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Technologies for Improving Efficacy and Literary Skills

March 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

According to a study conducted by the Internet World Stats, 28.7% of the world’s population comprises of Internet users. Just as the screwdriver eventually paved way for the electric drill, improvisations in technology have led to several changes in the way people live. While a part of the population might not believe in the enhancements it has brought along, a large number is convinced that improvements in technology have only produced benefits.
Some of the most compelling results of technology have been realized in the fields of literacy and communication. Its positive influence is scalable in terms of the evident increase in the wealth of knowledge and resources.
Technology: Advancing Efficacy
The advances in technology have increasingly been used to facilitate learning and are often used as the means for promoting literacy. Various online tools such as visual aids, eBooks, word processors, and other technological resources are easily available and accessible to allow the smooth flow of information and encourage self-education.
The wealth of written material and published content available on the Internet is for one and all to discover and use. Prose has, in fact, attained a different level of understanding and usability due to the advances in the computer era. People across the globe are using various means such as Email, text messaging, chat windows, discussion forums, blogs, social networking tools and even Internet search – taking writing to a completely new dimension.
Technology: Advancing Literacy
The advances in technology have certainly brought about a radical change in the traditional classroom teaching methods. They have been seen to effectively enhance the existing teaching methods. Email, online chat, eBooks and more make teaching much more interactive, resulting in perhaps a larger amount of creativity. These interactive tools are mostly used by educational systems online like earnmydegree.com. They prove to be very effective tools for both students and teachers.
Technology is a tool that has opened up a gamut of possibilities, especially in the areas of literacy and communication. Easily available resources give both teaching and learning a brand new appeal.

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Negative Implications of E-Books for Writers

March 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The spread of E-Readers and E-Books has created some concern among the writing community.  While these aspects of technology can be highly beneficial for learning, some writers are hesitant to publish their work in the form of E-Books or make their work available to those with E-Readers.  Here are some negative implications of this technology for the writing world.

  • No place for publishers or agents
    Many writers remain loyal to their publishers and agents, who are facing a number of challenges associated with online publishing.  Some writers will not consider leaving their publishing organization or agent to submit work in an online format, even if the potential for earnings is greater.
  • Limited input in design
    Poets and experimental writers are concerned with the increasing limitations when it comes to artistic and visual design of their work.  E-Readers often have features in which the reader can adjust the font, type size, and even color of the work, which can limit the ability of the author to communicate the artistic effects he or she wanted to achieve.
  • Decreased ability to protect work
    The spread of online books has made it easier for individuals to obtain free texts, decreasing the income generated for the authors and publishers.  The concept of ownership is becoming increasingly blurry, worrying some writers, agents, and publishers.

Despite these issues, many writers are embracing the freedom that goes along with publishing their work online; only time will tell what actions writers will take in response to the spread of reading technology.

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The Changes in Learning

January 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment

As technology improves, many industries experience improvements as well. The fields of learning, education, and research are also changing due to improvements in technologies. The ways that students research their papers have changed now that the Internet provides a myriad of new resources for information, for example. Technology has changed and continues to change the face of education as we know it, and this is really only the beginning. As technology sees improvements, education as a whole is only going to see vast improvements as well.

The surge in online degree programs from sites like elearners.com is another example of how technology has greatly changed the education landscape. It’s a phenomenon how more and more people are relying on the internet for all aspects of their education, not only when researching topics for assignments but also for their actual education as well. There are many things to consider when it comes to how technology impacts education though. For example, the Internet has made plagiarism easier, and so instructors must keep up with the changing face of education technology in order to keep students honest.

For the most part, technology is definitely benefiting learning. Now that every student has such a vast array of resources at his or her disposal, students can find the things that they are interested in at any moment and can learn about any topic that they are interested in on their own time. Online references come in many different styles and types, and so there is no shortage of information available for students to peruse. The Internet has made it significantly easier for students of all ages to find the information that they need, whether they need it for a school assignment, a paper, or personal interests. The Internet has made learning easier and even more enjoyable in a wide variety of ways.

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Avoiding Plagiarism with Online Resources

January 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

With the growing number of online resources, it’s becoming increasingly simple for instructors to check student work for plagiarism.  By having students submit their work online, instructors can encourage original research and avoid plagiarism in their class.

  • Clear Communication to Students
    While teachers may catch more plagiarism by not communicating to the students that an online plagiarism checker will be used, the ultimate goal of these programs is often to limit the incidence of plagiarism.  Clear communication to the students is important, as it will make them completely aware of the consequences of plagiarism, prompting them to devote enough time to the assignment and to avoid any type of plagiarism.  Communicating the intention to use a plagiarism checker will ultimately benefit both the teacher and students, decrease the likelihood of plagiarism, and increase awareness of accidental plagiarism when students do not exercise enough caution when paraphrasing from their sources.
  • Student Plagiarism Checkers
    There are several student plagiarism checkers available online that students can use to test their papers before submitting them.  These do not always use the same database as the full plagiarism checkers for teachers, and as a result, they are best for checking the possibility of accidental plagiarism from online sources.
  • Resources for Teachers
    Turnitin.com and PlagiarismDetect.com are popular resources with large databases that instructors can use for a small fee.  There is also a large selection of free plagiarism checkers available for instructors; however, these detectors are also available to students.  Many universities and colleges also offer their own plagiarism detection software and student paper databases, limiting the cost and promoting accurate detection.

