Social Engineering

Here are some sites I found useful on Social Engineering:

http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/social-engineering

   · This is a great site that provides the definition of Social Engineering.

http://www.sans.org/reading_room/whitepapers/engineering/social-engineering-means-violate-computer-system_529

  · This is a link to an article about Social Engineering.  It defines it, talks about the human behaviour behind it, and talks about the techniques that individuals use to steal your information.  A good read.

http://www.sans.org/reading_room/whitepapers/engineering/multi-level-defense-social-engineering_920

        ·  This is another article that explains Social Engineering.  It explains what it is, why it is  successful, and defines a multi-level defense!

Web Site Review: Mr. Roger's Neighborhood Story

PSB offers a creative tool for primary students that focus on arranging events in a story in sequential order.  Students can choose from a small assortment of pictures, and then arrange the 3 selected pictures in terms of Beginning, Middle and End of the story.  The students then have the option to print the story and add words. 

There is room to improve in this website.  There should be a broader selection of pictures, an increase in difficulty level, and room for the student to type their story on the website (rather than printing the story and then writing). 

Nontheless, this is a good website for on-demand learning, that teaches students the sequential order of events.

http://pbskids.org/rogers/neighborhoodStory.html

Web Site Review: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/pop-rocket/en/

NASA’s web site has a very creative science experiment for students.  They provide easy to follow instructions on how to build a “bubble-powered” rocket, and then explain what causes the experiment to occur.  The experiment aligns with the Grade 5 Science unit on Matter, as well as being a relevant issue in today’s NEWS. 

The instructions are easy to follow, however the picture of how to make the actual rocket could have had a better resolution which would have made it easier to read.  Also if this site included a video to accompany the instructions, that would also have beneficial. 

Nontheless, this is a great website for on-demand learning.

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/pop-rocket/en/

Web Site Review: Jeopardylabs.com

Jeopardy Labs is an excellent application that allows you to create your own Jeopardy game with your class.  It’s excellent source of on-demand learning as the user learns about a selection(s) of topics you choose.  The users are rewarded for answering a question correctly by earning points.  The site is free and easy to use/create.  The questions are structured to increase with difficulty, and keep the attention span of students. 

Take a look for yourself at: www.Jeopardylabs.com

My Attempt at an Interactive Blog

See if you can understand what I mean :)

Yes this is my attempt at an interactive blog.  Whereby you will only be able to view my message if you highlight the text of my blog entry.  Although it may seem very basic to do (when you type your blog entry make your font colour the same as your background colour), I believe it may make your lesson more enjoyable/interactive for your students.  


In Grade 5 Language, there is a unit in Mystery.  If you created a story in Blogger/some other website whereby a clue was "hidden", then it can aline with the curriculum.  


Hope you enjoy!

My Review for Learning: Is There an App for That?

When reading the article Learning: Is there an app for that?, a few thoughts came to mind.  They are a bit random so please forgive me.

First off, to me, the word “App” is just a fancy name for a website that’s catered towards the user’s browser.  I think Apple has done a fine job of conditioning everyone into thinking the word “App” is unique and important but the fact is there are many websites online that have/still do the exact same job. 

CBC Kids used to have many free educational games for children to improve their language and math skills.  They employed teachers to work with online producers to ensure the content created aligned with curriculum expectations.  By today’s standards, the entire CBCKids.ca site could be considered an app.  Unfortunately CBC made a business decision to gear CBC Kids away from educational learning, and more towards infotainment to acquire more hits for their websites.

Another thought that came to mind, was how technology has evolved over the years in education.  If you think about it, technology was slowly released over the years via the listening centre (record/cassette tape), overheads and now Smart Boards, movies (Beta/VHS) and now online videos, computer websites and now “apps”. 

I’m sure with each new type of technology, there was some increase of student learning as long as the type of technology was used as a supplemental source.  According to our educational theories, each of these new types of technology introduced differential instruction.  Therefore it does not surprise me that this article states, “there is evidence that kids can learn from apps”.  Technology has been doing this for years. 

My question is: Are Apps just a fad? 

I found the Usability Study results in this article to also be predictable.  Boys love playing video games, so it did not surprise me that they ranked Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii the highest followed by the iPhone.  Also the girls ranking cellphones/Blackberries higher than boys was also expected.  At least now there’s a study that substantiates these findings. 

Lastly, I understand that this article’s focus was on young people being interested and able to use mobile applications.  However I found it interesting that people may only recognize the Pass Back Effect as being in only one direction: older generation passing to the younger generation and not vice versa.  My friends and I have “passed down” our older technology to our older relatives, and witness some improves in their interest of technology.  

WOW!

