Week 14 #2: Final Post

Throughout this semester we have had explored different aspects of the internet, and how it applies to the education system. We have looked at social networks, and virtual worlds, the positives that the internet bring to students and the classroom, as well as the negatives. Different options that the internet offers such as virtual classrooms or traditional classrooms that offer blackboard. We used a variety of html tools that were very interesting.
This class was really productive for me and I am glad I enrolled in it. The internet is obviously a very important and emerging part of all of our lives, and this class helped me get a better understanding for the internet as a whole. The internet is only going to keep evolving and continuing to amaze the people who have been using it daily. I felt this class was very effective with the labs and how we walked through each step before jumping in on our own. I actually grew to enjoy the blog, although I was not correctly posting in the right area in the beginning I think I have it under control now. Again the internet is a amazing tool that this class helped me get a better understanding of.


Week 14 #1

In a 20-10 win this weekend a story developed with the patriots, and if you didn’t watch the game you would have got the intention they had lost. Randy Moss has been called out by the opposing team for not giving a hundred percent on a handful of plays, and being accused of quitting on his team. The first warning sign is that the fans of New England didn’t instantly run to Randy Moss’s defense. Although Moss had one catch for 15 yards thats only half of the picture that was painted. To me Moss in the engine that makes this car run. All-pro Wes Welker has had 100 catches in three straight seasons, a accomplishment that only a select few of wide receivers have accomplished. However when Moss is on the field he attracts defenders, usually two sometimes three. When Moss goes deep which is often he brings his double team with him, opening the middle for Wes Welker. It is quite obvious how valuable Moss is to the Patriots offense, the opposing team makes their entire defensive game plan to shut down Moss. Moss has had two games with just a single catch, bus has 1,074 yards on the season to go with 9 touchdown passes. So when begin to complain about Randy Moss, remember he is human and how valuable he truly is to this team.

Week 13 #2

The internet has its positives and negatives for students and education. Students can use the positives with there education and use website to aid them with there learning. For example I was writing a paper the other day, and one of the things I always hate about writing papers is the works cited page. No matter what I do I usually mess up the works cited page. However a website directed towards students called noodlebib.com helps students like myself who struggle with works cited page, complete one effectively. Students can use search engines and search databases to get there hands on information regarding there topic that would never be possible before. However with all the positives there are negatives as well. Students who become lazy or lack self motivation can go to websites that sell reports. A student could easily search a specific topic and find a paper that someone else is studying. With the limitless opportunities on the internet they all expand the possibilities of cheating as a student. Students need to learn how to use the internet to best benefit themselves and stare away from the negatives that can arise from the internet.

Week 13 #1

The Boston Red Sox have reached a deal with John Lackey a free agent starting pitcher. Lackey will receive 82/5 million over five years in Boston. Lackey is 31 years old, and has been a member of the Los Angeles Angels his entire professional baseball career. Lackey was last seen shutting out the Red Sox through 7 1/3 innings in game one of the America League Division Series, the Angels went on to sweep the Red Sox in three games. The signing of Lackey all but ends the brief stint with Jason Bay and Red Sox. Bay balked at a offer of 60 million over four years, believing the amount and length were below market value. The addition of Lackey gives the Red Sox another elite starting pitcher in there rotation. Although losing Jason Bay and his offensive potential seems like it will hurt, John Lackey will make up for it with his run prevention. It is always said that pitching and defense wins championships and with the addition of Lackey the Red Sox have arguably the best pitching staff in baseball. Needless to say next season will be interesting especially when the Sox open up against the hated New York Yankees.

Week 12 #2

With the growth of the internet age online shopping has become a bigger and bigger craze each year. Black friday the day after Thanksgiving which is historically a huge shopping day, is becoming a equally big day online as well. Selling on Amazon a third party marketplace program increased 78% from the year prior . It is incredible that the internet has developed so rapidly and become pretty much a different world. Websites such as youtube which I mentioned in a prior blog entry can teach you how to build specific items, or listen to a specific music video with one click of the mouse. You have the internet news outlet which are essentially putting newspapers out of business, and now you have online shopping which has just took of in recent years. Online shopping offers better sales, and more connivence for people trying to get there shopping done quickly. Online shopping can be materialistic products or something as simple as groceries. Online shopping is easy and effective so remember that this winter when your doing your Christmas shopping!