Not only will online plagiarism resources make it easy to check for plagiarism, but their presence will also encourage students to submit original work, as well as avoid paraphrasing too closely from their research sources.

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Use Kindles Free Apps on the iPhone

December 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment

The Amazon Kindle was a new wave in eBook market allowing consumers to read eBooks and magazines easily. There are many applications for multifunctional devices such as computers, cell phones and tablets that allow user to enjoy reading eBooks without purchasing the Kindle. The new application was introduced to fit this group. The new application for the iPhone cell phones tries to imitate Amazon’s Kindle. On the one hand, this is reasonable step, because it allows iPhone users to read books in their cell phones using Kindle environment. On the other hand, this application may disappoint some Kindle fans because of the lack of some features.
Kindle in your iPhone?
The iPhone Kindle application can be downloaded free for users that have Amazon account. There are some features that Kindle application differs from original Kindle. Some magazines cannot be read using it. Also there are problems in reading blogs and newspapers. This may disappoint some Kindle user. However, despite this, the Kindle application for iPhone is fully functional.
The iPhone Kindle application is very easy to use. Firstly you must download it using your Amazon’s account. The download is free. After you have downloaded and put application, it will show you all the books you have archived. Also it synchronizes with kindle stores and allows buying eBooks. This application provides all the features needed for reading. It allows section jumps, scrolling and bookmarking. These features make reading more comfortable and are important for every reader.
There are many applications made for iPhone to read eBooks. It cannot be said that Kindle application is very special or has many new features. Some users claim that it has too many features. Anyway, the release of new application always causes many discussions. It can be said truly, that this application is worth trying, especially for Kindle user.

Filed Under: E-Readers, Modern Education, Online Resources Tagged With: , , , ,

PowerPoint Presentations in the Classroom – Enrichment or Hinderance?

December 5, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Microsoft PowerPoint Icon
Image via Wikipedia

The gradual increase in the use of PowerPoint presentations has led to the enrichment of classroom education tools. However, it is imperative for educators to ensure it does not turn into a hindrance to teaching.
PowerPoint and its Proper Usage
PowerPoint presentations can be one of the most effective tools of learning and instruction. Complementing visual charts, graphs, maps and other teaching aids, present mental signposts to students to recall learned material.
Presentations prepared by students should also be encouraged, since they facilitate creativity and use of technology by students themselves. They must also be persuaded to build on their technological proficiency, eventually helping them chart their career graphs.
PowerPoint and its Misuse
In several cases, PowerPoint presentations have proved to be a detriment to instruction, rather than an aid. They have depersonalized education and limited student interaction. Teachers have been frequently known to not revise goals of instruction, despite reforms in curriculum and changes in course objectives.
Teachers have also been found to use PowerPoint to put forward their notes and studies, rather than discuss them and make classes more interactive. Not using PowerPoint as an outline to the topic, they have been using it as a convenient substitute to impart instruction.
With such misuse of the tool, much teaching time is wasted, interactive and substantial deliberations obliterated. In such scenarios, the dimmed lights for an ongoing presentation only imply light-hearted exchanges among students, rather than serious education.
It is important that PowerPoint does not become an alternate to classroom teaching methods, but continues to support existing educational methods.
While PowerPoint presentations can make learning more enriching, teachers must be careful they do not allow it to turn into a mundane means of interaction. Alternating the use of the tool with LCD projectors, Smart Boards, video and DVD, as per availability, helps maintaining association of enjoyment with learning.

Filed Under: Online Learning, Online Resources Tagged With: , , ,

Interactive Classrooms with PowerPoint Drawing Tools

December 5, 2010 by Leave a Comment

PowerPoint presentations are known to be an effective method of imparting education. They make teaching both interactive and enjoyable by offering display notes, video, audio and images.
However, if not used properly, they can become a hindrance to teaching rather than an aid. It is not difficult for PowerPoint presentations to turn into lectures rather than interactive sessions.
The Internet offers a wide range of tutorials on how to make effective presentations.
Drawing Tools for Effective Introductions
PowerPoint provides the use of drawing tools that enable you to introduce your topic through a picture and make your lesson very interactive. By going to the View menu, one can select Toolbars, and then Drawing Toolbar. Once the Drawing Toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen, one can experiment with various shapes and positions of these shapes. By right-clicking on any of the shapes, the Custom Animation tool can be selected. This allows for a variety of effects to be added to the creation.
Using the Pen for Presentation Notes
An interesting tool for making notes on an ongoing presentation, the Pen tool in PowerPoint can be used only while viewing the actual Slide Show. In View mode, one needs to hit Control + P, opening the Pen. One can use the mouse to draw or write. On exiting, the notes or drawings can be saved.
Text Boxes for Interactive Presentations
Students can set up Text Boxes and type information in them, making PowerPoint presentations more interactive. By going to the View menu and setting up the Control Toolbox, one can click on the Textbox button, and create as many textboxes as desired. This tool can only be used while viewing the Slide Show.
Conclusion
PowerPoint is a tool that can make learning more meaningful and education a much more engaging experience. It lies upon the teacher to realize the potential of this wonderful resource.

