PLN 20-2

I was looking for a new PLN that I havnt already read and added my comment to. I found one in Web-blogged that was very "eye opening" as I said it in my comment. This is how i responded to Mr. Richardson's post called “Clueless in America”

Mr. Richardson,
I was shocked after reading how many students drop out of school. “An American kid drops out of school every 6 seconds”, that is what I read on your post and that really concerned me. For me school is mandatory and I can never imagine dropping out. First of all if I did drop out I would be bored to tears and secondly I would probably lose all my friends because no one wants to be friends with a drop out kid. Most good jobs won’t take you if you don’t have a high school diploma. I understand that it is the kid’s choice to stay in school but if they want a job they should probably finish high school even if they don’t have that good of grades. Education is key in life now a days and you wont get very far with out. This post really opened my eyes to how privileged I am to having parents that won’t let me drop out and also I don’t want to become any statistic on the drop outs in America.
Berek

PLN 19-2

I found a interesting post on the "Just be at the Thinking Stick" blog and it talked about using google to find out the answers of the questions on the TV show "Are you smarter than a 5th Grader. I liked it enough to tell Jeff Utech what I thought about his idea. This is what I wrote.

Jeff

This is an interesting post. I am familiar with that show and watching people try to answer 5th grade questions is intreeging. I have never thought about using technoligy to answer those questions and I might try it next time I turn to that show. Some of the questions are actually hard and I think the people on the show wishes they had technoligy there so they could win the million dollors. On another note this idea of using the computer to find answers shows how much we have grown technoligy wise. I think that people should not take the computer for granted becuase many people in the world dont have one. Using it a lot, like for this " Are you smarter than a 5th grader" idea , is good becuase then you become more familiar with technoligy. Soon enough things like textbooks and real books will be gone becuase computers will take over. So for the people that do watch this show they should try this idea, maybe not for the reason of finding answers, but for the reason of using the computer more.

Berek

PLN 18-2

Mr. Utech

This post really stuck out to me. I think that technology is a great thing and that if we use it well it can do great things. Also we can’t completely depend on it for all our needs. This 7 days when we don’t use any TV’s, computers, cell phones, or even Ipod's is a great way for people to see what it would be like if we didn’t have any technology. Also it would save a lot of electricity and that is a huge topic now a day's because of global warming. I have participated in a day like this when everyone around the world turned of their lights for 1 hour. It was equivalent to taking 48,000 cars off the road for 1 year. This is a major thing and if we as a nation or world we to do it more than just once a year we could slow down global warming and green house gases. Also not having lights is even more to add to the week of no technology. I think that people should try this event out and see how it affects them, for the better, or the worse.

PLN 16-2

Mr.Fisch
Pangea day sounds interesting and also it seems like even though countries are at war it unites us all together for a day. I really enjoy the idea of Pangea Day because it makes countries forget about past battles and arguments and it lets them appreciate each other and show it through film. On another note showing this day through film is a huge sign of how technology is spreading and spreading fast. Knowing that all of these countries have the technology to edit and form a film is astounding. Maybe the next Pangea day will be podcasted for everyone to see. I hope that Pangea Day continues and keeps united the world. If Pangea Day keeps being celebrated the world will realize how similar everyone is and how great it feels to get along.

PLN 14-2

Mr.Fisch
I understand how this quote would stand out to you. You know, as well as I do, that textbooks are going to be a thing of the past. Technology has already grown to the point where schools, such as mine, have laptops in their classrooms. Using textbooks as "cover" is a great idea, they are thick, hard, and if they get ripped and ruined it doesn’t matter because their time is up and technology is taking there place. Computers can do everything a textbook can do except cover your head during a tornado. Also textbooks don’t change daily even if new idea or theories are made. Computers blow away textbooks on many levels and one day, textbooks will just be used as tornado protection.