Week 12 #1

With the recent developments in professional golfer Tiger Woods life, he has currently become under the microscope of millions of people. The question that should be asked is how well do people actually know professional athletes? Woods has a handful of endorsements and it makes you think if Tiger Woods was just a calculated robot almost by the endorsements he is linked to. Although Tiger Woods is a famous athlete and clearly has made mistakes, where should the line be drawn for personal privacy? Woods has a wife and kids and is going through a family crisis, why should he have to go through it with the rest of the world? All though Tigers actions might not have been right, it is none of our business, and shouldn’t be analyzed all over the news, and espn. Let him and his wife work this out on there own without the camera and the media, and what they decide to do shouldn’t be any of our concern.

Week 11 #2

Youtube is becoming increasingly more and more productive tool. Youtube allows you to type in a specific thing you want to do and it shows you how to do it. For example if you want to build a specific item. You can just log on to youtube website type it in and there will be a instructional video on the site, showing you step by step how to build the product. It is crazy a site like youtube, you can range from building a product to listening to a music video all on the same site. All you have to do is type in the required thing your looking for an it will come up. Youtube is just another website that shows how the internet is evolving right before us, and how it can make our everyday life that much easier.

Week 11 #1

This week blog is about professional sports and when is running up the score legitimate? The Patriots are a few weeks removed from beating the Titans 57-0, so the question will arise when is enough enough. When does it become unsportsmanlike? I honestly believe in professional sports that there should be no such thing as running up the score. They are world class athletes getting paid to play one football game a week. If they can’t stop another team from scoring 57 points to there 0 they shouldn’t complain about it, at the end of the day they still pick up there check for that week. High school sports would be a different story where you can’t control who attends your high school or you can’t go out an recruit students who you know will be competitive. These teams in the NFL have millions of dollars to invest in a team, and if they didn’t spend there money wise enough to stop another team from scoring that many points, well then tough luck.

Online Education

Online education is becoming the new thing for people trying to go back to school that want to be cost effective and save there personal time. With the economy being down many people are trying to become more educated then in the past. All though most people having full time jobs and families have limited time, online schooling fits in nicely. Online education is a cheaper source of education then traditional education which is far more expensive. Single mothers who are looking to receive a higher education, don’t have to leave the house or higher a baby sitter. They can receive a education from there living room while taking care of there children. Online education is on it way up, however you should be careful because every online school is not legitimate. You should definitely do your research on the online school you plan on attending before actually enrolling in the school itself.

Blackboard

Colleges are now offering online systems to runs classes throughout the semester. Blackboard is by far the most popular, and the only one I have used so far during my educational experience. Blackboard offers students everything they really need in their classes, teachers can upload there lecture notes for students, they can host chat rooms for weekly work, or even have students upload there work to eliminate papers being carried around. These virtual classes have really made classes easier on the teacher and the students. Rather then assign a weekly question or work, the teacher can simply do it on blackboard an make a response mandatory for there students. It helps the teacher as well as it is easier to stay organized and not have to carry around papers and different assignment for all there classes. If a student misses a class because they are sick, all they have to do is log on to blackboard the powerpoint or lecture notes will be uploaded on blackboard. Overall, it is really a nice tool to have for students an teachers alike. Students can receive grades faster and teachers can be more organized with notes, and the students work.

Mark Cooper

Mark Cooper is the Director of Research at the Consumer Federation of America. He has published a handful of books on the topics in communication and the influence of the internet has on the public. Cooper also provided feedback for public opinion on many different forums.
I agree with Cooper and his claim that the internet has not become an adequate substitute for spreading news to the public. Obviously people are at work or in classrooms checking headlines from every major website. However everyone goes home an turns on the television to watch the local news and here the local perspective. In his research it is mentioned that nothing can replace a broadcast voice. This is why sports broadcasters are able to make the hall of fame in there sport, people respect the broadcaster. The younger generation is more fixated with online, and could definitely shift to receiving news and video links online opposed to there parents and the news. I know for one that I never watch the news on television and if I hear a breaking story an want to see if it is true, I will log on to a website to find out.

Internet in the Classroom..Only a Click Away

Internet access in classroom is becoming not the norm but mandatory in college campuses across the country. However I think wifi in the classroom is encouraging students to bring there laptops to class. Although it has its positives, students are paying less and less attention to there instructors in the classroom because they are to busy surfing the internet. How can a teacher control 20 or 20+ students when they each have a computer in front of there face. Students will be on facebook, rather then listening to the less or lecture being taught. Although to defend students, without computers students tend to daze off every now an then. But if your allowed to have a computer in font of you, it takes a lot of self discipline to not click to espn.com or instant message one of you buddies while you are in class. So with the internet becoming more common in the classroom it creates challenges for teachers and students in a bunch of different ways. But don’t get me wrong internet has its positive influences on a college classroom as well.

