Post 3

There are a lot of different hardware devices discussed in chapter 4. Most of them, like input/output, memory, and USB, I already learned about in CGS; but it served as a nice reminder to see them again. One thing that I didn’t know much about in this chapter was the touch screen. They are monitors with a touch sensitive panel on the screen. By touching the different things on the screen you can interact with the computer. The screen acts as the input device to enter data or other information. They are usually used as kiosks in museums or ATMs. I know that a lot of newer classrooms have touch screens to control the overhead, lighting, and other aspects of the classroom. By learning a little bit more about how touch screens work, I am better prepared to use them in the future!

I am having the worst trouble trying to upload my picture to my blog! I have tried to save a picture on my computer and get one off of facebook, but they still are not loading. I guess I’m going to try the emailing the picture to myself thing, so I’ll see how it works out! In my attempts, however, I did learn how to put clips from youtube on my blog. I didn’t have time to fine tone it, but I am so excited about clips for my blog!! That would be so cool for my class blog to post youtube clips that go with my lesson plans for the students to look at if the wish.

One thing I learned this week (that’s kind of silly) is that sometimes to shut off computers you have to hold down the power button for like eleven seconds. I always would get so frustrated with my computer when I couldn’t turn it of, so I would unplug it or in the case of my lap top let the battery die. Now I feel like it will save so much time if I have to restart my computer for any reason.
We also went over different types of mapping to use in the classroom. I liked that concept maps show different things like hierarchy and connections between topics, but I think they can be confusing and boring. Mind Mapping is so cool! It incorporates colors and graphics so your brain can make different connections and remember stuff through those connections. I am excited to try Mind Mapping as a form of presenting or making notes in class, rather than outlining my topics.