Rosetta Stone?

I've heard of this program for awhile, and since I'm a language nerd, thought I'd babble on for a bit about it.

Rosetta Stone is an extremely popular foreign language software. It comes in a billion (okay, maybe 30ish) different languages. It goes through basic grammar and vocabulary in the voice of a native speaker, which is awesome. Another part of it that caught my interest is that it corresponds with state and national standards for ESL.

I haven't used it yet, but if you're interested, check it out.

Blog #2 - Software

We discuss many types of educational software in class this week from broad categories to specific titles (see PDF files before doing this blog). We talked about drill and practice, tutorial, problem solving, educational games, etc. We looked at specific kinds of application software from word processors to spreadsheets to presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint). Many educators feel that students should be taught the software applications they will have to know to succeed in their lives beyond school (e.g., work or college). Please make a list of five specific applications you think every student should learn, from more important to less important (you can name the application or just give the title -- e.g., 'MS Word' or even just 'word processors'). Explain your ranking in your blog entry. At what level in school do you think each application you list should be taught? Why?

Word processors - this is a professional application that can be used for just about anything, from quick notes to formal reports. Students should learn this first and foremost.

Internet browser - c'mon, everyone needs Google!

Email - other means of communication are still common, but email is so convenient for many reasons. This should be taught soon after typing and word processors.

Powerpoint - this should be saved for middle school/high school, as it is more of a professional application.

Excel - although I personally have only used Excel very few times, people like boring accountants use it daily for a myriad of reasons.

Blog #1

This is really a 2-part blog entry.

"1. Describe the computer-related technologies that you have available in your living environment and/or work environment. How have you used technologies in your previous educational experiences? How have teachers/instructors used technology to help in teaching you? What do you hope to learn in this class? Finally, provide your definition of "educational technology." Keep in mind, this isn't a right/wrong type question -- just do your best."

Back in December, my laptop died (que descanse en paz). I'd never realized how heavily my life depended on computers until I didn't have one, and it drove me insane! I recently purchased a new one, though (Oh Vaio, how much I love you...), and have been experimenting with Vistas for awhile.

At work we use a touchscreen system to send food and drink orders to the kitchen and bar (I waitress at Buffalo Wild Wings). It makes for speedy delivery and an easy way to keep inventory, but when the system crashes or the power goes out, we go into crisis mode; the whole restaurant stops.

2. Also, in the future I will have you respond to another blog that exists out in the blogosphere. Please take a minute to find any ED TECH related blog and post a link to it from your blog. I want to see that you can find another ed tech-related blog and I also want to see that you can create a link to it.

Test entry!

Just making sure this works.