Semester 2 - Post 15

Wow, this post sure does make you step back and think. It is so great to see that in this small village, people have such high respect for their elders. In today's world elders are not respected nearly as much as they should be. Children disobey their parents, their teachers, their grandparents, or any other person in authority and we look at it and say it's bad, but do nothing about it. Sure some kids may get a spanking now and then for not doing what they're told, but that does not seem to be working. We need to stand up for our elders and show them the respect they deserve. I feel like people in our day and age do not even give elders the time of day. They do what they can to help them, but they do not necessarily respect them. Looking at Botswana and seeing that those people realize that their elders are special, and that they are much more experienced and much wiser than they will ever be, is so great. It is interesting to me that people in our “advanced world” cannot see the respect we need to show, but the people in a world of poverty and strife see it and act on it. I think this is because they realize what they have is a gift, but we take so much for granted, including our elders.

Link to article here: Nata Village

Semester 2 - Post 14

Mr. Baker,
I found this post very interesting! It is so true that teens today do not think about the things they are putting online. They think that if they can hit a button that says "Private" then all of their information is safe. This is not true at all. As you brought up, it is very easy for online hackers to read your so-called "private" information. Not only can hackers see this information, but other people can too if the hacker makes the information public. I enjoyed reading your post because online safety has become such an issue in our day and age, especially with the incredible advances in technology that our world has recently become accustomed to. Thanks for sharing this post!
Link to the article here: (http://www.utechtips.com/?p=678)

Semester 2 - Post 13

I found this post very interesting because no one really thinks about the future when they are putting things about themselves online. It is crucial to one’s future to be aware and cautious of the things you are putting online. Looking at the idea of future employers possible doing a Google search on me is interesting because I never really thought that they would do something like this. It makes sense to see if you can find anything, positive or negative, about the applicant; however it is very important for the applicant to know this is possible and to watch what they are putting online for the world to see. In my opinion, it is very important to begin teaching kids how Google works and begin a steady foundation of online information. Kids need to be educated on what is appropriate to put online. Very interesting post!
(Weblogg-ed >> Making Kids "Googleable")

Semester 2 - Post 12

I read a recent article titled "Columbine Shootings Remembered" written by Kevin Simpson of the Denver Post. In this post Kevin talks about how people are remembering the tragedy of the Columbine Shootings today and everyday with the new Columbine Memorial. He tells a story of two students of Columbine visiting the memorial and getting to see what people went through as a result of the tragedy and getting to read the quotes of the students who were lost in the tragedy.

This post caught my eye because today is the 9th anniversary of the Columbine shootings and it is a day that is and will be remembered forever across the world. This post was very interesting to me because I can still remember the day of the shootings. When I found out about the shootings, I initially did not understand what was going on, that is until my parents informed me of the horrible tragedy. I remember trying to understand why anyone would do this and continually asking "why?" Though this tragedy affected me and my family so severely, it affected many other people even worse than us.

Looking back today on what had happened, we still do not understand why someone would do something like this; however we all are healing. Trying to imagine what parents thought as they found out their child was in danger is incomprehensible. Though this day left such a scar on all of our hearts, people are healing and they are doing this through the help of the new columbine memorial.

Semester 2 - Presentation 2

In my second PLN Presentation I feel like I did a pretty good job. I think that my eye contact was better this time than it was in my last presentation which was good. I also think I continued doing a good job relating my PLN's to myself and the world. One thing that I noticed most of my classmates commented on was to speak a little bit slower so next time I will try having a bit more composure and speaking slowly. Overall I feel like I did a good job and I feel confident in front of the class.

Semester 2 - Post 11

I read a recent post titled "37 DU Students get Mysterious Illness" written by Kieran Nicholsonof the Denver Post. In this post Kieran writes about how dozens of students at DU had gotten sick over the weekend, and students remain hospitalized today. The article said that the Denver Health Department is investigating the illness but they still have not come up with a cause. Symptoms of the mysterious illness include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, dizziness and dehydration. According to the university spokesman 42 students reported being ill since Sunday and at least 13 students were treated at the university's health and counseling center, and at least 24 were taken to Porter Adventist Hospital, where seven remain today.

This article caught my eye because it seemed weird to me that this many people could be struck by an illness and they still do not know what it is or where it came from. To me it does not seem like that big of a mystery (though I'm defiantly not a doctor)... From the symptoms listed it sound like these students have just gotten a bad case of the flu. I think by now they should know what is wrong so that these students can be treated and no one else will catch this awful sickness.

This relates to me because our student teacher for our History class attends DU and seeing as he has been at work all week I do not think he has been affected by the illness, but he may know people who were affected.

