Blog 4

If you're like me and you're computer skills are mediocre at best, it is important to know someone who understands them; especially if you're taking an ICT class. I've had my computer for about two years, and over those two years, I've never taken the time to clean anything out.  It began running very slowly, and for a while I just tried to keep using it like nothing was wrong.  I was trying to work on my website for ICT this weekend.  That became a very hard task as my computer became so slow that I couldn't even work on the website.  After getting so frustrated that I almost threw my lap top across the room, I decided it was probably time to seek help.  Luckily, I had a friend around who said he would take a look at it.  We went through my programs etc. and got rid of a bunch of junk.  The amount of stuff I had clogging up my computer was phenomenal.  Now, since all the stuff I didn't need has been deleted, my lap top works like a dream.  I never would have known what to do.  I guess what I am saying is that my eyes opened a bit over the weekend and I realized how important it is to have a good understanding of computers.  It's kind of like a car; if you get a flat tire, you can pay someone to change it for you, but if you have the knowledge, you can do it yourself.  

Blog 3

So I recently entered the Education program at Brandon University and one of the courses I am in is ICT.  This course is all about how to use technology in the classroom.  I have never really been one for technology.  I hardly had internet growing up, I was always the slowest typer in class, and so on.  So of course, when I enter the ICT course I was OVERWHELMED.  I heard of all the stuff we would be doing, like making a website and a blog, and all I could think was, "I could never do that."  

It's a few weeks in now and I am still overwhelmed but at least I enjoy it.  I've learned a bunch of new things, like Padlet, Google docs, how to make an internet portfolio, and how to make a website. I'm having a lot of fun doing the website.  I still don't know how I'm going to stay on top of all the things we do, but I'll figure it out.

For a few months this spring I worked at a high school and that is when I realized what a big deal technology in a classroom could be.  When I graduated everyone had cell phones but they weren't these fancy smart phones that could do all kinds of fancy stuff.  (I still have a "stupid phone")  At first I thought that students with cell phones in class was a bad idea, and to a degree I still do, but I also realized how useful they can be if used appropriately. A student who truly wants to learn can access the internet at any time to get help with a problem or even just to learn something new that is outside of the school curriculum. 

I realized how cool of a tool Youtube is in a classroom.  Lessons and cool teaching tricks from all over the world can be shown to a class.  Same idea with Pinterest; teachers from all over the place share neat ideas or projects.  a website is an obvious one.  A student does not have much of an excuse for incomplete work when all assignments are posted just a click away.  Not to mention how helpful they are in keeping touch with parents.

I have to say that the ICT has really woken me up to the uses of technology in a classroom. I guess I've come to realize that iPads and smartphones and social networking sites (and so on and so on) are here to stay and are hugely impacting today's teens, so rather than hiding from it, maybe I should embrace it. 

Blog 2

So, the most interesting part of my week was the trip I took on Monday night.  I went to Winnipeg to see the Eagles perform at the MTS Center.  I saw them once already, about two years back, but after the performance they put on then I knew that I had to see them again.

The guys I went with live in Neepawa, so after my class ended at 3:30 I drove straight there.  From there we headed to the city but we stopped at the Flying J gas station at Headingly.  We went in to buy snacks and so on and when we came back out, the vehicle wouldn't start.  We thought it would be a simple fix, just a connection problem with the battery, but after trying for fifteen minutes or so, we realized the problem might be a little more serious than we thought.  Finally, a bystander who had been watching our efforts and laughing, decided to lend a hand.  By this point I thought for sure we would miss the concert and was even starting to wonder if I would be able to make it home that night.  It turns out the problem was just a connection problem, but the stranger knew how to deal with it pretty easily and the car finally started.

By the time we got to the arena we were about half an hour late.  I heard "Witchy Woman" and "Tequila Sunrise" as we were showing our tickets.  Other than that, we really didn't miss too much.  Our seats were in the top section but we still had a great view and it was an awesome show.  My favourite part had to have been the guitar battle between Joe Walsh and Glen Frey, but the whole concert was pretty amazing.  I think Joe Walsh might just be the coolest guy alive.

We arrived back in Neepawa around 2 am so I stayed the night there and left for brandon at about 7:20 on Tuesday.  I was very tired for my 8:30 class but it was definitely worth it.

Well, thats all for today so "Take it Easy".

First Blog

Hello all!  Thank you for reading my first blog EVER!  I sure hope you are as excited as I am.  I don't have a whole lot to talk about today.  I think I will just keep it simple to start with and tell you about my weekend.

I had no school Friday, so I went for a round of golf at Deer Ridge with a friend of mine.  He is a very good golfer and shot a seventy four or seventy six I think.  I am not a very good golfer and my score was probably somewhere in the triple digits.  The wind was a little high but it was a beautiful day.

Later Friday evening I attended Brandon University Student Union's Rock the Block event.  I didn't catch much of Helix or Dallas Smith but I managed to get to the front row for the Sheep Dogs' performance which  was excellent.

Saturday was a lazy day.  I had lunch at Subway and went in the hot tub at my apartment.  In the evening I went to the theater and saw Insidious; Chapter 2.  It was actually pretty good.

Today was pretty lazy as well.  I meant to start my day really early and hit the gym and get a bunch of work done, but instead I watched a bunch of episodes of Sons of Anarchy (because it is super addicting) on Netflix.  After that I watched the Denver Broncos destroy the New York Giant's... Woo!

Well that brings us right up till now, so thanks for reading!