More importantly he hopes they will use auditory media and creativity in doing so. He says it takes inspiring places and inspiring teachers to achieve this dream.


You Tube Photo Credit


iTunesU photo credit


Both parts of the video clip exemplifies that learning methods are evolving. In the past couple of decades, researching has gone from traveling to libraries to sitting at home surfing the web. Dr. Millers' Dream is that the educational system will take advantage of this opportunity and make it mandatory for the teachers to train and teach and the students to learn through tech formats.

iPods in Instruction

iPod

In 2005, Duke University partnered with Apple conducted an experiment on 1,650 incoming Freshmen. Each student got an iPod free of charge. The students used tools such as: the calender, to store sports games; the alarm clock, to wake them up in the morning; the address book, to store important numbers; and the hard drive function, to back up files onto a computer. Once they backed up the files onto a computer they could post information on sites like blackboard(a popular program used for Internet classes).


iPods in the Classroom


iPods allows teachers to integrate audio and video into daily classroom curriculum. History teachers can play back famous speeches accessed from the Library of Congress. Putting a video or audio onto a computer can let students who missed a day catch up to the rest of the class. This can also allow a student to review daily lessons as many times as they need to and when they want to. This is a good tool for studying. iPods allow students to interview people and create podcasts for the community to watch.

Whether its used for storing events and contacts, waking up in the morning, downloading files, and/or studying a lesson iPods is a useful device to have in the classroom.


References:
iPods in the classroom
Duke University

iTunes University

iTunes University is a free site that allows users to access and download classes from different Universities around the United States. Universities such as Berkeley in California,Yale in Connecticut, and Stanford in California all participate in iTunes U. This program provides a constant access to information anytime, anywhere. Over 200,000 lessons can be viewed and download through iTunes university onto a computer, iPod, iTouch, iPhone, etc.




iTunes U has two basic sites. An Internal Site and a external site. Internal sites allow only members to view and listen to podcasts. Internal sites allows the user to customize with branding and scripts. An external site allows all to view and listen to their podcasts.


iTunes U would be a help to me as a student. I have always enjoyed Internet based courses because they allowed flexibility. I am able to view the course when i need to and it is available to access anywhere via a computer. iTunes U takes it up one step. t allows you to download a lecture to an iPod which optimum for working out, traveling, running errands, etc. while allowing the user to learn being completely mobile.

Teachers can use the iLife and/or iWork applications on Mac to create educational materials. This allows teachers to be creative with their lessons. With Podcast Producer and wiki server IT professionals at a school can introduce a various amount of multimedia.

iWork

References:
Apple Education

Dr. Alice Christie

Google Earth Logo


I am studying to be a Secondary Social Science teacher. In that field, one is allowed to teach several subjects such as: Geography, Civics, all Histories,Economics, Psychology, Sociology, etc. These courses require the use of visual aids to induce discussion and learning. Dr. Alice Christie suggests that Google Earth can provide this plus add excitement and global perspective.

This is perfect for a Geography or History class. Instead of turning to numerous pages in an Atlas to look up cities, states, physical features of the United States, you can use a click of the mouse. Using Google Earth layers in a history class can help the students compare and contrast the past with the present. In Sociology, you can compare the population and trends in society such as tourism, climate, terrain, etc. in different countries of the world.
Google Earth Layers


Google Earth can benefit teachers as well. The free version is a down loadable software that is continually updated to provide accurate information to students. Also, It allows teachers to bring technology into their classrooms.


Additional Reading/ References:
Google Earth Article by: Alice Christie
Google Earth Tour
Google Earth Product Tour

Scanner Tracks Who's Changing What on Wikipedia

This is my first time reading/hearing that Wikipedia can be considered an unreliable source. I was completly oblivious that "just anyone" could edit the site's content. NPR's, web page article, " Scanner Tracks Who's Changing What on Wikipedia," suggests that major companies have been suspected to edit information for personal gain. The article gives this example:
From:

Wages at Wal-Mart are about 20% less than at other retail stores. Founder Sam Walton once argued that his company should be exempt from the minimum wage.

To:

The average wage at Wal-Mart is almost double the federal minimum wage (Wal-Mart). However, founder Sam Walton once argued that his company should be exempt from the minimum wage.

Walmart is not the only company that has been accused. Diebold, a voting machine company, deleted paragraphs questioning the company's integrity. Politicians have been known to switch and transpose words to cover up fault.





A man named Virgil Griffith designed a Wikipedia Scannerto help solve this problem. The scanner is suppose to track down I.P. addresses to the computer's location. Griffith hopes that this will solve the reliability problem. The only problem is that a person could easily access a "coffee house's" wifi and edit it untracble.



