Internet Dependence

Twice this week my Internet connection was not working. The first time was Monday morning and I started to panic, wondering if it would be available in time for class. When that happens I see just how dependent I’ve become on the Internet. This is my morning ritual. I sit down at the computer and get it up and running (since it’s a slow connection I usually turn it on, then go make coffee or tea while it warms up). I click on Outlook so it will start and then I click on Explorer. Then I wait. If I eventually get an Explorer message that says, “Internet Explorer cannot display the page,” I try a different browser address, just in case the problem is with Yahoo, my home page. When that fails to work, too, I know the problem is with my connection and I feel totally lost. I start thinking about other things I can do on the computer: I could go to D2L, but no, that needs a connection; I could play a game, but no, that needs a connection; I could Skype but same thing. No e-mail, no class, no games, no searching for that special information I woke up wanting. I feel utter despair.

At least this morning I realized I could write my blog in Word, and then when I am connected to the Internet I can upload it. I’m relieved.

But now that I’m finished this, what to do….

TED--do it yourself White Board

I learned about TED from Judy and have been enjoying watching some of the lectures. Today, an SCSU faculty member sent an e-mail about the Wiki he uses in his class. I checked that out and saw a link to a TED lecture and since I was familiar I thought I would check it out.

Some of you talked about white boards in the classroom. Some said they have one but don't know how to use it, others use it, and others want one but can't afford it. For the latter, here's the solution. This is fascinating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H1zrLZwPjQ

A comedic comment on the new technologies

Louis CK is a comedian who makes a lot of routines social commentaries. Here is a video in which he is on Conan O'Brian's show commenting on the millenials' use of technology, and their lack of patience. It's titled "Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy":

http://barefootmeg.multiply.com/video/item/56

It's interesting to think about his comments. As someone who grew up with the rotary phones he talks about, I can, on one hand, identify with his irritation with those who are impatient when their phone is slow, and on the other hand, I, too, have gotten used to the speed of technology and feel impatient with it when it doesn't work the way it can (and should).

You can learn more about Louis CK from his MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/louisck

Privacy

I mentioned in the last blog that there was an article on the care2.com blog I wanted to talk about. This is the link if you care to read it: http://www.care2.com/causes/civil-rights/blog/Google-Latitude/
It's a story about technology and privacy. Google has a new tool called "Google Latitude." It allows users to track people in real time. This can be great to help you find your friends or to find out the nearest Caribou coffee shop. The problem is, it can also be used by employers to keep an eye on employees, stalkers to do their stalking more easily, or the government for heaven knows what. Talk about Big Brother watching!

It's like my husband has always said, "technology can be used for both good or evil."

My inspiration

Today I realized just how much of an influence my Goddaughter, Caitlin, has been on my journey into technology in this class. As you already know, she introduced me to Skype. She also got the moo set up on her computer in Ecuador so I could attend class from there. But today I learned something new about how she is inspiring me.

Back in November, she sent me an e-card for my birthday from a site called www.care2.com. It was a nice card and although I usually use other gretting card sites like bluemountain, yahoo, american, etc., I signed up and sent her a thank you. When I signed up I unchecked the boxes that asked if I wanted to receive newsletters and information from them. There was a pop-up that came along with the card asking me to sign a petition to save the seals in the arctic. I like the little seals and don't like to see them slaughtered, so I signed the petition. Still, unchecking the box asking me to allow them to send me more information.

Since it was a nice card, I started using it to send cards to my friends and wouldn't you know, somewhere along the line I forgot to uncheck the box so I started getting mailings. I was annoyed at first but then I started looking at them. I signed more petitions and began to see some interesting articles about various environmental causes I believe in. I didn't have a lot of time so I kept deleting. But finally this week, I have had some extra time and I started reading some of the articles. I'll post about one of them later because it has some interesting info on technology.

The interesting thing about this, that makes it worthy of a class blog, is today I discovered that the articles I'm reading are part of a blog. I didn't realize that. So, I've started following a blog and I didn't even know it. It's full of interesting things so I imagine I'll be reading more blogs.

Thanks, Caitlin, for introducing me to Skype and www.care2.com. I wonder what other technology you might have up your sleeve that I can learn about.

"Fun-Thing" class

Wow! My head was spinning when I went to bed last night after our lively class discussion. There were so many interesting ideas floating around, lots of responses to the ideas, and challenging multi-tasking going on. It was exciting, but difficult at the same time to be mooing while going out on the internet to see some of the resources people were talking about. I wanted to keep up with the moo, but when people continued to moo as I looked at a webpage, I fell behind.

My head was also spinning from learning how much technology there is out there that I haven't been aware of or haven't known how to use. There is so much to learn!

Students gave good introductions to various technologies--blogs, wikis, twitter, e-portfolios, etc.-- each of which I want to know more about. They also gave good examples of how they can be used in the classroom. I don't think a teacher can, nor should, use all the different technologies but it's good to know about them in order to be able to decide which is best for the goals of the class.

More blogging

Penrod's book, Using Blogs to Enhance Literacy, is listed as optional reading for the class. I bought it and have really been enjoying reading it. Here are a couple things she has to say about blogging:

"Bloggers may enter a state of "flow" where they lose track of time." That hasn't happened to me yet. I still have a hard time thinking about topics to write about and when I'm writing I'm very consious of time and what I'm doing. However, I can see how some people might really enjoy writing in their blog and therefore could get into "flow." Maybe if I keep doing this, it can happen to me.

