Discussing the dangers of posting too much personal information online with our students often comes off sounding like a lecture from a parent. But these two public service ads produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children usually get a strong reaction from students. They creep me out every time I watch them too!
The accompanying Think Before You Post Web site has some great tips for keeping yourself safe when communicating online.
Discussion Questions for Students:
1. Have you ever posted anything online that you later regretted posting? How has it affected your life?
2. What steps do you take to keep your personal information from becoming available online?
3. Do you have a MySpace or Facebook page or do you post personal information on a similar site? Have you availed yourself of the options available on these sites to keep your information from being indexed or otherwise published online?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Straight No Chaser - Viral Video Leads to Record Contract
Questioning the value of having your students create videos and put them on YouTube? Well, there could be monetary gains down the road if their videos are clever.
Consider the ten college buddies that used to sing together. The group was known as Straight No Chaser and one of the members posted an old video of them singing together on YouTube. The video was an amusing version of the 12 Days of Christmas from a 1998 concert. Although the original video is no longer available on YouTube, the 2008 version of the song is shown below:
The original intent was just to have the members of the group wax nostalgic over their former glory days in college. But the video became a viral hit and racked up millions of views. One of the viewers was an employee of Atlantic Records. He contacted the group and offered them a recording contract. The original group is now touring (they haven’t quit their day jobs) and just released a Christmas CD. This is a great example to share with students to show how accidental commercial success can occur on the Internet.
As part of a computer literacy course, I like to have students make videos (or video podcasts) and I have them share the videos on YouTube. If your students manage to produce something particularly clever and entertaining, they might be the next viral video hit. So encourage them to give it a try.
Consider the ten college buddies that used to sing together. The group was known as Straight No Chaser and one of the members posted an old video of them singing together on YouTube. The video was an amusing version of the 12 Days of Christmas from a 1998 concert. Although the original video is no longer available on YouTube, the 2008 version of the song is shown below:
The original intent was just to have the members of the group wax nostalgic over their former glory days in college. But the video became a viral hit and racked up millions of views. One of the viewers was an employee of Atlantic Records. He contacted the group and offered them a recording contract. The original group is now touring (they haven’t quit their day jobs) and just released a Christmas CD. This is a great example to share with students to show how accidental commercial success can occur on the Internet.
As part of a computer literacy course, I like to have students make videos (or video podcasts) and I have them share the videos on YouTube. If your students manage to produce something particularly clever and entertaining, they might be the next viral video hit. So encourage them to give it a try.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Computer Mouse Celebrates Its 40th Birthday
Ask your students when the mouse was invented and I bet most of them won’t go as far back as 1968 for their answer! Embedded below is a video of the first mouse demonstration.
Dr. Douglas Engelbart used a wooden mouse with one button at a demonstration during the Fall Joint Computer Conference (FJCC) in 1968. The mouse, which was actually constructed by Bill English, was used to demonstrate a computer system called the NLS. The NLS was light years ahead of the uses mainframe computers were being put to at the time and this demonstration showed how text files could be clipped, copied and pasted (all key functions in word processors and Windows…which hadn’t been invented yet!). The NLS was also used to demonstrate how users could use computers to collaborate on document design and editing (the first Wiki?).Keep in mind that Arpanet, which was the precursor to the modern Internet hadn’t even been set up at this point.
The concepts used in the NLS were so advanced that the folks that designed it had to build their own components (hence the mouse made of wood). The NLS became the first program to be used on Arpanet when it came into being in 1969. However, the NLS was difficult to learn to use as it was targeted for use by highly trained computing professionals and never was deployed commercially. But it did lay the groundwork for many functions of the personal computers that we have today.
So light the candles and pass a piece of cake in celebration of the birthday of the computer mouse!
Dr. Douglas Engelbart used a wooden mouse with one button at a demonstration during the Fall Joint Computer Conference (FJCC) in 1968. The mouse, which was actually constructed by Bill English, was used to demonstrate a computer system called the NLS. The NLS was light years ahead of the uses mainframe computers were being put to at the time and this demonstration showed how text files could be clipped, copied and pasted (all key functions in word processors and Windows…which hadn’t been invented yet!). The NLS was also used to demonstrate how users could use computers to collaborate on document design and editing (the first Wiki?).Keep in mind that Arpanet, which was the precursor to the modern Internet hadn’t even been set up at this point.
