So, I have been paying extra attention the past week to find something really good to blog about.

First, Our EDT 400 class has been exploring an AMAZING tool: Podcasts.  I love the idea of these.  There are not only educational, and FREE, but also really entertaining.  I would love to figure out how to create your own Podcast.  As a teacher, I think it would be great to have my class have their own news station that they can share with their parents, teachers, school, and the world.  

Second, I was working the other day (at My Gym children's fitness center) and i had an interesting conversation with a 7-year-old boy in first grade.  He was just there to play with his little brother and while swinging on the swings started telling me about some of his own computer skills.  He asked me if I liked the show Transformers.   "Sure, I used to like the old episodes." I replied.  "Yeah!" he said "Those are what my little brother likes too!"  I was wondering if he had an old video or how he could watch those episodes.  "Youtube!" he relied.  I admit I was a little shocked.  I has no idea a first grader would know a tool that I use almost everyday.  "I'm the only one that knows how to use it so I find videos for my brother to watch."  Holy Moley...How things have changed.  

Although...I think it's pretty cool that old school shows like Transformers can still be viewed by kids these days.  

Sixth Sense

WOW,

I just watched the video that Ed posted last week that has to do with the Sixth Sense device that have been made. With this device, information about the world around us is actually "at your fingertips."  The device is connected to the internet through your cell phone usually.  It included a camera and a projector.  The camera can pick up something that you wish to have more information about (i.e. a book, product at a store, or even a person) and project that information onto any surface.  With different colored tape, marker caps, or even paint on your fingers, the camera can pick up certain things you are doing with your hands and you can interact with it.  I feel that it is pretty much the same as having a computer attached to your head.  I have some mixed emotions about this device.  Honestly, it seems pretty cool.  How awesome would it be to be able to check if your flight has been delayed simply by looking at your ticket.  You can also find out so much about certain products while shopping.  Although, I do feel that we have access to much of what this device provides already.  When you pick up a book that you think looks interesting, I feel it is exciting to just go by what the back says.  When you want to know if your flight is delayed, you can just use your cell phone to find out.  If you want to know if a product is ecologically friendly, doesn't it say so on the packaging?   I feel this device allows us to quickly find out more information that we usually need to do a little searching for.  It's an amazing tool, but is it going to make us lazy?  Or will it be a new way of living?