Thursday, December 10, 2015

16 Unique Tech


    Holiday Challenge


Spend $ 20,000 on the most unique, useful, 
state-of-the art (as of right now) technology
 gifts for yourself or others.


 ☞ What do you buy and how is it used?


1. Provide a brief overview of how you are going to approach this assignment.  Where are you researching cool technologies?  Are you comparing prices?  How do you know its the coolest of cool?  Is it a good value in spending this money? Could you take care of everyone on your holiday list with technology?   Describe Your plan.   

2. Make a spreadsheet.  Provide the short link to your google sheet* here on your blog.  BE CREATIVE and have some fun :)

*Instructions for spreadsheet:

  • Create 4 columns:  1) Item name, 2) Details, 3) Recipient,  4) Price 
  • Have a total at the bottom of your sheet of all the expenses 
  • Be as close as possible to the $20,000.  (Don't worry about tax)
  • TITLE: your spreadsheet: Tech List - (Your last name)  
  • SHARE it: dkovesdy AND share it with "Anyone who has the link" out side of pvlearners.
  • You need at least 5 items minimum!  



Sunday, November 29, 2015

15 Code Week

Coding  

Watch a movie or two.  Answer this question:

Why should I care about coding? 

Movie 1 - How to teach yourself to code.  (Yes its long, but it's really informative.  Watch it all or watch parts of it.  You will learn a lot about coding in general.)  Why should you care about coding?

Movie 2 - How do you start to program?  We saw this parts of this movie in class.  Lots of different perspectives.  Why should you care about coding?

Movie 3 - Don't learn to code, Learn to solve problems.  Crazy guy, straight talk.  Why should you care about coding?

Follow the directions about blog homework: 100 to 200 well written words.  Critically think about the movie you watched, reference the some of the information you viewed, and write about how the information might apply to you personally.

One question:  Why should I care about coding?  

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Thanksgiving Week




Happy Thanksgiving

Take the week off of GenYES homework. 
I'm thankful for all of you.  
Your technical ingenuity and creative spirit continually inspire me. 
 Enjoy your holiday.



Sunday, November 15, 2015

14 Social Media and the News


Just a few years ago, people found out about major news events on the TV Nightly News.  If it was a major event, it may have appeared on all channels immediately.  The information was usually limited and most people waited until they read all about it in the newspaper the next morning.

1) There was a world wide tragic event recently.  What was it?  How did you find out about it?

2) Research a bit about how social media and technology changed the way we learn about and view events impacting our lives.  Comment on what you think about what you discovered by watching the video and reading a few links:

Internet News (Who uses these? Are any great?)


#scudlaunch(This is mind boggling if you think about it)

3) How do you find out about what's going on?  TV or radio?  An iphone app?  A news app?  Twitter?  Facebook?  Or?   Do you think your way is the best or most honest?




Sunday, November 8, 2015

13. Presentation Week


This week you will be presenting your first big project
 here are some tips on how to make it great!



(Think of your website when they say slides)

(More resources to help you be successful)

Or research your own...  Ideas

This week take time perfecting and practice your presentation.  

Simple Homework: Write only a sentence or two about 
what you plan do to be successful in your presentation.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

12. Born Digital



1.  Explore.  In your own words, share what have you found about digital citizenship.

2.  Visit:  Youth and Media  Watch a few movies.  Comment on one or two.  Name the title(s) and share your thoughts.

3.  What do you think of this:
You find a song you love, go to pirate bay and copy it.  It's yours.  Yeah.  A few weeks later,
you and a few friends jam and make the most awesome song ever.  So great that,  itunes/ Playstore both promote it for you to sell.  You could make some bank.  Anyone that downloads it you will make $1.00.  But very few buy it.  It's pirated everywhere though.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

11. The Internet


As you signed on to this homework blog today, did you even consider how easy it is for you to access the Internet?  

Explore some interesting and informative insights about the web:



Take a look at each site.  Read some, skim others.  Interact.  Then elaborate on what interested you the most.


