Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Class at 5:30

reminder, the class voted to have the next class begin at 5:30 on the 21st.
Randy

TIE532 Network Profile for your School

We started to review basic networks and connection topographies. Over the next week conduct a Network profile for your school or organization. If you are in a school, create a network profile of your district that includes a detailed breakdown of your school, not just your individual school. You might need to set up an appointment with your network administrator if the information is not available on the web.

For your Network profile write up, answer the following questions:
• What type of network has your IT department set up? WAN? LAN?
• Your network topography and your school topography. Are the different?
• Connection bandwidths for your district and for your school.
• Type of hubs used? Are they all the same or different types for the WAN or LAN?
• Types of servers your district has: web server, file server, streaming video server
• Other information relevant to your networks infrastructure.

Create a diagram of your network profile similar to the ones we reviewed in class.

10-6 Online Assignments

Hi,

For this week, we'll be reviewing Copyright issues and Fair Use for Educators. I know this is a review for most of you, but since we are discussing computers and technology in the classroom it's an important topic to discuss.

Please read the following three articles this week and post to your blog (question below) by Friday so I can respond to you over the weekend:
A very quick overview of copyright myths:
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
A longer read on the true cost to teachers and educators who misunderstand copyright and media literacy issues:
http://myclass.nl.edu/tie/Final_CSM_copyright_report.pdf
Finally, a very interesting read about the insanity of copyright law on a digital revolution (law vs. reality):
http://www.legalaffairs.org/issues/July-August-2003/feature_zittrain_julaug03.msp


After the review of copyright, in your blog reflect and answer the following question: The Internet, Web 2.0 applications that allow user created materials to be posted, social media sites such as Facebook, that allow for easy, yet illegal, distribution of copyright protected materials, allow others to “re-purpose” this content. These newly created materials, such as (mashups), combine multiple forms of content into one stream or a ‘new’ work. A basic example would be if someone takes 3 copyright protected images and mashes them together to create a new image, but the previous pieces are easily recognized for their original work. The question is: is this legal based on fair use?

Does the new creator have copyright protection? Who then really owns the ‘new’ version of the content since it was based on previous works? Does the creator of the old content own it? Can someone even illegally obtain and re-use the content for their own purposes and then claim copyright protection?

What do you think and why?

Cite information from Copyright law or Fair Use or the readings to support your position.

Tuesday, Oct. 7th Class Online - Not meeting

Hi Everyone,

I'm just realizing I have a scheduling conflict for tonight and won't make it back in time to start our class at 7:30. I don't want to make everyone wait...or worse go longer then the allotted class time till 10:20...I'm putting tonight’s activities online in this blog.

The content for tonight was Copyright, Fair Use and Intellectual Property and I'll do the write up of the readings and assignments now and post it by 3PM today, but wanted to let you all know as soon as possible.

The online class will consist of readings and 2 discussion question postings to be answered in your blogs.

Please let me know if you have any questions about tonight’s class or about the Computer Purchase Project due next week.

Thanks,
Randy

Criteria for Technology Purchases

Scanner
- price
- photo scan quality
- document quality
- connection / portability
- OCR compatibility
- Software compatibility
- Speed per page
- Resolution
- Actual size

Document Camera
- resolution
- price
- storage
- interface type (USB or Wireless)
- software interface and compatibility
- illumination
- focus (auto focus)
- flexibility / maneuverability / portability)
- video capability
- connectivity with other hardware (microscope / TV )
- analog and digital hook up

Interactive Whiteboards
- compatibility
- price
- portability
- durability
- tech. support
- warranty
- software support
- universal software
- online resources
- connectivity
- wireless technologies (Bluetooth?)
- training
- additional accessories

Digital Camera

• Cost
• Pixels
• Picture Quality
• Storage/additional storage
• Brand Reputation
• Usability
• Connectivity
• Compatibility
• Battery Life
• Warranty

LCD Projector

• Cost
• Bulb replacement needs
• Projection picture quality/lumens
• Easy to Connect with and to
• Portable or stationary
• Amount of different inputs
• Warranty
• Distance
• Keystoning

Video Camera

• Cost
• Picture Quality
• Sound Quality
• Storage capabilities
• Ease of use
• Portable
• Stability control

Computer:

1. Price:
1. Warranty- extended or short term
2. Tech Support
1. Tech position?
2. Apple Care
2. Platform:
1. What software is available for each platform?
2. Will it work in the current infrastructure?
3. Usability- are teachers familiar with the platform: mac/pc/linux
   
3. Infrastructure:
1. Do we have to upgrade current environment in order for it to use.
4. Hardware/ Peripherals
   
1. Memory
2. Speed of processor
1. What kind of computing are we going to be doing?
1. Digital photo editing
   
2. Word Documents
3. Movie Making?
3. USB
   
4. Ports
5. Wireless card

Printer

1. Price
1. Paper:
   
1. Projected use- How many teachers/ admins are going to use it?
   
2. Ink Cartridges- projected cost
   
2. Color/ Black and White
3. Laser/Ink Jet
4. Multi-use functions
   
1. Scanning
   
2. Bluetooth
3. Networked for use from any place in the building?

Star Chart Results Descriptions

1. Low Technology schools offer students computers which lack sufficient memory and processor speed to use common web browsers or access multimedia content. Computers are usually in a lab environment, rather than in classrooms. Low Tech teachers have little or no technology training. Low Tech schools may look on the cost of technology for education as a one-time capital expenditure and lack long-term technology plans.

2. Mid-Tech schools often use computers to encourage students to complete traditional class work. Most students do not use computers regularly, and software is not regularly upgraded. In these schools, computers are "extras," used by students for isolated, fragmented activities. Students report that computer use is routine, sometimes boring, and only remotely related to the curriculum. Computers are rarely used for research or creative functions. The main barrier to technology integration in Mid-Tech schools is the lack of professional development and technical support. A majority of teachers in these schools have had no technology-related professional development.

3. High Technology schools offer students networked multimedia computers that are connected to the Internet and World Wide Web in the classroom. Many teachers have integrated technology into the curriculum and students use technology to research, create and communicate. High Tech school may lack on-site technical support, which causes teachers to loose time with students over technical problems.

4. Target Technology schools integrate technology throughout the curriculum. Students and teachers use current digital resources both in the classroom and online. Students and teachers use digital means to communicate with each other internally, as well as with parents, students, teachers and experts around the country. These schools provide on-site technical support and exhibit an ongoing commitment to educator professional development. "The common element in these schools is an excitement about collaborative learning that engages students in relevant, real-world problem solving.

Tuesday, September 23rd Homework

This week’s homework takes a macro-view look at your schools state of technology integration and where you would concentrate efforts in your school and community to increase the effectiveness of technology integration. Next week, we’ll take a micro-view and look at classroom based efforts.

1. Take the online StarChart Self-assessment survey on your schools readiness for technology integration at: http://www.iste.org/inhouse/starchart/index.cfm
a. Where did you school stand?
b. What does that mean, review a description on the class blog site: tie532fall2008.blogspot.com
c. Answer the poll so we can see as a whole, how our class’ schools are doing. We'll discuss next week.

2. Create a blog page on www.blogger.com.
a. Post your first blog answering the following question:
Based on your Star Chart results, what 3-5 areas of ISTEs Essential Conditions would you suggest to your principal the school focuses on to improve effective technology integration?
b. Send me an email with your blog URL.

I'll be updating the class blog with RSS feeds from your blogs so we can all share.
Randy