Week 12- Final Post

Wow, that semester really flew by. I feel like just yesterday I was learning what it meant to become a digital citizen. Through the development of my PLE diagram and my digital footprint, this has allowed me to gain further knowledge into what it really means to be a good digital citizen. Digital security is so important in today's technically advanced society. In order to become a good digital citizen, you must be aware of what you post and make sure it is appropriate. On the topic of online content, the responsibility to be respectful online also coincides with being a good digital citizen. With cyberbullying becoming more common because the world of social media has vastly exploded within the last 5 years, it is important to always engage online in a respectful and appropriate manner. We know how to act respectively in person, so why should that change when we have the ability to hide behind a computer screen? When I explored the tool Twitter that is under the education category of my PLE, I was quickly able to see the importance of privacy settings. Only after exploring the platform for maybe 45 min, I came across some content that I thought to myself “How could someone seriously post this for anyone in the world to see”. Posting inappropriate content only hurts your own personal image; something in which I would never want to do. It was great reading everyone posts on a weekly basis. I have attached my final PLE diagram. It is important to note that the yellow sections indicate a new tool that I have learned and will continue to use in the future.  

Thanks for a great semester, 

Andy Walker 

Week 11- Reflection

Hello everyone, 

This week we learned how to use some new tools that will be helpful in the future. Our goal was to develop a short (45-60 second) podcast that would allow viewers of our blog to takeaway some key information about digital citizenship. The fives tools we explored were Muziboo, SoundCloud, RecordMP3, Garageband, Jing, and Screenr. The easiest tools to work with were both SoundCloud and RecordMP3 as they had the easiest platform to follow and the quickest sign in process. Garageband was a program that I have always had on my Mac computer, yet had never tried. Upon trying it, I found it to be very confusing and quickly gave up and switched to trying another new tool. The next tool that I explored was called Jing. The always-ready program that allows you to instantly capture images and record video on your computer—then share them with anyone. Jing is a great tool for adding basic visual elements to all of your online conversations. However I felt that Jing accomplished much more than the short podcast that we needed for this weeks assignment. Finally, I got to try out another new tool called Screenr. I quickly found out that Screenr is no longer available due to its partnership with Java RE (Runtime Environment) which has now become antiquated. 

The tool that I used this week that could certainly be added to my PLE diagram would be SoundCloud. I have used SoundCloud for over two years now, however never to make my own project. SoundCloud is an audio platform that lets you listen to what you love and share the sounds you create. I have always utilized the "Listening" aspect of SoundCloud. This would go perfectly under the "Create" section of my PLE diagram because SoundCloud allows you to create any type of music/ podcast that you wish. From here, you can share your new sounds across the world, just with the click of a button. Soundcloud was a great program that I will certainly continue to use in the future. 

(Forbes, 2015)

Regards, 

Andy Walker 

Week 11- My First Podcast

Hello Everyone.

It is crazy to think how quickly this semester has flown by. It seems like just yesterday we were just learning how to blog and use new tools. Throughout this semester, we have learned many new platforms that have contributed to us becoming better digital citizens. This week in particular, we were given the chance to explore podcasts. A podcast is a digital audio file that is made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player, typically available as a series, new instalments of which can be received by subscribers automatically. 

(Emerson, 2014) 

This week we were given the opportunity to create our own podcast. At first like Tyra stated, I was unsure how talking to my computer would feel like. However after making the podcast, I realized how easy it was. I started by writing out what I wanted to say and practicing it in front my roommates. I then sat down and made sure I spoke slowly and clearly. I used a website called Record MP3 in order to create a short podcast on the importance of digital security in todays society. Using Record Mp3 was extremely simple I chose to do my podcast on digital security because I think it is an issue that more people need to become aware of. However I was unable to find an embed code. Therefore, I utilized the second new tool that we were introduced to this week which was SoundCloud. SoundCloud was a very easy program to use, and sign up was as simple as hitting the "Log in with Facebook" button.  Displaying this content in the form of a short podcast made it possible to quickly deliver a powerful and informative message to anyone who might view my blog. I have attached my podcast for anyone who wishes to give it a listen.

Finally, the article that I would like to share with everyone this week is titled Easter Egg Hunt Reportedly Descends Into a 'Mess' as Parents Allegedly Trample and Steal Candy from Kids. I had mixed emotions reading this article, but after reading the title, I couldn't help but laugh. The fact that full blown adults are going more crazy over an easter egg hunt than the kids absolutely blows my mind. The sad thing was that the event had to be cancelled and no-one got to participate in the fun event, but the good news was that nobody got hurt.

Have a great week and enjoy my podcast,

Andy Walker

Weekly Reflection 10

Hello everyone, 

This week I was exploring my feedly page and came across a rather interesting article titled "Obama Arrives in Cuba, Heralding New Era After Decades of Hostility. The article states that Obama is the first American Leader to have touched down in Cuba in over 9 decades!! His trip is the result of a stunning policy reversal 15 months ago, holds the potential to forge closer ties between longtime adversaries and exorcise one of the last ghosts of the Cold War. I found this article to be very interesting because with all the drama happening in American politics right now with Donald Trump, I feel as though the country is forgetting about some of the great things their current leader is doing. I hope that the United States can develop a stronger relation with Cuba to help increase their trade. Another big reason that I personally like this developing relation is that Cuba will be able to import better food to their resorts. 

