Aaron King

Mr. Shuler

11-14-2012

Advanced Computer Apps

            Fotobabble is an online creation tool that allows students to create talking photos.  Fotobabble also allows these students to share the images that they created.  The only things that you have to do are upload the photo, record your voice, and then send or embed it. 

            Students can use this tool in many ways.  They can find images that relate to certain vocabulary words that they have that week.  They can record themselves saying the word and definition and maybe even record them using the word in a sentence or multiple sentences.  They could share the pictures that they have created with other students in their class so they can study them as well as the person who made the pictures.  They can separate the words that they have used into different categories, like Math, Science, Social Studies, and English.  This tool would be very useful to the people who learn by visual aid or the people who learn by listening.  You could also upload pictures from a field trip that you went on.  You could record your thoughts, feelings, or observations that you made while on the trip.

            Teachers can create a Fotobabble account and upload pictures from recent lessons and record themselves explaining the lesson in detail.  They can record a story that they have written.  This would also be good for parent-teacher conference time.  The teacher show pictures of the student’s progress over the year and what they need to work on.  Students can be sent on a scavenger hunt on Fotobabble.  Teachers can record directions that will lead the students to success.  People who aren't very good at reading can listen and look to learn what they are doing. 

            This would be very good for history.  They can upload pictures of certain historic landmarks and the teachers can explain it.  You can take pictures of projects that the class has done and send them to family and friends.  You can record messages about highlights and upcoming events in the week and/or month. 

            It requires an e-mail address during registration.  The educational version was supposed to come out in 2011.  This will let teachers make the students an account without an e-mail address.

Aaron King

11-2-2012

Mr. Shuler

Advanced Computer Applications

What I Did This Week.

                This week in school was a pretty hectic week.  In English class we had to give informative speeches about a topic of our choice.  My topic was Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers.  We had the entire week before to do research about our topic and we had to give a 3-4 minute speech about our topic.  I didn’t think that it was going to be as tough as it really was.  I gave my speech on Tuesday.  I thought that I would get 3 minutes for sure.  It turns out that I only got about 1 minute and 45 seconds.

                This whole week in Spanish, we have been working on our Dia De Los Muertos projects.  Dia De Los Muertos means day of the dead.  This Spanish holiday represents all of the people who were respected and that have passed away.  For my project, I worked with my friend Zaelin.  Our project was over Nikolai Tesla.  He was the inventor of the Tesla coil.  He also worked with Thomas Edison for a short time before he opened up his own company. 

                We had a Chemistry test today.  The test was over atomic numbers, masses, and isotopes.  The lesson itself was pretty easy but I thought the test was a little challenging.  I knew the test was coming, but I still decided not to study.  I never really study for any of my tests.

                We also had a vocab quiz in English today.  The quiz was about different words that are involved in speech.  The words were very easy and I feel as if I got at least an A- on the quiz.  It was one of the easiest quizzes of the year.  This one, I didn't have to study for, thank goodness.

Aaron King

Mr. Shuler

10-26-2012

Advanced Computer Apps

1 to 1 Computers

Burlington High School near Boston has started handing out school issued iPads.  The iPads have grown in popularity in college campuses and are starting to grow in high school areas.  These iPads will replace standard textbooks used in most public secondary schools.  Apple Company has said that they know more than 600 school districts that have moved to Apple products for schools.  They call this the “one to one” program.  More than two thirds of them have come since July.  There are more programs like this one developing on a regular basis.  Woodford County High School in Kentucky has decided to move to the new iPad technology.  Their superintendent said that it would be a good idea and they have become the state’s first school with the new technology.

            The principal of Burlington High School says that the $500 iPad would be a better long-term investment for the school.  More than just the wealthier schools are transferring to the new iPads.  Some of the urban area schools are moving to the new technology.  Brookfield High School in Connecticut says that in spends at least that much every year in textbooks.  This does not include graphing calculators and dictionaries.  They say that the iPads are very beneficial.    They have interactive programs that demonstrate math problem solving skills.  Teachers can send quizzes immediately to the students.  They are really popular for special education classes.  It is good for children with autism, spectrum disorders, and learning disabilities.  People say that it is also beneficial because most of the students have already been learning on them at home. 

            15-year old Christian Woods, who is a sophomore at Burlington Mass., High School, helps up to 1000 teens each year develop to using the iPad. 

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2011-09-03/Many-US-schools-adding-iPads-trimming-textbooks/50251238/1 

Aaron King

10/15/2012

Mr. Shuler

Advanced Computer Applications Class

What I did Over the Weekend...

     Friday night, I went over to a friend's house.  His sister was having a birthday party, and he invited me 

over.  That night we had some pizza and we watched a bunch of TV.  It was a pretty slow night until around 

9:30 p.m. that night.  His dad decides that it would be nice to have a bonfire out by the shed.  So he goes out 

and he starts the bonfire, and he leaves us in charge of making sure that it doesn't spread throughout the 

garden.  So, we are standing there, and all of a sudden, we look over and his jacket starts smoking.  He runs 

away thinking that he is on fire, but his jacket was just really hot.  

     Saturday, I went home to shower and then went back to the same friend's house for his family reunion.  

His family considers me part of the family anyway.  We ate a bunch of food like chicken, mashed potatoes, 

and cornbread.  We also played a bunch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.  

    Sunday, I did a whole bunch of nothing.  I grilled out with my cousin and we played a bunch of football.  It 

started to storm later and the food was still outside grilling.  Then later that night we had to go to the hospital 

for my little cousin.   That is what I did over the weekend.