Future School, Future Life

The year is 2035.  Your kids are entering high school. What does it look like?

Read all the questions before beginning.

1.  Will schools be more modern? Will there be more technology?  Are classes bigger? Virtual classrooms? How has the structure changed?

2. Are the subjects the same?  Math? English? Science? Social Studies? Art?  Music? How are they different?  Are there books?  Is there still paper?

3.  Watch about 2 minutes of this video: High School 1968 It's pretty accurate of what high school looked like when I was there.  Skip around a bit and get a feel for it.  We couldn't even fathom using computers at school.  We used encyclopedias for information. We predicted the future would look like this: Jetsons!  It didn't happen that way! But then I could never have even imagined the Internet, cell phones, GPS, ipads, etc.  It's pretty amazing to consider how things have changed during my lifetime. Someday you will be looking back at old videos of your time in high school.  So thoughtfully consider the vast amount of change I presented in this paragraph and predict with great detail what your life will look like in 2035. 

(Grading Rubric: 1=10pts, 2=10pts, 3=30pts)

PS I plan on printing this assignment for each of you to take to Year 2035 to chronicle your accuracy!

Invisible Web

What is this?














Student:  Uh...Ms K there is no picture.
MsK: Yes.
Student:  Well how am I supposed to respond to "What is this?"
MsK: It's invisible.
Student: I don't get it.
MsK: It's about the web.  There is an invisible web.
Student: Huh?
MsK: Go discover it.  The invisible web.  You will probably google it.  But wait...does google have an index to ALL the deep web information out there?  Hmmm... maybe not.

1.  What is the invisible web?  How big is it?
2.  What are other names for it? 
3.  What kind of information is buried there and how can you find it?

The Mobile Learner

To assist in your quest for educational resources for ipods and smart phones this week check out: Mobile Learner

There are thousands of apps and many are educational.

1. Look at the 2 poll boxes to the right.  Choose answers.   How do you predict this poll will play out?

2. Comment on why you think more teachers don't use mobile devices in class.

3.   OK...now go for it! You have been commissioned to speak at the next teacher staff meeting. Highlight the attributes of ipods/smart phones.  Convince teachers of the potential benefits in using these devices in their classroom.  Consider what their objections might be and comment about how you'd alleviate those concerns.

Internet Giants Collide

Facebook has exploded in media attention in the past few weeks reaching 500 million users, the release of "The Social Network" movie and a seemingly evolving trend shift from 'informational' to 'social' web searches.

Read this short paragraph. Notice the date:

Why Google Should Fear the Social Web

Google has been an Internet leader for many years.  So what's going on here?

Facebook vs Google

Google vs Facebook 

Facebook's Future Plans

Google's Future Plans 

 

This might strike you as a little crazy especially since some of you may not even have a Facebook account!  

Assignment: 

Read through all 5 links above before answering the questions.  Most are short!

1. Do you think Internet use is changing?  Yes or No.  Why?  Cite specific references to the readings (or provide new links) to support your answer. 

2. How do these buttons factor into all this?

3. Predict how the graph will look for Google vs Facebook for the next 5 years. (Don't let the one article totally sway you!)

4. How will this affect YOU in your future use of the web?

Company blogs: 

Google

Facebook

Worrisome Websites!

Below are 10 strange websites.  But some are stranger than others because a few of the websites below are totally fake! The info is totally wrong and the whole website was designed to fool you!  But...hey you are GenYES you won't be tricked!  Right?  Your task is to determine which ones are real and which are fake.

Part 1.  Make a list of the sites.  For example:  Fake = 1, 2, 3..  Real= 4, 5, 6..

NOTE: You can fool your pals here by posting bad information and then re-posting a revised list at a later time!  This assignment is all about foolery! Make sure your final list is the real one though because you will be graded for "right" and "wrong" answers out of the ten websites.

Part 2.  Give an explanation of how you determined which ones were real and which ones were fake. 

Part 3.  What is the "lesson" of this assignment?

