Technology Presentation Overview

Even though I did not have to present on a Web 2.0 technology idea, we did discuss them in class.
I really loved Join.me which is a website that allows you to hook up to other computers so you can all be connected. You can have one person take control of all the computers, or the 1st person can allow others to control as well..
I think this would be extremely helpful in classrooms. The teacher could connect with the student's laptops to show them information, and help to present ideas with other students. The students could use it as well, for group projects. They could all write on the computer they are hooked up to. This would be helpful if the group could not meet outside of school, so they could work together no matter what. The teacher and students could peer edit papers, write articles, make presentations. Basically they have the whole Internet to do anything, and they are connected while doing it...

Gotta love 2011.

Is there Value in Learning from Fiction?

As an English major, I answer that with a estatic YES! (woohoo) Even though fiction is not wholly true, there are so many life lessons portrayed in all that we read. Through all of Shakespeare's works we learn of love, jealousy, lust, hatred, and power, just to name a few. From Elizabeth Bennett we learn what it takes to be an independent woman falling in love. Through Tom Sawyer we learn about consequences of our actions and the overwhelming love of adventure throughout our young lives. Each fiction novel, or even a modern fiction story, exemplifies some kind of value that allows students to connect their own lives with these stories. Of course, as an English major... I may be a tad biased, but I whole heartedly believed that learning from fiction is very valuable indeed.