The concepts used in the NLS were so advanced that the folks that designed it had to build their own components (hence the mouse made of wood). The NLS became the first program to be used on Arpanet when it came into being in 1969. However, the NLS was difficult to learn to use as it was targeted for use by highly trained computing professionals and never was deployed commercially. But it did lay the groundwork for many functions of the personal computers that we have today.
So light the candles and pass a piece of cake in celebration of the birthday of the computer mouse!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Photo on Social Networking Site Leads to Jail Time!
I'm always telling my students that putting questionable pictures on social networking sites and blogs might cause them problems in the future. Despite repeated warnings of employers (22% based on a recent survey) reviewing social networking sites to check on prospective and current employees, many students just don't seem to get the message. Perhaps this chilling tale of woe might just do the trick.
Joshua Lipton was in court for charges stemming from a drunken driving accident in which another person was seriously injured. I'm guessing that his defense attorney was planning on painting a picture of his client as a young man who made a terrible mistake but was sorry for his reckless actions. Then the prosecutor whipped out a photo of Lipton (shown at the left) that was taken two weeks after the accident. Lipton was attending a Halloween party dressed in an orange jumpsuit labeled ‘Jail bird’. Using the photo as evidence, the prosecutor described Lipton as an unrepentant individual joking and partying while his victim was recovering from injuries. The judge obviously agreed with the prosecutor's view and Lipton received a two year jail sentence.
So where did the prosecutor find such a damaging photo of Mr. Lipton? It was on a Facebook page from someone who attended the party! Maybe your students aren't involved in court cases, but I doubt that prospective employers would be impressed by this photo. There is a simple message here - think before you post...or before you let friends take ill-advised photos of you doing something stupid!
Discussion Questions for Students:
1. Have you (or your friends) ever posted photos of you online that you feel a potential employer should not see? Do you think these photos would affect you landing employment?
2. Should employers check the Internet for information before hiring potential employees? Why or why not?
3. Do you think that you should have a right to privacy regarding information you place on a MySpace or Facebook page? How would you ensure that your privacy was protected?
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Classroom 2.0 - The Social Network for Educators Using Collaborative Tools
Classroom 2.0 is a social network designed for educators who are using (or are interested in learning about) Web 2.0 tools and collaborative technologies in and out of the classroom. You can join Classroom 2.0 for free and contribute to the community or just browse through existing resources. The network was designed using a free social network creation tool called Ning. I have my students use Ning to construct their own social networks and Classroom 2.0 is a great example to show students how cool a well designed social network can look when it is completed.
Classroom 2.0 has over 14,500 members and the site maintains blogs and discussion forums on almost any Web 2.0 topic you can imagine. So cruise over and check them out and I’m sure you’ll find useful suggestions for technologies and techniques that you can integrate into your classes.
Classroom 2.0 has over 14,500 members and the site maintains blogs and discussion forums on almost any Web 2.0 topic you can imagine. So cruise over and check them out and I’m sure you’ll find useful suggestions for technologies and techniques that you can integrate into your classes.
Voki - Add Speaking Avatars to Your Site for Free!
Avatars that speak messages are not new to the Internet. They have been around for years. However, most companies that provide avatars, such as SitePal, are geared toward providing avatars for businesses and charge for their services.
Oddcast, the company who owns SitePal, has developed Voki which is a site where you can create free avatars to use on your blog, in your social network profile, or just to send messages to people. According to the Voki site information page, the name Voki “is a combination of ‘vox’, which is Latin for voice, and ‘Loki’, which, is a prankster character in Norse Mythology.” At the Voki site, you can custom design your avatar from a variety of available characters such as people, monsters, and animals just to name a few. You can adjust the look and feel of your avatar by changing its characteristics (such as hair, jewelry and clothing). Then you can record a message for your avatar to speak using your own voice or one of several computer generated voices that translate message text to spoken words.
The avatar below is one I created with Voki to welcome you to my blog. Click on the play button and check it out. Notice that Voki supports this service by displaying an advertisement on the bottom of the avatar. Also notice the scary way the avatar's eyes follow your mouse as you move it around your screen!
Get a Voki now!