Notice the differences between the two PDF/Graphic files I uploaded!  The first one was a copy and past of the Word Document.  The pictures are too big and fall off the page.  The second one frames the file perfectly!  Users are able to download, print and share the document.  The user can even zoom into the page and the resolution improves!  That's Awesome!  Def. something to keep in mind for teaching lessons!

Second Try is the Charm!

That didn't work the first time because I realized that embedit gives you the HTML code.  You need to enter that information into the "Edit HTML" button in your Blog Spot.    And it looks like it works!  FINALLY!  SUCCESS! :)

I Think I Figured it Out!

I came across a site called embedit.in.  It apparently allows you to embed your PDF files into your Blog, and then allow users to download it if need be.  Sounds pretty cool.  Let's see if this works!




<embed src="http://embedit.in/zv9CHOgw4t.swf" height="497" width="466" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true">

How to attach PDF Files to my Blog Site

I'm struggling right now trying to figure out how to attach PDF files into my Blogs.  I see the link for attaching pictures, however that does not work.  The only way around it so far, is to copy and paste the the text document into my Blog post, but then that alters the formatting of the pictures.  I'll try doing a Google search for the answer.

WELCOME TO GOOGLE EARTH

What is it?
Google Earth is a virtual globe and map that lists geographical information about our world.  This application maps the Earth by using images obtained from satellite and arial photography.  It combines these images with sophisticated 3D technology to create a virtual world, in which users can explore.  


Before We Start
You have to download and install the free software.  

1. Download the free software from: http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/agree.html

2. Follow the instructions to install the software onto your computer.

Tutorial
There are many different tools within Google Earth.  For the purposes of this tutorial, only the basic tools will be highlighted.  
TOOLS

Search This is the main navigation tool you will want to use in Google Earth.  It is located in the top left hand corner of your screen.  It’s labelled “SEARCH”.  In the search mode you can locate a specific location by it’s name (if it is a monument/company) or address.  Google Maps will then simulate a flying experience from outer space to the destination you entered.	*
Layers This is a great tool that allows you to determine how much detail your search results to contain.  Layers can add borders and labels, 3D buildings, a 360° view of a city, weather, roads, oceans etc.  The amount of detail in layers is quite extensive.	*
Placemark This icon is found on the top of the page in the central tool bar.  The yellow thumb tack allows you to mark a location on Google Earth, so you or someone else can easily find that specific location another time.	*
Record a Tour You can record your own tour by specifying routes from origins to destinations and share it with people.	*

The above are just some of the tools available for you to use.  I’ll let you take your time to explore the site for yourself.











Resources
Below are some helpful links that explore Google Earth in greater detail.  

Digitizor Digitizor is a website that highlights the other options of Google Earth.  

You will learn that Google Earth expands to view Oceans, Historical

Imagery (Time Machine), and even Tour the Planet Mars.

Gadget Advisor Gadget Advisor is a short article that talks about how Google Earth helped  

digitally rebuild the city of Rome.  It’s truly an amazing accomplishment that Google Earth has coined “Time Machine”.  

Google User Guide    This is an effective resource that comes straight from Google.  It’s their

user guide which explains the ins and the outs of Google Earth.  

MercyCorps MercyCorps provides a highly detailed guide for Google Maps.  Learn

everything from a breakdown of tools, to printing maps, to dealing with

spatial information.  This is an excellent source of information.

Google Docs Tutorial

In case anyone wants to learn a bit more about Google Docs, you can view this video tutorial.

Round 2....

I have returned to the Blogging world with a new AQ course: Computers in Education Part 2......or a least that's what it was called before.  Now the course name has changed to Integration of Information Technology Part 2.


Part of this course calls for us educators to create an online presence in a social media platform.  Although that might test our comfort zones, its an exciting concept and I'm looking forward to it.


So far we have had some interesting assignments.  I really liked the Google Docs assignment, because I have not used Google Docs to that extent before.  I have created documents on it, when the computers at school did not have MS Word, but I have never allowed someone to collaborate with me on my document. When I did that with Anthony it helped me realize what a true asset Google Docs is.


Last week I was CO MC at a wedding.  I tried to meet up with the other MC to work on our speech together, however we could never find a time to do.  We ended up finding a solution to that problem by using Google Docs!  I started a rough draft and then shared the document with her.  Together, at the same time, we edited the document and communicated to each other while doing so.  That was a true learning moment.  We both were stunned at how easy, practical, and refine the Google Docs program was.  She actually remarked that if we tackled our speech by writing it separately and then e-mailing each other to see if we approved, then copied and pasted, and then handled the format issues.....it all would have taken up so much time.


Luckily for us this course helped me realize the power of Google Docs.  I'm a Pro Google Docs guy now :)


Looking forward to learning lots more in this course.


Until Next Time...