Free WiFi for Low Income Families: Or is it?

Although this sounds like such a great idea and a great think to have free internet, it is kind of untrue at the same time. These people they are offering free internet access to are people who are low income families. Traditionally low income families struggle to get by, therefore having a computer in the house would be a high luxury for someone of that nature. So even though free internet access is being offered, how many people actually have a computer is a better question? I would definitely be in favor for it if there was a way to get these people in need a computer. Without a computer I don’t see the point in the free wifi, I think it sounds good but when you look deeper into it you realize the true situation. Computers are becoming a increasing need, so maybe a program can be developed to get low income families refurbished computers. The middle class is benefiting from this program more then low income families. Like I stated above, the low income families are not taking advantage of the free wifi because they can’t even afford a computer to being with. Therefore the middle class families who have computers take the free wifi. The project should definitely be shifted in the direction of getting low income families computers because computers are a increasing necessity, especially in education.

Family without Internet

Marcella Morris and her family definitely have a huge problem with not having internet at home. First, they already feel that they are a step behind, as they it themselves. She was describing how she has to resort to the news paper and word of mouth like the old days for news. Although the children are the real ones suffering the most without having internet at home. The girls travel to the library during the summer, so they can update their social networking sites. I think it is bad because when the kids are at school they have better access to a computer an the use of the internet then they do at home. I feel bad for Marcella Morris and her family because the world has transferred to a computer/ internet friendly place. Schools are even adjusting to having work or assignment being posted online. As Marcella’s children grow older they are going to struggle more and more from not having internet access in there home and it is sad.

Online Class Experience: Positive or Negative?

Last semester I finished my fist online class. I thought the course was so effective that I decided to take two more this semester. The course I am taking right now is part of my criminal justice major, its called Physical Security. Weekly we had to keep up with the reading, and at the end of the week we had to make a post on the message board responding to a specific topic. After posting our thoughts and feelings we had to respond to two students before the end of the week. The biggest challenge is to stay up with the reading because you don’t have to attend class at all during the week. The course is really interesting, but what I like most about it is that I have the freedom from not having to attend classes at set times each week like traditional classes.
This online class definitely takes some getting use to, because it is a lot different then a regular class. You are unable to procrastinate like you can in traditional school. There is work due each week, an you are not constantly reminded by the teacher because you don’t see the teacher two to three times a week. I found myself becoming more discipline outside of school, an I think the responsibility and discipline needed for online classes attributed to it. Although I had success with this online class, I don’t know if it would be effective for all classes. Classes like accounting or other business classes might be pretty difficult to take online.

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One and Done

The Red Sox are officially out of the playoffs, as the Angels swept them in three straight games, and Boston watch the Los Angeles celebrate on there own field. With the recent success of Boston sports, and specifically the Red Sox losing in the first round this is not the norm. Where do the Red Sox go in the offseason? I think it is obvious with the success of the Yankees the Red Sox need to add a frontline starting pitcher, whether it is via Free Agency or through the trade market. After starting a career minor league at shortstop for half the season, it is obvious that a new shortstop is mandatory for the team to acquire next year. They will also have to make tough decisions on the status of Jason Bay and Jason Varitek. There is plenty of question marks, but it will be a long winter to answer them all.

Virtual Schools: Good for Some but not All.

Virtual education is definitely a great substitute to traditional education, but for all students? Of course not, it is clear that it would be a case by case basis. If it fits the students schedule it could be much better then traditional education. However, it could be a difficult transformation for some students. Before college almost all students learn the hands on approach to education. For virtual education to be affective, students will have to be responsible enough to follow the course load and teach themselves the material. The virtual education is definitely on the rise and in the upcoming years we will only see it expand. However, the key to be successful online will always come back to discipline, but it can be argued that discipline is the key to success in traditional education as well. It will be seen in the upcoming years how virtual education progresses.

I believe NCLB students could benefit from virtual education the most, it would be a outstanding opportunity for them. The NCLB students and there families are clearly fed up with their current school system and have been looking for a opportunity to help their children. These students number one priority in life in school and they are pro-active, making them honestly in the minority. I feel the virtual education offers a great opportunity for a student with great discipline, creating a new challenge.

