Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Welcome to the Technology Seminar . . .

For some of you (those in the debate seminar this blogging thing is not new. If you are new to my class you may not know what a blog is. A blog is a type of social network (similar to myspace.com) where you read posts authored by the owner (that's me!), make comments on those posts, follow links to important or interesting information, and communicate with your classmates.

If you are out of class for sports, absence, strings, band, etc., you need to check the blog to see what you missed. I will post videos that you missed on the blog and you are responsible for any work you need to make up. This seminar is more demanding that the debate seminar so you will need to keep up with all the work.

The first thing we will do is to complete a survey on your use of technology. Go to
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BFBRHPRR5 and complete the Zoomerang survey. We will go over the results during our second class. When you are done the survey, come back to the blog and follow the next instruction (below).

Rules for blogging include:
  • No IM language
  • Blog entry must be completed prior to class
  • Worth 5 points each time
  • No inappropriate language
  • Do not talk about anyone or criticize anyone
  • Enrichment quality answers
  • At least one paragraph (5-7 sentences)
  • Do not post anonymously--use your first name and last initial---no screen names!

For your first assignment I would like you to comment on the following question . . .

I am looking for ________ from this technology class. In other words, what are you hoping to learn, discuss, participate in???

Please write something intelligent and thought provoking--no one word answers. Tell me what your experience with technology has been, why is it important to you, or what you would like to learn about in this class. After you have commented on the blog, go back and read some of your classmate's responses. Comment again on someone else's response. Read your classmates' comments and you can comment back to them.

You are asked to check the blog at least once a week (usually before your class). If you were in the debate seminar, I want you to know that I will use the blog much more this semester (because this is technology!)

Do not click on and view any of the videos on the left because these will be watched in class.

Required-You must have a two-pocket folder for the next class. 5 points

See you on Thursday/Friday!