Assignment 1 done and dusted!

So i have finished my first assignment for EDN113. I have to say i am feeling relieved that it is over.... This task has taken me quite some time and i'm happy its out of the way! Even though i am sure we will have lots more to come! But i also think that now i have done the first assignment for the unit maybe i am getting the hang of it?

The task has thought me a few things like how to make a website, a blog and simple things like how to save a document as a PDF! I think i have found making the website more handy than the blog. I know a lot of teachers use a blog and share their experiences, but i just cant see my self doing that. Maybe i am old school? I hope to be teaching younger children and i don't think i would be putting 6 year olds on the computer and getting them to do things like make a blog. I just feel they should be technology free for a few years whilst they are young because as soon as they reach the age of about 10 I'm sure they will all be right into the computers!!!

If i was to teach older children then i think i would do a task were they could design a website as i think this is a great thing to do. I like the website idea because i feel like its more useful. It may help them open their eyes to design or advertising or just an easy way to share things with people all over the world!

I just also want to say thank goodness for my friends on completing this task! I don't think i could of done it with out asking for tips and advice but also we did a lot of problem solving as a group and we helped each other though each section. We bought our laptops to uni and each lunch break we would work on our assignments. Its always good to have other people help you and give you advice!

Back in the classroom!

So we have just finished week four.... The content of EDN113 this week was all based on our blogs and websites, making sure everyone is up to date!

In the lecture we went through how to mark other peoples blogs and websites. We went through this in quite a lot of depth and i did get a little bored.... especially as it was my 3rd hr in the lecture rooms!! After about an hr i feel like my brain stops a little bit.

In the workshop we again went through how to mark and marked some samples. This was really quite helpful because it remind me what i needed to have in my assessment to make it great! I will defiantly use  the marking guide to go through and check everything.

I have chosen my social learner as you can see from my previous posts, i choose Skype!

I feel like I'm pretty close to finishing everything, thank goodness!

Skypes the winner!!

So after researching my 3 technologies I've decided to go with Skype.

I decided on Skype as it is the most convenient was to communicate with my parents whilst they are overseas.

Few of the main benefits include

1. Its free
2. Easy to use
3. Comes as an app also, so if I'm not at home on my laptop i can use it whist out and about
4. Can chat, video call and have basic call, which is more features than Facebook and emails
5. I can have 3 way conversations so Mum, dad and me can all speak and share ideas at the same time. 
6. I can see Mum and Dads faces so its more personal.
7. If i stay signed in Mum and Dad can contact me at anytime and i will receive notifications. 

I choose this over the other 2 options because of these benefits. These are benefits that out did the other technologies by a long way!

Skype?

The last thing i decided to research was Skype.

Skype has been around for years and i really used it religiously when i was travelling to talk to my boyfriend friends and family.

Some positives

1. Free
2. Easy to use
3. Can message, call or video call. 
4. Is an app for smart phones 
5. receive notifications or your phone rings like normal when a Skype user is trying to contact you 
6. Video calling so you can show others things. For me i can easily video call my parents to show them any ideas i have in regards to my party. 
7. Is a bit more personal than things like sending an email. 

Negatives 

1. Is run though internet so if there is not connection to internet Skype wont work

Emails?

Another social resource i though about was emails.

Some positives about emails are:

1. My parents both has emails and check them regularly 
2. Its free
3. You can easily attach things like photos and videos, so i would be able to show my parents things visually if needed. 
4. They are on smart phones so can be viewed at all times 
5. Easy to use 

Some negatives include:

1. You cant call on emails, only type, which can take a lot longer than speaking verbally
2. when emails come though as a noise of vibration on the phone it doesn't tell you who it is, so my parents could easily ignore my email thinking it was someone else when i may be needing to speak to them urgently. 
3. Emails can sometimes be slow! 

Facebook?

So one of the technologies i though about using was Facebook.

I thought Facebook would be a good idea for a few reasons.

1. Basically every one i know has Facebook, including my parents who are who i need to speak to. 
2. Its free 
3. Its an app for smart phones, again something that basically every one i know has. 
4. Its easy to use
5. It provides notifications when something new happens 
6. You can create an event, so i could create my event add my parents and use this as the place for discussion

I then thought about some of the disadvantages 

1. My parents aren't always on Facebook , and don't always hear the notification 
2. It is not as private 
3. It doesn't have a video option which would be helpful for me to have to physically show my parents my ideas when it comes to things like venues and decorations 

Social learner?

So after feeling really quite confused about what an earth a social learner is i have finally got it!

I have chosen as the topic "my 20th birthday"

Both my parents live overseas so i am researching what technology would be the best way to talk to them.

So far i have thought of emails, Facebook and Skype.

28/03/2013

So its week 3! I think...? I am already loosing track of things and to be honest struggling a little bit to keep up! So many readings and assignments. Not to forget all the other things like working, social life and for me looking after the horses. It is so busy!!!! I haven't felt like this for a while and yes, its a slight shock. I need to take a few deep breaths and instead of panicking about every little last thing i have to do i need to just get on with it!!

This week in my technology class we focust on our website and blogs. Now the lecture.... The lecture was a slight let down for me. We watched a lady make a website. This was good i suppose because i got to see how the website was made and they used Jimdo with i hadn't herd of before. But i would of preferred to be shown what is required in our website not so much how to make it.

It does all seem quite simple but i am struggling a bit with the social learner category. I think what i will have to do is just make it and then bring it in next week to show and compare and see if it is at all along the lines of what i am meant to do!!!

I did start a website with Yola but that went down the drain since you had to pay to have another page, which i really need.  so my goal for technology is to perhaps finish my website, so that i can check with Tomaz and my friends to see if they think its along the right line.

Will let you no how i go!