Week+4

The operating system is not set up for multitasking. The device will seemingly revolutionize the way people compute. Again, I am a bit of a skeptic here, the point is we have laptops that offer more. The keyboard is ergonomically better in a laptop for true word processing tasks. The only advantage it has, in my opinion, is the touchscreen capability and ease of use, but I can do without.
 * iscussion on the ipad:**

This movie has displayed phenomenal 3D graphics and immerses viewers into an amazingly creative world. Is aw it and loved it. Although the story lacks in content, the movie more than makes up for this with beauty.
 * Discussion on Avatar:**

CODEC stands for "Compression & Decompression" - used for exactly that on movie files of different types. Allows a player to properly view and play the file. =__Goolge Sketch Up__= Google Sketch Up Download Site Instead of struggling with windows movie maker and creating another video (which I feel I may have already demonstrated with the podcast by adding in video clips), I decided to play around with Google's Sketch Up 7.1 software. This software, freely available of course, allows 3Dimensional construction in the most intuitive way I have yet to see. I have worked with CAD software in my undergraduate career (Pro/E, Auto Cad) and Google Sketch Up makes it much more simple. The benefit is the learning videos supplied on how to use the software. There is a very intuitive nature to the Sketch Up tools used in constructing 3D objects. For teaching math, being one of my teachables, this software will especially benefit the students since now I can show 3D visualizations of trig, surface area, volume and vector problems that formally were limited to chalk, or complicated CAD products. This software will enhance their learning experiences in a very productive way.

I recorded this short clip using SnagIt's video screen capture tool to show the 3D math capabilities of Google Sketch Up.media type="file" key="google sketch.wmv"

=**__Response to Reading:__**= =Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants= Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants What I agree with: Marc Prensky delivers a convincing argument posing that there are two types of people these days. Digital natives - people who were born into technology around them, and Digital immigrants - those of us who have become accustomed to new technologies that were not there when we were young. What I agree with: I agree that there are better methods for delivering content to students that could take the form of games, videos, and other online content.

What I disagree on: I am not always sure using technology should be replacing standard styles of teaching just because it is available. In a lot of cases, the first methods of teaching are sufficient. Take the chalkboard or overhead projector for intance. These tools are still valuable and can also be used just as easliy as means to deliver content to students. Sure the internet is awesome, and students relate to digital content these days easier than others. But it is due to students being so accustomed to digital technologies that makes me feel they need a change of scenery. There is still value to writiing with a pen and paper, chalk and displaying ideas in alternative forms to others. WIthout this, we may as well all just stay at home and cyber teach students. Face to face interactions and delaings with eah other without the constant bombardment of digital images can be refreshing and for this reason I think there is resistance to taking all technologie into the classroom, especially when older technologies still work.