Whether you have a brand new phone or one that is several years old, the cost to repair or replace a broken device is one that most people want to avoid. When it comes to protecting your phone, the number of options available can be overwhelming. USA Today recently ran an article called How to protect your new gadget, covering the basics on choosing a protective case, insurance and even waterproofing your device.
Whether you have a brand new phone or one that is several years old, the cost to repair or replace a broken device is one that most people want to avoid. When it comes to protecting your phone, the number of options available can be overwhelming. USA Today recently ran an article called How to protect your new gadget, covering the basics on choosing a protective case, insurance and even waterproofing your device.
Facebook has announced it is updating its data policy, with the new terms going into effect on Jan. 30, 2015. If you want to know what data Facebook gathers, take a look at www.facebook.com/about/privacy/update. This Data Policy provides some interesting information that you may not know, such as the fact that if Facebook is used to make a purchase in a game or to make a donation to a cause, your credit or debit card information can be stored and your location can be tracked.
Facebook has announced it is updating its data policy, with the new terms going into effect on Jan. 30, 2015. If you want to know what data Facebook gathers, take a look at www.facebook.com/about/privacy/update. This Data Policy provides some interesting information that you may not know, such as the fact that if Facebook is used to make a purchase in a game or to make a donation to a cause, your credit or debit card information can be stored and your location can be tracked.
An excellent handout on bullying behaviors for parents was recently made available to download from the Glenview Elementary School in Oakland, California. The 2-page guide helps parents and teachers not only define bullying and recognize how it shapes the school environment, but to also understand how bystanders to bullying are affected.
An excellent handout on bullying behaviors for parents was recently made available to download from the Glenview Elementary School in Oakland, California. The 2-page guide helps parents and teachers not only define bullying and recognize how it shapes the school environment, but to also understand how bystanders to bullying are affected.
The policy debate over smartphone use in school is one that has been ongoing. The Edutopia Mobile Learning blog recently posted an excellent summary of how teachers are using smartphones to engage students and promote learning. Smartphones: From Toy to Tool has some great examples of how teachers are using smartphones in their lessons, and includes tips on how teachers can get started.
The policy debate over smartphone use in school is one that has been ongoing. The Edutopia Mobile Learning blog recently posted an excellent summary of how teachers are using smartphones to engage students and promote learning. Smartphones: From Toy to Tool has some great examples of how teachers are using smartphones in their lessons, and includes tips on how teachers can get started.
There is evidence that high school students have received the message that whatever they post online can be reviewed during the college admissions process. Test prep company Kaplan has found that college admissions officers are finding fewer things online that negatively impacted that applicant’s chances of admission compared to the past few years. The decline comes as the survey found more students believe colleges are factoring social media into the application process. Despite the fact that social media searches are in fact becoming more common in the college admissions process, most colleges admit that grades and test scores are still the main factors, calling an applicant’s online persona a “wild card” in the admissions process.
There is evidence that high school students have received the message that whatever they post online can be reviewed during the college admissions process. Test prep company Kaplan has found that college admissions officers are finding fewer things online that negatively impacted that applicant’s chances of admission compared to the past few years. The decline comes as the survey found more students believe colleges are factoring social media into the application process. Despite the fact that social media searches are in fact becoming more common in the college admissions process, most colleges admit that grades and test scores are still the main factors, calling an applicant’s online persona a “wild card” in the admissions process.
A Michigan school district recently used their new technology system to help solve a crime committed over winter break. Officials used social media to get out the message that a school building had been broken into, and shared photos and video of the young burglars taken from video surveillance footage. Within minutes they began to receive responses about the identities of the suspects and were able to supply that information to police.
A Michigan school district recently used their new technology system to help solve a crime committed over winter break. Officials used social media to get out the message that a school building had been broken into, and shared photos and video of the young burglars taken from video surveillance footage. Within minutes they began to receive responses about the identities of the suspects and were able to supply that information to police.
An interesting new article predicts that Instagram users are beginning to use the site as a social news service instead of just for photo sharing. This would potentially make Instagram a serious threat to Twitter, which has hitherto managed to dominate the social-news niche. Instagram is easier to use than Twitter, but remains harder to search for or categorize information, something the company is well aware of and working on. Cofounder Mike Krieger tells users to expect improvements in searches in 2015.
An interesting new article predicts that Instagram users are beginning to use the site as a social news service instead of just for photo sharing. This would potentially make Instagram a serious threat to Twitter, which has hitherto managed to dominate the social-news niche. Instagram is easier to use than Twitter, but remains harder to search for or categorize information, something the company is well aware of and working on. Cofounder Mike Krieger tells users to expect improvements in searches in 2015.
Middle-school students who are part of teacher Bill Ferriter's #sugarkills project recently learned some valuable lessons about writing for a public audience when a critic challenged the accuracy of one of their posts. In a blog post written about the class project, Ferriter discusses the lessons learned and shares his growing concerns about using an open forum to garner an authentic audience for student work. This is something you might want to take a look at if your children are posting their work online for a class project, or if they are sharing their own material on a personal blog. It is important to understand what can happen and appropriate ways to handle disagreeable commentators.
Middle-school students who are part of teacher Bill Ferriter's #sugarkills project recently learned some valuable lessons about writing for a public audience when a critic challenged the accuracy of one of their posts. In a blog post written about the class project, Ferriter discusses the lessons learned and shares his growing concerns about using an open forum to garner an authentic audience for student work. This is something you might want to take a look at if your children are posting their work online for a class project, or if they are sharing their own material on a personal blog. It is important to understand what can happen and appropriate ways to handle disagreeable commentators.
Online security and data breaches are likely taught to your children in school, but if these topics are not being discussed you might want to look at Teaching About Cybersecurity: Taking Steps to Improve Online Safety and Prevent Data Breaches on The New York Times Learning Blog for ideas on how to get a discussion started. It is important for kids, as well as adults, to understand the kinds of cyber-attacks that are underway these days and the risks they pose for companies, organizations and individuals. Not only do the materials point out the current issues but they also introduce steps individuals and organizations can take to better protect their data online.
Online security and data breaches are likely taught to your children in school, but if these topics are not being discussed you might want to look at Teaching About Cybersecurity: Taking Steps to Improve Online Safety and Prevent Data Breaches on The New York Times Learning Blog for ideas on how to get a discussion started. It is important for kids, as well as adults, to understand the kinds of cyber-attacks that are underway these days and the risks they pose for companies, organizations and individuals. Not only do the materials point out the current issues but they also introduce steps individuals and organizations can take to better protect their data online.
In a study published this year, Pew Research found that 25 percent of cellphone users in a relationship believe their partner was distracted by their cell phone when they were together, and eight percent said they had argued about how much time one party spends online. Other studies have found that texting too much within a relationship could leave partners very dissatisfied with their overall communication, and that paying too much attention to a cellphone could ruin relationships with loved ones and friends. All of these studies suggest the need for limiting when and how much time is spent using devices. Creating “gadget free zones” could be a solution by designating a space where you don’t have to worry about technology interruptions, such as in the bedroom or dining room.
In a study published this year, Pew Research found that 25 percent of cellphone users in a relationship believe their partner was distracted by their cell phone when they were together, and eight percent said they had argued about how much time one party spends online. Other studies have found that texting too much within a relationship could leave partners very dissatisfied with their overall communication, and that paying too much attention to a cellphone could ruin relationships with loved ones and friends. All of these studies suggest the need for limiting when and how much time is spent using devices. Creating “gadget free zones” could be a solution by designating a space where you don’t have to worry about technology interruptions, such as in the bedroom or dining room.