Inspiration

Finally, you've made it. Our final blog post of the year. For this post I want each of you to contribute about someone who is an inspiration to you and why. It can be anyone. Someone close to you or someone you don't even know. But pick one person and share why they are an inspiration to you. Here's a good example for you:

http://nextshark.com/sabrina-pasterski-22-mit-grad/

Here's her blog: 

http://physicsgirl.com/

You posted that on...

Hi ladies. Please follow this link and comment on the form. Not in the blog.

http://goo.gl/forms/UlTClN2s6vzx4p6s1

Ted Talks II

For our 2nd blog post of Q4, you are the driver. Please visit TED and pick a topic, watch one of the many experts give their insight and share your findings with our class.

Please include a link to the talk in your post and describe in detail what it was about, why you chose to watch it and why you believe your classmates should check it out.

https://www.ted.com/talks

Teenagers and Technology

There are a number of stories in the news recently involving inappropriate and perhaps illegal use of technology by teenagers. Both of which have serious consequences for the individuals involved. For your first post of Q4 please follow read one of the following and offer your opinion on what you think should happen in the case and why. In addition, please research and find out if these cases are rare and being blown out of proportion or happening more frequently because young people are having a hard time making smart decisions when using technology.

So for this post you must:

1. Research Teens, Technology and the Law and find a statistic or two that shows whether or not teenagers are having trouble understanding the consequences of their actions regarding technology or is the issue blown out of proportion. 
2. Offer your opinion on one of the two cases. Do you think what they did was wrong? Should the law be lenient on young people? Site details of the article to support your thoughts.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/19/us/periscope-rape-case-columbus-ohio-video-livestreaming.html?_r=0 

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/58723d905e2e4913a0b696ff11970834/court-hear-case-teen-who-sent-texts-urging-suicide

The Power of Images

As a species, humans are visual beings. Pictures are said to be worth a thousand words. Artists and Cartoonists use images to convey meaning in powerful ways. Check out the following from Polish Cartoonist Pawel Kuczynski. He specialises in images that make you think about the world we live in. Pick the one that moves you most, describe it and then tell us what it means to you in your own words.

Tips and Myths about the Cell Phone

There is a lot of mis-information about how our devices work and what we can do to make them perform better. A number of issues users face are things like battery life, storage space, and glass repair. Please read the following article and for our blog: 

1. Discuss a recent issue you had with your cell. How did you solve it? 
2. Try one of the tips recommended in this article and tell us if it helped. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/technology/personaltech/tips-and-myths-about-extending-smartphone-battery-life.html?emc=edit_ct_20160225&nl=personaltech&nlid=63377140&_r=0

Privacy vs. Safety

Free speech is protected for all citizens under the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence declares our "right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." So the question is, when does your right to privacy outweigh the safety of someone else?

For our 1st post of Q3 I thought we would touch on a recent tragedy in the news. Two Virginia Tech freshmen charged with the premeditated kidnapping and killing of a 13-year-old girl who, authorities say, communicated with her murderer online using the messaging app Kik.

1) Please read the article first: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/06/us/social-media-apps-anonymous-kik-crime.html?_r=0

2) Based upon the article take one side of the argument (pro privacy or pro safety) and defend it in your own words. You must also back up your opinion with a statistic from a reliable source and include a link to the source.