. Games have always  played a key role in children’s growth, especially in terms of their abilities. With advancement in technology,  children have more access to online games.

It is true that modern games are  beneficial for children to foster some skills, such as computer skills or the capacity to keep up with the latest trend. At the same time, children have the chance to experience the state-of-the-art technology, raising their awareness of innovation rather than stay conservative. However, games are also thought to be violent, anti-social and a waste of time.

Online games like world of Warcraft, Raids and many others ennrich children’s social life, children get more opportunities to interact with their friends. In modern society, almost all of children tend to share their experience with their friends. One of the experiences is how to get the goal in computer games. If parents disallow their children playing computer games, it may deprive their opportunities to discuss those games with others.It is a great opportunity to socialize.

Online  games serve a range of educational functions. Computer games encourage different ways of learning, imagination, creativity and exploration. For example, Simulation games could be used as a means of preparing learners for the world of work. Computer games also help the learners to develop key learning skills such as cognitive process, logical thinking and independent decision making.

My experience with the games was least before starting this course. I tried some of these games and it was a big failure. I learnt that it is a matter of trial and error and you learn at every step and with every attempt.

References

Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Seattle, WA: Create Space

 Professor and Game Designer Katie Salen on Games, Learning, and New Media [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/jqMiNDyxmPk

The 21st century began on January 1, 2001 and last until December 31, 2100.  This century easily tramps past centuries in the advancement of space exploration, alternative energy sources and technology.

Space exploration is one that made major strides in the beginning of this century. In 2001, Dennis Tito became the first space tourist to board the International Space Station. This made the first step towards civilian and tourism in space. In 2003, the Chinese space program launched it first manned flight. There are also many other countries establishing space programs including India, South Korea, and Japan. This could ultimately lead to a healthy space race between countries. In 2004, Opportunity, mars rover, discovered evidence that Mars was once covered by water. This is another step in understanding Mars and could lead to Mars colonization in the future. In 2006, New Horizons began its 10 year journey toward Pluto.

Oil is becoming scarcer and increasingly pricey. There is a greater initiative in the conservation of energy. With the beginning of this century, there is an increasing popularity of alternative fuels. Alternative energy sources such as solar power, biodiesel, and electric is given further research. With each steps at learning more about these energy sources and the implementation of it can reduce pollution. The Bright Green environmentalism emerged in the past years, aiming to use new technology to increase ecological sustainability.

New personal technology has made many lives more enjoyable. The Apple iPods are popular as ever. Simple user interface and quick iTunes transactions may have reduce piracy slightly. Further social networks in games such as the introduction of the PS3 HOME made further emphasis on community. Gamers alike will be able to interact with others and instantly takes friends into games for multiplayer.

With this many advancements and achievements in the 21st century, who knows what will awaits us in the remaining years. With the constant stride towards understanding things around us, humankind may have robot butlers and colonized Mars by the end of this century.

References

Palmer,A,J.(1998). Environmental Education in the 21st Century. Theory, Practice. Progress and Promise Retrieved from http://books.google.ca/books?

http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1321987–technology-enhancing-education

 My blog analysis assignment pushed me into a research about the blogs and blogger. According to Thomas and Brown (2011) blogging started in 1999 with a weblog. Weblog is a personal journal in which a blogger could relate his personal experiences to the common interests of the others. However the success of a blog was dependent on the comments of the readers and external links.

A successful blogger should be consistent, focused and should be able to communicate with his reader (Kassandra Project). Blog is more than a weblog as there are many popular categories of blogs. Blogs can be categorized as personal, business, schools, politics, military, private, sports, and tips or reviews. Such blog categories discuss politics, family, travel, health, business, sports and collaboration in teaching and learning.

By 2001, Pyra Labs described blogs as “instant communication power letting you post your thoughts to the web whenever the urge strikes.”( Thomas and Brown, 2011, p.64). Crayzer (2004) advocated blog as a powerful tool that allows a blogger to establish and maintain an online community. Journal of educational Media (2003) further elaborates that blogs are more flexible than the instruction based learning and blogs develop an individual critical voice in a class room.

On the other hand some critics of modern technology are of the opinion that blogs are adversely affecting the traditional broadcast media. Greet Lovink (2007) says,”Blogs are driven by an in-crowd dynamic in which social ranking is a primary concern.”Tara Brabazon (2006) considers googling and blogging as a flattening of expertise. Kassandra Project demands trustworthiness and expertise for assessing the overall credibility of a blog.

I did an analysis of three blogs and it showed that blog is an effective means of collaboration and communication. Bog starts a conversation between the readers and the blogger. The community can play a positive role by being objective in their comments. Blog is rather a sharing of the expertise as the references given in a blog can be helpful for those who are interested in doing further research about that topic.

My exposure to technology as a means of learning was minimum before this I took this course. Now I feel that technology is an effective tool in teaching and learning as it allowed me to collaborate and share my ideas with others. It always takes a lots of effort to change your way of thinking but once you learn to use new tools of technology,  you encounter a learning environment that enhances you learning capabilities.

 The use of technology in teaching and learning involves teachers, learners and curriculum as the most important factors. Students can not have a benefit from the technology it their teachers are not familiar with those technologies. How can teachers be familiar with the technology? When I started this course, I did not know anything about blogging. I am not a teacher but once I am able to enter the teaching career, I might be able to use blogging as a source of communication between teacher, students and parents. It means teachers need to be professionally developed to choose the most appropriate technologies and instructional strategies.One time workshop might not be a solution as teachers need to be familiar with the products, software, and online resources. 

www.ncrel.org

www.magportal.com

In many parts of the world technology is becoming indispensable and people are dependent on it. Some people approve the use of technology while others disapprove it.

Many people find that modern technology makes their lives more convenient. Inter-continental trade was more time consuming and exhausting about three centuries earlier. Now a days it takes only hours to finalize a business deal. When I was a high school student, there was no Internet facility in my area  and it was really difficult to get a book from the library. Even there were not enough books in the libraries. Now my brother in the same part of the world has a lap top  and can access  many online sources.

The other school of thought thinks  that life was better when technology was simple.The atmosphere was relatively clean before the motorized vehicles.There was no or less air pollution and people could enjoy clean air.Now air pollution is becoming a major global environmental problem.

I believe that advancement of technology is inevitable. Man is born with a curious nature and is always searching for something new.Change is a vital part of our lives. It is our duty to maximize it’s good sides and minimize it’s bad sides

http://techlearning.com

What is technology? I feel that technology is an achievable sophistication of human imagination. Man used to think on particular question or problem, very critically and thoroughly, and would come out with a brilliant solution. This solution is called technology.

Technology makes students learn more information very quickly. Internet, email, interactive computer based tutors are some of the forms of the new technology which enhance the process of learning.Students can even attend classes on Television and video conferences.

With the advent of computer based tutors and Internet, the time constraint has also been vanished.Students can take their classes only when they want. They can get connected with the best professors in the world.

Technology has given us far more better option to learn varied topics and that too in short span of time. It surely has made the process of learning easier than past.

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http://cjlt.ca

http://techlearning.com