- It is my understanding that on Monday night, November 10,
ABC TV's "Nightline" with Ted Koppel will include a discussion
relating to computer technology in the classroom. Watch the show
and give a two paragraph critique of this discussion.
If this topic is not discussed, skip this question!
- On my site home page - the page with my picture - there is a logo
stating that I rated my site with RSAC. Click on the logo to go to
the "Recreational Software Advisory Council" site. Review the five rating
levels (0, 1, 2, 3, 4) in the four rating categories:
violence, nudity, sex and language. Using the RSAC rating system,
rate the following site:
http://www.farber.com/. Write your response in such a way that
it is clear which factor you are rating and what the rating defines.
- As a student of "technology in education," review the use of
technology in schools managed by the "Edison Project" beginning at
link http://www.edisonproject.com/.
Feel free to use any sites you wish to gather more information.
In no more than two paragraphs, discuss several of their uses
of technology which you feel are most effective. Do you have any
criticism of their use of technology? Do you have any recommendations
for improving their use of technology?
- Read the article "The Microsoft Menace: Why I'm leading a
crusade to stop its drive for cyberspace hegemony" by
Ralph Nader in "Slate" - a Microsoft publication! -
at
http://www.slate.com/Features/NaderMS/NaderMS.asp
In no more than two paragraphs, critique the article giving
your opinions about Nader's valid and invalid points and your
own opinions.
- Go to Time Digital's "Teaching Technology" site at
http://www.pathfinder.com/@@@1D2MQYAmy*t*L*f/time/teach/index.html
Select an article of interest to you which you feel falls within the
scope of this class and give a two paragraph critique of the
article including those points in the article with which you agree and
points (if any) with which you disagree. Include your own opinions.
- Read the "Wired" article "Bugs Bunny, Meet Bozlo Beaver"
by Janelle Brown at
http://www.wired.com/news/news/culture/story/8243.html.
Review "togglethis" at
http://www.togglethis.com/ and Macromedia's "Shockwave" at
http://www.macromedia.com/index.html.
In no more than two paragraphs, compare (how are they similar)
and contrast (how are they different) shockwave and togglethis.
- Both Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer have new browser releases.
Define two features that are similar in the latest releases of both browsers, two
features which are in Netscape but not IE, and two features which are in IE but not
Netscape. Briefly define each feature so I'll know what you mean.
- National Public Radio has a couple of great science programs called "Science Friday" and
"Sounds like Science." Both shows have web pages with links to a mentoring page where
a "mentor" will respond to focused science questions. Give the name of the current mentor and
their special field of interest.
- Many of the web "search" companies (Excite, Yahoo, AltaVista, etc.) provide "channels" which are
information sources on particular topics (sports, news, weather, education, etc.). Select two
search engines which have channels dealing
with education or subject matter relating to your "plan." Briefly (one paragraph) discuss why you like these two
channels - what information or links do they have which you find of significant value? Briefly (one
paragraph) discuss which of these two channels you find most valuable and why?
- In not more than two paragraphs, compare and contrast the file
formats .gif and .jpg.
- In not more than two paragraphs, compare and contrast the file
formats .wav and .au.
- List the names of two manufacturers of "routers" and a router model
each manufactures. In a paragraph, compare the features of the
two routers that are similar - some basic things that all routers
do. In a second paragraph, contrast the two routers - what can one
do that the other can't and visa versa.
- Select two software packages which feature PERT chart preparation.
List the URLs where each is discussed. In a paragraph, compare the
features in the two packages which are similar. In a second
paragraph, contrast features which are unique for one but not the
other.
- There are many funding sources for all sorts of research projects.
Grants are available for everything from school district technology
projects to Masters and Ph.D. thesis/dissertation research. Private
companies often have internal grants available for employees
who have valid research initiatives.
Design a specific "technology in education" related research proposal which has some
relationship to your class "plan" or future academic or career interests.
State the research questions or goals in one short paragraph. Be sure
to include some sort of budget figure.
Example 1: Research question: Test scores on 4th grade standardized
reading tests can be improved if students complete the CD-rom
reading tutorial "DICK AND JANE HAVE FUN WITH WORDS." The
tutorial requires approximately 40 hours for most students to
complete. Funding request: $1,000 for five copies of the package.
The test group will be 30 students.
Example 2: Research question: Helicopter pilot performance scores on the "night
flight tactical interception evaluation scale" can be
improved if pilots complete 50 hours of simulation training
in the Link 538 simulator at Cornell University. Funding request:
$40,000 for a test sample of 4 pilots.
Example 3: Research question: Errors by sales personnel preparing travel
vouchers can be reduced by 70% if they use the software package
"TRAVEL VOUCHER REPORTER." Funding request: $5,000 for 100
copies of the software package to be used by a sample of 100
sales representatives.
Search the Internet for potential funding sources. Select an
organization or company which you feel "might" fund a project
such as yours. List the
URL where you found the funding criteria.
- In not more than two paragraphs, discuss the current state of
"censorship" on the Internet. Be sure to include a comment about
the recent Supreme Court decision. If you feel this is an important
issue, what comments or solutions can you offer.
* * * * *
Note: The next THREE questions are based on the "Trials of Terry Kirkland"
case study. You will find a great deal of material related to the case study:
"The Trials of Terry Kirkland" at various links beginning at
http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/ITcases/home.html.
* * * * *
- In one paragraph, compare the SCANNS recommendations with the
excerpts of the stackholders interviews which Terry conducted. How
are they similar? In a second paragraph, how are the findings
in these two links different? In a third paragraph, discuss any
ideas you have for correcting or improving Terry's Gantt chart.
- Read the response of the winning team at
http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/ITcases/Praccase/Outcomes/first.html
and the judges comments at
http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/ITcases/Praccase/Outcomes/firstjudge.html.
In a paragraph, list at least three points mentioned by the winning
team or judges reviewing the winning team, with which you agree.
In a second paragraph, list any points which were not mentioned
by the winning team or judges which you feel the winning team
could have mentioned.
- Read the paper: "Exploring Professional Practice Through an
Instructional Design Team Case Competition" at
http://curry.edschool.Virginia.EDU/go/ITcases/AECT97/.
List three points presented in this paper with which you agree. List
three things which were not mentioned in the paper which you feel
would support the use of "case studies" in an instructional technology
class. Were there any points mentioned in the paper with which you
disagree?
- The Microsoft site at
http://www.microsoft.com/education/ features a lot of advertising and promotional material, but it does contain some
good educational material too.
Read "Leveraging Information Technology In Education:
Better Models (and Maybe Fewer Computers) Needed" by Stephen Ruth
at
http://www.microsoft.com/education/hed/vision.htm
In no more than two paragraphs, compare (what is similar) and
contrast (what is different) in Ruth's "model" and the general
approach or "model" used in this course - GRED 614. In a third
paragraph, discuss a "model" of your own design which you feel
would be an optimal learning approach for extension students
in a graduate education course.
- The history of "technology in education" has had significant
change since WWII. But, according to some, education has
failed to keep pace with advances in technology.
Find two articles on the Net which
discuss the future of education and how technology will
impact education. Give the titles and URLs.
In not more than two
paragraphs, discuss the near
(next couple of years) and long range (five to
ten years) future of education and technology in education. Base
your discussion in part on information presented in the articles and
in part, your own opinions.
