Scratch

After reading the article about Scratch and exploring the Scratch website, what are some observable benefits in creating a space to share student work?

             

The concept behind Scratch is brilliant, those who never imagined themselves as programmers actually have the opportunity to join an online community. A community built around people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. An online network, where users interact and share games, animations, and simulations through various forms of media. The Scratch website launched in May 2007, mainly focusing on young adolescents giving them an opportunity to share interactive projects, learn mathematical skills and technological concepts. The site benefits young student users by allowing them to gain early access to computers, and teaches them how to embrace the world’s rapidly changing technologies.  
The website is designed with the young users in mind. Site developers wanted to create the concept of the site as ‘more meaningful’, by placing diversity and personalization as a high priority. This online community allows users to share, discuss, and evaluate projects creating a social benefit. Young users learn how to interact with each other and collaborate, allowing them to realize the importance of sharing, and collaborating.  

As a social learning tool Scratch encourages a global network to learn, grow, and build relations while emphasizing the importance of sharing. In the next five years Scratch will increase in popularity, maybe even gain access into some classrooms. Teachers who understand computer functions and the Internet will be more likely to bring online communities into the classroom. Personally, I believe it is important for children to begin learning technology as young as possible and with early exposure children can gain more technological skills. Sites like Scratch allow your students to learn the benefits of online communication earlier in life.

           

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Wikipedia - JMU only version?

The “power law distribution” or “long tail” phenomenon, as seen in behavior online on Wikipedia, suggests that the concept of an average user of Wikipedia is meaningless. Support your answer: how do you think a local, “JMU only” version of the Wikipedia would compare to the worldwide version? Would it be very similar? Higher quality? Less quality? Why?

I think a ‘JMU only’ version of Wikipedia would create a niche. The online community would be relatively small, not globally known. The site’s main users would be current students. The wiki would consist of courses, community activities, student organizations, businesses, and alumni information. The wiki would increase in size each year, but as new users gain access some users would stop following. There would be a limited number of users who actually update the site’s information. The overall quality of the site would be similar to what is found on Wikipedia. The users are educated, and would know what information is important to the community at large. I actually think the site’s interface could be higher quality. Overall, a JMU Wikipedia would only be useful for those attending the university, university alumni, and prospective employers.

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Our Government and Our Privacy

Some news reports have suggested that the Bush administration used the USA Patriot Act to look at the e-mails of American citizens without a warrant. What’s your position if this was indeed the case? Should citizens be willing to give up their privacy? Does it bother you to know that your online communications are very potentially semi-private instead of private?

It seems that the United States government is always finding new ‘reasonable’ reasons to gain information about its citizens. The USA Patriot Act was enacted to reduce restrictions on the government’s ability to decrypt phone calls, emails, financial data, and other records. The act technically eased requirements on gathering foreign intelligence information within the US, but left many Americans feeling like they gave up their privacy.

I do not have an exact position on this case. As an American citizen I try to trust our government to obey the laws and stick to basic ethical principles. I believe the USA Patriot Act violates the ethical principle of contributive liberty by taking away citizens’ rights to freedom. By allowing law enforcement agencies the ability to search through personal data without a warrant the Bush administration stripped all citizens of their privacy. The American society as a whole is more likely to give up their privacy rights in times of terrorism. Many citizens view this act as unethical and an invasion of privacy; however, some citizens view the situation differently, and do not mind giving up their privacy.

I am slightly bothered that my online communication is semi-private, but in the end it is my choice to post my personal information, and opinions online for public access. I do not want the government to be able to hack my Facebook account or email, but there are privacy policies and laws for many reasons. By using online communications everyone should look at it from the understanding that if you do not want something in cyberspace, then do not attempt to post it.  

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Wi-Fi Protected?

If your mother uses wifi at home to send you e-mail, and your home network is not protected by WEP or WPA, what reasons would you suggest to her for enabling one of these two protocols at home if the liability of reading those e-mails still exists once her message leaves your home, on it’s way to school?

I would not just inform my mother, but also anyone using a wireless router that when one sends or receives information from a device that anyone within signal range might also be able to obtain the file. This means it is very important to protect data that is being sent via wireless. At home networks should have some form of security protection, such as, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). WEP is designed to provide an equivalent level of security to a wired local area network for home and office wireless connections. It provides security by encrypting data over radio waves; however WEP is known for serious flaws. Eavesdropping is made easy with wireless networks because they send data using radio waves. In 2002, WPA security emerged as a protocol designed for wireless security in response to the weaknesses researchers discovered in WEP.

There are loopholes in both protocols that allow outside users access, such as, weak encryption keys. This does not mean that the WEP and WPA home network security systems are worthless. These two protocols decrease the liability of unwanted access, thus any protection is better than none at all. Personally, I would recommend the most up-to-date version of WPA. According to an article on TopBits about WPA the protocol offers the following protection benefits:

• Requires an authentication server by using 802.1X.
• Requires re-keying through RADIUS protocols.
• Centralizes management of user credentials.
• Implements a structured offset to discourage hacking re-occurrences. 

