Kid Pix Software

In ECMP today, Meghan and I evaluated a program called Kid Pix. When the program started I was really excited to start exploring...it had fun music and colourful graphics. However, as we began clicking on icons and seeing what we could do with the program, I wasn't that excited anymore for a variety of reasons:

• The actual screen that each program was on was really small. There was tons of background space that wasn't even being used! It was hard on the eyes because everything was tiny. It would also be pretty hard for children in younger grades to use because of the size.
  
• The instructions were really vague and we were confused about what we should do in each program (it was the program NOT us!!). I think it would be hard for kids to navigate their way through each program too.
• Although some of the features could be fun, they weren't very educational at all. The whole program consisted of drawing, making silly animations and that's about it (although, considering we were so confused about what to do, maybe there were some great educational links that we missed).
• On a positive note...Kid Pix is not gender biased...that's a plus :)
  

Overall, I would probably not recommend this program to anyone. I just think that there are so many more programs out there that would have great music, be colourful and educational all at the same time!!

Bill Gates vs. General Motors

Lately I have been receiving so many emails regarding technology, which is really strange because I am taking ECMP right now. Is this just a coincidence OR is technology really taking over the universe AND my email account! :)

This has got to make you chuckle!

At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."

In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating: If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this! part)

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally! , executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five per cent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light.

7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna

9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

I'm Technologically Literate!! I hope!

I'm attempting to post a poll on my blog...I hope it works! These are some of my favourite actors, who are yours? Feel free to vote for more than one, because I know there are some good ones!! Next up - Who is your favourite actress? Coming soon!

Who is your favourite actor?
	Johnny Depp
	Edward Norton
	Ben Stiller
	Brad Pitt
	Jared Leto
	Leonardo Dicaprio
	John Malkovich
	Owen Wilson
	Tom Hanks
	Vince Vaughn
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Blast From The Past!

Wanna see what some of your favourite sites looked like way back when? Check out
http://www.archive.org/
and use the way back machine to find out. This site also links you to old commercials too! I can't wait to check out the "Where's the beef?" commercial. Remember that one?!?! :)

Relive CBC radio and television history at this site
http://archives.cbc.ca/index.asp?IDLan=1
It has lots and lots of information!

How's This For The Future?!

I just received this email (I am sure that many of you did too)...it's very long but funny! Do you actually think this could happen in the future?? I have heard about things called Smart Cards that the government is supposedly working on right now. Apparently, everybody's personal information will be stored in this little card and it will be used everywhere...who knows...
Technology is becoming more and more advanced, which makes me think that this is the way the future could look...scary!!

