L13- Operating Systems

1. An operating system is a type of software

• True 

2. Operating systems control the loading of software applications onto a computer.

• True 

3. All operating systems offer user preferences allowing you to customize your computer

• True 

4. An operating system prioritizes the tasks that a CPU does. 

• True

5. The following devices have an operating system: an Apple iPod, a Dell laptop computer, and a Nintendo Wii. 

• True

Job Shadowing

I job shadowed my aunt who is a first grade teacher at Penny Road Elementary, and I led a first grade class. 

http://www.wcpss.net/pennyroades

8:00-8:15: Driving to the school.
8:20-8:35:  Met up with my aunt at the front of the school. She introduced me to the secretaries at the front desk and we got coffee in the teacher's lounge. By her doing this, it made me almost feel like one of her coworkers! The lady at the front desk also informed her that they were getting a new student the next day. Then we walked back to her classroom to finish preparing and getting ready for the kids to get there. She gave me a mini tour on the way, since she was near the back of the building. She told me the hallways were different grade levels, and they all met in the middle with the library and cafeteria. 
8:45-9:15: The kids started coming in gradually, and we had their morning work ready on their tables. They worked on those and when the bell rang announcements and pledge came on, and after that I introduced myself and told a little bit about AOIT and my school. 
9:15-3:45: We had math and reading class, along with reading part of a chapter book they've been reading for about a week now. Whenever they were doing silent independent work, we would walk around and be there to answer any of the kids' questions and be there for the kids if they need help. This experience really showed me the responsibility that teachers have to face everyday, and especially the demands that young kids call for. I also enjoyed feeling like a teacher and having something to do and try something new and challenging that I find interesting. We also did stations where they would move around in groups to learn about a new country every time. I loved that because I could interact with all the kids individually and not as a class. They also had indoor recess after lunch around 1:30 and we did games like Simon says and four corners, It was also really fun to play that with them and take a break from the learning. Then at the end of the day, the kids were so nice saying bye and it made me feel like they really enjoyed having me there. 

Lesson 11- The Internet

What is the internet?

• The Internet is the largest wide-area network that is made up of a bunch of smaller computer networks. Everything you find online is brought to you by the Internet. Whether it's web pages, email, social networking sites, or games, the Internet provides it all for you. In 2011, more than 2 billion were using the Internet regularly. It makes it hard to believe that in the eighties, Internet was just being introduced, and was a very new and uncommon feature. 

What is a protocol?

•  Protocols control or enable the connection, communication, and data transfer between two computing endpoints. They were established as rules for the computer to follow. It also can be called network protocols, that do the same thing, but within a computer network. This helps communication between machines be efficient and orderly. The first network protocol was on the ARPANET network in 1969.

What is DNS?

• DNS stands for Domain Name Service. It translates domain names into IP addresses that locates the computer. Without it, there would be no Internet communication. It is commonly compared to a phone book because it takes a host name and returns an IP address, or the other way around. Each part of the Internet has DNS servers. 

Explain what an ISP is and what it does?

• ISP stands for Internet Service Provider. They connect through routers that then connect with computer networks on the Internet. Data travels from router to router to reach a specified place from the user. ISP's came along in the late 1980's. The Internet didn't start evolving until the 80's, and service providers were at a demand at the end of the decade. 

What is a PING and Firewall?

• The PING utility can be used to check network connection. It sends test packets over the Internet and evaluates if that particular machine receives them. Pinging your computer can tell you whether your connection is working. A firewall protects your machine from Internet threats. It can be software or hardware based. 

Connecting to the Internet Summary

          The Internet is made up of a bunch of smaller computer networks. It is many networks connecting together to create this one wide-area network. The Internet is the largest network, and the smallest one is individuals who use their personal computers at home connected to the Internet. Those small networks are run by that person's ISP or Internet Service Provider. Backbones and routers handle all the high level data and help it get to it's destination. Different networks use these parts to communicate freely with each other. The Internet is basically a whole bunch of connections in a network.

          An Internet Service Provider, or ISP helps companies or individuals get a sustain a wireless connection. They often also let the customer choose the types of services given to them to best suit their needs. Consumer connections are made by DSL's, or digital subscriber lines. They're the most common on cable Internet. Any connection can be made through copper wire telephone lines, cable TV lines, or fiber-optic lines. 

          The simplest way to connect to the Internet is to get a modem and ISP for your machine, plug your computer into the modem and turn it on. If you have a broadband connection, you don't need an ISP every time you use the computer, the connection stays on. Cable lines work the same way, in which they're "always on." You can also connect with Ethernet plug connected to a web server. You can also connect wirelessly, and your modem connects to the Internet's hub to give you connection. Your ISP gives your computer a unique IP address when it's connected. 

Lesson 8: Making Presentations

Three goals for a presentation: 

1. Inform: Telling the audience information about a topic.
2. Educate: Telling audience how to do something so they can then do it on their own. 
3. Persuade: Convince someone to feel a certain way.

Three ways that audiences learn:

1. Seeing (Visual Learner): Focus on pictures and the presentation in front of them. 
2. Hearing (Auditory Learner): Focus on the speaker's words. 
3. Doing (Kinetic Learner): Engage the audience with hands on activities. 

Four things that make up a PowerPoint presentation:

1. Text: The content on the slides.
2. Charts and Graphs: A visual representation of a set of data.
3. Photos and Graphics: A visual representation of what the speaker is talking about.
4. Audio and Video: To hear and connect with the information. 

Five rules to a good presentation

1. Keep slides simple and easy to read. 
2. State your purpose.
3. Add images that support your points.
4. Relax and use a friendly speaking style.
5. Don't just read the slides to your audience. 