"There are several elements that encourage writers to keep on blogging." One of these is there is no fear of failure and little to no self-consiousness. Again, that isn't true for me. I think about what I'm writing, I wonder if it will be of any interest to readers, and I worry about potential mistakes, especially of saying something stupid that will be published for all to see. Also, as an introvert, I'm usually self-consious when I'm in the public spotlight, and that's where I am with my blog. I can tell myself that nobody will read it so it's OK, but deep down, I know that it can be read by anyone who happens across it and who feels like taking the time to read.

Perhaps my challenge for blogging is to create a new persona, one that's more extroverted; one that doesn't care what people think so I can write with abandon and can enter that glorious state of flow.

Blogging

A friend of mine who teaches reading told me a couple years ago that students don't read anymore. However, Penrod, in her book Using Blogs to Enhance Literacy, points to blogs as something that is motivating young people to read and write more. That's good news.

A few years ago, an SCSU professor had a blog where he expressed his political views. I read it a couple times out of curiosity, but didn't find it very interesting, not because of the content, but because I didn't particularly like reading a computer screen.

I found out last year that a family member of mine has a blog. It's very interesting writing and it's enjoyable to get to know her better through that medium. Still, I haven't visited it much.

Now, here I am with my own blog. In much the same way I have trouble reading other people's blogs, I'm having trouble motivating myself to write mine.

Skype discussion

I was trying to think of some "fun" thing I've discovered that I could talk about with the class on February 16th. It suddenly hit me that I've just discovered Skype. Well, I didn't discover it in the same way Al Gore discovered the Internet, but it's a new technology to me.

As I thought about it I realized there must be some classroom applications for Skype, after all in some ways it is more powerful technology than moos and blogs. On Skype you can see the person you are talking to, you can write a chat, you can make conference calls and talk to up to 10 people at a time. So, between now and the 16th, I'll do research on Skype, learn more about it and see if and/or how others are using it in classrooms. I'm excited to talk about this new technology with my classmates.

Skype

My latest venture into the world of new-age technology is Skype. Caitlin has it in Ecuador and I watched her talk face to face with her boyfriend while I was there. So, I called my husband and told him he should get it on my computer so we could talk and see each other (for free) while I was there. He was a little reluctant because when he had tried programs like that in the past it messed up my computer. Since Caitlin was being successful with it, I was pretty insistent that he try.

The next night, there he was. After only talking to him once in 2 weeks and not having seen his sweet face, it was exciting to see him and hear his voice. We talked for about an hour, then ended the session with a "kiss." Then talked again the next night.

After I got back home on Friday, I wrote to my brother and suggested he download skype. I skypped Caitlin to let her know I made it home OK. I'm telling all my friends about it in the hopes they will get connected.

But, technology can be problematic in some ways. For me, it was a problem because yesterday, each time I got on the computer to do some work for class, I got a skype call and got distracted from my work. I had planned to catch up with my blog, but didn't. I was going to discuss some articles, but didn't. BUT, I did get familiar with and comfortable with a new technology, so that should count for something.

A little early

Caitlin and I were out this afternoon, doing a little sightseeing and souvenir shopping. I was never completely able to focus on what we were doing because I kept checking the time, wanting to make sure we got back to the apartment in time to log into acadiana for class. I didn't want to be late again. About 4:30, I told Caitlin we should start heading back, not knowing how long the taxi ride would take given it was rush hour. She thought we had plenty of time. By the time we got to the taxi, it was about 4:50 and I was getting pretty anxious.

As it turned out, I didn't need to be. The taxi ride took about half what it did going there so we were back in the apartment by 5:20. Plenty of time to get settled, make a cup of tea, and get logged in before class starts.

Then I realized, we're on Eastern time. An hour later than Minnesota! Waahh. I could have done more shopping.

Elfinwood

I went into Elfinwood today to do a little practicing before class. I'm happy to say I finally learned how to wave! Ah, the simple pleasures of life.

Judyk was there, asleep. Does she live there?

Another day in Ecuador

Another day in Ecuador, another visit to the medical establishment.

I was up early this morning, and did some work for class. I was able to do some reading and some posting and got my technology philosophy statement uploaded. Yippee. Now, we are getting ready to take Caitlin to the hospital, or Dr., I'm not sure which. She is still having serious stomach problems. It's been over a week now. She took all the meds that were prescribed during the first hospital visit and the problem is still there so she will have it checked again.

I'm feeling better so I think I'll live without seeing a Dr or taking antibiotics. I would love some more Pepto-Bismol, though. I used up the small supply I brought and haven't been able to find it here. Maybe the Dr. we talk to today will be able to tell me how to ask for it in Spanish.

Yesterday I didn't feel well enough to go out of the apartment, so I was able to get some of my classwork done. I felt very productive.

Today, we were well enough to get out for about 3 hours. We went up to the top of one of the local peaks via a gondola ride, then a walk that took us higher. We ended up at 4100 meters. Between the cold I have and the altitude, I thought I would die. But since I'm here writing, obviously I didn't.

Now we are both too tired to go out and do any more sightseeing, so after I put in a little more time on classwork and get my philosophy statement uploaded to D2L, we'll probably watch a movie on Caitlin's computer.

There's another piece of Ecuador technology to tell you about--we can buy first run movies for $1.00. She bought the latest Batman, Bride Wars, the new James Bond (Quantum of Solace), and Australia.