At a Universtiy Archive, Yesterday's Cutting-Edge Video Games Play On

Today, video games are a billion dollar business.  Children grow up knowing how to play an Xbox or a Wii.  Today’s children do not know a time when video games were not everywhere.  However, video games have not always been so extravagant.  When video games began, according to the article At a University Archive, Yesterday’s Cutting-Edge Video Games Play On, video games were nothing but a floppy disc with a hand-drawn cover sheet in a Ziploc bag.  They weren’t the fancy and colorful advertisements that we see today.  In Austin, Texas, the University of Texas has composed a Videogame Archive to hold these ancient videogames.  Videogames from as early as the 1970s are collected in this archive.  Students at this university can study videogames, much like film-study programs have become popular.  This archive holds 1,500 games, as well as gaming consoles and vintage computers.

The study of videogames shows not only where we have come technologically, but also how far we have come culturally.  Videogames can be seen as a form of art.  It can also help students hoping to become video-game designers.  This may seem like an outrageous thing to study, but it is just a step in our technological world.

Reptile Concept Map

Reptiles

I.       Crocodilia

Crocodilia includes 23 species of crocodiles, alligators, gharials, and caiman.  They can be found in North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.  Crocodilia, unlike mammals, replace their teeth continuously throughout their lives.  They lack a urinary bladder.  They also have a four-chambered heart, unlike other reptiles.

A.    Crocodiles

B.    Alligators

II.     Lizards

Lizards are the largest group of reptiles.  There are more than 5,600 species of them.  Most lizards have four legs; some lizards only have two legs.  They can vary in size from two inches to ten feet in length.  The Gila Monster and the Mexican Bearded Lizards are the only two venomous lizards.  Lizards can also be very popular pets.

A.    Wild Lizards

B.    Pet Lizards

III.    Snakes

There are 3,400 species of snakes.  Snakes do not have eyelids or eternal ears.  They also do not have legs.  Snakes can be found on all continents except Antarctica.  They can be up to 29 feet in length.  Most snakes are nonvenomous, though some are venomous.

A.    Venomous

B.    Nonvenomous

IV.    Turtles

There are more than 270 different species of turtles.  Like all other reptiles, turtles are cold-blooded.  These animals can use the pattern on their shells to blend in or camouflage into their environment.  One species of turtles is the sea turtles.  They can grow to be over six feet long and weigh 2000 pounds.  The largest sea turtle recorded was 15 feet long.

A.    Water Turtles

B.    Wood Turtles

V.     Tortoises

There are about 200 species of tortoises, including large and small species.  Large tortoises live an average of 100 years, making them the longest living animals.  These animals can be about four feet long.  An example of large tortoises is the Hood Island Tortoise.  Small tortoises range from about two to eight inches long.  An example of these tortoises is the Bog Tortoise.

A.    Large Tortoises

B.    Small Tortoises

1.    Bog Tortoises

2.    Box Tortoises

Reptiles

Safe Social Networking Tailored For K-12 Schools

Today, more and more students are using social networking for entertainment and communication purposes.  Students enjoy social networking and are using it more and more throughout the day.  Students are given the opportunity in some schools to use this social networking for an educational purpose.  Students can chat with historical figures (played by their teacher), classmates, and their teacher in a controlled environment.  This is using something students enjoy doing for an educational reason.  Students can become excited about learning through using social networking.  I believe this would be great to use with students.  However, teachers must be very cautious.  Because this is an online social network, teachers must constantly monitor this.  It, however, provides teachers an awesome opportunity to help students understand how to use the internet, including safety and communication ettiquette.

Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship

It is important for teachers to teach digital citizenship.  Students must learn how to use the internet and tecchnology appropriately and responsibly.  There are nine themes of digital citizenship, all of which students should learn and understand.
Digital Access means everyone should have access to internet and technology.  In many schools, non-educational websites are often blocked.  I believe this makes it impossible for students to learn how to decipher good internet material from bad.  Sites will not always be blocked and students must understand how to decipher material on their own.
Students also must understand important concepts such as digital communication, etiquette, and security.  Because students use technology so much, it is important they know how to use it to communicate.  They  also must understand how dangerous the internet can be.  They must be able to use the internet is a safe and responsible way.

Children's Internet Protection Act

The Children's Internet Protection Act requires schools and libraries to filter out certain websites and sets other requirements on the internet.  Schools must monitor students using the internet by students.  It now requires schools to provide education on online safety and cyberbullying.  If schools fail to do this, they will not be eligible for E-Rate funding or discounts.  This would require teachers to be educated on online safety and cyberbullying.  According to the article, the new rules are vague and do not give a way of how to teach this to students.  Though this may be a difficult rule to enforce, I believe it is very important for students to be taught online safety and about cyberbullying.  They are headed into a very technical world and will need to know how to use technology.  It is also dangerous for young students who do not know about the possible  dangers of the internet.  Many students do not understand how dangerous the internet is and how it is not at all private.  It would really benefit students to receive this type of education.

A Future Full of Badges

According to the article, A Future Full of Badges,colleges are beginning to give out badges as a rewardsystem for classes, grades, and other achievements.  It is a similar system to girl scout's badges.  Students are given an electronic "badge" for completing classes, grades, training and competitions.  Soon, it will not be limited to colleges handing out these badges. Badges will be given for competitions and other achievements.  This badge system can have both good and bad effects.
Badges could help give students something to work toward.  They also give employers a more overview of the applicant's accomplishments.  This gives the employers a better idea of what skills the applicant has than a traditional resume or transcript.
Badges can also have a negative sidde.  When students earn badges for training, it is difficult to tell whether this training is legitamate or good training.  Badges handed out by organizations other than colleges may not be earned or as valuable as others.  It may become so trivial that badges become no longer meaningful.