Knowledge of a Computer's Inner Workings

Why is it important to understand my computer’s hardware and boot up sequence?

Just off the top of my head.

Every component takes memory and power to run. Let’s say I will be on a flight going somewhere. My battery has only a finite amount of time that it will last before I will need to power it up again. I could create a boot disk that would only “start up” the necessary components that I will use en route to my destination, thereby allowing me to work longer – saving my battery life.

A couple of things on the knowledge of the inner workings of the components of the computer:

The whole “blue ray” technology allows more memory to be stored on the finite area of a disk. To my understanding, blue has a smaller wavelength than red and therefore uses less space. I believe the next big thing could be ultraviolet lasers to store and read memory. Ultraviolet has an even smaller wavelength than blue. Does the color of the ray need to be in the visible spectrum?

Quite possibly the resolution of the latest cameras have gotten too good and consequently causes the digital files to take a lot of memory. This might cause someone to try to upload files that take an incredible amount of time, when the resolution that they took their pictures at was overkill. This happened to me last night. I watched my computer try to upload a file that was 111 MB, that’s right 111 Million Bytes. This took over 2 hours. When it was done the location to which I was uploading said the file was too big. I don’t know why it didn’t tell me as the 2 hours started and not when it was done. This may not have the most to do with the inner workings of my computer, but it is on my mind now. Thankfully I have a wife who knows quite a bit about imaging software and she was able to scale down the sizes of my pictures, thus making the powerpoint presentation smaller and “uploadable”. Consequently, I was able to get my assignment done on time. A little more knowledge about the relative sizes of files is now in my memory bank…

My Computer Experience (in a nutshell)

The first computer class that I took was Basic Computer Programming in high school. We worked on TRS-80’s (Tandy from Radio Shack). I can remember writing short programs that would do some redundant operation. I was very impressed, but I didn’t see that computers would encompass all that they do today. It is one of my biggest regrets that I didn’t get a degree in programming (along with my math degree) or at least try. I found programming to be so logical. Some memories include “swap routines” and “dimensioning arrays” and trying to figure out what was happening with the data that was being input to a 4 dimensional array (I recall a friend telling me to envision a row of Rubik's cubes with drawers in each dimension of each cube, it worked!). I still find myself writing programs to calculate data for tasks that I perform often.

I want to take Visual Basic and Java classes to be able to program on 64 bit computers like I used to on older computers. I have put together some Excel spreadsheets that will generate some problems and results that I use to test students understanding of concepts, for instance, 2 by 2, 3 by 3 matrices, lines, parabolas and their solutions/characteristics, etc. I have also written some spreadsheets that calculate information for golf leagues and outings. The limitation in these spreadsheets is that they are “static”. I wish to have some programs that are “dynamic”, in other words, the programs will ask the user for occasional input and process his/her answers leading him/her to some subroutines (applets?) that will further the results that he/she is looking for. I have tried to learn some Visual Basic on my own. I experimented with macros, but only slightly. The problem that I encountered was the computer that I would run the macro on sooner or later would give some warning as to the possibility that my macro was a “virus” and would ask for the administers password or would not run the macro altogether.

Skype

Wow! I am just so excited about this skyping. I used the free (10 minute Skype to land line) 1st call to call a friend in Michigan. He listened to me for 9 minutes and 55 seconds walk him through setting his computer up in Skype. As he found the camera that he has never used, I talked him through showing me his screen and me showing him mine. Very Cool, but no good deed goes unpunished. His good deed of listening to me and having me show him this technology now obligates him to perform a video conference with my Trig class. He, being an engineer at Ford Motor Co., would be a great choice to finally answer the question, "Mr. Martin when am I ever gonna use this stuff". I can't wait to let him know.

I also have a friend who is taking some classes at MATC in Microsoft Office applications. I have run over to his house on occasion to help him see some of the things that I know. Now, I can just have him set up a skype account and walk him through some of the features by sharing his screen with me. So very cool!

If and when it should happen that I have a student that is home bound with an illness or something of that nature, I am wondering how and where to set up the camera and computer so that the student can join the class and get something out of it. Using skype in conjunction with a smart board seems like a daunting, but challenging task to undertake. I'll have to practice that one.

My mind is racing with thoughts and ideas. Wonder when I'll be able to fall asleep tonight.

Social Bookmarking, Web Cams and Online storage

If nothing else, these first 2 weeks of class have helped me to organize some of my documents and bookmarking. I have done little with the "Social Bookmarking" but am starting to realize its significance the more I use it. If I were to set up a network with my students we could all share the most useful websites to help them with their questions and applications of mathematics.

One of the most effective teaching techniques, in my opinion, is the use of cross-curricular activities. In the past, I have had students collaborate on the building of a bridge with popsicle sticks - given an equation to rate it and so forth, that has students try to solve a problem together (which allows them to use Communication, Physics, Math, etc.). If students can "tie together" some aspect from my discipline, mathematics, with any other subject such as history or English, etc. it will help them to understand concepts more. We are currently in a communications explosion with no signs of a slow down. Using a "web cam" to link one of my math classes to another math class elsewhere in the country, (or world, time difference would pose a problem) would provide a lesson in more subjects than I can begin to list... Also an assignment given to my students such as "Given a certain topic (Pythagorean Theorem, The number, Pi, The number, e, etc.) collaborate on a paper with another student as to when the topic was it conceived or developed, who did the conception or developing, why did they do it, and what are its uses today" would cause them to think differently about the topic. It would cause them to look at the subject of mathematics in an entirely different way. It would also give them exposure to Google Docs and, perhaps, some online storage applications for pictures, diagrams, videos and so forth. Brainstorming is such an awesome thing at times!!!

