What Is Your Favorite Technology Company? By David P.

In the world of technology, there are many companies producing different gadgets, such as Apple, Inc.’s iPads and iMacs, or Google/Samsung’s Nexus and Chromebooks. In the modern world, there are a lot of choices as to what kind of technology you use. Please answer to this post with your favorite tech company, and your favorite thing they make out of the following:

1. Samsung

2. Apple

3. Google

4. Acer

5. Toshiba

6. Nokia

7. Blackberry

I need your comments!

 

Talk To Your Teen By Joanna

Katie's iPad

Taken by Joanna Katie’s iPad

We are reading the book Cosmic and the main character, Liam, is reading a book called Talk To Your Teen. We are adding things to this book. Here is something that I would add.

Give your teen limited computer time unless what they are on the computer for is school. If you let them have too much screen time, then they will not have as much time to make real life friends. Also, you don’t want your teen seeing inappropriate things on websites they are not supposed to go on, and your teen might go on sites and make accounts that you don’t want them to make.

Make sure that your teen isn’t hiding electronics in his or her room. If you find electronics such as iPads or laptops in their room that are not supposed to be there, take them out and say nothing. Then, when your teen finds that the electronics are gone, they will know that you have figured out that they hide electronics in their room, and they will feel extra guilty when they come down. Make sure to read the expression of your teen when they come out of their room so you know when they have figured it out. When the time is right, give them the look that means I know you are hiding that in your room and you are in trouble. Try to limit your teen’s screen time so they can spend more time in real life.

How are We Reacting to the iPads and other Technology? by David

This year, we got iPads for every student in the school. Since this is new for everyone, I am wondering how everyone else feels. Personally, I think that at times it is easier not having to carry so much around and having the Internet at our fingertips, but at other times people can be irresponsible and bad with them. They are a tool with good uses and bad uses. We also have better software for computers, which is good, in my opinion. What is your opinion? Please comment to share it!

 

 

Scratch by Matthew

I like to make games on a program called Scratch. It is a program where you create games and post them online to see what people are doing. Here is my scratch website

Yellow vs. green basketball

My game. Thanks to people who helped with this game!

http://scratch.mit.edu/users/Aesculus3

My games are basketball games for people’s colors that are red, blue, yellow, and green. I also have a game in progress for a ship Scratch. I already have three demos for the game. My game will probably have about sixty levels so it will be a long and hard game for most people. I also like making color variations off of Nate’s game called Robotix.

Comic Life Projects by Ian L.

As the Donnelly Language Arts morning class is finishing around half the wisdom tales in their book, it is time for them to start the Comic Life project. This project brings out the creativity that lies dormant in many of the students. All of the students have been having fun with this project. The students can now use their artistic and creative skills that have had little use in previous LA classes. There have been some people, including myself, who quietly grumble to themselves (and other people around them) how hard it is to draw on the computer. Like I said, I agree with this opinion, but there are also advantages to drawing on the computer. For instance, you can make perfectly shaped straight lines and circles. This can can be very useful when you only have to click and drag to make a straight line. This however is both a curse and a blessing. This is because when you have to draw a curved line, it is very hard. On Skitch, the program that we use to draw, (as far as I know) you can only make straight lines and circles with the click and drag tools. To make curves you either have to make a circle and erase part of it, or you have to draw it out with the free draw tool. Overall, Comic Life his been very fun for the class, and I think it is a great tool. I am glad that we have been able to use it, and I am glad we were able to use the computer to create these comics.

 

 

 

 

 

Computers By: Davis

I have been using the computers for over a week now and I already love them. These will change the laptops forever. We have the chance to take these home. If Durham Academy continues on this path this will be one of the best schools in the nation. I don’t want to get into the deal of paying for these computers. I am using the application Evernote for taking notes in class so that after school I can look at what I learned for the day. I wish that you could feel the independence that I feel.http://www.flickr.com/photos/36645776@N00/3682719799