The best age to introduce children to technology

“I think that technology is a very positive thing in a classroom and I don’t think it replaces any aspect of learning, it just adds to the rich resources that are available; but it needs to be used in the right way. The main thing is to consider the role of the parent, who needs to make sure that their child is using technology in an appropriate way and for sensible amounts of time at home.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics, cited in the program, states that children under 2 should be discouraged from using technology and that preschool children should not be watching television or using digital devices for more than two hours a day.

One of the reasons given for this limit is brain development between the ages of two to three. 80 per cent of brain growth takes place during this time, and while nothing has been proved about the effects of technology on children of this age, there is a worry that the lack of socializing - resulting from extended technology usage - could affect a child’s behavior and ability to interact into adulthood.

Retrieved from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/10488240/How-young-is-too-young-for-technology.html

Online and presential classes

This might present a variety of opinions, agreements and disagreements, etc. Some people would prefer on link classes and others would prefer attending classes, but it depend on each person's need, availability, time and perspective. Let's mention some pros and cons of  having online and presential classes.
Pros:
- In online classes you save money, time and you are free to develop some other activities during the day.
- When you attend classes normally, you have the change to clarify doubts by asking personally to the teacher. Besides the interaction with your classmates improve your learning process.
- Online classes allow people with disabilities, people who just has broken a leg, an arm, etc. or people who has difficulties with transportation to have the opportunity to take the lesson ns and test without problems.
- You asses yourself if you have presential classes because you put into practice what you have been learning.

Cons:
- Students tend to get distracted when they are suppose to be working in an online class or lesson.
- Infrastructure, accessibility, insecurity, electricity, tecnical limitaciones or problems, etc. can discourage students to study.
- The teacher has a harder roll in face to face classes.
- You invest money in uniforms, food, material, etc.

Furthermore, I couln't choose any of them as the most important and meaningful since that depends on what you are studying or it's just up to the situation and methodology.

Pros and cons of YouTube

Pros: - It's free -- or more accurately: there is no out-of-pocket expense. - YouTube is globally recognized and accepted. - Videos can be 15 minutes in length, or more. - Videos can be easily and attractively embedded on your site. - You can set up a unique YouTube channel. Cons: - You need to have a YouTube account to see some videos. - It's free -- so you have very little control over the medium. - Given the choice above, your site visitors could be distracted. - You may unintentionally draw attention to your competition. - Related videos are not always related to your topic or tags.

How can we use Hot Potatoe with children, teenagers and adults?

There is a variety of things we can develop with this amazing tool. This program has become in a more sofisticated manner to asses students since you decide how to apply it. Besides, you are free to take a quiz when you have time. With this program you can create a reading, matching or a completing test in the same quiz. What we have to take into consideration is who is going to take the quiz because some of them can result boring or more difficult for certain people such as children, teenagers or adults. In Hot Potatoe you can find different quizes styles, so you just need to be focused no what you want to asses. Another advantage is that students get involved with technology and at the same time they prove themselves. For intance if we want to have a quiz but the time is not enough in the class, you just design it and consequently students can take it at home once you allow it.

Using real animals in movies - Quiz

Using real animals in movies

Quiz

  

Using real animals in movies.

At the premiere of "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" last month, a clutch of impassioned animal activists gathered on Hollywood Boulevard. But they weren't there to throw red paint on fur-coat-wearing celebrities. Instead, one demonstrator — dressed in a full-body monkey suit — had arrived with a sign complimenting the filmmakers: "Thanks for not using real apes!"

The creative team behind "Apes" used motion-capture technology to create digitalized primates, spending tens of millions of dollars on technology that records an actor's performance and later layers it with computer graphics to create a final image — in this case, one of a realistic-looking ape.

Yet "Apes" is more exception than the rule — in fact, Hollywood has been hot on live animals lately: The nonprofit American Humane Assn., which monitors the treatment of animals in filmed entertainment, is keeping tabs on more than 2,000 productions this year, 100 more than in 2010. Already, a number of high-profile 2011 films, including "Water for Elephants," "The Hangover Part II" and "Zookeeper," have drawn the ire of activists who say the creatures featured in them haven't been treated properly.

In some cases, it's not so much the treatment of the animals on set that has activists worried; it's the off-set training and living conditions that are raising concerns. And there are questions about U.S. films made overseas, which sometimes are not monitored as closely as productions filmed stateside.

 

1. According to the article, animal rights activist _______________ the fact that there were no real apes used in the new "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" movie.
   1.   are appalled by
   2.   are ambivalent to
   3.   like
2. What kind of "apes" did the above-mentioned movie use?
   1.   real ones
   2.   computer-generated ones
   3.   cardboard cutouts
3. According to the article, Hollywood movies have been _______________.
   1.   shying away from using live animals lately.
   2.   treating all live animals well in the past little while.
   3.   using lots of live animals lately, and not always treating them properly.
4. Why are animal rights activists worried about U.S. movies that are shot overseas?
   1.   Because the way the animals are treated overseas is sometimes not as closely monitored as in the U.S.
   2.   100
   3.   2000
5. How much money did the makers of "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes" spend on the motion-capture technology used in the movie?
   1.   Tens of thousands of dollars
   2.   100
   3.   2000
6. In the films "Water for Elephants," "The Hangover Part II" and "Zookeeper," the activists said the creatures featured in them have been treated properly-
   1.   True
   2.   100
   3.   2000
7. It worries the activists.
   1.   The treatment of the animals on set.
   2.   100
   3.   2000
8. U.S. films made overseas are always monitored as closely as productions filmed stateside.
   1.   True
   2.   100
   3.   2000
9. It monitors the treatment of animals in filmed entertainment.
   1.   The nonprofit American Humane Assn.
   2.   100
   3.   2000
10. More than __________ productions has been monitored this year.
    1.   1900
    2.   100
    3.   2000

Meograph

In my opinion this is a fantastic and complete tool, but as many others, it has some advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- You personalize it the way you want.
- It is useful for educational purposes.
- You can add vídeos, music, pictures, narrations.
- The lenght of the story can be set without restrictions.
- etc.

Disadvantages:
- It requieres an excellent internet conection.
- At the beginning, it's difficult to manage.
- You have to set time to each point of the presentation.

This tool allows us to include whatever we want so that the presentation becomes more attractive for the audience. Besides you are free to determine what kind of content to present or how.

Common problems in the classroom

Teaching English is a great challenge for us, we need and learn how to deal with our students needs. We usually face a variety of problems in the classroom and common occurrences. We should be able to recognize these common problems, and work to find solutions. Even a small idea can help us to create a more productive and casual environment for both you and your students.

Some of the most common clasroom problems are:
- Students become overly dependent on teacher.
- Students are bored, inattentive, or unmotivated.
- Strong student dominance.
- Tardiness.
- Bullying.
- Etc.

Which tool presentation do I prefer?

If we compare PowerPoint to Prezi we realize that they have similar uses. They both are used in presentations in order to introduce a topic or to give information. We might consider PowerPoint easier to manage since is the most common tool we have used. Now that we have started to use Prezi, I can say that is better be cause it has more applications so that we personalize our presentations in the way we want. We easily can attach videos, audio, pictures, etc. So we have more options to prepare a more professional and elegant presentation for the audience...