(Macintosh, 2015)

As stated in my last post, we had the chance to explore three presentation tools this week; 2 of which were completely new to me. I had previous experience with using prezi, however I had never experienced Animoto or Fotobabble. Prezi is a great way to make a presentation because it allows your content to almost tell a story. The images can be zoomed into, spun around, or even slid across the page. In the past, I have been a Microsoft Powerpoint type of person, mainly because that is what I grew up using. However I am happy that this course has opened me up to new digital tools that can help me with future presentations. 

The second tool was Fotobabble, which allows you to incorporate, babble. In Tyra's Blog, she states that the big difference with this tool is the ability to incorporate voice, which relates back to week 9. I feel that this is an important tool because some people learn better from hearing someones voice rather than reading.  However, like Tyra said not everyone is comfortable with using their voice in the digital world. Tyra agree that using her voice is not my favourite because she feel that she sound like a little girl, however she is still willing to give this tool a try. Very courages Tyra! The final presentation tool explored was Animoto. Animoto allows you to import pictures of your choice, and then choose a template to put them in. Once this is complete, the photos will automatically be made into a video slideshow with music. The downfall I found with Animoto was the very limited amount of text that is allowed under each photo. That being said, here is a slideshow I've created displaying some of my work from my company Andy's Home & Lawn Service: 

Week 10- Animoto/ Copyrights

This week we were able to explore three new presentation-making tools. In specific, we focused on a tool called Animoto. Animoto allows you to select images of your choice in which a video is then automatically created presenting the images in a slideshow. You can also add music to your presentation (whichever song you please) that helps capture the audience. However, before any of this can be accomplished, you must first sign up. Sometimes signing up for something new can be a pain due to all the spam emails you get, however Animoto was very easy. All I had to do was hit the “Log in with Facebook” button and I was automatically signed up.

(Copyrights & Trademarks, 2016)

After signing up, it is time to create your first video presentation. Just like the sign up, Animoto makes this super easy. Upon hitting the “Create” button, you are asked to choose from a large variety of sample templates. These templates all have different backgrounds as well as different background music. For the purpose of this assignment, I just chose the basic template to get me started. It is then up to you to add your own images and text if you so desire. This week, I made a presentation on copyrights. This assignment came at the perfect time, as I just had a midterm last week all about copyrights, trademarks and patents. With the definition fresh in my head, copyright is a legal right created by the law of a country that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights for its use and distribution. Copyrighting is considered a criminal offence in which someone can be charged against. I also learned that Google had an area where you could limit your search to just find images that are protected under copyright law. These are the images I used in my Animoto presentation:

Weekly Discussion #9: VOICETHREAD

Hello readers,

This week we were given the opportunity to explore a new tool called VoiceThread. VoiceThread allows anyone from across the globe to add his or her comments to a power point presentation. In this week’s example, we had to answer questions relating to digital citizenship. The unique thing about VoiceThread is that you can answer these questions through an audio clip, video clip or just simply typing in your message. In this week’s activity, 

(VoiceThread, 2014)

I chose to do an audio clip as well as a couple typed messages. I believe that VoiceThread can be a helpful academic tool because it not only allows you to see your classmates opinions on the subject matter, but also the opinions of others from all around the world. With certain topics, the platform could almost be used for small debates. I also feel that VoiceThread could be used to get others feedback on issues that you might be curious about. For example, I could make a presentation on the political campaign happening right now in the United States. I could have many slides asking different questions, which could spark a lot of conversation and opinions from many people. This is where my point comes into play about how this online tool could be used as a debate platform with people commenting back and forth to each other on a specific issue. Fellow classmate Andrea Marano makes a good point on her blog by making reference to using VoiceThread in her future occupation. She says that when she has her own classroom, it would be a beneficial way to integrate safe communication with technology into the classroom.

As for my weekly article finding, I came across another article on the website "Reddit". The article I found is strangely interesting and is titled "Hope for Lonely Rodents: Rent-A-Guinea Pig Service Takes Off in Switzerland". This article talks about how in Switzerland it is illegal to just own one guinea pig. This is because they are prone to loneliness, however the issue addressed in this article is about what happens when one dies? Well, Swiss animal lover Priska Küng has that covered with her "rent-a-guinea pig" business, a service that has been in high demand ever since the law came into effect. Prism simply rents guinea pigs to families that have recently lost one of their beloved pets. Although this article does not relate to this course in any way, I thought it was very unique and taught me something that I would have NEVER learned otherwise.  