ORDERING PIZZA IN 2008

Operator: Thank you for calling Pizza Hut. May I have your national ID number?
Customer: Hi, I'd like to place an order.
Operator: I must have your NIDN first, sir.
Customer: My National ID Number, yeah, hold on, eh, it's 6102049998-45-54610.
Operator: Thank you Mr Sheehan. I see you live at 1742 Meadowland Drive, and the phone number is 494-2366. Your office number over at Lincoln Insurance is 745-2302 and your cell number is 266-2566. Email address is sheehan@home.net. Which number are you calling from sir?
Customer: Huh? I'm at home. Where'd you get all this information?
Operator: We're wired into the HSS, sir.
Customer: The HSS, what is that?
Operator: We're wired into the Homeland Security System, sir. This will add only 15 seconds to your ordering time.
Customer: (sighs) Oh well, I'd like to order a couple of your All-Meat Special pizzas.
Operator: I don't think that's a good idea, sir.
Customer: Whaddya mean?
Operator: Sir, your medical records and commode sensors indicate that you've got very high blood pressure and extremely high cholesterol. Your National Health Care provider won't allow such an unhealthy choice.
Customer: What?!?! What do you recommend, then?
Operator: You might try our low-fat Soybean Pizza. I'm sure you'll like it.
Customer: What makes you think I'd like something like that?
Operator: Well, you checked out 'Gourmet Soybean Recipes' from your local library last week, sir. That's why I made the suggestion.
Customer: All right, all right. Give me two family-sized ones, then.
Operator: That should be plenty for you, your wife and your four kids. Your 2 dogs can finish the crusts, sir. Your total is $49.99.
Customer: Lemme give you my credit card number.
Operator: I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid you'll have to pay in cash. Your credit card balance is over its limit.
Customer: I'll run over to the ATM and get some cash before your driver gets here.
Operator: That won't work either, sir. Your checking account is overdrawn also.
Customer: Never mind! Just send the pizzas. I'll have the cash ready. Howlong will it take? Operator: We're running a little behind, sir. It'll be about 45 minutes, sir. If you're in a hurry you might want to pick'em up while you're out getting the cash, but then, carrying pizzas on a motorcycle can be a little awkward.
Customer: Wait! How do you know I ride a scooter?
Operator: It says here you're in arrears on your car payments, so your car got repo'ed. But your Harley's paid for and you just filled the tank yesterday.
Customer: Well, I'll be a #%#^^&$%^$@#
Operator: I'd advise watching your language, sir. You've already got a July 4, 2003 conviction for cussing out a cop and another one I see here in September for contempt at your hearing for cussing at a judge. Oh yes, I see here that you just got out from a 90 day stay in the State Correctional Facility. Is this your first pizza since your return to society?
Customer: (speechless)
Operator: Will there be anything else, sir?
Customer: Yes, I have a coupon for a free 2 liter of Coke.
Operator: I'm sorry sir, but our ad's exclusionary clause prevents us from offering free soda to diabetics. The New Constitution prohibits this. Thank you for calling Pizza Hut.

Telecollaborative Projects

While searching I came across this website http://www.stmonica.ecsd.net/telecollaborative%20pages.htm
that is full of telecollaborative projects created by teachers and students across Alberta. There are so many projects on many different subjects that would be helpful for both students and teachers. Check it out!

One that interested me was a movie making project created by St. Monica and St. Mary Catholic Schools http://www.moviemaking.ecsd.net/. Students made storyboards and short video clips related to many different subjects. Students in Kindergarten and Grade One were actually involved in every step of the project including video editing. One of my favourites was a storyboard and movie created by Bridget, her movie is so cute!! http://www.moviemaking.ecsd.net/borrelli.htm
Teachers could use this project in so many different ways and relate it to any subject or theme they wanted. I can't imagine how excited students would be embark on a project like this - especially students in Kindergarten and Grade One! Now I just have to figure out how to put a video clip onto the Internet...

This project was actually a contest open to Canadian schools who were part of the Network of Innovative Schools. However, you would not have to treat this project as a contest if you were to implement it in your own school. I think that the enjoyment and motivation it would bring to students would be a reward in itself!

Technological Assistance in the Classroom

I was prompted to write this message after reading in my Educational Psychology textbook about the technological advances that are available for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is amazing to see the new devices that can assist students.

• Cochlear implants provide sound information for adults or children who have hearing loss in both ears. It consists of a small microphone located behind the ear that sends signals to the brain (of course it is much more complex than that). A great website to find out more about this devise is http://www.pbs.org/went/soundandfury/cochlear/cochlear_flash.html
• A software tool called Bobby evaluates websites and determines whether they are accessible to users with a hearing loss http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/about.jsp
• An online sign language dictionary that contains videoclips of signs http://www.handspeak.com/ - very useful for teachers too!
• Telecommunication devices are telephones with small screens. When one person calls another they can type their communication into the device which transfers text onto the screen.
• Closed captioning is available for television programs and increasingly for home DVDs. Big screen captioned movies are also becoming an option. Check out this website for InSight cinema http://www.insightcinema.org/
• There are so many informational sites on the Internet that provide support and assistance to teachers to help students with special needs succeed.
  

Some of the technological advancements that are being developed to assist special needs students and their teachers are amazing. I think that the Internet is a powerful tool for teachers as it provides them with a wealth of information that can assist them in effectively teaching children with special needs in their classrooms.