Technology in Schools

I am currently in the class Current Topics in Technology. In it we have done technology interviews so that we may become more acquainted with the aspects of technology in certain professions. What struck me as most interesting though was the differences in technology in school systems.  I interviewed two employees from the Spring Hill School District and their use of  technology.  It was interesting to see the differences compared to MidAmerica Nazarene University. Spring Hill uses Moodle and other technology, but not to the extent of MidAmerica. MidAmerica uses Moodle on a daily basis whereas Spring Hill is still getting used to the idea of using technology for projects outside of the classroom. 
Do you think it would be beneficial for Spring Hill to look at more technology tools to get students better prepared for college? What tools do you think would be beneficial in either the high school setting or the college setting?

Rose Brooks

I am currently taking a Current Topics in Technology class. In this class I have realized the power of social media and its importance in the business world.  There is an organization that has caught my eye in regards to their use of social media. This organization is Rose Brooks. Rose Brooks is a domestic violence center for women and children that have been abused. It is important is a business such as that to have a great social media plan so that they can not only get the word out about domestic violence and the need to stop it, but also to advertise their own organization to get volunteers to help. Rose Brooks offers a variety of social media such as twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
It is easy to access on their website, but are there things that could do differently to get the word out? I feel like they could do a better job with their overall plan by tweeting more or updating statuses to get the word out more on a regular basis so that people do not forget about them.  Even blogging would be a good idea with links on twitter and Facebook to the blogs. What is your opinion on the social media plan for Rose Brooks?

Current Technology

We have heard all about technology and how much it will change by the time the kids of today are all grown, but have you ever stopped to consider what will happen to the current technology we are enjoying and excited about today? That the current technology we love today in the eyes of children not long from now will soon be like a cassette tape or CD compared to the iPods we use now?  This all seems mind boggling, so let’s take a moment to appreciate the current technology we have that we often take advantage of.

Just some of the current technologies we use today include remote controls, land line phones, movie theaters and a windows operating system.  To me, life without these seems “old fashioned,” but on the contrary! It will actually be a future version of all of these.  The windows operating system will completely turn into touch operation and how long before every computer agency turns to that? This “current technology” we have today and that love will soon be nothing more than stories our kids hear about. 

Now, what technology that you have today would you not want to give up? Or, is there a technology that you can think of them improving in some way that you are looking forward to?   

The Threat of Smartphones

Smartphones have allowed us to have the world at our hands. If in an area that allows the phone to send and receive data, a smartphone user can perform many tasks. They can check their email, post a Facebook status or even post a photo of them at that exact moment. This new technology has provided convenience to the user and many of those conveniences can be named by almost every smartphone user. However, smartphones are starting to prove dangerous and fatal to some teenagers and young adults.

In a CNN news article entitled Young Drivers snapping 'Selfies' at the Wheel, author Heather Kelly describes how teens and young adults are using their smartphones to take pictures of themselves or their passengers while they are driving a vehicle. This distraction increases the risk of drivers getting into an accident. The drivers eyes are averted from the road and in an instant they can get into a serious accident. They are putting themselves and everyone on the road in danger. The problem is not just texting while driving anymore, the problem now is any use of the cell phone that distracts the driver from the task of driving.



The Department of Transportation states that distracted driving accounts for about 3,300 deaths every year. This includes texting while driving and snapping pictures while driving. Why do people not understand the danger of using a cell phone while driving? They believe they are good drivers and they can remove their eyes from the road for a second. By doing this people are putting everyone on the road in danger. You are increasing the chances of getting into an accident and possibly killing someone. The text can wait. The 'selfie' can wait until the vehicle is at a complete stop. It is not worth the consequences to get a text in or a picture posted to the latest social media site.

Smartphones can make many things convenient. However, they provide an inconvenience by distracting drivers while they drive a 2000 pound vehicle. Why do people feel it important to text and drive? Why can they not wait to snap that photo until they reach their destination?  It is the answer to these questions that could save lives.