Knowing what I know now, I would not make the mistake of trusting Wikipedia again. Although, the site is suppose to be at least 85% accurate, that is 15% less than what I would trust. I would rather travel across town to the library and read an encyclopedia than lay back in my chair in front of the T.V. and surf the web.


Article: Scanner Tracks Who's Changing What on Wikipedia

Photo Credits:
Virgil Griffith

Wiki Scanner Logo

Sea Lions

Achieving your Childhood Dreams

Randy Pausch is an amazing and inspiring person. He has spent his life dreaming, working to achieve those dreams, and aspiring others to do as well. He states in the beginning of his clip that he has always been a dreamer. From wanting to be in the NFL to experiencing zero gravity to wanting to become an Imagineer for Walt Disney, he was determined to excel. He spends a lot of time talking about how he achieved most of his dreams. Through determination and persistence, he was able to experience the zero-gravity. Although, he didn't make it quite to the NFL he spent years playing football and learning what it meant to be a team. This values would later expand his horizon to new heights earning him a job with the Disney Imagineer team.



Picture Credits:
Zero Gravity
Imagineer
NFL


Once he achieved his own dreams, he wanted to help others achieve them as well so what better way to do that than become a college professor. He spent his years teaching not only how to do things but also the skills you need to do them. Any teacher can babble on for hours about how to work algebra equations or explain punctuations but it takes someone special to tell you that you need discipline and good work ethic if you fully understand and truly learn. Randy always told his students that they could do better even if what they did do was not short of amazing.



Photo Credit:
Virtual World

Towards the end of Randy's video, Achieving your Childhood Dreams, he stated the lessons he had learned and thanked all the mentors that made it happen. I believe the most powerful lesson is when one of his professors told him that he needed to get a doctorate degree in education because he would make a perfect salesman and what not better than to sell education. Wow. I never knew how much of a prestigious position a teacher had until that statement.

Overall, I would rate this video a five out of five. He was an excellent speaker with great organizational skills. He was very inspirational throughout the whole video and I think that everyone needs to take his ideas to heart and live them on a daily basis.


Achieving your Childhood Dream's Video Clip

A Vision of Students Today

Video Clip of A Vision of Students Today by Michael Wesch

The part of the Video Clip that discusses education is very accurate. In most college level courses, teachers do not make it a priority to develop a relationship with their students. I can honestly say there have been classes that I have taken that not only did the professor not know my name, I did not know their's neither. This is a problem to me. The more inpersonal a class is, the more monotonous and irrevelent it becomes. This brings me to a point; how can someone fully learn and apply it if they are simply there to watch the clock and leave.

It was quite enlightning to find out that I am not the only student that would rather check my Myspace and/or Facebook than completing my online school work. The internet is full of distractions. Catchy headers, flashy photos, and a slew of advertisements are to name a few. It makes it near impossible to focus on the task at hand.



I if could add anything to this video clip, it would be the prevelance of texting in the classroom. This would relate to the majority of students. Every class I've attended I have at least witnessed one person recieving or sending a text. The picture below illustrates my notion.

Karl Fisch: The Fischbowl

I thought this blog was both funny and informative. Fisch uses Terry Freedmans blog to open his blog. Here are some quotes: "School inspectors who are technologically illiterate should be encouraged to find alternative employment,Schools, Universities and Teacher training courses who turn out students who are technologically illiterate should have their right to a licence and/or funding questioned, and we should stop being so nice. After all, we've got our qualifications and jobs, and we don't have the moral right to sit placidly on the sidelines whilst some educators are potentially jeopardising the chances of our youngsters."

Fisch later elaborates on Freedman's blog. He states that today's world is becoming more "tech" dependent. This would reflect that a student will have to learn technology as if it were a new language. It is imperative for a teacher to be able to teach this language. Fish agrees with this quote, If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write.


Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

"What I've Learned This Year" by Mr. McClung

Mr. Mcclung gave several pointers on how to become a good teacher. These points include: read the crowd, it will help you gain and keep their attention; be flexible, you will never know how the day will go; communicate, it is the best remedy to prevent and resolve conflict; be resonable,not everyone will hold up to your expectations; listen, it will show that you care; do not be afraid of technology, it will open up doors to oppurtunity; and never stop learning, it will broaden both yours and the student's horizon.

I thought that Mr. Mcclung's essay was very interesting. I do believe that teachers today get wrapped up in what their supervisors want them to do. Why wouldn't they? They are observed at least once a year and forced to teach material that was chosen by someone else. I think, that if this mold was broken and a teacher could teach what they thought was important, a better connection with the audiance would be established.

Also, I like Mcclung's argument about being reasonable. Not all students are going to perform at the level that you would like them to do. Some students might have learning dissabilities that might put them behind other students.





