PLN 22 - US Life Expectancy Experiences Slight Dip

The CBS News HealthWatch article, "US Life Expectancy Experiences Slight Dip" talked about how the average life expectancy for a US citizen has dropped by amount a month.  Arialdi Minino, the author of the preliminary 2008 report, said the drop in life expectancy was very small and worked out to be about one tenth of a year.  Minino also said that it would be very difficult to determine if this drop will be the beginning of a trend in lower life expectancies.  The 2008 report showed a drop for both men and women.  The report says that a baby born in 2008 can expect to live to 77.8 years of age if the current trend continues. This is down from the 2007 number of 77.9.  They are not sure what is causing the decline and may not know for some years.  The report is created by combining data from all of the death certificates in 2008. A final report will be released later.  This article matters to me because it makes me wonder what might be causing Americans to live shorter lives.  A tenth of a year doesn't seem like a lot of time, but if this starts a trend could mean I won't live as long as my parents.  This article matters to education because many students will be interested in learning why this is happening and get involved so they can maybe stop it.  This matters to the world because this could be a wake-up call that we need to take better care of ourselves if we want to live longer lives.  

PLN 23 - How Cognitive Surplus Can Change The World

Clay Shirky's talk on "How Cognitive Surplus Will Change The World" talks about how we can make a better world by sharing our brain power.  He uses examples like the Ushahidi website, which started out as a very localized site and is now a worldwide site.  Cognitive surplus is benefiting our world in many ways.  Little ideas can turn into huge ideas for our world.  The blogger that wrote about all the violence going on in Kenya was getting more reports from the field than she could keep up with.  By reaching out to other minds, she learned about two programmers who could take all the different and fast moving information and create one central website.  This shows that we can work together and share our brain power to improve the world.  Clay Shirky's talk relates to me because I learned just how much my ideas can benefit others.  This relates to the classroom when we all put our minds together we get a lot more work done than we would if we were working alone.  This relates to the world because our future can be even better if all of us contribute our ideas and knowledge.

PLN 14

In "Qualities of an Effective teacher" by David Walrick, he explains something lots of teachers don't know. Kids are always looking to have a good time so when you have a really cool teacher learning seems a lot easier and the class periods go by much faster. With modern education kids don't see a reason to go to school, they are very disrespectful to there teachers. Some educators don't handle that well and start being disrespectful back. Which just leads to chaos. This matters to me because when I have a good teacher I usually get a higher grade in that class, and i'm always looking forward to that class. This matters to classrooms because i guarantee students will get higher grades and participate more in school if all teachers were more understanding and reliable. This matters to the world because we will have a better future if the kids of our generation strive, and for them to strive there needs to be good teachers.

PLN 21

After watching  "Changing Education Paradigms" by RSA animate it really went into detail on how similar education is to what it was like when our parents were in school, but there are some changes. some people think education is headed in the wrong direction. Students are not as motivated to go to school anymore because they are not even guaranteed a job and a successful life when they grow older. People think that using standardized testing will make it easier on the kids.  This matters to me because i am in high school and i know my life will be better if i stay in school and get good grades, even if it is stressful. This matters to the classroom because i work with tons of other students that feel the same way i do about school. And this matters to the world because its not fair to spend all your childhood earning your education when you grow up and need to make money for your family all your hard work doesn't even pay off.

PLN 19

After i read "Boys And Boredom" by George F. Will I was not at all suprised because i agree that boys get bored alot faster that girls do. Did you know the average young man has the attention spand of thirty seconds? Boys are only interested when it has something to do with them. This matters to me because i am a boy and i agree that i have an attention spand of thirty seconds, i live with that everyday of my life. This matters to edjucation because half of most schools are boys, so that makes it more difficult to teach because boys get distracted easily. This matters to the world because everywhere you look you will see a guy looking off into nowhere, getting confused or something close to this. I totally agree that boys have a very short attention spand and get bored of things really easy.

PLN 17 - Karl Ficsh's "What If"

In Mr. Ficsh's Powerpoint presentation "What If" he states that students are depending too much on things they purchase. Not things they make, or know how to make. What if the world runs out of these resources they use to make the items you purchase at the store?  What will you do?  Some examples he used was students using pens and pencils instead of chalk on a chalkboard.  Another example he gave was people using "Google" to get information instead of visiting a local library.  This matters to me because I need to start using what the earth gives me to do schoolwork.  I need to try and resist the television; computer and cell phones.  This matters to education because if all the students in the world think like I do than we won't run out of these materials so that our children can live the nice life we get to enjoy living.  This matters to the world because if we all partake in this ... we will have a better life!