The Websites:  

1.   Giraffe Mania

2.   Fishcam

3.   Northwest Tree Octopus 

4.   Pantagonian Mara

5.   Safe Cloning

6.   Leafy Seadragon

7.   Angora Rabbit

8.   Pen-Tailed Tree Shrew 

9.   Floral Body Sculpture 

10.  Havenworks

Tech Term Story Jumble!

Below are 40 tech terms that are quite common in various arenas of the tech industry. 

Your challenge this week is:

1. Pick 3 terms from the chart below and identify clearly in your own words what they mean.

2. Write a little story and connect how your 3 terms could work together.  Be as crazy as you like, but your story has to make sense based on the correct definition of your terms.  Have some fun with this! 

Check the blog entries before you.  Each term can only be used ONCE!

Click here for clearer image of chart

Tanner, Ian and Emily... you have all earned a “Free Homework Pass.” Congratulations on doing ALL the levels!  Great Job!  You can use your pass this week or another week this semester.  You must send me an email by the Saturday deadline specifying "I'm using my homework pass" to earn the 50 points. 

Spirit of Discovery

Fun homework!  Is that possible?

Hoshi Saga game.  Lots of critical thinking and discovery!
Here is the workaround if you are at school: Hoshi Saga Safe

Your task this week is to play the Hoshi Saga game and discover the stars in each row which will open up all the squares with the ? marks.

Uncover all the ? marks in the first level.  You must also collaborate in this blog with your colleagues by leaving (at least) one hint below about any star box.  You can also submit questions on some of the tough ones if you want!

Accomplish all the ? marks* and one comment hint in the blog and you are done with this weeks homework!

Challenge!  If you choose to go on and complete the next levels, the top player will receive a free homework pass for next week!  All homework entries due by Saturday Midnight!  See note below

Submitting your homework entry: Take a screen shot of your final board. Try to catch the score at the top.  Email it to me.
 
dkovesdy@pvschools.net

* (if you fail to complete a row thus leaving a ? mark = -5 points per ? each remaining on your board)

Have fun!

PS It used to release new levels when you completed the board.  Now they are separate and actually different too!  So if you want to do the "Challenge!" here are a few more levels:

Hoshi 2
Hoshi 3
Hoshi 4
Hoshi 5 

That's it!

Battle of the Bands Conundrum

Check out the short story of this high school videographer:    Newman's Story

1.  Do you think she did anything wrong?  Explain.

2.  Theoretically...what about the money for the sale of the tapes/CD's?  Who should get a cut?

• School?  
• Performers? 
• Metallica? 
• No one! It all belongs to Newman

3.  21st Century students have cameras in hands fairly often.  What things should students consider when shooting video to avoid a visit to the principal's office? 

4.  How does YouTube factor into this discussion?

5.  ONE WORD ANSWER -> Do you think digital citizenship should be taught in the school curriculum?

The "Physical Web"

It's the future of the web. It's happening now. You might be using it.  What is it?

Read this story:
Physical Web: How Apps Can Move Atoms and Bend Time

Download and watch this short PowerPoint:
Physical Web by Shasta Ventures

Ubercab, Nike+iPod, Webkinz, Gowalla  are four examples of Physical Web applications.

Your blog entry this week is to pick a physical web application.
NOTE: You may pick one of the examples above, but no one can duplicate an entry.  So you will have to read the blog entries before you!


1. Describe a physical web application and how it works relative to this equation:

2.  Describe how you or someone you know would use it specifically.

3.  What is your apps potential to grow, expand services over time?  How do you think it will happen?

As always, please number your comments.

mac vs pc

A geeks favorite controversy!  Your task this week is to approach it from both angles.  Pick two of the newest comparable products and compare a feature of each.    Be sure to number your responses.   Pick different features for 1 and 2.

1.  MAC vs pc.  Sell me a new mac based on a wonderful feature that a new pc is inferior.  Specify exact models and OS and fully describe the feature.

2.  PC vs mac.  Sell me a new pc based on a wonderful feature that a new mac is inferior.  Specify exact models and OS and fully describe the feature.

Check out this link...
mac vs pc