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Tips to Make Your Classroom Interactive with Whiteboards

December 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment

With the increase in integration of technological aids in classrooms, the implementation of Smart Boards is also rising. The topmost reason for this is the interactivity of its applications that enables complete student involvement, thereby enriching the learning process. Hence, teachers find this kind of a latest educational technology really useful.
The Smart Board is part of an interactive whiteboard that also comprises an interactive board, computer with notebook program and a projector. Initially developed for businesses, these systems have entered the educational circle, helping learning advance with the progress in technology. Due to the undue advantages provided by the Smart Board, students can study in a more interactive way.
Benefits of Using a Whiteboard
A Whiteboard provides support for instruction to special students, as it can adapt to a variety of learning styles. It offers learning experiences through each of the senses to learners with various kinds of impairments.
A Smart Board is also useful in classrooms with a single computer. It becomes the tool for manifesting information, giving students an interactive learning atmosphere.
However, not all classrooms are able to take advantage of this system, often due to tight budgets.
Whiteboards as Tools of Professional Development
Following a basic level of assessment, teachers are required to chart the professional development plan of their students. Addressing the strengths and weaknesses of the students, this plan can be demonstrated very well through the use of whiteboards. Different from a formal, written document, a whiteboard representation of a professional development plan can be both comprehensive and constructive.
Smart Board and its Implementation
If well-implemented, the Smart Boards can certainly become a method of teaching that is educative, while it is exciting mainly for both teachers and students. Encompassing the wide range of Web 2.0 tools, this system makes use of the best online tools and technologies to give education a whole new outlook.

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The SmartBoard 680 from Installation to Use

December 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Picture of a Smartboard
Image via Wikipedia

Classrooms and businesses across the globe are gradually increasing the use of Smart Boards and other interactive whiteboards (IWBs). Opening vistas of opportunity for educators, whiteboards, with their large, sensitive touch-screens, promise an educative and interactive medium of communication with students and clients. Growing in popularity is the Smart Board model 680 (SB680) that has a 77-inch diagonal IWB and is priced at $1000. Using the room’s existing video projector, it transforms into an interactive tool for media presentation.
Installing the SB680
The SB680 has a mounting bracket at the back that fits into the cork hanging strip with metal edges of whiteboards in many schools. This is an easy and convenient method of mounting the Smart Board.
Once mounted, the board is connected to the computer with the help of a long USB cable. Special installations can be dealt with by using special active USB extension cables and add-on Bluetooth connection kits. The process of installation also requires the 700MB download data of the Notebook Essential resources.
Installing Drivers and Using Touch
The Smart Board becomes a perfectly working device once the drivers are installed. Use of its stylus pens adds to the precision of the touch recognition. For a new user, it is easy to remember to use the stylus pen carefully, and not as one would on paper, as well as use only the tip when using one’s finger, for accuracy.
Powering your SB680
An integral component of the entire setup is the software that accompanies the device, making the Smart Board fast and user-friendly. The range of software-based tools is wide and covers almost every possible requirement of a user.
With the SB680, educators and any other presenters can smoothly integrate quizzes, games, images or any other items to enhance their presentation.
Though priced rather steep, the SB680 is definitely worth its cost, if used effectively in a classroom or company.

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All About the Promethean ActivBoard

December 2, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Among the growing popularity of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) is a brand that is clearly emerging as distinct from the competition ” the Promethean ActivBoard.
Let us take a look at the positive feedback as well as the drawbacks of this product.
What is the Promethean ActivBoard?
As in the case of other IWBs, the ActivBoard also allows user interaction by means of a huge touch screen exterior. A stylus pen enables accurate response when sensed by the board’s magnetic wires. What sets the ActivBoard apart is its greater accuracy and accurate control of the pointer.
Part of the system that comprises a computer and a video projector, the ActivBoard is where the image on the computer is cast by the projector.
Advantages of ActivBoard
- It contains a multitude of lessons and activities that can be used in a wide range of classrooms and applications.
- It is resistant to damage due to its durable structure.
- In the model ActivBoard+2, the height of the board can be adjusted, enabling students of all heights to use the device.
-The ActivStudio is compatible with other such Promethean items, such as ActiVotes, a student response system.
- It has an easy process of setup and installation of the ActivPen, resulting in high accuracy of the touch recognition system.
Drawbacks of ActivBoard
- The board does not respond to the touch of fingers and it can only be controlled with an ActivPen stylus or ActivSlate.
- It is priced rather steep.

Amid the growing brands of IWBs, the ActivBoard stands apart due to its durable structure and ease of setup and use. Moreover, it is powerful software that actually drives it. With the capability of making studying more enriching, the Promethean ActivBoard is an amazing and useful product to be used for both schools and board rooms.

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