Week 10 - Internet Safety

Question 1: What do you believe could be an effective learning device for English language learners? What kind of technology or programs involving the use of technology could you use?

Question 2: What are your views on the NYS Education Law regarding Instruction on Internet Safe Usage?

Question 3: What was an interesting activity you found on the Edutopia site?

OpenOffice - About $200 Cheaper Than Microsoft Office

In reading about free and open content, I began to think about a program I use as an alternative to MS Office. I use a comparable program called OpenOffice that does everything MS Office does.

Maybe even a little better.

The key to producing such a successful product was based on the fact that this was initiated as a community product. Students, corporate and independent programmers, business and government employees all took part in putting together the software. By OpenOffice's estimate there have been almost 500,000 people who have already contributed.

http://www.openoffice.org/

The World is Open For a Reason

Q 1.  With the rising cost of higher education, combined with our currently gloomy economic situation, the     media seems quite enamored with questions of whether individuals can effectively learn new skills from free and open content and even receive credentials from it. What are your feeling on the idea of free information to college learners, and should students and graduates be able to access this information?


Q 2. There is no question that the current economic crisis is making it difficult for all students and educators.  How can people who are affected by the current economic crisis benefit from open education courses and other resources? What are the benefits for institutions and educators who share their content?

Week 8

 

Hope you're enjoying Spring Break!

How to Bypass Internet Filters

Something that is related to what we were reading for this week is the possibility for students to bypass the filters that are used on their school computers.

Just taking a few moments of searching helped me reach the following site:

http://privacysoftware.biz/privacy-by-proxy/how-to-bypass-internet-filters-to-view-myspace-youtube-and-others-at-schools-and-work/

"One of the most common solutions for this question is by using an anonymous proxy server. With an anonymous proxy server, you will be able to get around the internet filter. It is a loophole in the system that you can use in order to bypass the internet filter. Basically, an anonymous proxy server will acts just like a middle man. It will be the one that will enter restricted websites and not exactly you. Anonymous proxy servers will be the ones that will be identified by internet filtering software and will let it “think” that it is not you who is accessing the restricted websites.

There are basically other ways to bypass internet filter software programs. However, most are complicated to do. If you want the easiest way to bypass internet filters, the anonymous proxy server is your best option.

Today, there is quite a lot of anonymous proxy server software that you can download from the internet and install in the computer.

As you can see, it is quite simple to bypass internet filters. With an anonymous proxy server, you will be able to get around the internet filters. With it, you will make the internet filters think that you are not the one accessing restricted websites."

Either way, it is safe to say that if students (especially curious and/or bored students) are presented with a challenge they will try to find a solution. Part of being young is challenging the rules, and especially the rules of the school.

Week 6

1. Do you think Internet Filtering is a positive or a negative idea? Would you implement it in your classroom? What about your home?

2. What should an AUP (Acceptable Use Policies) be designed to do? Do you think it is a good idea? Why or why not?

Google's Android Market Concerns

I'm a user of an Android phone and wondered if any of you also use Google's "Market" to download any applications.

There was a recent article on CNN regarding the fact that there are concerns with Google's available apps having malicious codes that could gather user information from their phones. Apple has a similar marketplace for applications for the iPhone but they review and select every app that is made available.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/03/02/google.android.hack/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Just thought this would add more leverage to the Android v. iPhone debate.