Thank you for reading,

Andy Walker

Use of Technology: Scenario #10

(Ribbie, 2015)

Kevin has just purchased the latest video game, Too Fast '22. He and his friends enjoy playing video games on their gaming systems. His best friend Vince also likes to play video games, but does not have the money to buy all the latest games. Kevin decides to be a good friend and install a copy of Too Fast '22 on Vince's system. Does sharing games, music, or movies hurt anyone? 

Source: Ribble, M. (2015) Digital Citizenship in Schools (3rd Edition) International Society for Technology in Education ISBN 9781564843647

Upon looking at this scenario, I was quickly able to pinpoint the issue. By pirating the video game, Kevin is committing an illegal act. Piracy refers to the unauthorized duplication of copyrighted content that is then sold at substantially lower prices in the 'grey' market. The ease of access to technology has meant that over the years, piracy has become more rampant (Budget, 2016).If everyone were to do this, then video game companies would not make any profit and therefore would not have any money to produce new video games. It's a vicious cycle if you ask me. This same act can be applied to both music and movies. If no-one ever paid for music or movies, just like the video game companies, these industries would quickly fall apart. In order to prevent Kevin from committing an illegal act to help Vince out, he could invite Vince over to play the game more frequently. Vince will need some time to save up money for this game, so in the meantime, he can just play it at Kevin's house. 

Week 8 Discussion

Hello ladies and gentleman,

This week I decided to look for an article that on a popular site called Reddit. Reddit is a site that always seems to have the most recent and up to date news stories from around the globe. This weeks story that caught my attention was titled “Scientists gear up to drill into ‘ground zero’ of theimpact that killed the dinosaurs”. It talks about how this month, a drilling platform will rise in the Gulf of Mexico, but it won’t be aiming for oil. Scientists are going to try and sink a diamond-tipped bit into the heart of Chicxulub crater—the buried remnant of the asteroid impact 66 million years ago that killed off the dinosaurs, along with most other life on the planet. I think it will be interesting to learn more history about the past, and more specifically dinosaurs.

(Reddit, 2015)

It was interesting this week to have a chance to further explore wikis. How could I see myself using a wiki you ask? Well the answer is simple; I have actually been using them for years now. Of course the most notable one that I’m most familiar with is “Wikipedia”.  I have always been told to stay away from Wikipedia when doing any form of schoolwork, however I truly believe there is a lot of good “take-aways” from this site. I believe that a wiki is similar to a blog because it is a website that anyone can create and share their own ideas. The freedom of posting whatever you want to your personal blog can also be carried over when making a wiki. I believe that a wiki can also be similar to Google Docs because if you have a public wiki, then technically anyone can edit it at any time. This is similar to Google Docs because when you’re invited to a group, anyone can also edit the same document at any given time.

(Johnson, 2013)

I believe that there are many different ways that a wiki can be used to benefit someone.  For starters, a wiki is a web communication and collaboration tool that can be used to engage students in learning with others within a collaborative environment. Wikis allow visitors to engage in dialog and share information among participants in group projects, or to engage in learning with each other by using wikis as a collaborative environment in which to construct their knowledge. Having the ability to collaborate with other students through the use of a wiki could be very helpful and I would like to give it a try sometime.

Regards,

Andy Walker

Weekly Reflection- Week 7

(Lewis, 2012)

This weeks learning activity allowed me to experience something that I have yet to do in my lifetime; which was to work entirely on a group project without ever seeing who my group members are, let alone meeting up with them. This allowed me to fully experience the term “Teamwork” as we had to make decisions all over a platform called “TodaysMeet”. At first I was a little overwhelmed with TodaysMeet, however after a quick YouTube tutorial, I was well on my way with this assignment. TodaysMeet allows you to connect with individuals from across the world in live time on a chat platform similar to Facebook Messenger. Once we established a quick group connection and intro, we were quick to get started on this weeks Google Docs presentation.

(Google, 2016)

Google’s online platform where you can create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, forms and drawings is an excellent tool for students and should be more recognized in the coming years. My first favourite feature with these Google platforms is that you never have to worry about saving your work. As you do you work, it is automatically saved and can be accessed on any computer at any time no matter where you might be. A bit extreme but you could be in China without your personal laptop and still access all your work from a different computer over there. Secondly, and most important is that all of your work can be accessed in the palm of your hand through the compatibility with IPhones. I have personal experience with Google Sheets and using it on my IPhone. In the summer when I am running my landscaping company and tracking expenses, I can quickly input them on my phone and they will automatically be accessible for me at any time on any device or computer.  Thirdly, this platform has the unique ability to let you invite group members to edit your docs and you can see in live time the changes that they are making. This came in handy with our group assignment, as I was able to correct some of the content that my partners had put up.

This weeks Feedly Article that stood out to me was titled “95 Inspiring Websites of Web Design Agencies”. This first caught my attention because I recently finished designing my own website for my company “Andy’s Home & Lawn Service”, so I knew that I would be able to relate to this article. This article provided creative tips to helping your website gain more attention. I am happy to have come across this article, as I will certainly be putting some of these tips to use in the near future (once all my school work slows down).