By: James Pardee
Its been a great semester with you all, have an even better summer!
GEA2: Digital Storytelling
Technology Trends in Exercise Science
By: James Pardee
This video takes a look at four up and coming technology trends in the Exercise Science Field such as Smart Watches and Fit Bits, Catapult, ShotTracker, and CyroTherapy. Throughout the video I will discuss some background information about each trend, some advantages and disadvantages, along with possible future outcomes that the technology can provide. I will also give a personal opinion on each of the trends. I hope you enjoy!!
The Incredible Speed of Technological Advancements
By: James Pardee
Moore’s Law
Born in California during 1929 Gordan Moore is most famously known for his Moore’s Law, as well as co-founding /Intel. In his younger years he studied chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to receive a PhD in chemistry and physics from California Institute of Technology. In 1965 Moore predicted several developments in computer chip technology such as steady doubling in transistors over the next decade. This predication became known as Moore’s Law. As the number of components per chip would increase, the smaller the chips would become, the faster and more efficient technology would turn out to be, therefor making Moore’s Law turn into a reality. Certain aspects of his theory that I found interesting is that while many doubts the contingency of his prediction it has been yet to be incorrect. Every year computers get smaller and become more powerful adding to the exponential increase of Moore’s Law.
Fuller’s Theory
Richard Buckminster Fuller could possible be one of the greatest minds of our time, developing pioneer solutions that showed the revolutionary technological design that would make more with less, improving the environment and people’s lives. Born in Massachusetts on 1895, Buckminster grasped nature early in which he would incorporate much of the Earth’s nature in his experiments and innovations. Never graduating college, Fuller joined the Navy, where he then went on to become architect and manufacturer. Fuller is well known for using technology to revolutionize human activities and housing. His most famous innovation includes the Dymaxion car, Dymaxion House, and the Geodesic dome. All lightweight, cost effective, and easy to assemble modifications for human life. Fuller believed that resources were limited, which is why he used as little resources as possible because even though our knowledge is limitless our resources are not. Buckminster Fuller also created the Knowledge Doubling Curve, where he believed that while knowledge is growing and expanding it widens at different rates of growth so not everything is on the same playing field. This can go hand to hand with Peter Thiel as he complains about only the accelerated rate of growth in computers while other areas are further behind in their rate of growth. Being a social thinker, Fuller thought that we have failed to advance the quality of life along with all our technological advancements. An aspect of Fuller that I found interesting is that he is evidence to his own theory. As time went on he brought much to the people, growing the amount of information we seem to know.
Kurzweil’s Law
Ray Kurzweil is an acclaimed entrepreneur, inventor, and futurist. Born in 1948, Kurzweil started science young. Graduating for MIT with a degree in computer science and literature he went on to develop optical character recognition, text to speech synthesis, speech recognition technology, and electronic keyboard instruments while establishing Kurzweil Computer Products. He is also well known for predicting technological advancements over the past twenty-five years behind his law of accelerating returns. Kurzweil’s Law of Accelerating Returns is like Moore’s Law in how they both show the notion of increasing technological evolution; however, Kurzweil goes further than just a computer chip. Kurzweil’s Law focuses on the common force driving technological progress forward. Kurzweil often compares the evolution of technology to biology as each technology can only stem for its predecessor, and with time the technology grows exponentially, increasing in speed, efficiency, price performance, and overall power. As technologies evolve and add to themselves, we will only see progress rates continue to double by the decade instead of increasing at a steady rate. An aspect of Kurzweil’s Law that I found interesting is his ability to come close to predicting future technologies. For example, he predicted that a computer would beat a world class chess player by the 1998, then the year before that very thing happened. It takes a mad man to predict that men would loose to a computer, especially in the 90’s, but he knew the course technology was taking.
Thiel’s Theory
Born in West German during 1967, Peter Thiel is an entrepreneur and business executive who help create PayPal and Palantir Technologies. Studying philosophy at Stanford University, Thiel then attended and graduated Stanford Law School where he published articles on political correctness. Thiel also attends talk shows where he also believes that while computers and technology have proven to evolve there has not been enough futuristic growth in other areas such as energy, transportation, space travel, health, or even underwater cities as we would see in the movies. Thiel criticizes the lack of innovation entrepreneurs have in today’s society, as he describes it as: “We wanted flying cars, instead we got 140 characters.” In his End of the Future Theory he states that technological progress is starting to slow down, as we are running out of ideas. He goes to explain how all these companies like Google and Apple have all this money but don’t have the knowledge to invest it into growing technologies such as biotechnology, aerospace, and advanced machines. So just as their money wastes away into yesterday as does our futurama. Even with the huge acceleration in computers and internet, Thiel explains we have been in an era of stagnation which has given no thought to the future. One thing I found very surprising is that even though Thiel is this big entrepreneur you would think he would only want the next money-making innovation however he pushed for ambition and spunk.