PLN 13-2

This shows a lot about the technical the world, and how it is evolving. If a question is asked and no one has an answer there is no worry because to find it all you need to do in this case is grab your phone and search for the answer. On a broader basis, the internet is becoming more and more popular. Teachers and students alike need to be able to use the internet and be internet savvy. By doing this it opens up many doors on the learning level and personal level.
Most teachers disagree with having phones in class because they always assume they are texting. Some students, whether teachers like it or not, are interested in learning and will use their resources (such as phones) for good and not evil. My teacher insists on letting her older students, who do have Iphones let them use them during class since they don’t have laptops. This is great how technology is becoming more of a necessity than a thing that you can use if you want. Hopefully Steve keeps doing this and influences his other students to follow in his footsteps and join the tech age. Also he should continue using his Iphone for educational use and teach others how to do this as well. One day schools might relay on computers and gadgets such as Iphones. Great job Steve

PLN 12-2

I just read an article called Uncle sentenced in nephew's death in the Daily Sentinel. It was a short artcile and it talked about how An uncle killed his nephew and not he is going to jail. The uncles name was Jesus Hernandez de Jesus, 33, of Clifton and he murdered his nephew Ricardo Navarrete-Prudencio, of Acapulco, Mexico.
This relates to me beucase I have an uncle and I could never see him wanting or trying to kill me for any reason. I dont understand, even if Ricardo did do something outrageous, how someone could kill a family member. I would never do this and niether should anyone else. Killing in general is a horrible act and killing your own family member it taking it to the next level.
This relates to the world becuase these types of things happen everyday and murder happens every day also. If everyone would just be kind to eachother, know matter if you like the person or not just show respect to one another and maybe the murder rates will decrase as the years go on. Theres this thing called a "chain reaction" and it happens by one person doing something nice to another one. Then the person goes on and does something nice to someone else, this goes on and on and makes people feel good about themselves. This action, even though it is small and also opptional, could help towards the deacrease of murder around the world.

PLN 11-2

I recently read an article called Mom denied new trial in infant's beating death and it talked about just that. A moother in Boulder county was charged with child abuse for not taking her child to the hospital after a brutal beating. He was only 10 months old when this happened and he died becuase of her. She is now faceing up to 48 years in prisson and her husband who said he wasnt there remains free with a bond of 750,000.
This relates to me becuase I have a four year old sister and I cant even imagen neglecting her in a way to where she dies becuase of it. If she was beaten in any way I would take care of her right away. Also I dont see why someone espiecally a mother wouldnt take care of their child.
This relates to the world becuase child abuse is a growing problem in america and this is just one example of this horrible act. Also there are irresponsible parents out in this world that would do the same as this mother did and that is just unbelieveable.

PLN 9-2

I just read an article called Another teen 'fight club' in Boulder? and it talked about a group of teens at New Vista High School having organized brawls in the schools soccer field. The police were called after a girl called in and said that there was fights going on at the school. But by the time the police got there the kids ran away. The police did manage to catch 2 boys and 1 girl and one of the boys ommited to fighting in the fight club. The police are still looking for the other kids and hopefully this fight club will come to an end.
This relates to me becuase I think fighting is not fun and to think that teens would want to do it for fun is ridiculous. And also running from the police would get you into more trouble than letting them catch you. Fight clubs are not a good idea and I'm glad there isnt one at my school.
This relates to the world becuase there are many school all around the world and I'm sure that not only New Vista High is the only school with fight clubs. It even said in the article that Fairview High School had a fight club so that shows that there is others.

PLN 8-2

I just read an article called CU sets speed limit for bikes. Students disagreed with this new policy and said that the new speed limit for bikes (5mph) is too slow and is also hard to even ride a bike at that speed. The school thinks it would lead to a safer campus bt the students do not.
This relates to me becuase I see students at my school riding their bikes around campus and they dont get in the way. I understand that colleges have more students then high schools and that the students there just want to get to class on time, but they could do it in a safe way. I believe that if they want to make a 5 mph bike speed limit then they should add to the passiong period time as well. That is why students ride fast, so that they are on time to class.
This relates to the world becuase colleges all over the world have students riding their bikes around campus and speed limits are just made to make everthing safer for the students. Im sure no one likes to ride their bike slow but policies are like lawa and you have to follow them whether you like it or not.

