How Technology Impacts Students.

I believe that if you had an IPad over a textbook, than you would have more information in front of you and it would be better because if an IPad has a better variety of information than the textbook, then in theory you will be getting a better, different variety of information. In my opinion, I think that having the IPad would give students more. Also if you have an IPad in front of you, rather than a textbook it seems like students will be a bit more interested than a textbook.

Cafeteria Food

I feel that this is information that needs to get out to other people that did not know about this information. Honestly, I don't think that enough people are aware of this topic. I feel that if the nutrition facts were avalible for people to see, then the food would be a little better. For the most part, the school food is predominantly bad. I feel that more people need to understand this topic and it needs to get out to more people. It is important because if people knew about it now, its not to late to change the menu to a more healthier diet. That is just my opinion.

The 30 Goal Challenge: Set up a Google Alert

I set up a google alert of myself and I set up one for the Boston Bruins. It is a nifty thing to do because what it does is it keeps track of every google search retaining to your google alert. It is set up with your e-mail so everytime someone makes a google search retaining to your google alert, you get an e-mail notifying you. I think that this is a helpful tool if you need to be aware of something, then you can just make a google alert.

Bruins Habs Game 7

it is going to be a good game, I thought that game 6 could have been officiated better but theres nothing that we can do about it. Game 7, the habs better keep their head up because it is going to be a physical game that the bruins need to control. They need to score on their powerplay! 0 for 19 is unacceptable. LETS GO BOSTON!

What I Think About the IPad

My thoughts on the ipad are somewhat mixed right now. As of now, I am liking the ipad's a lot because they are a great source to rely on when it comes to schoolwork. My only thing is will there be something on the ipad for every student in this school where if they have an elective class (let's say cooking), will there be an app for that? Will there be an app for every single subject that we offer at Burlington High School? If we do ok, but other than that, I have had no problems with the ipad so far. The apps on the ipad do seem a lot better than textbooks and I see where the school is coming from where they say that us kids will be more focused when it comes to learning with the ipad because honestly, textbooks can be boring, most of them are. Those are my thoughts on the ipad.

iPad apps

The application for the iPad that I really liked was the flipboard application. It was a really useful application because it was recent information literally in the palm of my hands. If you liked the topic of information you would click it and it would take you too the homepage of the topic and if you didn't want to do that, you could just slid your finger across the screen and it would flip the page to a new sheet of information. The other app that I liked was the twitter application because it was an easier way to use twitter and easier is always a better way for me to do things. It was good because it seemed a lot better than using twitter through safari on the iPad. Those were apps that I liked and are apps that we should keep in mind for next year.

1:1 questions

here's my thing about the 1:1 program. We know that more often than not facebook is going to be used by the students. What are we going to do to kept on task with work, and not be on facebook? Is it easy to get distracted while using these devices?

Changing the Student Handbook

I am a senior so i know none of the few changes that may happen next year will apply to me. I think that if we had an open campus or if we had school at a later time, would make the school year a lot more enjoyable. These are just a few ideas that you guys could throw arround for next year when you are changing some of the rules in the yearbook. I'm sure I am not the only one who wants open campus next year either. You can probably ask a bunch of juniors now that will be seniors and 90 percent of them would probably say yes. I don't know, just an idea.

You gain more information Using Social Media

I feel that you gain more information using social media because you would get more information using social media rather than using a TV to obtain information for example. My topic the NHL is really easy to use social media to gain information because the Sports world is so big and there is always something new happening. In the nhl it is good because if there is ever big news or say an injury to a key player, with social networking people from ESPN for example will post it on twitter or face book and you will know about it instantaneously if you follow them rather than waiting for that news to not be there as quick if you were to get the information through a Television. That is why I think that social networking plays a big role with my Topic, the NHL.

Bruins beat the Blackhawks 3-0, Bruins send a message.

I feel that the win last night was a big test because Chicago was in a desprite stage. The Bruins blanked them 3-0. I feel that this was a good message because the bruins have won the last 4 out of 5 in regulation. This was a good win, I think the bruins are ready for the playoffs. The bruins have today off from practice and will play Toronto on thursday. I think the Bruins are in a good spot right now and Thomas is in a good spot and he in my opinion is the number one goaltender. The only reason i see Rask in net for the remainder of the season would be to rest Thomas for the playoffs. If you are a bruins fan, you should be excited for the playoffs.

Bruins beat the flyers 2-1 Clinch a playoff spot!

The Bruins beat the flyers last night 2-1 and have clinched a playoff spot. I have a feeling the way the last Seven or so games go, that the bruins are going to play either the New York Rangers or the Montreal Canadiens. I honestly do not want to see the Bruins play the Canadiens because yes the Bruins do play well on the road, and they are playing at the Bell Center where more often than not the croud is going to influence the referees. We will see how it goes, Congrats Bruins on the playoff spot!!

Bruins Destroy and Embarrass the Canadiens, 7-0

Last night, the Bruins not only embarrassed the Canadiens, but quite possibly sent them a message that they are a team to reckon with in a possible playoff matchup. Nathan Horton got two goals and Gregory Campbell got 2 goals as well Kaberle got his first goal as a Bruin, Boychuck scored a goal and McQuaid scored a goal. The bruins broke out ahead in the first period by scoring three goals. Didn't score any goals in the second and held the lead. In the third period, it was an embarrassment when they scored four goals. It almost seemed like montreal quit because they just kept going around them and Montreal was standing still.  Timmy Thomas didn't do bad either with 21 saves, he stood on his head. Carry Price let in five goals and Alex Auld let in two goals. I really hope that this is going to be a playoff matchup because if things play out the way they did last night in the playoffs, then they will have big success. Overall, i thought the bruins played one of there best games of the season just because the way they handled all of the hype of that game. Great job Bruins!