Bit Coin Video Scribe Assignment
Storybird Assignment
My storybird assignment is meant to educate younger kids (6-10 years of age) the important aspects of living a healthy lifestyle. As these kids go through elementary school they struggle with proper health and do not know what is good for them and what is not. My storybird lists our 4 helpful hints in living a healthy lifestyle such as getting enough activity, sleep, eating the proper food, and keeping good hygiene. It is important to teach them young so they know in the future.
ThingLink Inquiry Cycle
By: James Pardee
Reflection:
Learning about the Inquiry Based Learning Cycle has broadened my knowledge on how to not only become a better teacher but a better student as well. From a student perspective I can Inquiry Based Learning and apply it to almost everything I am being taught. By using the Cyclic Inquiry Model I can help my learning process by bringing about new ideas and concepts through the steps of asking, investigating, creating, discussing, and reflecting upon new knowledge. Following these steps will help me engage the information more while making me look at it from a whole new perspective rather than just words on paper. From a teaching and leadership perspective the Inquiry Cycle has provided me with a better way to help my peers learn information and how to formulate knowledge. Utilizing the inquiry models will help create new approaches to learning that emphasizes the students more rather then just telling what the students what they need to know.
Cyber Security Piktochart
Tips on Beating Cyber Security
By: James Pardee
My Piktochart gives six helpful tips on promoting cyber security. Just by following these six tips you will feel much safer when it comes to the cyber world. Don’t make it easier on these pesky hackers then it already is and protect yourself!
Post Assignment Questions
- When I was listening to her story it seemed like something out a movie, I couldn’t believe someone actually took that much time to recreate someone else life, let alone finding out it was her neighbor! Its crazy the leaps people take in order to get some attention but this definitely shocked me almost as much as Emily. I also thought how awkward it would have been to go on MTV and have her fake boyfriend hug Emily thinking they were actually dating. Crazy how gullible people can be within the constraints of the internet.
- What I learned from Emily’s experience is that no one is safe. You would think a girl who already has had a rough life, defeating the odds to survive cancer and having a fake eye that no one would ever dare to pick on her. But it just goes to show that people have no regards for your circumstances and will do whatever they want. I will no longer think, “Oh I’m an average Joe, it wont happen to me,” because it can and will happen to anyone.
- I can use Emily’s story to inform others to be careful and to investigate if anything ever feels suspicious. Be communicative because you never know what might be happening around you, Emily didn’t even know until she heard about it from some friends!
Tends in Technology
Interactive Whiteboards
By: Autumn Mogelvang, Abigail Kruppa, and James Pardee
Our group project is about Interactive Whiteboards (IWB). Interactive Whiteboards can be very helpful whether the classroom or workplace. It provides a more interactive to teach while letting users engage with modern day technology. However it does draw some disadvantages such as the high price tag and maintenance but it proves to be an effective learning tool and a great investment.
Overall, my experience with the group project started off slow because it is hard to relate with one another in an online classroom. It was hard to communicate and find a time to meet up with my fellow group mates because we never see each other in class. However we were able to exchange numbers and work together to make the process of creating this project successful became easier. Being able to work as a group allowed for feedback on ideas as what we thought would work best and what would not. Also, it allowed for diffusion of information shared by my group mates that I might have missed. In the end I learned a lot about Interactive Whiteboards with the help of this group project and will not be able to look at a regular chalk board again.
Google Slides Museum Kiosk
Welcome to the Museum of Physical Education!
Post Discussion Q&A
- What two suggestions from the readings about how to use PowerPoint effectively do you think are the most important to remember? Why?
- What is one thing you learned about PowerPoint that you didn’t previously know?
- Have you ever used PowerPoint to present and what was your experience like? Did you follow the rules to presenting with PowerPoint or not?
- How was your experience creating your Museum Kiosk on Google Slides?
- One of the most important things to remember when utilizing PowerPoint that was mentioned from the reading is to use images. More than half the population defines themselves as visual learners, so the ability to use pictures to educate instead of long boring paragraphs is very beneficial. Another important suggestion on how to use power point effectively is to practice not just in the mirror but on the software and in the environment you will be presenting in. This helps with overall confidence with your surroundings and makes sure you are not fumbling with the controls when it is time to present.
- One thing that I learned about PowerPoint that is that it allows you to crop backgrounds of pictures. That would have defiantly come in handy in the past so I didn’t have to deal with distracting backgrounds.
- My recent experience when presenting with PowerPoint has had its ups and downs. Some presentations of mine were full of images and diagrams to keep the audience engaged, while most of the words came from note cards I had prepared. However, there have been moments where I have killed some with PowerPoint as I couldn’t summarize information so I decided to just include it all.
- My experience using Google Slides was frustrating at first because I am used to Microsoft PowerPoint so it took me some time to figure out where all the widgets were. However, as I finished the first couple of slides I started to get the hang of it while adding more animations and such.
Screen-Cast ePortfolio Review
Today, I reviewed Joe Hacker’s professional ePortfolio. He is an Athletic Trainer who has worked for numerous sports team, along with some NCAA schools.
The button below is a link to his personal ePortfolio. Be sure to check it out!
