Placement Blog Post

1.
I believe I will be best at learning new software.
On a regular basis, I am always testing out new software at home where I have had a lot of experience in harnessing the potential in different types of software. I know how to differentiate between good and bad software and what is useless/useful.

I believe I will not do so well in developing and creating websites. Although I have taken a few programming courses in the past, HTML is a fairly new concept to me and I have put much effort into making my blog nice and neat. I believe there are other students in the class who are much more fitted for this job.

2.
Creativity:
8 - I am good at coming up with creative ideas but sometimes it takes a lengthy amount of time before I get the "aha!" moment. Other students may have an easier time coming to this "aha!" moment.

Responsibility:
10 - If I say I will get the work done, I make it my priority to get the job done well. I always take responsibility for my own mistakes and wrongdoings.

Web Design:
8 - Although I have stated in the past that I am not amazing at web design, I had a 100% custom theme on my blog before (which I had to convert back to a template them due to the RSS feed not working) which took me a lot of time to create. I was able to change the way I wanted something but this took time. HTML is not yet second nature to me as I am fairly new at designing web pages.

Developing Action Plans:
10 - As a previous manager at a unit in Wonderland, action plans are made in my head without much deliberation. I have become very good at making rational decisions based on the information that I am given and the knowledge that I have.

Teaching Other People:
8 - Depending on what I am teaching, I may not be so good at teaching other people the skills. I am capable of learning on my own, but sometimes I have trouble thinking like someone else.

Meeting Deadlines:
10 - Aside from the miscommunication last week, I always meet my deadlines. I treat my deadlines as a DEADLINE where past the deadline is the end of the world (somewhere I do not wish to go). As long as a date and time is put up, my responsibility kicks in and I will make it my primary concern to meet that responsibility.

3.
I am comfortable with leading a group of students. Leading a group of people was my primary job when I was a supervisor back then.

4.
I am okay with working with a partner or in a team.
I prefer to work with people rather than alone because I am able to share my ideas and get constructive criticism.

5.
I would like to work in any of the subjects listed.
I have interest in all of the subjects, and I have taken at least one course in every single one of those subjects.

Throttling up on Google Docs

After much deliberation and consideration, I have concluded that Google Docs is an amazing program that will benefit students and teachers.
Google Docs allow students and teachers to be editing and viewing one document simultaneously. While the document is being edited, all changes are being recorded and the document is saved automatically on the internet so the fear of losing information can be eliminated.
Google Docs will benefit everybody that uses it at the expense of only a few minutes for most people to get used to this extremely user friendly program. Google Docs closely resembles Microsoft Word, a program that most people are familiar with already. In order for a student with previous Microsoft Word experience to use Google Docs, he/she will have to simply sign up for a Google Account and use Google Docs in the same way that he/she will use Microsoft Word.
Once the student/teacher begins to use Google Docs, he/she will find out the full potential of this underrated program. The simplicity of the program speaks for itself, the program is easy to use and the program yields in amazing results.
Although there are a few drawbacks to Google Docs, these drawbacks go no further than computers connected to the internet. The pros outweigh the cons by a landslide.
Google is continually progressing with development of Google Docs, and from now on, Google Docs will only get better.

Just when you think "It can't get any better than this!", it will.
And Google Docs will make things better.

Enriching Technology Blog Post

Idea: Classes should harness the efficiency and convenience that Google Docs provides.

Subject Area:
Every subject that can benefit from word processing software.

Details:
Google docs is a powerful online word processor.

Firstly, Google Docs is a convenient word processing software that works similarly to Microsoft Word. A benefit of Google Docs is that everything is saved online, and if the user's computer crashes, everything will be saved.

The second major benefit of Google Docs is that it has a feature that has the potential of making group work easier. As shown in demonstrations in class, Google Docs has the power of allowing multiple users edit one document. This can be useful for situations where group work is involved. For example, this feature can be implemented in Science class. If a lab report is required to be handed in for every group, the members of the group can all edit one document simultaneously.

The third major benefit of Google Docs is that it will enrich learning through corrections. For example, when a group is working on a document in class, the teacher can be reading the work done by students and critique it. Corrections can help guide a student to success. Along with the documents that students type up, they can attach links to the document which can lead to important websites that will help the learning process.

Technology needed:
Netbooks/Computers, Internet, Google Account

Pros:
- Students can work together on one document at the same time
- Google Docs requires only a Google Account, no fees are required
- Work is saved on a regular interval, this prevents data loss
- Work is all saved online, no external memory required
- Teachers can edit and provide input on students' work
- Links and clips may be attached to documents to enhance learning on the topics

Cons:
- Internet is required
- Students may be sidetracked by going on non educational websites

What Needs to Happen to Make the Idea Work – Who is Responsible?
1. All students who wish to use Google Docs must sign up for a Google Account.
2. One student starts a document, and s/he has the option to share the document with specified people.
3. Data saved on Google Docs can be downloaded and printed on any computer connected with the internet.

eInstruction Contest

For this short film that we have to make, I think a good way to show how we can benefit by learning with technology is with a Point of View video.
My idea is that I envision a regular student holding the camera showing the class as a boring technological free environment. He/she will talk to himself about how boring the class is, and he will show that he is really bored in class by doodling and sleeping in class.
Then we can show the same student in another classroom with smart boards, netbooks, and interactive videos and showing that h/shee is not falling asleep or doodling anymore. He/she will be interested in the curriculum and the lessons.
This will show that use of technology will benefit the learning process of students and the ease of teaching with technologies for teachers.

Future Generation Tech Lab Application

For the Future Generation Tech Lab Application, I believe we should write about the fact that we are in need of better computers.
I have noticed along with probably everyone else in the school that our library computers are not exactly the best running machines out there.
They are slow, sluggish, and often do weird things on us at the most important times such as times that we must hand in assignments and use the printer.
I believe we should tell Future Shop about our MaCS program and the love for computers in Mackenzie. This way they will see things in our point of view that we need better running desktops in order to feed our interest into the future, into the future of technology.

Staples Contest Post

According to the rules and regulations page for the Staples contest [http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Static/static_pages.asp?pagename=rferules], a student from our school must submit a 500-word essay about how their school is environmentally responsible.
I believe Mackenzie is a prime candidate for this title for many reasons.
Because of this, I have formulated some ideas that we can put on the final essay that we send in to Staples.

First off, our school is very environmentally friendly in the sense that we have a club called SWITCH. SWITCH is the first club in the TDSB to incorporate solar panels for use in a TDSB school. This is big news for the environmental community because solar panels are the future, and here at Mackenzie, we are the first of few people to take initiative to go foreward with being environmentally friendly.

Another reason that I believe Mackenzie is a good candidate for this contest is that we have many other clubs like gardening club, Envirothon, and Wind-Eng, to name a few.
These clubs focus on improving the environment and how to contribute to a cleaner earth. All of these clubs suggest that Mackenzie is environmentally responsible.

Lastly, Mackenzie supports many events like Earth Hour, where the environment is greatly improved. We save electricity as much as possible, by making sure all lights are shut off when not in use and many small but important actions like that.

These three reasons are why I believe Mackenzie is an amazing candidate for the Staples $50,000 Recycle For Education Contest.