Mudding: Sane or Insane?

I see zero positives from Mudding, I think it is childish and unhealthy. I find it borderline insane that a individual cannot have enough self esteem to be his or herself to live in the real world. They have to rely on these virtual worlds for anything social based. They use it as a safe house so they can not fear rejection from the outside world. The man in the article was referring to rape in the virtual/ real world. First of all why is he thinking about rape? And second why are you allowed to rape people in a virtual world? That is really disturbing. I mean morally anything these people can’t do in the real world they do in the virtual. People go on these websites and cheat on there significant others, is that suppose to be ok? Basically these people want to cheat on there significant others but can’t get themselves to, so they go on the computer and do it virtually? To me it is so pathetic and sad that people actually do this. Finally, I honestly can’t take a positive from Mudding because people are only making things worse relying on a computer for everything.

Digital identities are these people’s real identities one hundred percent. They have no physical identity, they rely solely on a computer for any type of social interaction. This sit behind a computer screen and try to be people who they are completely not. I mean if your sitting behind a computer screen for a certain amount of time, and devoting all your free time to his virtual world, which is your real identity? It has to be the digital one, its the one they are happier with an more focused on. I mean some of these people are not in a healthy mental state or they just completely hate who they are they run to a computer for a instant change, which isn’t healthy either.

Internet Communication Impact in Education

Effects of Social Networking

Internet’s impact in communication among students, teachers and education in general have been huge. I don’t want to get repetitive but online classes have been huge on education. Social networks have allowed students to communicate faster, and a lot more effectively then in the past. They are allowed to meet in study groups, contact each other, or even spread there opinions to others a lot easier. For example, websites have been dedicated to rating professors on students opinions. Therefore students can find information on all there professors before taking his or her class. Students can use facebook to meet people faster and by similar interests. Facebook allows students to search a classmate in there college and ask about a particular assignment, or set up a study group. Social networks like these are accessible twenty-four seven, which presents the down side. Although social networks has brought such a positive impact to education for students and teachers it has its negative sides. Social network sites such as myspace or facebook sometimes have information on them that not everyone wants someone to see. Facebook and Myspace both have features to upload pictures an tag them as a person in the picture. This is a negative impact because not everyone wants pictures of what there doing on the internet.

Impact of internet tools/ technologies on education

Other internet tools and technologies have had a huge impact on education as well. Students often have to go to libraries to search there databases for information for reports, until recently. Students now have the luxury of searching online library databases, and reading the information over the computer rather then taking out a book. Internet tools such as noodle bib offer students help in bibliographies for reports. Weather a student is doing MLA or APA format for a professor, noodle bib will help you do it correctly. Websites have been dedicated to giving students summary of books or to individual chapters. Teachers are able to use websites such as youtube to present videos or short clips to there class. The impact of tools and technologies as well social networking has really taken off in the past ten years or so. Students now a days are spoiled with the luxuries they have in front of them compared to students in the past years. The ability to find a class mate, or find a source for your paper, or get help to finish off your bibliography correctly is only one click away is truly remarkable.

Welcome to my Blog

1. My name is John Higgins I am a student at University of Massachusetts Lowell. I am currently pursuing a degree in criminal justice. I originally attend Endicott College in Beverly before transferring here to UMass last spring. I work full time during the day for Glavin Construction in Billerica Massachusetts. I take a combination of night and online classes so I can take a enough classes while going to school. After graduation I hope to use my criminal justice degree to become police officer or work for homeland security. I enjoy watching sports specifically baseball, which I played in high school an college.

2. The internet has had quite a positive impact on education. Students are now allowed to further there education by taking online classes miles away from the campus. The continuing education program here at Umass Lowell allows students to take classes at there own pace. Online classes are great source because it allows some people to work full time and take classes a there leisure. In addition the internet has different tools and technologies that help students further there education. Search engines allow students to get access to a wide range of information faster then ever before. All different types of websites assist students with there work. Websites have been dedicated to bibliography help or language translation. With all the positives the internet brings there are also negatives. The internet gives students a easier way to cheat on reports, or home work. Web sites are dedicated to selling reports to students so they don’t have to do them. Plagiarism is much easier for students, as a result of the internet. A student can simply just copy and past a paragraph from a website and use it in one of there assignments. Although there are negatives and positives to the internet and its effect on education, I think the positives outweigh the negatives.