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Wiki Summary

The important points I gather from the wiki podcast:

• What is a wiki? A wiki allows users to edit any page or to create new pages within the wiki website. In other words a wiki is an editable website.   
• The most famous wiki is Wikipedia. 
•  Why use wikis??? 
• Wikis can be meeting agendas.  
• Wikis can be collaborative spaces. 
• Allow documentation.
• Wikis can be a collection of action items. 
• Wikis focus on the existing community. 
• Focus on a compact group.
• Create an internal blogging system.
• Ward Cunningham created the first wiki; an environment where users can link together their experiences. His goal was to implement something like a HyperCard and to have a virtual place where people would talk. 
• What’s HyperCard? Bill Atkinson created this application program for Apple. HyperCards or hypermedia systems created hyperlinks or combines pictures, texts, and graphics in an editable user interface that is kind of like a slide show
• Media Wiki - a web server software, actually used by Wikipedia.
• Blue links are to pages that exist. 
• Red links have yet to be written 
• Four Leading Wiki Services:
• Wikispaces
• PB Works
• Google Sites
• Media Wiki 
• Wikis in Plain English

Come Clean... On My Company Site?

Drug companies should report to consumers by listing potential side effects of a drug on the products’ label or have an informative packet for users. These companies should adhere to all legal requirements, but after that I believe it is up to the company to decide what they want to put on their website. As a business major, I believe companies should do what is socially responsible. If a company, such as Eli Lilly, decides to conceal possible dangerous drug side effects, then it will affect the company image.

If a company wants to be socially responsible the will report side effects on their website. This actually shows that the company cares for its consumers. Thus, I believe prescription drug companies should follow all federal laws; however, it is up to a company to decide how they report that information to potential customers. I believe that as individuals we have the right to post and access information regarding a drug’s side effects, so drug effects can be found on the Internet regardless. As consumers it is up to us to research and look into products. Websites and search engines have almost every tool someone could need to look up what they want to learn.

Proprietary and Open Soure Software

Proprietary software is legally developed, owned, and regulated by various companies that withhold the patents and copyrights used to generate the software.  Microsoft and Apple are two companies that have implemented many examples of proprietary software, such as Microsoft Windows, Adobe Photoshop, and Mac OS X. However, in recent years these proprietary software companies have started to see a decrease within enterprises, while open source software is beginning to take off. Open source software development allows users to gain public access, is regulated by fewer restrictions, has peer review programs to improve quality, and typically operates with a free price tag.

Even though open source software has a key advantage of being cheaper, proprietary software offers the ease of use. Proprietary systems typically allow users to quickly pick up on the software, therefore decreasing the learning curve. Open source systems, such as UNIX, are becoming user friendly, but still need improve their interfaces to satisfy the needs to the average computer user. Some great benefits to proprietary software are regular updates, technical support, and common interfaces. In an article posted on software.ivertech.com it states that the “Perceived advantages of proprietary software include: 1) Reliable, professional support and training available; 2) Packaged, comprehensive, modular formats; and 3) Regularly and easily updated. The downside however is that it is: 1) Costly, and 2) has closed standards that hinder further development.” Overall, open source software is expected to increase in popularity; however, I believe propriety software companies will remain a user favorite due to a more user-friendly reliable history.

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Sources

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10223005-16.html

http://www.sahc.kedah.edu.my/a_portal/portal_tekvok/ict/nota_com_sys/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20les_57.pdf

http://software.ivertech.com/_ivertechArticle13894_OpenSourceSoftwarevsProprietarySoftware.htm

Communities of practice

Communities of practice are developing rapidly on the World Wide Web. By using social tools individuals can form a community where members of that group share their common interests and beliefs, and work together as an extended support group. Some examples of online communities are Gaia Online, Flickr, and Albino Blacksheep. These communities are characterized by the kind of feedback, advice, and support offered. They are basically societies that allow individuals to share their ideas, values, traditions, or whatever applies to their social outlook.

These online communities offer communication, and socialization allowing learning to occur. Individuals can discover what they are looking for almost instantly. Personally, I see these communities as beneficial. They are just a ‘modern way’ for members to find answers, thoughts, facts, and opinions faster; however I do believe that organizations like this need to

Social Media

I think Shirky was right when he implied that social networks are becoming ‘invisible’. Just like group one stated on Monday these networks are becoming decentralized. Everything that was once located in one location can be discovered almost anywhere on the web. Our society continues to adjust to communication technology, making it harder for individuals to track exactly how much networks impact their daily lives. To me, that impact is just another form of how social networks become ‘invisible’.

Social media plays a role in my everyday life. It actually distinguishes where I shop. If I want to spend money on a book, movie, or music I research the product first. These online tools have actually made me more conscious about how I spend my money. Personally, I try to find the best product within my price range. Media tools can promote how a product differs from another and where it is cheapest. I feel this allows consumers to see if the product is actually right for them, and allow them to buy it at the cheapest price possible.