3rd time a charm, I think I've got it!!!!

Is it possible that I am starting to get some insight as to how, where, when, what, whom and why I am learning to blog. I THINK SO!!!

How to blog?

That is what we are learning so that we can share it with our students or people in similar circumstances.

Where to blog?

Anywhere you have access to a computer that connects to the internet (or iphone/similar phone with internet capabilities?)

When to blog?

Anytime you have:

1) a question that can be answered by others in the same circumstances

2) an "epiphany" moment when you can share how you came to an understanding of the subject

3) anyone want to lend a hand here?

What to blog?

Covered by when to blog (above) questions, answers, insights, etc...

Whom to blog?

Others who can benefit from or those who can give a greater understanding of the subject

Why blog?

It can be done from anywhere, anytime and with anyone who can add to or gain from the information being shared...

Example #1

I gave a "Trig" test on Friday.

Prior to that, on Wednesday, I gave my students a review that laid out the types of questions that I expected them to know how to solve.

If I had a blog set up and they were all members of it they could share questions, answers, methods and strategies to solve the different types of problems they faced. It would not matter when or where they studied for the test as long as they had access to the blog. It is another way to foster learning and caring of the subject matter and it would give them another "good" reason to be surfing the web. It would also give them some sympathy or empathy from others in the group.

When I accessed their replies and posts, I could give them examples, formulas, hints or answers to specific types of problems. I could also give them links to the practical applications, thus, answering that famous, age-old and scariest question, "Mr. Martin, when am I ever going to use this?". And the great thing is we could all do this from the comfort of our own homes. I am wondering right now if I could set up a "time-released" answer key to the review (announced or unannounced).

Example #2

If there was a blog set up for different teachers (and undoubtedly there are!!!) they could share what is working, what is not working, different ways and techniques, examples and anecdotes to help each others students learn and understand. It could also be linked to people with professions that could tell them when a certain type of problem is encountered and how to solve it. Posts coming from someone who is in the field would certainly give credibility as to why students are expected to know, understand and care about the types of problems I give them. Seeing direct applications would also deepen their understanding of the subject matter.

2^nd Mission – 2 Subjects “A Little Bit of Frustration and Old Habits Die Hard”

Frustration

I believe one of the most frustrating things that I am encountering as I enter this new “cyberworld” is trying to find everything. I feel like I am blindfolded and stuck in a maze that I have never seen before from the outside and trying to make my way around. I can’t remember where the “room” that I was just in is in relationship to everything else or how to get back to where I was a moment ago. I guess I would be showing my age and how “old school” I am if I were to refer to the “trees” with the roots that were once used to display the directories and file locations in the old “MS DOS”. That I could visualize to perceive where I was going and where I had been. I am sure that I am not being efficient nor going into an application in the same manner as others. For example, I am opening up new tabs all the time in my Chrome browser so I don’t lose one application as I want to view another. I am opening a new tab and typing in blogger to get to my blog (thank goodness I chose the option to save my username and password). It’s not like I didn’t have two-thousand of those prior to taking this class and am now finding myself with at least 5 more usernames and passwords.

Just a quick list of the organizations or entities I can think of off the top of my head that I need a username and password/code or pin # for prior starting this class:

My School District Web Site which includes 3 separate Usernames and passwords for:

Attendance and Grade Entry

Group wise Webmail

Subfinder

My online banking

My credit cards

My cell phone website

My cell phone security code to access voicemail

My Yahoo account

My online tax filing service

My pin number for accessing records of previous tax returns

My pin number for “ATM”

My log in for each of my two laptops

My password for the “router” (which I have no idea how to change anymore)

My keypad to open the doors on my truck

I am certain I am overlooking some.

New Usernames and passwords after joining this class

Wolfmail

my.stritch the same as Wolfmail?

fafsa

my blog

gmail

The last 30 lines or so is therapeutic for me. It is my way of venting. It reminds me of what a very close and wise friend said to me recently, “How do you eat something as big as an elephant?”

Answer: “One bite at a time”.

Next subject

Old Habits Die Hard

I am currently typing this in Microsoft “Word” and will soon copy and paste in my blog. It is another indication or should I say self-realization of how comfortable I am in “Word” and fearful of the unknown. I hope I am able to do it. It is reminding me of why people are afraid of change and therefore brand loyal. The reason I keep buying a Ford vehicle. The reason the incumbent candidate is voted in over 90% of the time. The reason Microsoft only had Internet Explorer resident on so many computers and the reason it still holds over 50% of the market share. It is also the reason for the antitrust action against IE. I plan to write my 1^st paper in Google docs shortly. Good bye old friend. :(

Initial attempt at the launching of a math blog.

Wow! Kinda feel like I just landed on Mars and I don't know if there is life support. This is very new to me, scary and exciting at the same time! Who in the world will read this outside of me? Copernicus was right! The Universe doesn't center around me. Enough about that...

If there are any Math Teacher's looking for some incredible ideas to share or to try, I hope my blog will lend a hand. A new web site that I was fortunate enough to find is http://www.wolframalpha.com. I have yet to find an equation or problem that it cannot solve in my short experience with it. I have also been experimenting with my own versions and others versions of classroom "Jeopardy". I have to perfect the rules and the way to get all of my students to become engaged in such an activity...

I am hoping to get some responses/comments as to if this "blog" makes any sense or is need of a severe frontal lobotomy...