Quarantine Tech

Quarantine Tech

We're all #SafeAtHome - spending a LOT of time within 4 walls. Sometimes it feels like a prison, right? It's a tough time. 

What is there to DO?  How do we connect? Keep ourselves INFORMED, ENTERTAINED...?

LOTS of businesses are in rough shape since they have no customers. But SOME technology companies will benefit during these times, because of the situation. They provide goods and services that are in higher demand because of people's unique needs right now. I just heard the stock report for a couple of these companies, and their profits are very good.

What technology-related companies do you think are doing well right now? Think of the products they offer - not just "tangible" products (like cars, food, and bird feeders) but software, or social sites, or......etc.

Give me some examples of these products or services that are very popular because they're needed during these times. I'm sure you're using at least one of them!

Bill Gates: "No cell phone 'till you're 14!"

Bill Gates: "No cell phone 'till you're 14!"

What is the earliest age that a child should have a cell phone? Parents wonder what the right answer to this question is - at what age did YOU get your first cell phone?

Well, Bill Gates chimed in on the subject during a recent interview - he says that his children didn't get one until they were 14. Click HERE for an article on the subject.

Take a look at the "...list of questions parents should answer before giving their child their first phone" at the bottom of the article.

Watch this 60 Minutes story in class about how cell phone apps "hack our brains".

HERE is an article about proposed legislation to ban 'pay to win' features in games, such as loot boxes.

What should a student due to make sure that they don't "overuse" or become addicted to their phone or "screen". Do you think you've become addicted to your phone?  What IS the earliest age that you think a child should have a cell phone?

Knowing the risks, what types of things would you want to talk to a child about, like a younger brother or sister, before they are given the responsibility of having a cell phone?

What To Do About Misinformation...?

What To Do About Misinformation...?

Social Media Is a Huge source of information - not all of it is GOOD information. Urban legends, myths, conspiracy theories and other types of false information are everywhere, and it can be difficult to determine what is really true. It's bad enough if this type of information would affect or even harm us individually, but we know that it can also affect us on a global scale, such as spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 virus.

Obviously, we have to learn how to identify information that might be biased or untrue - but what about those sources that host the information, such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube? What responsibilities do they have?

Watch the 60 Minutes video linked below It talks about YouTube and its policies regarding invalid or harmful information. What do you think? Should entities like YouTube, Facebook, etc. be responsible for blocking or identifying misinformation, or should it be the responsibility of the viewer to educate themselves about how to spot "fake news"?

(If you have trouble getting to this link, I've also attached the video to this blog assignment in Google Classroom.)

60 Minutes Video: "Is YouTube Doing Enough..."

The Skills Gap

The Skills Gap

After watching the 60 Minutes report, (link below), discuss the following in your post, and posted conversations during the week:

Despite the fact that the U.S. has a very high unemployment rate, there are some career areas where there are thousands of jobs available that can't be filled.  Why is this?

What can be done - who, according to the video, should have a greater role in this? Who do YOU think should handle the training - or the cost of the training?

As you've thought about what career path you might follow, have you considered the schooling or training that's required?

Be sure to discuss all of these questions, at least in your first post.

60 Minutes: "The Skills Gap"

March Of The Machines

March Of The Machines

Technology is making our lives simpler, and helping Industry to be more efficient, but is it at the cost of our jobs?

Everyone thinks about "what they want to be when they grow up". Do you have to take another look at what you've planned, or start thinking of a new career, because of advances in technology? If you think about it, it's a good thing that we've rolled out the ACP program, because it's important to be aware of what your talents, skill, and abilities are, and how they align with what's waiting out there in the world.

What is the job market going to look like when you look for that first job?

Discuss this idea. I've just given you a couple of questions to get the thought process going.

60 Minutes: "March of the Machines"

IoT: The Internet of Things

IoT: The Internet of Things

- The screen on your refrigerator tells you that your blood sugar is running low, so you grab some fruit. 

- While flying to your vacation destination, you realize that you forgot to turn the thermostat down at home, so you do it from your smartphone.

- Your car is about due for an oil change (using that fancy synthetic oil you like), and your mechanic is ready for you because he monitors your engine, as well as his supply of synthetics.

This might sound like the future, or maybe you've heard of one of these things already happening - both are true. They're examples of what things might be like with the "Internet of Things".

In the IoT, EVERYTHING is connected via the internet (cloud): cars, appliances, planes, security, hospitals, animals and.....yes, you. The idea is that everything will communicate, and, in the end, this communication will help us to lead better lives.

"The Internet of Things is the next generation of personal computing, whereby objects interact, potentially independently, with each other and with their environment,”

"The Internet of Things is the combination of sensors, actuators, distributed computing power..."

"Tiny detectors that can gather and relay data about location, activity, and health...", "The IoT makes it possible to monitor and control the location, condition, and behavior of objects, machinery, and devices through networks."

Here are some resources to look at that will help you understand the IoT. Take a look at them, and talk about what you think about the idea. Pros and cons.

Diagram: What kind of things are/will be connected?

We Need To Get The IoT Right

A Hacker's-eye View of the Internet of Things

The Making of An Online Celebrity

The Making of an Online Celebrity

There has NEVER been a time in the history of the planet when people had the ability to become instant "celebrities" (or "influencers") as you can today. Think about it: Philip DeFranco, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber - a person can be "discovered" instantly, just by posting a video - even a SEVEN SECOND video.