1.  Identify the two sites, from the links above, that you liked the best.

  
2.  Discuss two things you learned and how this information affects you personally.


3.  Think about what you read.  Intelligently share your thoughts.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

10. Big Tech

Big tech companies in the news 


Check out the links below and critically think:

1. How are these companies merging together to help consumers navigate between their systems? (How are they alike?)

2. How are they differentiating themselves to rise above their competition? (How are they different?)






Sunday, October 11, 2015

9. Cloud Computing


What is Cloud Computing?
  1. In your own words, without looking anything up, explain what you know about cloud computing.
  2. Do you use it?  If so, how?  
  3. Pick a concept below.  Research and elaborate on how it specifically relates to cloud computing:
•  Safety             • Data Storage           •  Infrastructure            •  Adobe Cloud       • Cisco 
  
            •  Netflix               • Internet            •  Multiple/Concurrent Users      •  Microsoft 365

• Wi Fi         • Jump Drives            • 2040           • ios icloud          •  Chrome        •  Network


Sunday, October 4, 2015

8. Tech Terms


Tech talk every...
     
     Photoshop

     Game Maker

...developer should know

Choose one of the links above.  Select 5 terms that you are most unfamiliar with and explain what the concept is in your own words.  Elaborate how you would use the skill it is defining.  



Sunday, September 20, 2015

7. Innovators


Who do you think is the coolest?  Why?


There’s more than one way to read these stories. Sure, the subjects are inspiring and creative people. But these are not merely personality profiles. They also illustrate the most important emerging technologies of the moment.

A short blog for a short week.  

One question, but elaborate about why you chose the person that you did. 

Happy vacation this week and be inspired!

Sunday, September 13, 2015

6. Tech Questions


Ten Common Tech Questions... 
and Their High Tech Explanations

1.  Read through the TECH ARTICLE.  Read all ten questions, all the answers.  Which answers did you know already?  Which answers had some new information for you?  (I'll be honest, I learned quite a bit from this article!)

2.  Think about technology today. Come up with two new questions, that "un-tech savvy" people might have about technology.  After you write your questions, describe how you would answer them. 

Sunday, September 6, 2015

5. Mobile Phones




* Identify your enemy in your blog answer #2... but go attack them by replying to their post. First entries will have to wait a bit, until other warriors post their choices. Yeah, defend your phones when attacked too. 

Make sure your info is up to date!  Check this out: Smart Phones 2015 and this: Mobile Infographics 2015 

Let the wars begin...

Sunday, August 30, 2015

4. Tablets


Let's take a look at new tech out there!


Specifically what is going on in the tablet market.

Research:   





1.  Based on what you read, what is the best tablet out there?  What criteria are you using to make a decision?   Price?   Features?   Design?  Functionality?  

2.  Which tablet do you think is most popular for kids?  For older adults?  Why?

3.  What five apps do you think are the best to get on a tablet right away... for YOU?

4.  What five apps would you recommend an adult get on their tablet right away?  

(Where do you think I'm going with this .... ?)  


Sunday, August 23, 2015

3. Leadership: Criticism + Being Successful

“Criticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” ~Aristotle

This week you will be presenting your websites. Many people are afraid to get up in front of others mostly in fear of being judged, the risk of failure or being hit with an onslaught of criticism.  

Let's break it all down. You took a risk taking this class. You knew it was a tech class and you heard it was much more.  Leadership.  Service. Business. Discovering new tech.  Problem solving.  Career building.  Risk.  Some kids bailed out.  You are the adventurous type.  Welcome to GenYES.  

As your teacher, I am about to evaluate, applaud and criticize your presentations this week. Let's get ready for this:




Part 1 - Read the whole article:  

1.  Think about all the points in the article.  
Of the 25: choose, copy and paste one of them in your comments and then totally elaborate on the point.  How does criticism make you better, how do you let it affect you, how it may relate to you being successful overall?  






Part 2 - Read the whole article:  

2.  What do you do successfully?  What things from this list do you have in common with successful people?  What do you think you might need to work on?  What does any of this have to do with a technology class?!

Two questions.  That's it.   Do a great job.  Remember 100 - 200 well written words, grammar and spelling count!  






Monday, August 17, 2015

2 Website Design

Portfolio Websites!

Your website is your digital resume.  This week we will be designing websites.  Your website should reflect a digital representation of you.  Your personality.  Your interests.  Your projects.

This is an expanded blog project today since I am not in class. Please follow directions carefully.

This assignment is worth 100 points (50 Homework and 50 Assignment DUE TODAY).


