Cellphones are now more for data than calls

The ubiquitous cellphone is a necessity for most owners. The ways in which it is used are not surprising, but some of the statistics in this week’s article may be. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.

The people mentioned in the article seem to make very few calls. How many calls do you make each week? What do you do with your cellphone? A quarter of U.S. households are now wireless-only. How difficult would it be at your house to not have a landline? What sort of handset design does your cellphone have? If the way in which cellphone users are charged changes as Mr. Hesse predicts, how will your cellphone costs be affected? How many text messages do you send each month? Is the average number of text messages for American teenagers excessive? If you did not have a cellphone to send text messages, would it hinder you from bonding with your classmates?

Cellphone Article

Mobile Music, but Lower Quality

You probably own a portable music device, such as an iPod. They are seen everywhere and enjoyed by people of all ages. This week’s article looks at how these devices have influenced the quality of the sound that we hear through iPods and compressed computer files. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.

Do you agree that there have been technological advances in the quality of media everywhere except in music? Can you hear the difference between compressed music files and music on CDs? How often do you listen to music on CDs? Respond to the quote from Mr. Fremer about music “It was an activity. It is no longer consumed as an event that you pay attention to.” Do you care about the quality of sound when you listen to music? How much would you be willing to pay for a stereo system?

Mobile Music Article

The Office of 2020

It is fun to think about the future and anticipate changes that will come. This week’s article is about the findings of a two-year study that reports major changes coming in the next ten years. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.

How will you feel about working with multiple generations? The article is from a Canadian newspaper. Do you think that the predictions are applicable in other countries as well? Which of the predictions are you looking forward to the most? Which of the predictions scares you the most? Are there any predictions that you do not believe will happen? What are your predictions for jobs and the workplace in the next ten years?

The Office of 2020 Article

PowerPoint – The Enemy

PowerPoint is a commonly used presentation tool. PowerPoint presentations often have a poor reputation, one that is often deserved. This week we look at the role that PowerPoint plays in the American military. You may be surprised by its ubiquitous presence. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.

The article expresses the concerns of military commanders that PowerPoint “stifles discussion, critical thinking and thoughtful decision-making.” What is your opinion about the use of PowerPoint? What should the commanders do to correct the problems that PowerPoint creates? What do you think about the amount of time that is spent in the military making PowerPoint slides? How should the military use PowerPoint? What should be done to make PowerPoint presentations more interesting? What do you think about the practice of using PowerPoint for “hypnotizing chickens?”

PowerPoint Article

Cell Phone Etiquette

We have talked about cell phone use before, but a reminder from time to time is not out of place. This week we look at some of the rules. The reading will not be long, but your answers will be important. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.

What percentage of the rules in the article do you follow? Which is your most frequent offense? What irritates you the most about other people’s cell phone use? A question from the article: When should an incoming call take priority over the situation at hand? What will happen to cell phone etiquette as more and more people have them and as children grow up using them?

Cell Phone Etiquette Article

Solving Algebra on Smartphones

We have read articles about the use of handheld devices in the classroom to improve learning. In this week’s article we read about a project that has had a measurable impact on student achievement in math. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.

What kind of a blog would be useful at our school to help students with their subjects? If you were surveyed about the mobile technology that you would prefer to use, which one of those listed in the article would you choose? Would Smartphones be useful in helping students at our school? At what grade level should students begin using them in classes? In which subject areas could they be beneficial? In the project, was it reasonable for the school to turn off the text and voice capabilities of the Smartphones? In your opinion, what was the best part of this project? What do you think about the reward system as a way to motivate students?

Smartphone Article

Food for Thought

It is not uncommon for people to enjoy food. This week’s article shows how technology has come to influence the way in which people look at food and how they enjoy it. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.

What is your opinion of the photographic food diary phenomenon? Have you ever taken photos of the food you eat? Under what conditions is this practice acceptable? When is it not appropriate? What other unusual things have you heard of people photographing? How would you react if you were on a date and the person you were with wanted to photograph everything they ate? Is the psychotherapist interpretation of this accurate? What does the philosopher’s quote, “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” mean to you?

Food Article