Responses to Instruction Design Assignment

Once I figured out how to use print screen I had no problem. It took me hours and once I learned how I felt kind of slow. Putting together a set of instructions on how to perform a function with a new program was fun and interesting. The feedback I recieved at class helped me see some weaknesses and gave me a couple of terrific suggestions. Both of which I did. One was to add the shortcut icon at the beginning of the tutorial and the other was to add another step to the instructions. Doing something is easier than telling someone else how to do it.

Can one person make a difference?

I'm an optimist and believe that one person can make a difference. With all the ways that we can communicate around the world a person can influence and make a difference somewhere else. By just blogging farming stuff in Oklahoma could start a relationship with a farmer from China and through their mutual friendship learn from each other. Different people have different ways and who is to say which is better. It's not so much which is better but that there are two techniques now. To change the world you would need alot of influence, time and energy. You would need to sell your idea to the world. It is easier today to reach and teach people than at any other time in history because of the Inernt.

Biggest Problems using Tech with Kids?

Even with supervision a child might see porn. Pornography and predation by perverts and con artists are why children need supervision when Internetting.

Below are several website about safety issues and children of all ages. You'll even find a contract that will list the specific rules about who, what, how, and when to use the Internet.

1.
easy computer tips: practical computer advice
This page is full of links about child safety and the Internet.

Http://www.easycomputertips.com/article-howtokeepkidssafeontheweb.html

2.
10 Commandments for Kids Online
This is a contract. That is all this website is. It lists 10 rules about the computer and the Internet and provides spaces for the child and the parent to sign.

http://komando.com/kids/commandments.aspx

3.
safekids.co.uk
This website is extensive. There are links to about anything you need to knnw about children and safety. You can find information about child seat installation, pets, child abduction, Internet, health, development, allergies, a huge library of videos and much, much more. I'm not kidding, there is some information here.

http://www.safekids.co.uk/ChildrenInternetParentalAdvice.html

So many tools so little time

About the question, "So many tools that do the same thing....I found myself asking.....do we have too many things going on at once....are there problems with overlap... are we dividing our effort?" Probably so, but if you don't have diversification and overlap you'll end up with stagnation. This "too many things going on at once" is just each guy trying to make a better product and becoming rich and successful. There is the problem of having enough time to learn new programs. Usually most of us learn to use a program and tend to stick with it.

Website Review

This website has to do with students with disabilities.

National Dissemination Center for Children and Disabilities

NICHCY offers brief, but detailed fact sheets on specific disabilities. Each fact sheet defines the disability, describs its characteristics, and offers tips for parents and teachers.

You can also access additional information about resources on the specific disability in print or video and disability organizations that can offer more information and assistance.

This list is in alphabetical order by disability, except that you'll find Other Health Impairment (OHI) listed last. OHI is last in the list because ther are numerous health-related disabilities that fall under that category, including diabetes and Touretts Syndrome. That's where you'll find these two disabilities discussed, as well as heart conditions, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, and sickle cell anemia.

http://www.nichcy.org/Disabilities/Specific/Pages/Default.aspx

I still havn't figured out where we are to post our answers to the questions. I tried to submit my response to the snow day and tech.. I figure I am trying to put it where it doesn't go. Well anyway, it'll work out. I also find that my submissions for the websites are probably wrong. I'll need fix them. Good about a Wiki is it can be repaired. Off to more homework.

Well I panicked for nothing. I skipped class last night because of a snow storm that wasn't very bad. A good thing about it was the chance to use Skype, so in a way I was in class. It was a unique experience and I was exptremely glad to be able to listen and watch class. For some reason my computer was running a little slow and I was unable to talk to you. The mute button on my end didn't seem to make a difference. I truly appreciated the opportunity to monitor the class, hear the lecture and listen to the videos. A student at home sick or laid up for any reason could attend class via Skype. To make it work smother you could assign a particular student to attend to the connection and help the person on Skype to be heard or adjust the camera. (maybe a remote controlled camera) I could only see the bottom 1/4 of the screen, the wall and floor but I could hear very well. I think that everyone in my class should stay home and attend class via Skype.