Semester 2 - Post 10

I read a recent article titled "Making Kids 'Googlable'" written by Will Richardson. In this post Will talks about how he has been asking principals and administrators at schools if, when they have an applicant lined up for a possible teaching position, they "Google" them? Many of them admit to this and say yes, they do do a standard Google search to see what things, good or bad, may come up about the potential hire. Some of them even admit doing a Myspace search of the applicant. Usually, they say, the intent is to simply see if anything negative, or even positive, surfaces about the applicant. So then Will proceeds to ask what these principals and administrators are doing to insure that their students will be able to be "Googled well" when they go into interviews in the future. Not just educating the students not to post certain things online, but how to shape a positive portfolio so that in the future, when the employers may run a search, they will find a lack of negatives, but also plenty of positives.

I found this article very interesting because no one really thinks about the future when they are putting things about themselves online, whether it's on Myspace, Facebook, or whatever site. It is important to be careful what you are putting online so that it doesn't make you look bad if future possible employers were to do a search on you. I also found it interesting that these principals had done Google searches on their applicants, it makes sense, I just don't think I would have thought to do something like that.

This article relates to me in that I am a student and I need to take into consideration the things that may be going online about me, even though I don't have a Myspace or a Facebook. It really just brings to reality how easy it is for someone to look you up online and find things they might not want you to find.

Semester 2 - Presentation 1

In my PLN presentation, I thought I did a pretty good job, especially for my first presentation in a while. I think I spoke clearly and related my PLN's to myself and the world well. One thing that I am going to work on for my next presentation is better eye contact. I have taken into consideration what my classmates have given me to work on and I will defiantly work on them for my next presentation. I feel like I have improved from first semester and that I am more confident standing in front of the class.

Semester 2 - Post 9

I read a recent post titled "Ex-teacher Accused of Lying to Authority, Judge, Probation Officer" written by The Associated Press. In this post it talks about how a former Grand Junction elementary schoolteacher is on trial this week for allegedly lying to her attorney, a judge and her probation officer. The woman on trial is also accused of violating bail-bond conditions. Last June, the same woman was put on four years of probation and 21 months of work release for the possession of methamphetamine.

I found this post interesting be cause it goes to show that teachers are not perfect and they do make mistakes and get in trouble. It was awful to read that a woman who was supposed to be leading children and teaching them skills for life, is being put on trial for lying to her attorney and also has been in trouble for the possession of drugs. Some role model huh? I think someone who is going to do something like this should absolutely lose their job. What parent wants their child being taught by someone who would do this. Luckily she is no longer a teacher, but just try to imagine the kinds of things the parents of her former students are thinking.

This post in a way relates to me as a student myself. I have not had a former teacher do anything like this, but I still can try to imagine myself in that position and think of what I might think about it. If I found out that one of my old teachers did something like this, I would definatly question the "truth" behind what they taught me.

Semester 2 - Post 8

I read a recent post titled "Koudourakis Scores Twice to Lead Arapahoe" written by Brad Byler. In this post it talks about the Arapahoe vs. Mountain Vista varsity girl's soccer game that took place this past Tuesday April 1st. In the 59th second Freshman Shannon Koundourakis scores the opening goal of the match that will lead Arapahoe in their 3-1 win against the Golden Eagles. Further into the match Koundo scores again in the 13th minute which really put our team ahead.

This post caught my eye because I am on Arapahoe's varsity girl's soccer team and Shannon is my teammate. Looking through the posts, then seeing my teammates name in the headline was such an exciting thing to see. That game was a big game for us in order to put us in a good position to win league, so when Shannon scored in the 59th second of our game, it was such a huge tone setter for the rest of the game. Because of that first goal, we were able to keep our momentum up and carry on to win against Vista.

This post absolutely relates to me seeing as I too am a player on this team, and I was there to see Shannon's goals. It was so awesome to see this story in the newspaper because it really makes me realize how big of a deal our team is and just how many people support what we do and how we play.

Semester 2 - Post 7

I read a recent post titled "Teenagers as 'Teamagers'...What do you think?" written by Will Richardson. In this post Will talks about how a man by the name of Tom Austin had made some interesting points about the value that businesses can find by using social tools in the workplace. Tom thinks that a great social tool to use would be work collaboration. Working in a group is very efficient and helpful way to fulfill one's duties. The quote that Will found the most interesting from Tom was:

"Look at teenagers today. They’re 'teamagers'. They work on projects as a group and think nothing of doing it that way. I expect to see that kind of thing percolate through the enterprise as an unstoppable force over the next two decades."

I found this very interesting because as a teenager, or "teamager", myself, I have become accustomed to working in group. I work in groups on projects for school, and also in sports...my team is a group and in order for us to be successful, we must work as a group. I feel that if companies were to become more focused on working in groups, they may be more successful. I have found it very helpful throughout my years and if a teenager can be successful using "the group method", shouldn't companies be successful also?