BAD SITES: Open the link below.  Look and read about what makes a bad website:
GOOD SITES: Open all the links and explore each carefully.  What website styles appeal to you?  As you find sites that you like take screens shots of them.  Evaluate what sites that you personally feel are some great websites:

Number your responses in your blog answers:

1.  In the BAD SITES link, which is the worst website in your opinion?  Why?

2.  In the GOOD SITES links provided above. Which three websites did you find that you like the best?  Look at many!  Take screen shots of your favorites.  
  • Open this link: Website slide show and complete as instructed
  • When you finish it place your slide show link as the answer to this question  
  • We will look at your website choices tomorrow.

3.  What pointers did you read in the articles?  What makes a good website? What are the pitfalls and mistakes people make in creating websites?  


This blog is DUE by the end of class period today.



Sunday, August 9, 2015

1 Welcome to GenYES



SMHS GenYES is a 4 year high school elective

SMHS GenYES is a CTE  (Career + Technical Education) Program

Our SMHS CTSO (Career + Technical Student Organization) is amazing!

Great option!  SMHS GenYES is available for college credit (all 4 years)



1.  Check out the GenYES International Website.  Copy a few lines that you think are interesting, then comment in your own words about them.  Please read the comments before yours so there are no repeats.

2.  What do you understand about CTE and our CTSO based on what you've heard in class or from other students?

3.  Discuss the benefits of getting college credit for GenYES and how it works.  Do you think you will take GenYES for college credit?  Why / Why not?

4.  What are your first impressions of this class?  What are you hoping to accomplish?

Welcome!  I'm very excited about this new year and happy you make the choice to be part of this awesome class!  MsK :)


Monday, May 25, 2015

The End is Near



Hi all...

All the blog grades are going in today.

Happy holiday...  Ms K

Sunday, May 17, 2015

(S17) Mind Blowing Technology


Ok I just watched "Interstellar" last night.  Mind blowing.  Here's a mind blowing technology idea found from a fellow student: 

Large Hadron Collider

Research Links:      
Official Website         
Hadron sets sights on dark matter?

1.  The Hadron Collider has been the spot of controversy amongst scientists, techs and political leaders alike. What do you think?  Do you think that it is too risky to use? Or is risk worth result?

2. Why is this important? Where do you think this machine will take us in terms of technology and science?



If you really understood what you read, it's mind blowing. (I had to read it twice) And that is real.

3. Now consider all the mind blowing technologies that you see in some movies.  Pick one below (or another POPULAR movie with futuristic technology) and share your perspective about the details of a extraordinary technology concept introduced in the movie.  Is it SciFi forever or potentially real?  Discuss if:     It can never be real because...  or It could be real if....






Sunday, May 10, 2015

(S16) School Technology: Debate

Technology at school has grown exponentially in the past five years.  
Good or bad?


Look at some perspectives:


      Look at these too:







1.  So what are the best features about technology in school?  

2.  What's bad about school technology?  How would you fix it?

3.  More tech or less tech?  If you were the IT director what would you do?  




Sunday, May 3, 2015

(S15) Food Tech






What do you think?

1. Are new food technologies like 3D printing food, food sciences, processing and food biotechnologies relevant to the well being of the world?


2. What do you predict? Could 3D food printing change the way household kitchens work? The way we cook? Will fast food involve pushing buttons?  Or is this a passing fad?  Only plain fun? Serious to develop? Is it safe?



3. Find your own information about the technologies involving food, eating, restaurants. What's going on out there that's new, interesting and significant?


Sunday, April 26, 2015

(S14) Future tech: Oceanic Cities

An ocean address



The earth is 71% water.  

So why isn't anyone living there?







Shimizu Corp, has announced plans for:   

Check out these concepts: 


1) What information did you find? Comment on Ocean Spiral or another oceanic concept city that you found interesting. Provide details, development, plans, etc.

2) Would you live in an oceanic city? What's cool / not cool about this idea?

3) What are the technological challenges?

Sunday, April 19, 2015

(S13) Touch Tech


Haptics Technology
 
Iron Man.jpeg      Watch Haptic Technology

      Haptic Technology Site

      Haptic Technologies

      Examples


1.  In your own words, explain Haptic technology. 

2.  In your own words, explain Tangible technology.


3.  Which is most interesting to you?  Or which do you think will impact future technologies the most?  Why?


4.  What are other sensory, tactile technologies are out there?  



Sunday, April 12, 2015

(S12) Technology & Law Enforcement

                                                            
police cameras.jpg
Police body cameras?  Do the police need more technology?
Police officers protect and serve the community and are generally looked up to by others who can't defend themselves. 

