http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/internetprivacy/2009-01-05-myspace-teens_N.htm
Read.
Respond.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Mio is here today
Jeremy Mio is currently enrolled at Ashland University as a computer science major. Today he is going to be our guest speaker. The purpose of having Jeremy here today is to give us some insight into what college computer science classes are like. Jeremy is a recent (2008) graduate of Harvey High School.
After we are done talking with Jeremy please list at least one thing you learned from Jeremy today.
After we are done talking with Jeremy please list at least one thing you learned from Jeremy today.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Twitter... Really?
A long long time ago, a young fellow named Jeremy was trying to call his buddy Howie to see if he wanted to hang out. As he dialed his phone that was connected to a CORD (OMG) on the wall (OMGx2), he heard a strange noise. He did not panic. He did not know what Howie was doing and that was OK. He carried on with his life.
Fast forward 25 years...A teacher looks around his computer class and it's as if everyone has developed severe abdominal cramps. Students are hunched over with necks looking toward the floor. Why? He sees that many are texting and/or reading text messages. He realizes this is a phenomenon not limited only to his classes, or even his school. THEY ARE ALL HYPERCONNECTED!
The use of SMS (tech language for texting) has skyrocketed. He thought he had seen and heard it all until he heard of "twitter". Check it out.
(By the way, some of you are Hyperactive and Hyperconnected, but that's a different story for a different time)
Also, make sure you read this article. "Kill Your Blog!"
ASSIGNMENT FOR TODAY (1-7-09)
It seems mobile technology has made all of us 'connectivity addicts'. Is it really so important that we know that our friend is doing laundry? My theory is that we are spending a lot of time isolated by technology (on line, texting, emailing, surfing, etc) and the trend of hyper-connectivity is a way to bring us together or make us feel closer, more connected to friends and loved ones.
Please develop a response to this post in the comments. ( 25 points ) If you would like full credit, please make it well thought, and it should be about three or four paragraphs. Think it out before you write!
Consider these questions when commenting:
How is how you stay connected different from previous generations? (Think way back)
How much information is too much information?
How can professionals / companies use social networking technology? Should they?
What are the positive aspects of being 'hyper-connected'?
What are the negative aspects of being 'hyper-connected'?
Include any sources you used for your comment.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Algorithms, Computer Careers and YOU
These stats are from a CSTA (Computer Science Teacher's Association) Article.
· Only 26 percent of U.S. schools require students to take computer science courses, even though computers pervade nearly every aspect of our lives;
· Lack of time in students' schedules is cited as the reason for declining enrollment in high school courses; and
· Computer science education is plagued by public misperceptions including a students' misunderstanding that it is all about playing video games and surfing the Internet.
"The United States cannot ignore the fact that there will be a shortage of qualified candidates for the 1.5 million computer and information technology jobs by 2012," stated co-author of the report and CSTA President Chris Stephenson...
A couple of questions I would like you all to address in your comments to this post:
1) Would you take a higher level course than this if it were available? Or is this one 'hard enough' already?
2) If the U.S. education system cannot fill industry's demand for qualified computer and technology professionals, what might happen? Where will companies find jobs?
Review the PowerPoint here. It is about Computational Thinking.
3) Based on this PowerPoint What is the "Kingpin Term"? How would you define computational thinking.
4) Post the link to at least one relevant article about Computer Education in the U.S., Algorithms, or anything else you think might add to the discussion.
REMEMBER, to use the correct language as if this were a school assignment. Oh yeah, it is a school assignment. Due end of day today, 25 pts.
· Only 26 percent of U.S. schools require students to take computer science courses, even though computers pervade nearly every aspect of our lives;
· Lack of time in students' schedules is cited as the reason for declining enrollment in high school courses; and
· Computer science education is plagued by public misperceptions including a students' misunderstanding that it is all about playing video games and surfing the Internet.
"The United States cannot ignore the fact that there will be a shortage of qualified candidates for the 1.5 million computer and information technology jobs by 2012," stated co-author of the report and CSTA President Chris Stephenson...
A couple of questions I would like you all to address in your comments to this post:
1) Would you take a higher level course than this if it were available? Or is this one 'hard enough' already?
2) If the U.S. education system cannot fill industry's demand for qualified computer and technology professionals, what might happen? Where will companies find jobs?
Review the PowerPoint here. It is about Computational Thinking.
3) Based on this PowerPoint What is the "Kingpin Term"? How would you define computational thinking.
4) Post the link to at least one relevant article about Computer Education in the U.S., Algorithms, or anything else you think might add to the discussion.
REMEMBER, to use the correct language as if this were a school assignment. Oh yeah, it is a school assignment. Due end of day today, 25 pts.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Algorithms and Pseudocode
In learning about Algorithms, they can get pretty complicated pretty quick. I remember sleeping through my college computer science lectures then struggling to figure out what the heck was going on (perhaps this is why I ended up as a business major).
Algorithms are really just a set of instructions. Whenever you are following a recipe, doing your hair, walking the dog, you are following a set routine.
In order to better understand algorithms, check out this wikipedia entry on 'Pseudo code'.
Now that you are all pseudo experts, create a pseudo program about something that you do.
Post it in the comments.
Don't worry too much about the syntax - just give it a shot. Try to think like a computer does...
Some ideas:
Write an algorithm in Pseudo code for:
- Walking the dog
- Getting ready in the morning
- Picking out a movie to watch
- Selecting an outfit to wear
Algorithms are really just a set of instructions. Whenever you are following a recipe, doing your hair, walking the dog, you are following a set routine.
In order to better understand algorithms, check out this wikipedia entry on 'Pseudo code'.
Now that you are all pseudo experts, create a pseudo program about something that you do.
Post it in the comments.
Don't worry too much about the syntax - just give it a shot. Try to think like a computer does...
Some ideas:
Write an algorithm in Pseudo code for:
- Walking the dog
- Getting ready in the morning
- Picking out a movie to watch
- Selecting an outfit to wear
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