Chapter 2

Chapter 2 is about communication through the internet. I found it rather interesting that the internet has existed since 1960 while the World Wide Web came about in the 1990's. The section THE WORLD WIDE WEB discusses the components that make up web pages. For instance; the URL is a uniform resource locator. The most common protocol is the hypertext transfer protocol (http://) This section also goes into more detail about different types of hypertext/ hyperlinks/ hypermedia. I found that I definitely fall into the Web Surfing category, jumping from one page to another. The Web helps teachers and students communicate with other teachers and students in other countries. One main website that allows teachers and students to do this is ePALS classroom exchange. Another interesting fact that the book says is the best way to learn how the internet works "is to log on and explore."
This past week I learned different ways to search the web to find different topics. I didn't realize all the things that Google had to offer besides their original start up page. The web hunt allowed me to search for things using different tools and further my understanding of how the web works. These web hunts are a great tool with teaching all subjects.
Last weeks class was beneficial with teaching later on. We were able to find websites to talk with other teachers as well as finding websites to find lesson plans. I didn't realize how many websites there were out there that teachers use and how they end up helping each other. I want to teach Math for high schoolers and I found some great websites to help with lesson plans as well as places to go to find worksheets and what not. This class is going to help out a lot with teaching! I have been doing volunteering at a High School and I enjoy it. I have been helping 9th and 10th graders with Math FCAT which I HATE the FCAT but i feel better about myself in the fact that i get to help others and thats the most rewarding part i think of being a teacher/volunteer.

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 is filled with more detail pertaining to the inside of the computer. Most of this information I never knew even existed. This chapter explains the common things in more detail as well as things the little things that make your computer run better/faster in an easy way that is understandable. For instance I knew that the more pixels a screen created the better, however, I didn’t understand how the numbers worked. The first number is the pixels per horizontal row whereas the second number is the pixels per vertical column, then you multiply them to get the total. (That makes sense!)This chapter gives lots of examples of each kind of device that the computer can do; input, output, storage media and devices. This chapter breaks down the components of a computer in a way that even if you think you know that part fairly well you still learn more about it.

I have never used Inspiration 8 prior to this class. I found it to be a very useful tool program and I think it beats trying to make those concept maps on Word. That takes a really long time and it doesn’t look near as nice and cool as the way Inspiration allows you to arrange the data. These maps with be helpful in teaching just about any class. I wish when I was in school they had concept map application like this instead of us trying to draw them and make them perfect. This would have been a huge time saver.

I must say I'm not a big fan of this book. I think its ok, gives lots of examples and things like that but with technology you need to be hands on. I feel that I learn better in the class rather than reading this material. There’s just so much to read and try to remember and I don’t think I will ever be asked a question that pertains to the components of the inside of a computer. This class will be beneficial in itself; I think the book hinders this course rather than benefit it. I despise SAM I think it messed up my computer as well as my roommates. I'm not sure how it did it but it did it.

***Glad the giants won…however I wish Peyton Manning got MVP instead of his little brother ;)