Week 5 Blog Assignment Due 2/15/11 Freeware vs. Microsoft Office

Where do I begin?  Google docs is a fun freeware -- filled with exciting information and tutorials which helped a great deal as I was completing this class assignment.  But, this may be where my comparative experience ends.  Having worked in state government for many years, I find that I was limited to the performance of my clerical duties governed by networked computer equipment complete with firewalls to not only prevent viruses but limiting a large amount of internet activity.  As an employee of the state, collaboration with persons outside the network would not have been tolerated or encouraged.  Employees were limited to one or two main word processing program.  In relation to my work experience, the programs used most often were those found within Microsoft Word or Microsoft Office.  Google was not used to perform word processing functions.  It was, however, used mainly for searches and research as well as providing quick access to specific website addresses.  Google, which I can now see is fast and efficient, and accessible to the Google public was not used for word processing.  Using Google for our CIS 109 class assignments like blogs and creating spreadsheets has really opened new horizons for me and I look forward to finding opportunities to use it even after this class ends.

The negatives of using Google for my CIS 109 class assignments concerns mainly the textbook on Google Apps.  It has a copyright date of 2010, however, it like many other information technology textbooks are already out of date and the information found within them tends to be different.  The assignments we've received so far were completed only after I learned to depend upon the more current online resources and links showing me how to complete our assignments correctly.  It was stressful to realize this at first, but now that I'm aware of what needs to take place in order to complete my assignments, I'm okay with it.

Blogged Thoughts on Week 3 CIS 109 Flyer/Newsletter Class Assignment

1.  I can see myself using Google docs to send emails to parents with attachments reflecting homework assignments and requesting student responses via email instead of being handwritten.  These student and parent responses could be accessed from any computer no matter where its located.

Google docs could also be used for student projects requiring collaboration on reports, spreadsheets and more with the capacity to insert links of other sites for more information on the topics.  These same interactive documents could be collaborated between several students where information is shared and formatted into a final document without having access to the program the teacher created the file in.  Editing can also be done offline even though the student is not connected to the internet at the time editing is being done.

2.  I admit that I was a bit confused when I had to create a Google doc without using a template.  I thought it would be tedious and time consuming.  After reading Chapter 1 and the instructions in Chapter 5, I was surprised at how versatile Google docs can be; how it has the largest search index; the most internet users of any search site and is known for its highly relevant results.  I also enjoyed creating what I think is a good flyer except that I still had an alignment problem even after I sent it as a PDF.

The main concern I have with Google docs is the fact that, like our instructor said, it does not have the "bells and whistles" of Microsoft Word/Office.  It's also web-based and I'm not real comfortable with the thought of my documents residing on Google's servers rather than on my own computer hard drive.  I asked my husband his thoughts and he referenced my former job and how the agency's computers were hooked to a network.  He said that what I'm reading about in my Google Apps text is really the way of the future since agency servers may not be as plentiful in the days to come because of the cost and manpower needed to keep them maintained and secure.

First CIS 109 Blog Assignment

"Beyond examples given in the text, what applications to education are there of the Wii console?"

Believe it or not, I have never held or seen one of these devices in operation but, according to our text, the Wii console utilizes an interface that permits individuals to play games utilizing buttons and toggle switches.  In education, this console can be useful in helping students develop psychomotor skills and as a tool to energize students' cognitive domain of learning through interactivity.  I can't provide more detail as to how these features can be used in connection to education but I'm sure there is someone who can.  Other possible uses in education may include playing DVDs and media files from USB flash drives; the use of motion sensors enhanced by its one-handed operation capability and like the Motion Plus remote which can more accurately capture complex motion [could this include sports like golf, tennis, kicking field goals and interceptions?].  Another advantage for educators could be using the remote for gesture recognition and the saving of player profiles to the Wii remote.
I also read that there are numbers on the Wii console in braille-like raised dots.  Why braille?