4.22.16

You just watched a video on the new face of the $20 bill. If you had to choose someone to have their face on the $20 bill who would it be and explain why?

4.8.16

After watching the CNET video, please answer the following question:

Why do you think that it is necessary to use a "fake" phone number when texting or calling? Please give an example of a situation in which you would want to use your phone by using a phone number that wasn't yours. Decide which one of the apps shown would work best for you, and explain why.

3.11.16

After watching the top 5 tips for Netflix watchers, choose one of the tips, explain what the tip is, recommend whether you would use this tip when you were watching Netflix, and explain why or why not you would or wouldn't recommend the tip.

3.4.16

What do you think about this technology? How would it help someone physically? How would it help someone mentally? What about children using this device, do you think it would be beneficial for them as well?

2.19.16

Critique the 4 "smart clothes" items that were shown in the CNETTV video. Would these be items that you would purchase, if available? What do you think of the design? Do they look fashionable to you? What would you estimate that the price of these items would be?

2.5.16

After watching the CNET video today, choose ONE of the stories (Birds take down drones, or Underground cargo) and write about the following:

1. Summarize what was presented.
2. Do you think that the topic that you chose to write about is realistic. Is this something that you think will definitely happen in the future? Why or why not?

1.29.16

After watching the video about the new Starry wi-fi router, please answer the following question:

What are the pros and cons of the Starry wi-fi router, and do you think that you would by one at the price that they are going to charge?

1.22.16

How do you feel about the techniques that those mentioned in the article used to become "unplugged"? Choose 1 technique mentioned, or 1 other technique that you have heard of, and explain why it would be a good idea to incorporate this into your life, so that you can become at least a little "unplugged".

1.15.16

Robotics can be something you teach with, as well as something you teach about. Introduction to Programming uses robots, and covers robotics content, but ultimately seeks to give students experience and access to a much broader set of skills and perspectives called
Computational Thinking.

► Big Idea #1: Programming is Precise If you want a robot to do something, you need to communicate that idea with mathematical and logical precision, or it won’t quite be what you intended.

► Big Idea #2: Sensors, Programs, and Actions Data from sensors gives a robot information about its environment. A program uses that data to make decisions, and the robot Acts on those decisions. Data underlies the core of the entire process.

► Big Idea #3: Make Sense of Systems To understand the way something works, construct a mental “model” of it in your head that captures the important features and rules of the system. This helps you make sense of it, and also gives you a tool to “play out” (similar) new scenarios in your head to predict what would happen.

► Big Idea #4: Break Down Problems and Build Up Solutions To solve a difficult problem, try breaking it down into smaller problems. Then, solve the smaller problems, building up toward a solution to the big problem.

► Big Idea #5: Computational Thinking Applies Everywhere These skills – mathematical and logical clarity, using data, systems thinking with mental models, and problem solving – are not just for robotics. They are key to solving many problems in the world. A video introduction to these topics can be found in the “Big Ideas” block

Choose 1 of the "Big Ideas" listed above, and explain why a student can learn valuable information in the classroom while using the Lego robots.

Wearable technology

1.8.16

Wearable technology, once the stuff of old spy movies, is rapidly moving into the 21st century. Today, consumers can buy wristbands that count steps and track sleep, athletic shoes that monitor fitness, watches that double as phones, and smart glasses that function as a computer or GPS. Imagine that you have invented an exciting new item of wearable technology. Write a paragraph in which you describe this item, explain what it does, and convince readers to buy it.