John Hunter's World Peace

    John Hunter, a fourth grade gifted teacher, invented a world peace game that is designed to challenge the cognitive abilities of children. The game began as a 4x4 piece of wood; however, now the game has transformed into a four layered board piece. In the game, the students name four fictional countries and are assigned positions for each country. There are fifty interlocking problems that the students must work through and try to increase their countries beginning value in order to win the game. All of the problems are based on Africa.
    I believe the idea of this game is wonderful to challenge students. First of all, it will really help students develop better critical thinking skills that will help them later in their education. Also, it really opens the eyes of the students to worldly problems. This game could ultimately help the students be more aware of trying to help fix worldly issues. However, there are also additional problems associated with the game. Elementary education is so focused now on test scores that teachers will have issues getting the game approved to use in their classrooms. Principals might view the game as distracting to the students and not preparing them for their state tests. Also, parents might find that the game is too mature for their child. Although these are common problems of materials used by teachers in a classroom, I believe that students could greatly benefit from participating in John Hunter's world peace game.

Voki

Ocean Animals- Concept Map

Ocean Animals

I.       Dolphins

A.    Echolocation

Dolphins use their echolocation as their sonar system. They produce high frequency clicks which bounce off of other objects. This information is used to tell the dolphins the shape, size, and distance of surrounding objects.

B.    Mammals

II.     Sharks

A.    Livers aid in floating

B.    Cartilaginous fish

III.    Clown Anemonefish

A.    28 Species

B.    Born all male

Clown Anemonefish are born as all males. Then under certain conditions, some males transform into females. Once the males have transformed into females, they cannot turn back into males.

IV.    Sea Horses

A.    Propel with dorsal fins

B.    Move eyes independently

Sea horses are able to move their eyes independently of each other. This helps the tiny creatures protect themselves from danger because they are able to watch for approaching predators at all time.

V.     Sea Turtles

A.    Threatened species

1.    Pollution

As people dump trash and oil into the ocean, the sea turtle living closer to shore often eat the trash. This causes an infection throughout their body ultimately killing the turtle.

2.    Boat collisions

B.    Long life span

Most sea turtles that survive the harsh conditions live to be up to 50 years old. As they grow older, the sea turtle move closer to the shore line.

Digitial Citizenship: Using Technology Appropriately

     In today's society, people must constantly be aware of their personal safety. There is no difference in the digital world because there will always be dangers. However, people can be educated on the nine elements of digital citizenship. The first element is digital access which means that in order to be productive citizens we must be available to equal digital access. The second element is digital commerce which is the electronic element of buying and selling products through the digital world. Digital communication is the third element that describes how technology has invented multiple methods of communication. The fourth element is digital literacy which that people have to constantly learn about new and changing technology. Digital etiquette is the fifth element that discusses what is appropriate for the digital world. The sixth element is digital law which means that people are legally responsible for what is said in the digital world. Digital rights and responsibility are the seventh element that expands off of the right in the US constitution. The eighth element is digital health and wellness that addresses physical and mental implications technology can have on a person. The ninth element is digital security which describes how people should protect themselves from the dangers of the digital world.
     Digital citizenship is key in creating a beneficial use of the digital world. Educators should be aware of how to educate students about each element of digital citizenship.Students should be aware of their actions in the digital world, as well as their personal safety. If each person followed these guidelines, then the digital world would be more a safe place to use in everyone's daily lives. However, there will always be harmful elements of everything, so we should educate ourselves about our safety and our own rights in the new digital world.

'Safe' Social Networking Tailored for K-12 Schools

     Teachers realize the impact social media could have on a student's education and are tying to use the student's knowledge at the maximum potential possible. We live in a time period where students will use social media no matter what;however, safe social media sites have been designed to use social media to expand a student's education. These sites were designed in order to protect teachers and students, as well as, use the student's natural ability to interact on social media sites. Sites such as Edmodo and eChalk are controlled environments that are set up for teachers to lead students discussions. Also, teachers can monitor student posting and their are safety blockers on the sites to help block people from making obscene postings.
     I believe that these education social media sties would be extremely beneficial to students. It would expand social media to students, so that they could learn how to benefit from connecting with others. Additionally, it would help students to properly display their thoughts about a discussion instead of common oral discussions. The students would have time to reflect and organize their thoughts before having to share them with the class. I also believe it will help students to put more efforts into their work because their peers would be reading it also. As longs as the teacher safely monitor the posts, I believe educational social media will be beneficial for students.

Children's Internet Protection Act July Deadline

     On July 1, 2012, CIPA will include educating students about online safety and cyberbullying in order to receive E-rate federal funds. Schools are able to receive E-rated federal funds by complying to the regulation of the CIPA. Although this new regulation of CIPA is not confusing, schools main issue will be to have a plan written by the deadline to include instruction of online safety and cyberbullying into student curriculum. CIPA does not mandate how the schools are to include this curriculum, so school districts are able to teach the curriculum in the way that best fits their students.
     I believe the biggest issue school districts will have with the July deadline is making the requirement more complicated than it is. School districts have free will about how to teach the content and how to address the information. I believe the most logical way to teach the content to younger children would be to set up a computer play center in each class. The students would have to learn how to properly work the computers before they ever were allowed to use it. I believe once the school districts work out the issues of implementing the new regulation that the students will greatly benefit from the exposure to online safety and cyberbullying. This regulation could ultimately save the lives of children.

A Future Full of Badges

     Universities are now looking into a technological badge to change the way universities validate higher learning. UC-Davis in California is one of the first to receive a badge for their development in research on plant genetics, water conservation, and pest control. These badges were created by the Mozilla Foundation, creators of Firefox web browsing. These badges would be described as awards of achievement for groups and individuals. The badges would ultimately help people display their academic achievement and goals more clearly to future employers. The badges would change entire way academic offices displayed students' achievement rather than displaying a general transcript with letter grades.
     The badges system, I believe, would ultimately be beneficial for all aspects of education. IT could really impact a student's learning because it allows the student to display their knowledge in a relate-able fashion. It would also allow students to become responsible for their learning rather than relying on a general letter grade. Additionally, the badges systems allows for people to track their own goals and success. Students would be able to see growth and potential continually rather than only at the end of a semester. I believe the badges would be beneficial if used correctly in education to distinguish achievement and success of goals.