PLN presentation 1 semester 2

During my presentation I thought I did good but also I could have done things during it to make it even better. I looked up the whole time becuase I didnt have a paper to read off of. I studdered during the presentation becuase I was nervous and also I was trying to do my best infront of Ms.Smith, Mr.Fisch, and the examener from Germany. I covered all my topics and just tryed to get over the fact that I had a man that came all the way from Germany just to see our PLN presentations. The things I need to work on is, I need to slow down and not studder and relax. Also I need to make sure I covered the whole PLN before I move on to the next one. By this I mean I need to cover the topic, how it relates to me and the classroom and also how it relates to the world. If I work and this I believe my next presentation will be even better.

PLN 7-2

I recently read an article called and it talked about how red light cameras are contriversale and that they are being put onto red lights in Colorado. Some people think it is just a government thing but others believe it is a great idea and it will lead to safer drivers and roads. There was a quote in this article and it went like this, "Collisions involving drivers who ran red lights killed 900 people nationally in 2006 and injured 144,000, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety". This makes me believe that these red light cameras will help and decrease these deaths becuase people will know not to run the red lights beucase they will be caught.
This relates to me becuase I see people all the time running red lights and it is very dangerous. An accident could accure at any moment on the road no matter what condition, espeically when people run red lights. I was in a car crash about two months ago becuase a man ran a red light. Even though he got the most injured it was still his fault and he got fined. If we did see him and stopped and he went through the red light without cameras he would have never been caught. This is why I belive we need to have these red light cameras in the area.
This relates to the world beucae all around the world there are people who do illgal things on the road and having cameras will stop these acts. Also even though in some countries there is no speed limit there is still stop lights and with cameras it will make even the most dangerous roads safe from reclass drivers.

PLN 6-2

I just read an article called Pregnant woman killed in Junction, baby delivered by C-section and it talked about just that. A women was shot in Junction and she happen to be pregnant. This is a very sad story and the police are still looking for the man who commited the crime. Luckily the baby was delivered by C-section but it's health is unknown. Unfortunatly the women dies later in the hospital. This is somthing no one wants to hear about and hopefully the police will catch him and lock him up for life. Murder is one thing but killing a pregnant women is another. The police said that the man and women knew eachother and this detail definatly means it was a planned shooting. It is a miracle that the baby was not killed and hopefully it lives a healthy life.

This relates to me becuase my mom was once pregnant with my sister and I would be devestated if someone were to kill her while pregnant. Also my cousin was very sick once and almost died and it is a miracle, like the baby in this story, that she lived and is now doing well.

This relates to the world becuase people are killed everyday and some are pregnant women. Even though people dont want to believe such a horrible thing it is true and police and other figures of athority have to step up to reduce the amount of murder each year.

PLN 5-2

I just read an interesting article called Schoolboys face court in racial taunting and it was about three seventh grade students who during a fight chanted the term "KKK" to a minority student. He told the police this and the students were tooken out of school but were disciplined and now are back in classes. The reporter said the the boys were of all different ethnicities and this doesnt make sense to me. Why would three boys of all different races make fun of another race. Also being racist is very imature and even though they were in seventh grade they should know better. Parents raise their own kids to be a certin way and sometimes they raise their child to be a racist.
This relates to me because I like people for who they are and how they act not becuase of their race or skin color. Also I have many African American friends as well as Hundu, and Mexican American friends. I would never make fun of them for that reason and if I did I would hope I would get in big trouble becuase that is immature.
This relates to the world becuase rascists are still out there and are just the same as when their were slaves. These people need to live in the now and realize that we are in 2008 and they should accept them for who they are not for their race. Also some White people think that they are the best when in fact we are minorities compared to Asains and Latino's.

PLN 4-2

I recently read an article called 4 Minn. men held in "animal fighting" probe and it talked about four men who were arrested and held for animal fighting, specifically rooster fighting. The men had the roosters in cages in the car and got pulled over for a trafic violation. This a is horrible thing to do if they were actually fighting the rooster. These fights go one untill one of the roosters is dead.
This relates to me becuase I like animals a lot and seeing an inecent rooster die just for the amusement of people is horrible. Any kind of animal fighting is bad becuase it is agianst the will of the other animals. Animals are not ment to fight, they are ment as companions and freinds.
This relates to the world becuase in some parts of the country cock fighting is legal and it is a tradition and custom to do so. These people dont know any different and it is just how they live. A recent professional baseball player was arrested for cock fighting but he was in a part of the counrty where it is legal and he is also a citizen of that counrty therefore he didnt know any better. Cases like this one are understandable, but these four men who just did it for fun is not okay.