PLN 16

I've noticed lately that bullying is becoming a big problem in high school. It may not seem like it, but everywhere around you someone is being put down, yelled at or being made fun of. After reading "Students Suicide Makes Deadly Point About Intolerance" by NPR staff. It made me think a lot, it made me feel bad about all the times that i have made fun of the way someone looks, because it's not there fault. There's nothing they can do about it. Just from being in high school, i know that there are gays, bi sexual and lesbians. These people get hurt and made fun of alot just because other people don't agree with there way of life. This is what the article was about, Tyler Climenti a students from Rutgers University. A boy that committed suicide from being made fun of too much and felt like he didn't belong anymore. This matters to me because i feel really bad now about making fun of people in the past, i was just messed with my whole life and i never took it seriously i thought everyone else took it the same way as i did. This matter's to education because every school has this kind of bullying and its really sad. This matters to the world because people need to stop bullying to make this world more peaceful.

PLN 12

After reading "New Deadly Mount Merapi Eruption in Indonesia" by BBC news, i was really scared to go within twelve miles from a volcano. Eleven people lost there lives in this fatal incident and fifty were severely injured. Seventy thousand people were forced to evacuate the small town Because of the cloud of gas, dust and ash. Authorities had to exceed the limit on how close you can be to the mountain from nine miles to twelve for safety. This matters to me because it's sad to hear that people loose there lives to things they couldn't do anything about. This matters to education because student's will learn about this eruption in history class in about twenty years. And this matters to the world because people are loosing there lives to natural disasters like this and there has to be something we can do to prevent it!

PLN 15-Schools Would Be Great If It Weren't For The Kids

I read "Schools Would Be Great If It Weren't For The Kids" by Alfie Kohn. In this article, the author states that it is not the teachers fault for the students failing. It's the students fault. I believe this is entirely true because teachers are teaching us everything that is crucial to know to get good grades and understand the material. It's the student's that are not doing their part and completing the homework, participating in class procedures and things like that. This matters to me because I am one of the students that needs to step up their game and pay more attention.  I know I have the ability to get good grades, I just don't try hard enough. My parents tell me my grades are pretty dismal, but they know I am capable of much more.  This matters to education because kids need to take responsibility once high school starts and work harder to get good grades. This matters to the world because students have to pay attention and get good grades to make the future a better place in the future.

pln13

In Jonathan Rosenberg’s "Our Googley Advice To Students" is talking about how we need to be creative thinkers to strive in the world these days. Because technology is so advanced, we have competition already set so we have high expectations. This means we need to think harder, and have a better imagination. This matters to me because I have to apply this to my daily life so in the future I will be able to think of cool things on the spot! This matters to education because students in twenty years will have higher expectations that the students in my generation already have. This matters to the world because everyone has to set very high expectations if they want to make millions and have a super hot wife in the future.

PLN 11

After reading Carl Fisch's 2020 vision, it made me think a little bit about Americas future. Mr. Fisch already is noticing that Google is buying out many companies Making Google huge. He views that by the year 2020 Google will have bought out even more and will soon be bigger than bill gates. I really like how he is writing this as if he is in the future. This matters to me because as a student, i need to get a general understanding on what our future will be like so i can learn the things i need to learn to have a successful life. This matters to education because all the teachers need to know what to teach us for us to be able to survive in the future. And this matters to the world because this is a view on what it will be like in the near future. All we can do is wait and see! But for now, we need to pay close attention to these posts.

PLN 10

After reading Christina Dickinson's "Three California Beaches Closed After Deadly Shark Attack" I was a little scared to go surfing now because a 19 year old student with the name of Lucas Ransom was body boarding on the california coast and was taken  under by a great white shark. The shark tore up his leg, bleeding emensily. The student that was with him, Mathew didnt know what to do. When Lucas came up from the water, he seemed to be struggling alot. Lucas had a severe wound to his left leg and because of blood loss. He died just hours later. This effects me because now i am more causious about where to go surfing, and to pay attention to see if sharks are around. This matters to edjucation because if schools student's keep getting attacked by sharks the teachers wont have anyone to teach. This matters to the world because so many people are dieing because of sharks, people should watch where there surfing! Obviously, shark attacks are becoming a huge problum and it needs to stop now!