Voki is free for personal use but is not sanctioned for commercial use. Therefore, it should be fine for educational purposes such as having students integrate Voki characters into a blog. Instructors can also use Voki to communicate with their students and greet them when they visit instructor Web sites. An example of how Vokis are being used in schools can be found in this instructor’s profile on Classroom 2.0.
Creating a Voki makes a good exercise for students. After they create an avatar and post it to their blog, you can lead them into a discussion about how avatars can be used to enhance a business Web site. The SitePal Success Stories page gives plenty of examples of ways that their customers have utilized avatars to communicate and connect with customers.
Related posts: Classroom 2.0
Oddcast, the company who owns SitePal, has developed Voki which is a site where you can create free avatars to use on your blog, in your social network profile, or just to send messages to people. According to the Voki site information page, the name Voki “is a combination of ‘vox’, which is Latin for voice, and ‘Loki’, which, is a prankster character in Norse Mythology.” At the Voki site, you can custom design your avatar from a variety of available characters such as people, monsters, and animals just to name a few. You can adjust the look and feel of your avatar by changing its characteristics (such as hair, jewelry and clothing). Then you can record a message for your avatar to speak using your own voice or one of several computer generated voices that translate message text to spoken words.
The avatar below is one I created with Voki to welcome you to my blog. Click on the play button and check it out. Notice that Voki supports this service by displaying an advertisement on the bottom of the avatar. Also notice the scary way the avatar's eyes follow your mouse as you move it around your screen!
Get a Voki now!
Voki is free for personal use but is not sanctioned for commercial use. Therefore, it should be fine for educational purposes such as having students integrate Voki characters into a blog. Instructors can also use Voki to communicate with their students and greet them when they visit instructor Web sites. An example of how Vokis are being used in schools can be found in this instructor’s profile on Classroom 2.0.
Creating a Voki makes a good exercise for students. After they create an avatar and post it to their blog, you can lead them into a discussion about how avatars can be used to enhance a business Web site. The SitePal Success Stories page gives plenty of examples of ways that their customers have utilized avatars to communicate and connect with customers.
Related posts: Classroom 2.0
Recycling Technology - Dispose of Broken Computing Devices Responsibly
Here's a catchy little tune called the Dead iPod song. It describes what to do with your iPod when it inevitably dies.
For a much scarier perspective on e-waste and the problems of toxins, check out The Electronic Wasteland that aired on 60 Minutes. It profiles one of the most toxic places on earth...a town in China that specializes in extracting precious metals from e-waste. It is amazing that anyone can survive there!
Many companies now have recycling programs. Apple has an iPod and cell phone recycling program which provides you with a free (they pay the postage) way to send in your broken iPods and cell phones for environmentally responsible disposal. Dell's recycling program always provides free recycling for Dell branded products. And if you buy a new Dell system and select free recycling at the time of purchase, Dell will even recycle your old computer and monitor for free even if it isn't a Dell product.
Discussion Questions for Students:
1) Do you have any broken computing devices at home? How are you planning on disposing of them?
2) Have you ever thrown an old computing device in the regular trash? What impact do you think this had on the environment?
3) HANDS-ON ACTIVITY: Search the Web for technology recycling programs in your area that accept old computers and monitors. Are there limitations on what types of devices they accept? Is there a charge to the consumer for recycling?
For a much scarier perspective on e-waste and the problems of toxins, check out The Electronic Wasteland that aired on 60 Minutes. It profiles one of the most toxic places on earth...a town in China that specializes in extracting precious metals from e-waste. It is amazing that anyone can survive there!
Many companies now have recycling programs. Apple has an iPod and cell phone recycling program which provides you with a free (they pay the postage) way to send in your broken iPods and cell phones for environmentally responsible disposal. Dell's recycling program always provides free recycling for Dell branded products. And if you buy a new Dell system and select free recycling at the time of purchase, Dell will even recycle your old computer and monitor for free even if it isn't a Dell product.
Discussion Questions for Students:
1) Do you have any broken computing devices at home? How are you planning on disposing of them?
2) Have you ever thrown an old computing device in the regular trash? What impact do you think this had on the environment?
3) HANDS-ON ACTIVITY: Search the Web for technology recycling programs in your area that accept old computers and monitors. Are there limitations on what types of devices they accept? Is there a charge to the consumer for recycling?
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