PLN 3-2

i just read an article called Activist fights to close KKK shop and it talked about just that. A man named Rev. Kennedy is agianst this KKK shop. He is an African American man and he is affended and ouraged by the racist slurs on the t-shirts and other racist items the shop sells.

I think that this shop is ridiculous and very mean. We are now in year 2008 and everyone is equal yet people still think that they are better than others becuase of their skin, religon, or race. We are all the same and people need to stop being imature and grow up out of the 1800's and live in the now. All different races are around us and it doesnt matter if they are black, white, browm, yellow, red, or blue.

This relates to me because in my school there are not as many African American kids as White kids but know one cares and we are all friends. In NY where I used to live there was many African Americans in the area and is was no different and we still live in the same community without arrguing. I am used to all different types or people and I am happy that I am not racist and I will continue to not be racist because it is imature and just a horrible way to live.

This relates to the word becuase there are still many racist people all around us becuase that is the way they were raised. They just need to realize how horrible it is to treat people wrong becuase of their skin.

PLN 2-2

I recently read an article called Boulder kitten killer agrees to plea deal and it said just that. A man at age 57 was abusing animals and killing them. He pled guilty finally and now going to be sentenced on May 15 of this year. People like this should go to jail or some sort of correctional facility becuase they are unstable. This is also a horrible topic becuase everyone loves animals and for the people who dont, they dont go out and kill them for the fun of it. agian this is horrible and no one like people like this.
This relates to the world becuase there are people everywhere abusing animals and it is not right. There has been organizations set up like PITA who help abused animals but there has to be more. This is a worldwide problem, the wealthy, and the poor abuse animals and it is not right ever to do this.
This relates to me becuase I love animals and I have two dogs of my own. I would hate if someone randomly killed them. I can't even imagine abusing an animal let alone killing it under and cercumstance becuase it is just wrong. If a dog bites you I understand putting it down, but you do it in a way where is doesnt hurt the animal. This 57 year old man was just killing them for no reason. It is very worng.

PLN 1-2

I just read an article called Teen traffic deaths down in Colorado and it talked about how the teen driving deaths in Colorado have decreased greatly. They rates used to be about 107 teens in 2002 but the rates have dropped an amazing 60 percent. A great percentage of these deaths were due to cell phone distrsactions. If teens were to get hands free divices in the car they can still talk on the cell phone but also it would be safe. Driving is enough of a challenge and adding talking on a cell phone to the equation is not good. If teens did not talk on their cells phones while driving the rate of death in Colorado could drop 80 percent or even greater. The teens just have to think, whats more important, talking on their cell phone or driving.
This relates to the world becuase many teens die per year in car crashes and most are due to cell phones. If everyone just stopped using the phones in the car the road would be much safer and there would be far less deaths per year. Also many teens start driving at young ages becuase the law permits it. This means they have to be responsible and not take driving for granted.
This relates to me becuase im from New York and driving while talking on a cell phone is illegal and there is a huge ticket for it. Also the driving age is 18 an by teens are adults and understand the responsibility and priveladge of driving. Out here in CO it is not illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving and the driving age is 16. If the rate of death is higher becuase of cell phone related accidents then I believe that a law should be made permitting no one to talk on the cell phone while driving. It works in NY so it should be able to work here.

Goals for Second Semester

This semester I would like to get at least a B. Getting a B would be great but I will work towards an A also because that is the ultimate goal. To reach this goal I will have to just do the opposite type of work as last semester. I need to complete all my assignments and complete them well. I will also need to participate more and engage in classroom activities. Also to get an A i will have to try my best not to miss any work and if I do I have to make the next assignment even better. I will study for all my tests and when I have presentations I will prepare very well and then some just to make sure I get a good grade. When large assignments come up and I need help I will come in and set up an appointment to meet with you. I will do all my work to the fullest and try my hardest to reach this goal because I want to make up for last semester and prove to myself that I can do better.