(S6) Video Games

    

Many of us spend countless hours playing video games with fancy HD visuals, multi button controllers, online capabilities, and 3D graphics. But, there was a time were all these common features were concepts beyond imagination.

The history of video gaming spans all the way back to the 1940’s, long befor Pong was invented. Take a look that this timeline of the vast history of the concept of virtual gaming.
1. What did you find the most interesting in the timeline? Why?

2. Do you think video games have had an affect on technology in general? Or perhaps the entertainment industry? How? Why video games succeed..

3. Have you played Zynga games? What other video/mobile games charge for powerups, game items or other perks that you know of?  Check out the links below. Comment on your discoveries.

Clash of Clans Cumulative Costs 
(Use the calculator! Yikes!)

Candy Crush Addicts

How much does it cost to play League?

4. How else do developers charge for video games, if not in the play? Are there any games that are truly free? How would this be possible?  

Note: Whether you play video games or not, they have a big influence on society and the economics of this industry is astounding. Next week we'll explore platforms and social considerations.

(S5) Technological Enhancements?

Last week we explored Biological Technologies designed to assist humans who lost a part of their bodies due to health, warfare or accident.   In essence, technology to make one "whole" again.

More often technological advancements focus on changing and enhancing our lives.

This week consider if technology is (possibly) making us super human or less human?  You decide.

PART 1.  

Discover and evaluate the 4 technologies.  PUT YOUR ANSWERS: HERE

PART 2. 

By using numbers only, discuss how these technologies have something in common.  Consider...  if they differ in terms of "Technological Enhancements" or altering the body technologically to be more or less human.  Do these make you go faster, be stronger, smarter or are they just fun?  Would it be fair to own this technology if you were competing or taking a test?   Would you want any of these items?  Discuss...

You should only answer PART 2 below.  Do PART 1 using the link above.     

Thoughtfully reflect and have some fun with this.

(S4) Advancements in Biomedical Technologies

Technology. Robotics. Medicine. 

In the past the loss of an arm or leg would be the end of a person’s life or cripple them for life. Well over 1500 men and women in the military have lost limbs due to IEDs in wars and combat.

Do you know what biomedical engineering is? It is actually a very great thing that is being researched to help those who lost limbs or are incredibly sick. The research has already found a way to recreate cells.

Five movies. About 30 minutes for all. Watch them. Get all the perspectives.

• Living beyond Limits
• Mechanical Arm controlled by Thought  
• Meet Les Baugh
• Wounded Warriors
• Biomedical Engineering Career Options

1.  Comment on the possibilities of bioengineering technologies, what's going on now and what's in store for the future?

2.  Has your emotional response to seeing amputees changed in the past weeks?  Comment on seeing the WW football game, if you went, and what you emotionally felt through the movies above.  

3.  Technology.  Robotics.  Medicine.  Changing lives.   What did you learn about the technology of all this?  Would you consider a career in this medical tech field?  

(S3) Hacking

The Next Generation of Hacking

Fortresses of code may becoming the most important defenses of a country.  

As the world begins to be controlled by the algorithms of computers, everything from phones, pipelines, and power stations could possibly fall prey to a new type of hacking that has emerged; cyber-physical hacking.

1. Utilities at Risk for Cyber Attacks 

2. Homeland Security

3. Debatewise: Hacking can be justisfied 

4. Hacking is Childs Play

5. Mysterious Turkey Pipeline explosion  
6. Latest Government Cyber security Bill

1. Based on what you read from selecting at least two of the six article links above, what problems can you foresee with cyber-physical hacking in the future? (Identify the link numbers you chose and what you got from them)

2. Do you believe that hacking will become the next frontier for wars? If so, how? If not, why?

3. What did you take away from the presentation by Dan Petro?  

4. So overall, how does the whole topic of hacking affect you personally?

(S2) Anonymous Browsers

 
             Tor Overview

             Tor Wiki



Tor keeps users anonymous online, so that nothing can track you through the actual network. With Tor, you can access anything, even if it is banned for the country you live in, and not be tracked.

1.  Check out the links above.  Investigate some links on each site.  In your own words, what is Tor?  Who uses it and why?  

2.  List a few Pros and Cons of this environment.

3.  Would you ever find yourself using it?  Why / Why not?

________________________________________________

This Friday we will have Dan Petro visit us again.  Very exciting!

This is OPTIONAL - not part of homework: Check out CactusCon and this!

(S1) Innovation, Gadgets and New Technologies 2015

New Year!  New Tech!

Have fun exploring new technologies!

As a GenYES Tech Leader, it's important to be ahead of the curve.     

1.   In your opinion, what are some of the coolest new technologies that you discovered on the links below?  Which would you want to buy for yourself?  Pick three (3) of your favorites and describe them.  (Try not to have the same exact three as anyone else)

2.  What new technology might have the biggest impact on society as a whole?  Something that may  change the way a lot of people work or play or live?  

3.  What companies are the biggest players in the tech arena?  Who wasn't at CES?  Do you think a "new, start up" company could have a chance to break into the tech arena today and make an impact Write a general observation from you, about what you read in the links below, and you feel the direction new technology might be going.

