Monday, July 15, 2013

Week 7: Top Ten

The Top Ten Tech Tools I can't live without:

10:  Feedly:  Favorite RSS feeder - this used to be google reader, but since its death was announced, I've switched to feedly... great rss feeder...this is how I get my news.

9:  Evernote:  as much as I love the idea of using a moleskin notebook, evernote is my notebook now.  everything i need to remember is stored there.

8:  Dish Network Hopper - DVR, DVR, DVR...what can I say...I can record the 4-5 shows (out of the 200 channels) and watch them when I get a chance.  Like June.

7:  Netflix - movies, tv shows, etc.  keeps me happy, but more importantly, keeps my 4 yr old occupied at those really busy times...

6:  Amazon Streaming - (see Amazon prime) - great movies, documentaries, tv series, free with amazon prime.

5:  Amazon - I buy 99% of everything other than groceries here...get amazon prime, it's completely work it

4:  U-verse Internet connection - I went through a period of about a year trying to get the internet service to run consistently at speed - no internet  = lose my MIND!!

3:  My MacBook Pro - always works, ultra portable, handles the top 10% of heavy uses (see iPad)

2:  My iPad - the best portable computer around, for 90% of all of my needs

1:  My iPhone 5 - this is what saved me while the U-verse connection was down...my main mode of communication with the outside world, news, etc.  I never go anywhere without it.


Week 6: Mobile Apps

Four mobile apps I use in my classroom:

Twitter - for updates, study tips, question and answer

Amount - A unit conversion app - handy because while I teach in the metric system, we constantly stop & refer it back to the imperial measures that kids are most familiar with..

Khan Academy -great info, videos on just about every subject - the chemistry series is very good, but a little dry...

Periodic Table of the Elements - just a handy little tools for quick reference.

Week 5: Digital Citizenship

What does it mean to be a good digital citizen, and why is it important?

Everyone seems to believe that when they are on the internet, they can act however they want, say whatever they want, and that they are completely anonymous, have no responsibility, and no repercussions.  This is not true.  IP addresses can be traced.  You can be found out.  You are still responsible for what you say and do online. (Ask any number of famous people who have been exposed being involved in something improper, illicit, or illegal because of an electronic "paper trail").
There are repercussions.  Bad thing can happen if you are not careful online.

But regardless of whether bad thing will happen or not, people should act decent online.  Don't troll.  Don't harass.  Be careful what you say. Be VERY careful what pictures you post.  Treat others with respect, even if they don't deserve it.  Be a good example, not a cautionary tale.

A good starting point is Virginia Shea's book Netiquette:  it offers 10 Basic Rules for online etiquette:

Rule 1: Remember the Human

Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life

Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace

Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth

Rule 5: Make yourself look good online

Rule 6: Share expert knowledge

Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control

Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy

Rule 9: Don't abuse your power

Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes