We are heading into the final week of school! For this final journal, write freely about being finished, about whether or not you made the most of your year, about how you could make next year better and anything else that pertains to finishing out another year of your school life. TURN YOUR JOURNAL IN WHEN FINISHED! It is worth 50 points!
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While discussing what's important to succeed in high school with the incoming freshman, the word legacy came up. 'What legacy will you leave behind? What legacy will the Class of 2019 leave behind' were a few of the questions posed to the class.
Ask yourself that question, 'what legacy will YOU leave behind?', 'what will YOU be known for long after you leave NVAS, NHS and maybe even the city of Norway?' How about your class? What will they be known for? Will they be the class everybody in the school and community couldn't wait to leave? Or will they be the class that teachers, administrators, community members and professionals will want to make connections with, work with, succeed with? Why would that be important? Write about this topic for five minutes minimum in your journal blog. Did you know that Twitter, facebook and YouTube are blocked in China? The government doesn't allow their citizens to use those networks. This kind of control and denial of rights is getting harder and harder to pull off in a world of transparency, collaboration and sharing.
Do a google search on this blocking of social media. What did you discover? What do you think of this blocking? Do you agree with it? Do you disagree with it? Write on this topic for five minutes minimum in your journal. Watch the video in class (or on your own if you were absent) & read the following article. In the article it states, "It’s projected that in the next decade there will be about 1 million more U.S. jobs in the tech sector than computer science graduates to fill them. And it’s estimated that only about 10 percent of K-12 schools teach computer science." That said ONE MILLION more jobs in the tech sector than graduates to fill them! A job with such a high demand for graduates results in EXCELLENT salaries, EXCELLENT benefits and EXCELLENT work environments. Mrs. Leiker was offered a job of $100 an hour almost fifteen years ago just to work for a computer science company that was in high demand of Visual Basic programmers at the time and the friend who was trying to do the convincing automatically received a $10,000 bonus JUST FOR GETTING a programmer to come to that company!
Did you know that Norway High School IS a school that teaches what the video claims 'Most Schools Don't Teach"? The course is called Visual Basic (Computer Programming) and although the name is most likely changing for next year, the content of computer programming is exactly what the video and the article are promoting. NHS also offers the following technology courses: Micro, Adv. Micro, Multimedia, Tech Integration & Applications and Photoshop. Micro and Adv. Micro courses are also getting a name change next year. I recently had a discussion with somebody who wanted to take a computer course locally and discovered that even at the community college, one computer course costs nearly $800, and after doing some research, I discovered that a computer course at a Big Ten school such as the University of Michigan costs around $2000! One of the reasons technology courses are so important is because technology is now being used in EVERY occupation as well as for phone service, communication, banking, purchasing and basically every life necessity. There is going to be a time in the not too distance future that without technology knowledge, it will be very hard to get by in society at all. You probably have already seen how different the lives of grandparents who can't use technology are become from the rest of society and how many fear it and get anxiety from their lack of knowledge. While you are here at NHS, you have the opportunity to take technology courses for absolutely no cost to you! It's the future, it's here and you have the ability to train yourself on important skills needed in any profession you choose. As you are scheduling courses in the upcoming weeks, try to remember the importance technology will play in your future. If you have any questions at all, don't be afraid to email me and I can explain what the courses are about and how they can be great for your future. Get those courses while you can so you will be prepared for what lies ahead. For this week's journal entry, please write for five minutes minimum on this topic. What are your thoughts on taking technology courses? Do you feel they are important? Why or why not? What courses have you taken already? Which do you plan to take? If you dislike technology, do you think it is important for your future to try to take courses that might change that opinion? Do you know somebody who needs a technology course? Do you think they would want to take the courses that are available to you here at NHS? Run Google Maps using the Google Apps Symbol (9 boxes) in the upper right hand corner when you are logged into your Google Account or GMail (Under the More...at the bottom). Look up the address of somewhere you will be visiting on spring break (even if it is local or in the UP or is your home). Try using the search nearby tool (restaurants, etc.). Check out every tool in Google Maps that can be used to familiarize yourself with the area. Go to Google Satellite view to see the images taken via photography. How can this help you prepare for an area you are visiting? Search for more attractions you may be interested in nearby (shopping, golf, beaches, etc.). Be sure you play with all the Google Maps tools enough to understand the program. When done playing with the program, write for five minutes minimum on the value of a tool such as Google Maps. How can you better plan and prepare when going ton vacation or other conference or trip? Do you leave it up to somebody else to make all the planning when visiting somewhere new? Do you think it would be a good idea to prepare yourself? Why or why not?
Augmented reality isn't new to #leikerclass students. A journal blog has already been written on Aurasma and how it could be used to make this year's yearbook come alive. Augmented reality is so much more than video laid over an image, however and today's coloring demonstration with ColAR Mix shows just that. The ability to merge reality with animated three dimensional objects has so many applications in the medical world, military service, job training and much much more! Think of how this will change learning! Students of any subject can learn in an augmented real life situation!
For this journal entry, color your picture, download ColAR Mix and watch the magic. How could this be applied to the fields listed above? How will this change the way we learn? Be prepared for the amazing changes coming to your world. DON'T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR JOURNAL TODAY. IT IS WORTH 50 POINTS TOWARD THE MARKING PERIOD GRADE! Watch the following video as a class (or on your own if absent/etc.): https://youtu.be/zxpa4dNVd3c
The world is changing at a faster rate than ever with social media dominating every facet of society. It is no longer an option to ignore social media and technology. There are some who claim that not understanding a hashtag can be compared to illiteracy! Discuss the statistics in the video in class. What do you agree and/or disagree with? Write for five minutes minimum in your journal on this topic. Read THIS ARTICLE and THIS ARTICLE.
It's never been more important to have an excellent digital footprint and connections online in order to apply for jobs. To be competitive in today's job market, you not only need to have an impressive online presence but also need to have the right connections in order to be considered for jobs. In your journal, discuss the articles above. What do you agree with? What do you disagree with? How do you feel about your online presence? Does it need work? Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Why or why not? After writing about this in your journal for five minutes, go out and do something about your digital presence. Join Twitter or LinkedIn to make a profile that will connect you with others that make your digital presence better. Be sure to add projects online that you have done and/or recommendation letters and resumes. Be sure you really put your best self out there for others to see. Use this time to search for and make connections with others that will be impressive for your digital footprint. It isn't just important to have a good digital footprint, it is important to be connected to others who also do. If you have a valid Twitter account that is used for good, feel free to connect with me at: @jleiker06 and/or tweet about today's discussion using the hashtag #leikerclass. Google defines mediocracy as 'a dominant class consisting of mediocre people, or a system in which mediocrity is rewarded. It defines mediocre as 'of only moderate quality; not very good'. Mediocre people are ordinary, average, uninspired people. Most people would prefer not to fall into that group but yet by the very meaning of the word, it is most people since it is considered average.
Why do people not go 'above and beyond' the average? When completing a project, extra-curricular, sport or other activity in which you participate, why is going above status quo so unusual? I have had a lot of life experience. In my experience, personal satisfaction is much greater when you throw yourself into projects and do the best you can possibly do. Would you agree with this statement? How do you approach projects in school? Do you meet the minimum standards or do you tend to do all you can to make each and every project your best work? Do you think you do a lot and then complain about not being rewarded enough? Would that put you in the mediocre group of people? Complacent is defined as showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements. People who are complacent generally are self-satisfied and most likely fall in that medium or middle 'mediocre' group. Do you think you fall in this group? Write about this topic for five minutes minimum in your journal. Watch Josh's story in class or on your own (http://youtu.be/PIHtuKc3Gjg). Have you ever felt like Josh or knew somebody else in your class, building or school felt like Josh? Can one simple act of kindness or reaching out possibly change a life perspective for somebody? Do you have the courage to do something like Josh did or to reach out to somebody like Josh with an act of kindness? What kinds of things can you do to show kindness daily to those who may be suffering either from bullying, problems at home, academic problems or other problems?
Write on this topic in your journal for five minutes minimum. |
Mrs. LeikerA technology teacher at Norway High School excited to revolutionize learning through digital methods. Archives
May 2017
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The Weekly Journal Blog
A blog encouraging students in Mrs. Leiker's courses at Norway High School to develop techniques for writing journals and blogs digitally and sharing their thoughts and insights with the world!