Week 10

Using Gaming for learning is the topic for this week's discussion.  Testing for assessment has to be considered a type of game; points are given for correct answers to a stated objective, once an objective is achieved, some sort of reward is given. Games make great tests especially in a 3-D virtual environment where options for understanding a topic can be made into models or unique user experiences. A resource I found about gaming and learning is at http://vgalt.com/.

Week Nine

Augmented reality is a fascinating topic when it comes to education.  This takes technology to a higher level of interaction and the opportunities for learning modules are endless.  I decided to add to my proposed course curriculum on accessibility and distance education.  The vOICe application for the android phone using the camera to identify objects and translate the information into speech is a great way of showing how assistive technology works, or as I'm guessing, doesn't always work. If only my phone was smart enough to take on the technology.

Week Eight

For creating a lesson to enhance intercultural collaboration using emerging web technologies, my first thought would be this weeks' instructional module in Second Life (SL), a multi-user virtual reality program.  Sites from around the world already exist in SL and people from many places and cultures are using SL to interact. Although this week's lesson doesn't specifically focus on intercultural activities, a lesson using SL to find people and ask questions about where they are from, could easily be created.

Week Seven

I take it for granted nothing is private on the Internet. If you want to keep a secret, then don't tell anyone. This week's reading "Analogue Literacies" by Jon Dron, has a quote from Mark  Zukerberg where he claims that privacy is dead (O'Brien, 2010). I agree, how can anything which is broadcasted via the web be private? The best practice I would recommend is to not write anything you're concerned will be repeated on the web, if you want some form of privacy then talk in person or on the phone (less so, but better). The more computers and technology are able to learn about us, the less concerned we should be about it.  Most of the information gathered about us is for selling goods and services on the web; humans will adapt.