Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Did You Know...?

  • Windows OS holds 87.95% of all Platform OS Usage
  • Mac OS only holds 6.98% of all Platform OS Usage
  • Linux holds the lowest Platform OS Usage at 4.55%
  • The Linux Kernel was just updated to 2.6.34 by Linus Torvalds with Minor universal updates.
  • Windows 7 Home Premium: $119.99; Windows 7 Professional: $199.99; Windows 7 Ultimate: $219.99
  • Mac OS X Snow Leopard: $29.99 (Upgrade; OS is normally bundled with Mac specific hardware which is, at the cheapest point, $500)
  • Ubuntu: Forever Free (even to update)
  • Upgrading Windows OS normally requires hardware to updated as well.
  • Mac has three different spans of hardware: PowerPC Macs that can run Mac OS (before 10.0);PowerPC Macs that can run Mac OS X up to Leopard (10.5); and Intel Macs that can run Snow Leopard (10.6) and later. Each jump involves/involved buying hardware.
  • Ubuntu can run on virtually anything, even 10 year old machines. No upgrade required.
  • Windows can use Windows accessories, peripherals, and printers; Mac can use Mac accessories, peripherals, and printers; Linux can normally use all accessories, peripherals and printers.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Warm - Up

"One man who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever."

What does this ancient Chinese proverb mean?
-One is a fool for five questions for asking a question because they will get made fun of or teased for asking a question. However, they will get an answer in return; whereas a person who does not ask a question will never get an answer.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Thing That's Due Friday

Important People/Things:
-Linus Torvalds created the idea of a linux kernel and also initiated development of it.
-Linux is made to be free, open source, and open to everybody.
-Linux Community: Multiple Forums in which the Linux Community help each other over many problems and obstacles including (but not limited to) programming, hardware, and software issues.
-Xerox 8010 Star Information System was the first comptuer to offer a GUI based environment. Following this was the Apple Lisa which was more publicly popular in 1983.
-Ubuntu: the most known and used Distrobution (Distro) of Linux. This is loaded on many netbooks today.
-Android: mobile version of Linux created by Google that took off in 2007. This Linux that started off running on select phones took off and started running on multiple mobile phones and touchscreen tablets everywhere.
-WePad is a touchscreen tablet running Android
-Google Chrome (OS): Google Chrome is still in development, but it is going to be an important Linux Operating System in a few months.


Important Dates in Time:
-1980 to 1990: Graphical User Interface computers were built.
-Late 1990s - Present: Sales of personal computers sky-rocketed and millions of computers were sold worldwide.
-2007: Android Mobile OS is announced.


Websites:

Monday, May 3, 2010

Passion for Projects

Why should you think of it as a graduation project as opposed to a senior project?
-It is your chance to bring somethign that you are very passionate about that you never brought up in school and never talked about before.

What are the four educational goals that a graduation project aligns with?
-Communication
-Math and Science
-Integrating experience and knowledge to form reasoned judgement to solve problems
-Understanding the importance of work

What is a natural component of graduation project? Why?
-Technology, because it should be a natural component and a tool you should use on a day to day basis.

What are some examples of graduation project products?
-A student who suffered from Dyslexia did his grad project on conducting research on it and then helping younger boys with it.
-Serial killers basically talk about how serial killing came about and where some of them are from giving a presentation.

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Based on your reading and your notes, what is a graduation project?
-Cumulative project
-Long-term project
-Cross-disciplinary topic
-Students choice
-Shows what the students have done and learned
-Sums up their school academic and extracurricular life.

Based on your reading, notes and discussion, describe the attributes ofa student that can successfully complete a graduation project?
-Know how to use technology
-Be passionate
-Have good time management
-Know your strengths and weaknesses
-Research skills