Color rules in a presentation:

1. Use light-colored backgrounds with dark text.
2. Use dark-backgrounds with brights text. 

Font rules in a presentation:

1. Limit how much text you put on each slide.
2. Make the text clean and big.

Presentation organization:

1. State your purpose: make it clear what you want people to know. 
2. Present information in multiple ways.
3. End with a summary.

Supporting images: Photos, graphics, and charts

1. Keep people interested.
2. Reinforce key messages.
3. Help visual learners understand.
4. Avoid slide clutter
5. Don't use too many colors.

Avoid:

1. Reading your slides word for word
2. Talking too fast

Be sure to:

1. Add information and examples in your own words
2. Answer audience questions
3. Practice!

The best presentations have:

1. Easy to read slides that support what is being said
2. A clearly stated purpose
3. Graphics, photos, and other visual objects used judiciously
4. A speaker who is relaxed and confident

POIT Lesson 6 Peripherals

• Peripherals: devices that provide the computer with input or output

• Mouse- Input
• Keyboard- Input
• Monitor- Output
• Printer- Output
• Flash Drive- Input

• Keyboard: Input device that sends information with a key or key combinations to a computer.
• Mice: Optical or Laser.
• Monitor: Output device, except when touch screen, then input. CRT (tube screens). 
• Pixel: Small colored square that is displayed on a square. More pixels=Higher definition.
• Printer: High capacity or normal output device.
• Scanner: Reads document and sends it to computer, then the computer copies it.
• Multi-Function: Scans, prints, copies, faxes, and more. Used at work or businesses. 
• Drives: Floppy disks, CD-ROM's, DVD-ROM's, and Blu-Ray drives.
• External Drives: Just like hard drives. Hold information as storage for you. Images, videos, documents, etc.
•  Solid State Drive: More like flash drives, and harder to lose. No moving parts, just stores the data. 
• Tower Cases: Expansion slots and bays for DVD's or Blu-rays. 
• Standard Peripherals for Dream Computer Project: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, scanner, storage drives.

First 9 Weeks

• What is your impression of the first 9-weeks of high school?
• I definitely love the freedom I get as a freshman, and I feel a lot more mature and respected than how I did last year. There's definitely a lot more assessments and work, but it didn't surprise me. 

•  What has been difficult about the transition from middle school?
• I have a lot less free time than I did in middle school, and have to use a lot of my time after school for activities and clubs, along with all my classwork, homework, and studying.

• What has been easy about the transition?
• It has been surprisingly easy to adjust to my surroundings and the building and what rooms to go to. I got used to the campus easily, and made a lot of close friends. 

• What have you learned about yourself?
• I have learned that I really like to work ahead and get things done right away so I am not stressed later and am more stress-free. 

ID Theft Faceoff

• If someone has stolen your financial information, it's best to just wait a couple weeks.
• False. You should take action right away. 

• The best way to get a free copy of your credit report is to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. 
• False. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to ask for and receive one free credit report from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies every 12 months.

• One of the best ways to protect your identity is by using online passwords only you would know, like the last four digits of your Social Security Number. 
• False. Criminals can often find out this information easily. 

• Identity theft only consists of drivers' licences and name badges. 
• False. Refer to name, Social Security Number, and financial information as well.

• If one of your stolen pieces of information is your Social Security Number, you can place an "initial fraud alert" by calling one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. 
• True. Can stop someone from opening new credit accounts under your name. 

• If the stolen information includes government-issued ID's, all you need to do is create a facsimile using a recent color photo. 
• False. You should contact the agency that issued the document and follow its procedures.

• The names of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies are Equinox, ExperiCorps, and TransAmerica. 
• False. 

• If your identity has been stolen, and you notice you haven't received bills, this is a sign that your identity has been restored.
• False. If the bills don't come, that means someone is still "hijacking" your identity. 

Trends and Factors

• What 3 trends do you see in computer evolution? AND Why?

Trends are they all have some sort of screen so the user can easily navigate and control, along with a keyboard for commands and letters. They have also gotten significantly smaller and thinner. That is because we can now make those same things smaller and more portable and easily accessible. They also have all the same components but a lot lighter. 

• Name 3 factors that drive technological innovation?

We have developed so much more technology since computers were introduced, and we still are in the present. That is why we must also advance computers as we keep getting more and more of this advanced parts. Another factor is people needing jobs. There are more and more jobs and openings as we keep advancing technology. A third factor is just time. We are continuously growing and growing and so is our technological outlook.

True or False

• The first computer programmer was a woman.
• True: Ada Lovelace

• The first computer was built in 1975.
• False: 1910

• Apple made the world's first user friendly personal computer.
• True

• Binary numbers are counted by two's.
• False: Zeroes and Ones

• A notebook computer is the same as a laptop computer.
• True

• Computers come in only three sizes: desktop, notebook, and tablet
• False: Mobile, Supercomputers

• All PC's use the Microsoft Windows operating system.
• False: Linux

• People with a lot of data often own their own main-frame computer.
• False

• Most modern supercomputers are made up of clusters of computers.
• True

Anticipation Guide

• As long as I can check my email and surf the web, I am computer literate.
• Disagree

• All computer systems are basically alike on the inside.
• Disagree

• Peer to peer networks are a great way to share all kinds of files.
• Agree

• Open-source software is the wave of the future. Soon, it won't matter what kind of machine a person has because everything will be open-source and easily translatable from one operating system to another. 
• Agree

• Although computer programmers should focus on learning the very latest programming languages, older programs written in languages like C are still important to learn.
• Agree

• Unrestricted access to technology is a fundamental human right.
• Disagree

• If I get a job in the computer industry, I will never have to worry about being unemployed.
• Disagree