CES 2015 - Main	Think Geek
CES Videos	YAHOO Tech
Cnet CES	Wired Gadjet Lab

New Year 2015

Happy New Year!  As we embark on this new semester it's pretty cool to think that as of this moment, you have an A in every class!  Now the real challenge is to maintain the merit.  It's really about what learning you'll achieve in the next few months.

Of course in GenYES, we have a lot of awesome projects planned.

To help you be successful in technology and leadership and more significantly, setting the right goals for yourself, I've gathered up some readings and activities to help you achieve your best.

Since GenYES is a group of tech leaders it's important that we learn ever changing new technologies, mentor to others and effectively collaborate with each other as a tech company. We are as good as the sum of our parts.

1. What do you plan on bringing to GenYES this new year?  Check out this site.   Look around.  Click on the ruler and take a few checkups.  What did you discover about yourself?  Were there any areas you might need to work on?  Did you get the "high road" arrow up on any of the 7 areas?  These might be some of the talents to you bring to GenYES.  What greatness do you bring to GenYES?

  
2. Check out these links. Comment how one or more points on the sites that might affect you or others around you.

• 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
• 5 Keys to Develop a Plan for Success
• How to use Technology to Make You Smarter

3. What do you want GenYES to explore this year?

17. End of the Year / Interview

The End of the Year is Here!

There is much to do at the end of the year.  This afternoon, I started answering the questions from the reporter from 'Administrators Magazine'  I thought, since this is your program, I'd list some of the questions below and see how you would answer them for this weeks blog assignment.  Some questions seem like they are directed at the teacher, so answer them from both our point of view -or- assume what answer you think I'd give.   Since, I give a lot of responsibility to you guys...go for it.  This is a nice recap of what we've done and after considering your answers, what we might plan for 2015...

Hello Debbie, I am a writer with District Administration magazine. I am writing an article about students in the role of tech support and Dennis Harper of GenerationYES said you would be a good resource for the article. If you are willing, I would like to schedule a half hour phone interview with you between now and Dec. 17. Below are the questions I would like to ask you.  I am on eastern time. The article will be published in the March edition of the magazine.

1. Describe the overall setup of the program and how it works. Please include who handles what, with what funds, student training, help desk staffing hours, and who is in charge?
2. Do you have any other student help desk programs, besides the GenYES one, in place?
3. What is the benefit of having students in a tech support role? Include benefits to: students in the program, teachers and staff, and general student population.
4. Is the district saving money with this approach?
5. How has 1:1, BYOD, the proliferation of mobile devices, apps, cloud computing, etc. impacted the need for additional tech resources?
6. What do you call your students who help with tech support, and how do you promote their availability?
7. How could you handle tech support if you didn’t use students?
8. What are the biggest challenges of having students provide tech support?
9. What are the best features of the GenYES program?  What would you do differently?
10. Would you recommend this to other school districts? Why?

16. Code Week!

Coding: Considerations and Controversies

PART 1. What is the difference in:
scripting, programming and/or coding? What other terms are analogous?

PART 2. How many programming languages are out there?  Which would be the most useful to learn first?  Or do you feel none are important to learn? 


PART 3.  Pick one of the six sections below, read the entire article or watch the movies and share what you learned and your personal thoughts: 

• (1.)   Teaching our Children to code, a Quiet Revolution.  England will become the first country in the world to mandate computer programming in primary and secondary schools.  Should America do the same?  Why?

• (2.)   Computers are the future, but does everyone need to code?  What's the point? What side are you on? Why?

• (3.)   Computer Programming | A short interesting film.  What's the message?  What do you think?  What should we do as GenYES?

• (4.)   Computer Programming is a Dying Art.   Understand what MUSE is and what is the potential?  Are we giving computers too much control?

• (5.)   Don't believe anyone who tells you learning to code is easy!  What is the author's advice?  Did you feel better or worse at the prospect of genuinely  learning to code after reading this?

• (6.)   Two Short videos: Best Jobs in 2014 (Now) and  Future Jobs (Later)  What do you think?

IMPORTANT READ THIS! This weeks blog is a bit longer than most and worth 100 points.  You will have time in class to work on it as well. The expectations are higher.   Do real exploration of the topics, analyze what you read and write over 200 thoughtful, intelligent words to gain full credit.  

The knowledge you glean here might directly impact your future.

15. Thankful

As I thought about this weeks homework, Thanksgiving and all,  I thought about how thankful I was for my classes this year.  Truly, you are a great bunch of kids and I love coming to 'work.'

So I put in the search box "Thankful and Technology"  just to see what came up.  A lot of these pictures came up (or variations of it).  ☛

Then that made me think of my holidays growing up and how different this looks for you guys who never knew life without the Internet, phones, devices, computers, gaming systems and such.

So do you feel cheated or blessed?  Do you feel thankful about all the cool tech out there that has enriched your life?   Do you feel there might be important things in life, that may be not things at all? Give this some real thought and share significant thoughts that reflect your life.   Please be specific.  

This week,  reflect a little and enjoy a...

Happy Thanksgiving.