Earthquake in Japan

On Friday March 11th, one of the worst earthquakes on record occured and destroyed a country. The earthquake, a magnitude of 8.9 rocked the east coast of Honshu, Japan. By magnitude, this earthquake that occured is in the top five for Earthquakes by magnitude and it is fourth. The only three in front of japan's were the 2004 indonesian earthquake in 2004, the 1964 Prince William Sound Alaskan earthquake, and the chilian Earthquake in 1960. I feel really bad for these people because along with an earthquake they have to deal with, they have to deal with three nuclear reactors. There were two hydrogen explosions in three days and are afraid that one reactor has lost its ability to cool. They haven't hit rock bottom yet, but they need to act now in order to avoid something that could be worse. I honestly think that this is a really bad thing that happened to a country that wasn't ready for it. I pray for them and wish them the best.

Japan is worried about there beinga Higher Death toll. Click here

They are also worried about the Nuclear Reactor Situation. Click here for more information

A web 2.0 tool called Weebly!

I think that this tool is good because it reminds me a lot like blogger, except weebly says that it is real easy to use. I'm not saying that blogger isn't easy to use, but its good to change up your style and try something else once in a while. It is a good tool to use because with weebly you can Create a free blog, it has easy drag and drop interface, No technical skills required, there are dozens of professional designs, and you get free domain hosting.

Click this link and it will take you to the homepage

This is a tutorial video on how to use Weebly

The New IPad 2

The new IPad that is coming out is revolutionary compared to the one that has been out. But personally, from what i've read on it, I think that this tool will be great to utilize in our school for next year. The reason why it is better than the first IPad is because they have come out with new features on it. Like for example, they have decided to make a bran new sleaker design, meaning it is going to be 33% thinner. The IPad 2 is going to be sporting two webcams instead of just one on the first IPad. The one good change that apple has added is the fact that there is going to be a faster proccessor, (an A5). There are going to be two carriers for this product, At&t and Verizon. It will also actually have an HDMI output so that you can do things in HD, the cable does cost $39 to put in HDMI. It will have the same 10 hour battery life as the first IPad and will be able to last a month on standby. They will also be coming out with new cases in different colors for the IPad 2. The new IPad will be at a price range from $499 to $829. The IPad 2 will ship march 11th, and on March 25th, the IPad will ship in 26 countries around the world. Overall I think this is a good step up from what they have had and it will change the way people do things.

If you want more information on the IPad 2, Click here.

Avs' Forsberg retires, again, after two games

I do not know what to think about this story. Apparently, Forsberg played in only two NHL games and then decided that he has had enough with the game. I can kind of see where he is coming from but if you are having severe pain in your foot (like he had) why return back? your only going to aggravate it even more. I think that there was no shame in retiring honestly because he had a good career as an NHL player. He was considered to be one of the best two way players when he was playing. Next season, Forsberg is going to have his number retired which is good. Forsberg helped the Colorado Avalanche win Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001 but the foot problem that caused him to retire was bothering him since the 2003 playoffs. Forsberg said that he wanted to be remembered as person who gave it his al everytime that he stepped on the ice. Good career Forsberg. Next stop, Hall of fame!

If you want the full story, go here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6121071

Cell phones in schools a bad idea?

I personally feel that cell phones in school is a good idea. People say that cell phones can do a lot of negative things but honestly I disagree. Now I am speaking from a students point of view so you know I'm already going to disagree ith this matter. They say it is going to lower students grades which I disagree with. Also, what if there is an emergency at school where nobody is around and you need help, what do you do? It's just things like that that make cell phones a necessity in school. Another reason why a cell phone is a good idea in school is because for example, I am in a web 2.0 class and my teacher wants to have class somewhere else. He would send a twitter alert straight to my phone and I would know not to go to the normal classroom for todays class. Cell phones can be a good resource of information as well. That is why I feel that cell phones staying in school is a good idea and we shouldn't ban cell phones in school.

Packers beat the Steelers in Superbowl 45 31-25

Last night, I had watched the whole Super Bowl and I thought that it was a great game. It was a well fought out battle on Pittsburgh's end but they could not get through the Packers tough Defense. I really wanted to see the Packers win it because they've had a good season and I feel that they deserved it. It's nice to see another team be in the spotlight and not have a team like Pittsburgh that has been there before recently. Great job packers! Hope you guys can be good Superbowl contenders.

Heres a detailed summary from ESPN 

I Pads May Replace Books In Georgia Schools.

I thought that this was an informative article to read and it is something that our school is trying to do by next year as well. I think it is a good idea because it will save money on textbooks and will save space instead of carrying all of those heavy text books around so it is a win win situation for everybody. Instead of spending $40 million dollars a year on textbooks, why not try something new and go with the I Pads, it will save schools money overtime.

RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms

This is an interesting rant that goes on about how we should move away from all of the old stuff and go about with no Technologies when it comes to education and use that more as our resources. I agree with this and feel it is a good idea to go forward with this.