Feedback March 16-20 - Technology?

1. What is technology?
I think that technology is something to do with machinery and electricity instead of man power. It can help people find or do something much easier and faster without having to waste time on something that is not necessary. Technology builds up on the one that has been already there and developes.

2. What are the 5 most and 5 least important technologies used today?
I think that the 5 most important technologies used today are the computers, mobile phones, music players (mp3 players), transportation, and lastly light bulbs. As one can see, the machinery listed above are used almost everyday and are basic technologies to everyones' lives. They all use electricity too. The computers are used every day, everywhere, by everyone around the world. It is a vital source of information and ideas. It is used in schools, hospitals, factories, and even at home. The 5 least used technologies used today are; fans, hair dryers, light-up shoes, automatic or sliding doors, and christmas lights etc. These are used only on special occasions and mostly they have been developed and people use the newly made ones of these techonlogy. For example, people use air conditions instead of fans because it makes the room cooler faster.

3.How do you feel about the amount of and use of technology at AES?
In AES, technology is used everywhere for every subjects; humanities, science, Spanish, art, physical education and algebra. Art, physical education and Spanish will seem out of place but technology is actually used during these classes too. For example, in 7th grade, our class was assigned for homework where we have to figure out what is a normal heart rate for an athlete and normal people. All the information was found by using computer and we even visited the computer lab to share our homework. In art, to make a name card, we had to use scanners and Photoshop in the computer to make more copies of them quickly and perfectly. In Spanish, we use 3-D programmed game to practice speaking in Spanish. As you can see, technology is used everywhere; especially computers. They are the vital source of information where people from around the globe can enter and share their knowledge and ideas. I think that it is true that too much technology is used in AES. Every single studies require some sort of technology. It takes away a lot of money and electricity. It's also a lot of waste.

Evaluating Vonnegut Quote

Using examples from “Harrison Bergeron”, “The Euphio Question” and current events evaluate the statement:

“Do you know what a Luddite is? That’s a person who doesn’t like newfangled contraptions. Contraptions like nuclear submarines armed with Poseidon missiles that have H-bombs in their warheads, and like computers that cheat you out of becoming. Bill Gates says, “Wait till you can see what your computer can become.” But it’s you who should be doing the becoming. What you can become is the miracle you were born to work—not the damn fool computer.”

- Kurt Vonnegut

I think I actually do agree with Kurt Vonnegut in a way but not completely. It is true that there are disadvantages of technology but there also are advantages. Kurt Vonnegut always focus on how technology. In stories such as "Harrison Bergeron" and "The Euphio Question" deals with how technology, which was supposed to help us, and live comfortably without having to spend a lot of time or a lot of energy, ends up making us, the human beings, "less-human".

In "Harrison Bergeron", the people are made to be all "equal" by machinery and technology but in Kurt Vonnegut's point of view, people are made like machines, which do not have free will and difference. The main character Harrison, son of George and Hazel, is one of the people who realized that the "equality" that human beings had wanted for a long time and finally achieved, is not really what they wanted; people being forced to become dumb like anybody else, naturally beautiful or talented people covered up heavily with machinery for being "selfish". And when these people with enlightenment try to tell the world that there is a flaw in the law, they are punished or shot at.

In the story "The Euphio Questions" is about a discovery of high technology that was bought by a salesman and used in a wrong way. Fred, the scientist, discovered something amazing but also monstrous. The radio wave found in the faraway space has an ability to make people go mad but happy like when they are taking tons of drugs. the main character and the scientist descided that this discover should not be revealed for the sake of the entier world. However, not understanding the seriousness of the problem , a man who was trying to sell the discovery to people, ends up having the acess to the radio wave.

I think that both the stories show that too much of anything, even technolgy, could end up harming what you already have.

http://mrcoyle.edublogs.org/files/2008/03/kurt_vonnegut_jr_associated_press.jpg

End of Q3 Feedback

Go back and review your goals for quarter three in humanities. These can be found in the January Archive of your BLOG in a posting titled,” End of Quarter 2 Feedback”. Evaluate how well you have achieved those goals. Include specific evidence from the quarter to validate your evaluation.

In addition to your evaluation please create three specific goals that you have for quarter four in humanities. Remember that a good goal is realistic, measurable and specific.

My goals from last quarter were all similar to the goals I had in previous quarters: to improve on writing, enrich vocabulary and try to improve on my oral presentation skills. I think that I have achieved some goals but not completely. i got to write in different forms in this quarter and I think I've improved on writing independently, but I still need some work on persuading and stating my idea and back it up with specific reasons. It is the same for oral communication. I have to learn to be more specific so that I can make the people listen to me. I think that I'll have to work on my vocabulary again, since I can see that I repeat many words and always think of easy, dull words rather than descriptive and vivid vocabularies.

For the fourth quarter, my goals are still the same with the goals I had before: to write better, improve on my word choices and become more persuasive with specific reasons to back up my opinion when having a debate. To improve on my writing, I will have to learn to construct sentences more fluently. To do that, I will read more variety of books and also write on my own. To enrich my vocabulary choice, I will try to be thoughtful as I write and read more books to learn from them. For the last one, I'll have to keep on trying to be more specific and confident when I'm debating. And before the debate day, I should practice saying it to myself and edit.

Feedback March 2-6_Oxymoron Reflection

An oxymoron is two words that don’t belong being used together. Why is the phrase “Holy War” an oxymoron? Why is it that so many conflicts in the world today are based upon religious differences yet all major world religions condemn killing?

Obviously, the phrase "Holy War" is an oxymoron because the words, "holy" and "war" do not have the same kind of image. In fact, they are antonyms! The word, "holy" means something to do with religion and sacred. Holy also gives an insight of something peaceful and calm. On the other hand, the word, "war", means something brutal: A struggle between two different ideas. The term usually gives an image of blood and hatred. Therefore, the word, "Holy War" does not make sense because how can a war be peaceful and loving?

There also is a major cliche in many of the wars going on nowadays, especially in Middle East. To start off, it is obvious that every religion banns violence and conflicts because hatred is the worst kind of emotions that can lead to bigger conflicts and cause a lot of problems with nothing left. However, when people start a fight, they reason it with religious problems.