Read this article from 2015 about a Vine "celebrity", named Jerome Jarre. Take a look at the videos that are linked in the article also:

"Jerome Jarre: The Making of a Vine Celebrity"

Not only has this guy become famous in an instant, but it also looks like he's not just a "flash in the pan" because it seems as though he understands how to use social media apps to promote himself and other things around him. [Update: He and everyone else IS a "flash in the pan" as far as Vine is concerned - since they pulled the plug on Vine!]

Had you heard of Jerome before reading the article? What do you think of what he's done on Vine?  What do you think about this kind of opportunity with mobile apps, such as Snapchat? Can anybody do it? Will such fame last, and is it something that can be made into a legitimate business?


HERE is his YouTube channel.

Your Online Image #2

Your Online Image #2

You are the young manager of a local ice cream parlor that is beloved by local families. You are looking to hire some teens for the summer when the shop is open late every evening. You require an application and at least one reference. It occurs to you that you could look on Facebook to find out a bit more about the applicants.

What might you find that would make you not hire someone?

Is there anything wrong with using Facebook in this way?

Below are a couple of articles that talk about how employers use social media to help screen applicants.

70% of employers are snooping candidates’ social media profiles

Employer’s using social media in hiring process: Why do they do it?

Your Online Image #1

Your Online Image #1

You've discussed in your Keynote presentations about how important it is for you to be very careful when you're online.

- be careful with your personal information

- be careful about what you say about others

- be careful about language, images, etc

- be careful about secrets, embarrassing or other personal info about others

Things that you post online can also be damaging to your reputation - now, or in the future.

We're going to handle the blog differently the next couple of weeks.  You will be presented with different scenarios, that involve online social networking.  Respond to the question(s) asked. Give your answer some thought. 

First Scenario:

You are finally old enough to join a social networking app/site and set up your own profile. You spend a lot of time adding pictures and connecting with things that you "like", and you have links to many friends. Your mom makes her own profile and asks you to be her “friend.” What do you think about that? Explain your thinking.

You're Messed Up! (Social Media)

You're Messed Up!

You're addicted!  You're messed up!

Read the following articles (don't forget to read some of the comments after the articles). They all talk about the effects on teens from social networking, texting etc - all of this "new" technology.

What are the dangers?  We're not talking about why the internet itself is dangerous - not talking about predators.  We're talking about the quality of life here - your time; how social networking makes you feel about the world, how you feel about YOURSELF, and how it conditions you to behave.  "Real life" vs. "online life".

Your first post should be about what the negative effects of your online life might be. How might things like social networking (Facebook, Twitter) affect you in a negative way? This is a difficult question because you probably don't think that these things really are affecting you negatively.  You can handle it, right?

THEN, after a day or two, in your response to a fellow student's post, argue in FAVOR of social networking - how does it 'enhance' your life - how does it make your life better?

This is a 'deep topic'.  One sentence answers are NOT going to cut it, so really think about your answers, and argue your point.

Social Media and Teens: How Does Social Media Affect Teenagers’ Mental Health

Teens Say They're Addicted to Social Media, Texting

Don't Blame Social Media if Your Teen Is Unsocial, It's Your Fault

The Cloud

The Cloud

You've probably heard it said that the world has gotten smaller.  This is true because, since the development of the Internet (the 'Cloud') and such things as Tweeting, texting, instant messaging, social networking (Facebook, Instagram), we've grown much closer.  The distance between us, geographically, doesn't matter near as much anymore.

In many ways, this is a good thing.  But, in some ways - not so much.  While the world has grown closer together, we're also closer to those people who would try to hurt us or take advantage of us.  Most people are good - but it's easier than ever for those that aren't to target people who aren't prepared, or aware of the dangers.

So, you've just met a student who has NEVER been on the internet.  Their family just moved to the area, and just signed up for internet access at home for the first time.  Knowing what you know right now, what would you warn that person about?  What would you tell them to be careful of, when they're on the Web?  How would you tell them to behave - what precautions should they take?

You don't have to look this up - base it on what you already know - what you've already learned.  You CAN research a little on the internet if you need to...

REMEMBER: Each week's blog is worth a total of 30 points: 

1st response: 10 

respond to two classmates: 20 (10ea) 

Total = 30pts

These points add up - there are at least 10-12 posts throughout the semester, which add up to a decent percentage of your grade! (An EASY percentage.)

Welcome to THE BLOG!!

Welcome to THE BLOG!!

Each week, this blog will present a topic that we'll discuss IN the blog, and in class. The blog may or may not relate to what we're working on in class, but will always have something to do with technology - future technology, tech-related current events, online safety, and responsible internet usage, jobs in technology.....

Blog Instructions:

You will post your first response to the current topic within a day of its posting. Then, after another day or so, respond to someone else's post. Last, respond to another person's post. (You can respond to the same person, especially if you're in the middle of a discussion/debate with them about the topic!)

PLEASE put some thought into your responses - I'm looking for a short paragraph, or a few sentences, not "Yeah, I agree" or "Dude! Awesome point!" Posts like that get a big fat ZERO points.

Each week's blog is worth a total of 30 points: 

1st response: 10 
respond to two classmates: 20 (10ea) 
Total = 30pts

These points add up - there are at least 10-12 posts throughout the semester, which add up to a decent percentage of your grade! (An EASY percentage.)

Late posts:

Posts are still due if we have a "weather" day (like a snow day) - so don't forget!  : )

If you post after the Friday due date, you can ONLY earn 20 points total. You must still post 3 times to get the 20 points, and there is no credit for a post later than a week after that blog post's due date.

Our first blog post will be Monday, January 27th.