SEARCH ENGINES

WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE THE USE OF SEARCH ENGINES IN THE CLASSROOM DURING RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR THE STUDENTS. WE POINTED OUT GOOGLE, YAHOO, BING, ASK JEEVESM , ALTA VISTA AND OTHERS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE REASON FOR USING CERTAIN ENGINES FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF SEARCHES AND THE VALIDITY OF THE FINDINGS.

VISION TECHNOLOGY

WE INVESTIGATED THE ASPECTS ON THE NEW VISION TECHNOLOGY AND HOW IT COULD BE USED IN THE EDUCATIONAL SITE AT WYANDOTTE HIGH SCHOOL. MR MURRAY WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF VISION TECHNOLOGY AND FOUND THAT WE STILL HAD A LICENSE STILL AND WERE ABLE TO JUST PURCHASE THE UPGRADE FOR ALL CLASSROOMS FOR UNDER $2000.00. HOWEVER, IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT IT WOULD ONLY WORK ON DESKTOP COMPUTERS AS OF THIS MOMENT. IT IS PROJECTED THAT THE COMPANY WILL RELEASE THE SOFTWARE FOR LAPTOPS UTILIZING BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY SOMETIME THIS SUMMER AND BE READY FOR US BY NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY MIGHT SEND US A BETA TESTING SAMPLE TO TRY THIS YEAR TO HELP IN THE DEVELOPMENT. MR. WEBBER AND MS GLADDIS AS WELL AS MR. MURRAY SAID THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE THE BETA AND RUN WITH IT THIS SCHOOL YEAR. MR. MURRAY SAID IF IT TOOK UNTIL SUMMER HE WOULD WORK ON IT OVER THE SUMMER AND GET IT APPROVED FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

MEETING ON 1/23/13 WAS ABOUT HOW THIS SCHOOL AND OR DISTRICT NEEDS A LARGER PLATFORM TO SERVICE ALL THE COMPUTERS IN THIS BUILDING. Many of the problems logging on and being able to use computers to the utmost are affected by the platform that we are using. We all agree that we can not wait for Google to begin service to Wyandotte High School. In short the service from Time Warner is definitely lacking the power and dependability needed to operate at the ultimate.

Another thing that was discussed was Vision Software. Mr. Murray discussed the fact that at the ACTE  convention in Atlanta, Ga. in late November, he met with and discussed the newer version of Vision Software. This software is a product that would allow a teacher to control what sites the students were visiting during classes. We feel that is about time to allow us to teach to the ability that these computers were expected to be. This could prevent a lot of things that are basic problems during classes, including cheating, FaceTime, bullying and X rated sites.

Mr. Gibbens has instituted Quizlet.com and it is working great. He has been doing all of his safety tests on Quizlet and discovered not only can this vary the tests and it can vary the answer sheets. Individually we are trying to implement it in other classes such as Mr. Murray's social studies classes.

something to do about technology

We met about technology.  Another fine project.  I look forward to participating in this activity.  It is always fun.