PLN 9- Rigor Redifined

Why don't schools operate the same way as they used to? A question I asked myself before reading "Rigor Redefined" by Tony Wagner. For kids to strive in life teachers need to educate them on this that will apply to them in the future. And with technology, and how rapidly its improving jobs are starting to run different then before. In the new "global economy" people can use technology to do conference calls, web casts and net meetings. This saves a great amount of time so businesses can focus more on what matters rather than driving to have a conference.
            After Tony traveled to several hundreds and schools and institutions asking teachers what there teaching their students, too see if it’s the right material so students succeed. But what exactly do students need to know to be successful? Tony realized you need seven critical survival skills so they can survive in the new world of technology
            First and foremost is critical thinking and problem solving. We have to learn to live in the NOW. Companies need to improve there product rapidly, always thinking of something new. A senior executive at Dell said “Yesterdays answers won’t solve today’s problems.” Collaboration and leadership is always important to use in your life not only in the future, but now! Businesses can use web cams to have internet meetings to talk about problems there having, what they need to make next and basic things like that. This is very useful and saves a lot of time. Agility and adaptability matter because you always need to be able to accept change and be flexible with ideas of others. This is important because you often work with people in life, so compromising is good for creating better product due to the fact with more people you will have a grander variety of ideas. Affective and oral written communication is the next one, most people are shy, scared of large clouds and mumble/studded while talking. This isn’t what people look for in a leader, a leader is someone who is outgoing, fun and able to talk people into buying there product. This is why communicating is so important in life, so when you grow up you don’t have a social problem. In the new business world you have to be able to remember information. People now have crazy amounts of information traveling throughout there brain daily. This is why teachers want to you think, analyze and observe because it will come in handy in the future. Of course I saved the best for last, curiosity and imagination. You have to be willing to think of new things all the time and have a wide selection of ideas. A good way of mastering this skill is asking questions. You will be guaranteed a whole new variety of ideas.
            This matters to me because I have to apply these seven survival skills to my life and master them before I leave high school. So that I can succeed in life and not work at McDonald’s. This matters to education because teachers have to know these skills so they know exactly what to teach their kids to strive later in life. And this matters to the world because the ideas and decisions students make now will very much so affect the future of the United States.

PLN 8 - Government Agencies Make Plans To Reduce Carbon Footprint In The Next Decade

The Washington Post article, "Government Agencies Make Plans to Reduce Federal Carbon Footprint in Next Decade" by Lisa Rein talks about the different ways government agencies are working to reduce emissions in our air. 
"It's not the entire economy, but bringing the federal government into better harmony with nature is a huge step," said Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch, a nonprofit environmental watchdog.  President Obama has pledged a promise that he will reduce the amount of emissions produced by government agencies by 28 percent.  The governments goal of reducing emissions matters to be because I will be living in a much healthier environment.  President Obama's plans matters to education because students in high schools and colleges around the country will help to come up with ways to reduce the carbon footprint.  A reduction in the overall carbon footprint matters to the world, because if the United States can be successful we will be a good example to other countries in the world and also this will create a cleaner environment for everyone to live in.  

PLN 4 - Artificial Intelligence Goes Mobile

I enjoyed reading the article "Artificial Intelligence Goes Mobile" by Olga Kharif.   This article talked about how popular Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications have become and how much more powerful they will be when added to things like smartphones.  There are many different applications and industries that take advantage of artificial intelligence.  Video Games now use it to make their games even more challenging.  Doctors can use AI programs to analyze patient test results and help them cure diseases really quickly and easily.  Bascially, AI means that the application learns to think the way we do, instead of thinking like a computer.  Computers become more human like.  


Mazin Gilbert, executive director of technical research at AT&T Labs, said this of AI, "We are trying to reach that Star Trek dream. "We spent decades investing in this technology. If you can put AI with mobility, it really—significantly—expands the number of applications and services" you can provide, he says.


The trend of AI is important to me because I can definitely benefit from these types of programs.  If I or someone in my family is sick and an AI program can take my test results and tell the doctor what is wrong with me, I will be healthier. An AI program could even save my life.


Artificial intelligence matters to education because it is our minds that help build these types of programs.


Lastly, AI matters to the world because governments and military can use AI programs to simulate real world security threats and help us to be a safer country. That is a benefit to the world.

PLN 7- Machines Are Using Us

I found the video, “Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/Ing Us” to be very interesting.  It talked about how web content has changed from html form-based to the more powerful xml content-based entries.  It really made me realize just how much we are able to do with the computer.  We are able to write, edit, organize, add to and format content in just minutes where before computers … it would take hours.  The video also talked about it is not just “us” using the computer.  The computer is actually using “us”.  Every time we type text into a search window, we add to the global online database.  The more people ask from the computer, the more powerful the computer becomes.  If the machines start to use us, they could start controlling us, brainwash us so we become miscreants.  We will stop thinking for ourselves.  We will let the computer become our mind.  It matters to be personally, because if the computer starts to use me, it will become more powerful and I will learn less because that information is that much easier to get.  This matters to education because students need to remember and learn less and less because the computer remembers it for them.  We can just think, “oh I’ll just look it up later” instead of taking notes on a topic.  This matters to the world because the more intelligent and powerful the computer becomes, the less control we have as global occupants.  The above reasons explain why I don’t believe it is wise to let machines use “us”.

PLN 5 - Footprints in the Digital Age

How does Will Richardson's post a "Footprints in The Digital Age" affect me as a person?  It affects me as a person because once you apply for a job or college, all your information is available for them to look at and get an idea of who you are as a person.  It will tell them if you are a hard worker or a good student.  It will also tell them about any criminal history you may have.  