However unfortunate, some officers may have have committed crimes, are accused or recorded of doing illegal or violent acts by witnesses.

There are many stories this week on the news about this very issue.  Check out the articles and links below.  Do some reading!  Provide some original comments about the impact of technology devices and law enforcement:

Cameras & Police News Articles

Technology and Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement - What's real?


1.  Which article did you read?  What did you learn?

2.  Should police officers wear cameras?  What are the pros and cons?  What's taking so long to decide this?

3.  Relative to other occupations or businesses, how sophisticated are the police in general, in overall use of technology?

4.  What technologies do you think would benefit law enforcement?   Apps?   Devices?  Programs?  



Remember -  Thoughtful, original detailed responses.  100 - 200 words. 




Sunday, April 5, 2015

(S11) Travel Technology





Uber:  Innovation Travel Technologies  Uber's been in the news quite a bit lately.  What is Uber all about?





Part 1.  Describe Uber from one point of view.  Choose one, identify which one you are describing A, B, C etc  (No more than 5 student entries from any section.  Read to see what others before you chose):



A.  The drivers.  Who are they, qualified?

B.  The users.  Who uses this service?

C.  Who is the competition?  How is it affected?

D.  The dangers of driving or using / the cons

E.  The benefits / the pros of this service

F.  The way it works.  Describe in detail

G.  How is Uber different in the US vs other countries?


Part 2.  Explain how this might impact travel in the future overall.  Be imaginative!


Sunday, March 22, 2015

Spring Break!


No homework this week!  Enjoy the time off!

If you want to earn a BLOG PASS to use any time over this final fourth quarter, have some fun watching this movie and answering the two questions below!



How was this done?  How would you do it with your friends?


Sunday, March 15, 2015

(S10) Virtual Reality

A Virtual Age


Virtual Reality has many uses and may become a major part of our society in the future? What do you think?




1. We looked at VR last year, but there have been many advancements.  And hey, we haven't said "Occulus Rift" in a while!  So, what did you find in the articles above?  What's cool today about this technology? Discover and share only one aspect that impressed you.  (No repeat ideas please)

2. Name a pro and con to this emerging technology.

3. What's the difference between VR, AR and IR?

Sunday, March 8, 2015

(S9) Tablets vs. Textbooks




Digital or Physical?

In today’s digital world, many things are transitioning into an electronic or    online format, which is somewhat controversial. Check out: Tablets vs. Textbooks

1. What is a pro and a con for reading online?  

2. Do you prefer to read a paper or online book?  Why?

3.  If you were running a school what would be your plan for textbooks and electronics...

Sunday, March 1, 2015

(S8) Video Entertainment


This week, as a final transition about video gaming (obviously a popular subject in your blog submissions) we will explore how trending interests in video entertainment industry are changing, based on the habits of your generation.

The author of this blog challenges us to explore the popularity of "video game watching" vs actually playing.   I'm going to challenge you with a bit more.



The purchase of Twitch by Amazon for close to a billion dollars speaks volumes about this popular activity.  Many of you indicated last week you've visited or know quite a bit about Twitch and other similar game viewing sites.   Your debate last week was very divided about eSports too!

So let's consider what is really happening here.   Is entertainment shifting?   Many of you said "Sports like football will never be replaced by video gaming."   Video gaming was not a contender five years ago and now look at the packed stadiums.  



This is why people watch people playing video games 
  
Why would anyone want to watch people play video games?


1.  What do you think of what you read in the links above?

2.  Do you watch others play video games?  Which ones?  Why?   If not, why not?  

3.  How do you spend your leisure time?  Take a look at the chart below.  Consider how you spent your fun time in the last month or so (outside of sleep, eat, work, school)  And mentally circle or choose the top five things that occupy your time.   
What are they?  List the ideas in the boxes that appeal the most to you, and if you can, list them in order of importance to you.  If you chose "something else" describe it.   






4.  Which area (Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue)  do you predict your peers will be the strongest in?  Which area are you?