Mr.Mcclung's article "What I've Learned This Year"

Podcast

In this weeks blog we were assigned to listen and write about these six different podcasts':

1.ConnectLearning episode90


2. Smartboard Lessons Podcast


3.KidCast


4.EdTechTalk


5. MacBreak Weekly


6. This week in Photography





This was my introduction to Podcast. Like all new things, this process was an adventure. I had some trouble finding the videos, subscribing to them, and then getting them to play but in the end it all worked out and a learned a lot of new things.

I noticed that every podcast was very informative. They each had a specific point that was clearly understood. The EduTechTalk podcast best displayed its point to the listener about how to use google doc's templates.

The Smartboard Lessons Podcast was conducted in a conversationalist style. They used candid talk, music, and jokes to grab the listeners attention. I liked this. It let me become better aware of who the speakers were before they conducted their discussion.


My favorite clip was the Connect Learning episode 90 podcast. It was a discussion about the benefits of podcasting in the education system. Many teachers stated that it would be good to record class debates, lessons, notes, etc. onto the podcast system. One teacher though, thought outside the box and stated that it would be an even better idea to have students interview their teachers, principles, staff, etc. via video podcasting of "vodcasting." KidCast's speaker,Dan Schmit, elaborates on why it is important to get the student involved in video podcasting. He states that when a child participates in video podcasting, he or she will become better aware of their nonverbal communication skills. I believe the is 100% accurate and video podcasting should be used in the schools.

Media rich post

(CNN) -- The Los Angeles coroner has concluded preliminarily that singer Michael Jackson died of an overdose of propofol, a powerful sedative he was given to help him sleep, according to court documents released Monday.

Los Angeles' coroner Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran reached that preliminary conclusion after reviewing toxicology results carried out on Jackson's blood, according to a search warrant and affidavit unsealed in Houston, Texas.
The affidavit outlines probable cause for search warrants of the offices of doctors who are believed to have treated Jackson.
The Associated Press is quoting a single law enforcement official, who says the L.A. County Coroner has ruled Michael Jackson's death a homicide. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office told CNN they had "no comment" on the report. An LAPD spokesman says the story did not come from their department.
The 32-page warrant said Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, told a detective that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for six weeks. Murray said each night he gave Jackson 50 mg of propofol, also known as Diprivan, diluted with the anesthetic lidocaine via an intravenous drip.
Worried that Jackson may have been becoming addicted to the drug, the Houston cardiologist said he attempted to wean him from it, putting together combinations of other drugs that succeeded in helping Jackson sleep during the two nights prior to his death.
But on June 25, other drugs failed to do the job, as he recounted to detectives in an hour-by-hour account that was detailed by detective Orlando Martinez of the Los Angeles Police Department

Michael.jackson

Next Generation of Learning

Technology has changed drastically in the last 100 years. Today we have cell phones, computers, personal devices, and much more. Technology is improving our health and life in general. There are machines that detect various diseases and that helps perserve life.

Although school still has lectures, they are becoming more technically advance. Teachers are required to train in computers to become more familiar. School boards are requiring that the students must learn through computers. The class rooms now have digital projecters and smart boards to operate programs such as power points to teach. Students use power point to give speeches.

The importance of creativity

I believe, creativity does dissipate over time. Humanities and art are not embraced in the public school system the way they should be. He is right, their is an hierarchiy of arts. To prove this point, most community colleges only offer art and music appreciation. Universities are usually the only schools that offer theater and dance appreciation. This could be due because introduction classes must be taken by these specific majors.

The speaker has a good point. Kids today that are considered to have "A.D.D" or A.D.H.D. are not allowed to embrace their full creativity. The school systems seem to be press the issue that if a child has an attention problem it needs to be fixed or they will not be able to learn. It would be interesting to see how these children would be today.

Did You Know. 3.0.

The clip, "Did you know. 3.0," explains that technology is today's future. It insinuates, that manual thinking will soon become obsolete. A computer will be able to out think the human brain. The use of social networking sites and search engines are also growing rapidly. This means that technology is making it easy for people to access both their personal and professional life.

Personally, I was in awe of the statistics. The fact that there are billions of people using search engines daily and that the amount of text messages sent and received exceeds the earth's population is simply amazing. People are now becoming dependent upon technology.

First Post

My name is Ashley Thompson. I reside in the city of Foley Alabama. I'm outgoing, motivated person that strives to achieve personal and professional goals. I love animals. I own a yellow belly slider turtle named Einstein and help take care of two cats, Anastasia and Smoky.

Both my mother and father are secondary social sciences majors. My sister is a communications major and uses her skills to teach technology to the little ones at a Christian school in South Bend, Indiana. You can say that we are carrying on the tradition.

I am a junior here at the University of South Alabama majoring in secondary social sciences. My goal is to finish within the next four semesters. I am interested in furthering my education in Psychology. From there, I should have a range of career options.