Reading this short story made me realize just how important it is to get and keep a positive digital footprint. Not only is it important to me, but also education and the world.  

A positive footprint relates to education because getting a good education and working my hardest will help me obtain a strong, positive digital footprint.  Knowing this makes me want to try even harder!  Colleges are now looking into your "digital footprints" or online activity before considering you as a student at their institution.  It makes me think about how I project myself when I write posts in online accounts.  If I use bad language and post inappropriate pictures, I may be passed over by a college because they won't have a good first impression of me.

Lastly, it relates to the world because everyone has a digital footprint. Therefore, everyone needs to try hard and work together so we all can live successful lives and not all be misanthrope's. The more positive information posted by people worldwide will hopefully start to diminish the negative impact some have left with inappropriate words; pictures; articles, etc.

Just take a minute to realize how big of a deal this is, and how it will affect you when you grow old.

Good/bad qualities in teachers and students.

Good teacher qualities
-understanding
-flexible
-nice
-exiting
-active classes
-give more time in class to work on homework
Bad qualities
-gives unreasonable amount of homework
-doesn't care what students think
-mean
-takes anger out on the class
Good qualities in students
-quality homework
-participation
-funny
-good listeners
Bad qualities
-rude
-inter-ups the class
-terrible participation
-sleeps in class

Topic Sentence - The Most Dangerous Game

In Richard Connell's piece "The Most Dangerous Game", the character Rainsford finally realized that murder is not quite as great as he thought it would be.  It was brought to his attention that he was the "hunted" and not the "hunter". 

Fish eyes topic sentance

In David Brenner's short story "Fish Eyes", The words and actions of his brother Mel and his sister Bib influence who David became due of all the pranks and jokes they demonstrated throughout the short story.

PLN 3. Is Google making us stupid?

In some ways, I do believe that Google is making us stupid. But on the other hand, Google provides us with great information that people need to know. Most people have the same opinion that I do. For example,  if you take advantage of all the websites and information that Google has to offer, than this worldwide website could come in handy. The bad thing is that people abuse the internet and Google.  They stay inside on the computer goggling things instead of being outside and staying active.  People are not using the library and bookstores nearly as much as before Google and the internet. Honestly, i believe that Google, internet, technology will someday interfere with humans health. So hopefully we take control of that.

What Matters To Me Collage

What Matters To Me

Family matters to me, because I like having people who care about me.  My family always helps me out when I need it.  I love my parents, they know just what I need. I also like how many siblings I have. My older sister Natatia is amazing.   She helps me out with many different things, like cleaning my room and helping me with homework that i don't understand. My younger sister and I always do fun things, and never are bored.  And then there is my little brother. I love my little brother cause hes really motivated and always finds a way to do whatever he puts his mind too.

Friends matter to me. I have two really good friends, Travis and Conner. We have had some pretty amazing times together. Travis and Conner are hilarious, just listening to them makes me laugh. Travis and conner are such a joy to be around cause they always have something to do. For example, we built a rope swing in the tree at my new house. Me and Travis always make the best food together and can make any meal.

Baseball matters to me.  I have been playing baseball since I was 7 years old.  I am now playing at Arapahoe.  I am a pitcher and love the feeling of throwing a  pitch that strikes out a batter. I love the feeling i get when i get a good hit and help out our team.  I love helping my team win.  I am planning to continue working out and getting myself in shape for spring tryouts.

Biking matters to me. I'm not very good but i really enjoy the feeling of being up above the ground.  Knowing that if i fall i could get hurt. The adrenaline rush it gives me makes me feel confident and happy. One other thing that I love about biking, is that it is something that I can do every day and don't need anyone else to do it. I like that it can get me where I need too be fast.

Without all these things i don't know where i would be.

PLN 1- A Vision of Students Today

What is it like being a student today? This was the question asked in the video "A Vision of Students Today".

To me, a 9th grade student at Arapahoe High School, technology is becoming a very big part of our learning experience. Computer classes, blogging sites, online projects and online textbooks are all great examples of how we are turning towards technology and away from book/paper based learning. Although I have used computer programs throughout my education, I have found you use computers a lot more in high school.  Not only do we use computers more ... we use them in more than one class.

Technology is affecting me as a person because everything I need to know is now available on the internet.  Where we used to go to the library to research a topic, we can now search for the information on the computer.  My parents used to tell us, "why don't we go to the library and research it?"  Now they tell us, "why don't you Google it"?  Don't get me wrong, the ability to find information on a topic instantaneously is very useful.  I feel though that people are taking advantage of the opportunities the internet offers.  This also answers the question of how is technology changing the world?  I think our generation spends way to much time on the internet playing online games, Facebook, MySpace and things like that.  In summary, we are becoming too reliable on technology!

Would you agree?