5. Apps

Dropbox and Flipboard are two of my favorite Apps.  

If you don't have a Flipboard App get one here:  Flipboard

If you don't have a Dropbox App get one here:  Dropbox


1.  Evaluate and describe the benefits of the Apps I've chosen: Dropbox and Flipboard

2.  List two outstanding Apps.  Do you use them on a regular basis?  Explain.  

3.  Discover a new app that you have never used before.  What benefit could it have for our class?  Or your own productivity? Or for teachers?  Or changing lifestyle?


There are literally thousands of Apps!  So while many of you like a few great or game Apps, lets do this without any repeats so we can all discover cool new stuff!  

4. SkillsUSA

GenYES is a Career and Technology Education Program (CTE) 

We are sponsored by a national charter for our Career Technology Student Organization (GenYES CTSO) and that is national organization is SkillsUSA.  

Visit SkillsUSA

1.  Look around the site.  Find information about SkillsUSA that you think is relevant to you. Such as perhaps the skills gap, Mike Rowes comments, the competitions, the organizations mission, a student success, special programs, training modules.   Discover something that's of interest to you about this organization.  Explain why.

2.  SkillsUSA has a local chapter here in Arizona.  What's happening with SkillsUSA in our state?  AZSkillsUSA

3.  What ideas do you have for our GenYES CTSO?  

3. Microcontrollers

In the spirit of being 'makers', 

over the next few weeks we will be embarking on arduino projects. 

It's likely we are going to start up the 3D Printer to enhance your projects too.

But first get a sense of what it means to be a 'maker.'  
Click on the link and read a few articles :

Maker Movement

Take a look at some of the possibilities:

Arduino Projects

So what do you think?  

Homework assignment: 

1.  From the Maker Movement articles that you read, copy and paste one or two significant sentences that tell you something about the movement.  Then, in your own words, tell what you learned about the makers or maker movement from the statements.  

2.  What exactly is an arduino?  How is it the same / different from other processors or controllers?

3.  Why would we care about learning about these devices?   Do you have any experience with these?  What do you think you could do with this technology? 

2. Tech News

Where do you find the latest, cutting edge information about technology?

Popsci	Engadget
W I R E D	Technewsworld
Fast Company	Gizmodo
TechCrunch	Discovery : TECH
EXTREME•TECH	ZDNet

Open up each of the 10 links above.  Skim through them.  Decide which news link you like the best. 

1.  Which news link did you pick?  Or did you find one of your own you like better?  What makes this news source the best in your mind?  Interface?  Type of stories?  Readability?  Navigation?  Or?

2.   Find an article that interests you about something in the world of technology from the links above.  In your own words summarize the article.  Why did you pick that article?  

3.  How will this technology impact you personally?  Change the world?  

Remember no ARTICLE repeats!    Follow directions ➜

1. Leadership

Welcome Student Tech Leaders to GenYES! 

Think of how technology has changed in the past decade.  There have been many the advances that have made a difference in our lifestyle.   

Who are the tech innovators, thinkers, doers, changemakers that have impacted the way we work, play and live? 

1. Pick one technology leader.  Describe their accomplishments.

2. How has their technological contributions or achievements changed the world?  Did this impact your life personally?

3. What qualities do you possess as a leader?  Do you have anything in common with the person you described?



READ THE COMMENTS BEFORE YOURS.  

No repeats.  The leader you chose must be unique from anyone elses.  No points will be given to repeats.  Yikes!   

Number your responses.   Follow the blog directions to the right →

Make sure you are signed in with your pvlearners account and blog name to post your comment.

Summer

Summer Blog 
Officially Closed

Welcome to the School Year!

(S14) Video Games

Many believe that video games do nothing but waste the time. That there should be no video games because they are such giant “time wasters”. 

Some say video games provide nothing but mindless violence and crude language and are unable to educate our youth. 

Others say that video games are amazing new ways to educate our children, and should be widely accepted as gateways to a whole new way to think. 

Are Video Games a Waste of Time?

Do Violent Video Games promote Violence?

Flipboard:Games!

1. What is your take on this topic? If you play games what makes it appealing to you? If you don't play video games, discuss why. If you read books or watch movies vs. play video games discuss why one is better than the other.

2. Give specific examples of video games you might have played or seen where you learned something. What are the possibilities here? Do you think the learning aspects may have the potential to increase?

3. Do you think violence in video games inspires people to be more violent in real life? Do you think playing video games changes a persons personality in any way? What evidence supports your opinion here? 

4. Video gaming has long passed the movie industry in sales. What do you think is in store for video games in the future? 

(S13) A (Tech) Tale of Two Cars

Tale of Car #1 

Google Self Driving Cars are Mastering City Streets

Read and watch both movies

Latest Chapter on Google Self Driving Cars

Read and watch the movie

Automomous Cars 

Check out the sub links on safety 

1.  Comment on how this technology (Car #1) will change the attitudes, the ease or the concept of driving.  How does this technology this affect you personally? 

Tale of Car #2

Car Controls

Watch the video

Car Attacks  

Read and watch video

VW and the Hackers

What VW did.

2.  Comment on how this technology (Car #2) will change the attitudes, the ease or the concept of driving.  How does this technology this affect you personally? 

3.  Who will win?  Car Makers  (Car #1)  or  Car Hackers (Car #2)?  Who has the most resources?  Do you think Autonomous Car Technology (Self Driving Cars) will be mainstream in all states in the next 2, 5, 10 years?  Or never?  

4.  Yikes!  What about flying cars?  Why / Why not?  

(S12) The Technological Singularity

Technological Singularity 

Advancements in technology have exponentially grown in the past decades.  
We have developed glasses that connect with the internet, 
robotic body parts, augmented brains, self driving cars and more!

 

Some people have worries that the machines 
may soon be able to "think" for themselves.

Should we be worried?

Or is this another exciting big thing in technology?

What does this mean to me?

Research:

Technological Singularity

Watch:

Video Presentations Singularity

READ at least 2 articles.  Watch at least 2 videos.  Do your own research.

Be thoughtful in your responses.  This is a deep subject.  Think about it

1. In your own words, what is technological singularity?  When do you think it will get here?  What other similar terms are out there? 
2. Could the world be a better place with advancing technology -or- do you see this as a dangerous evolution to the human race?  Why?
3. Who are the big names that are researching this theory?  Do you agree with any of them?
4. You like technology right?  Wouldn't you like an automated kitchen helping you with meal prep? Maybe a robot to help with heavy work?  You drive in an automated city system that manages traffic, right?  Maybe you'll get a Google car someday to drive you to work while you nap.  What about non-humans to fight wars?  What do you think of these very nice uses of technology and how do they relate to the notion of Singularity?  Comment on a few or think of some of your own comparisons.   

Blog points this week = 100 points.   

Be thorough, thoughtful and insightful.  

(S11) Design technologies

1. Pick one of the choices: A, B or C  

2. What is it? Describe three (3) features* about it!  

3. Could we design one like it or better?  How?

* Of course, no repeats.