Results from Personality Test

Guardian........ Well I guess I really am a guardian. Upon taking the personality test, the results have shown that I am in this personality type. I know that is how I was raised. My folks were guardians for sure. They were very conservative when it came to matters pertaining to conduct and behavior as well as when it came to respecting institutions such as religious, political, and educational matters. They always told me to keep things in perspective. By this they meant to always remember faith, family, and career in that order. I would have to say that I still abide by this, and I'm sure when my boys are old enough I'll instill this as well. I just figured that I would be more of an idealist. I do respect institutions, but I don't always agree with how they are run or every single belief they espouse. In fact, I'll be the first to admit that I struggle with matters pertaining to both religion and politics. I try not to discuss these matters because they can be very divisive, but I don't always subscribe to the status quo on many of the issues around these. I just try to do what is good or right to the best of my ability. In regards to ISTE NETS 2008, this activity correlates well with standard 5. Teachers using this tool with their students is an excellent way to engage in personal growth and leadership. This type of activity enables teachers and students to better understand themselves as well as others in the class in regards to different types of personalities.

Four Personality Temperaments Prior to Taking the Quiz

I have taken different personality tests at different times, but I don’t recall taking one based on the four personality temperaments. I cannot remember much about the personality assessments that I took mainly because I took them for fun and did not really investigate them further. I really liked the reading about the four personality temperaments. I thought each personality temperament was very thorough. I liked how each temperament was further broken down into types. The reading forced me to evaluate myself based on the criterion.

Upon reading about the four personality temperaments, I have concluded that I have a personality crisis. I can see a little of each temperament in myself, but if I would use one to best describe myself it would probably be that of a healer idealist. Looking back on my life, I was raised pretty much to be a guardian. I still actually seem to strive to be a guardian. I always have and still do believe in traditional institutions and values as well as a sense of right and wrong. I take pride in being dependable and trustworthy, but I am not one for honoring customs and traditions just because it is “the best thing” for society. The description of an idealist seems to best describe me. I am one who strives for cooperation, and aside from sports, conflict and confrontation bother me. I also desire harmony in all settings even though this is rarely the case. I am eager to take the quiz on order to find out how I rank in regards to these personality types.

Current Status

Just finished up an exciting day. After work, I went to my son's Pre-K graduation. I had a blast watching my son perform the role of the archduke to the prince in Cinderella. Watching those little ones perform that play was a blast. I really enjoyed the whole event.

My Experiences with Browsers and Answers to Test Questions

I remember very well the days of the competition between Netscape and Microsoft Explorer. The Wikipedia article pertaining to the Browser Wars is a reflection of my technology experience as an early adult. As a child, I had access to several means of technology common to middle class families at the time. I remember with fondness the days of the Atari 2600, Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and our Commodore 64 computer. I learned about modems for computers in late elementary and early middle school. One of my childhood friends had a father who worked with computers. He always talked about the things his father told him about computers. I also recall with humor the scene in Ferris Buhler’s Day Off where Ferris (Matthew Broderick) changed his grades with the modem on his computer. All this was in the 1980s. I still did not know what the internet was until my junior year of college in 1995. I remember going to the computer lab at Shepherd College with some of my friends from larger metropolitan areas so they could check “this messaging system referred to as ‘e-mail.’” I really did not take the time understand what these things were until my senior.

During the student teaching phase of my undergraduate years, we were required to take an accompanying class in which we were to develop a thorough portfolio of our student teaching experiences. The professor held several sessions in the computer lab, and she had us become familiar with the internet. I remember the browser available for us to use was Netscape Navigator. I remember the little steering wheel for the hull of an old ship with moving comet like objects in the sky that designated that the browser was still performing the task of loading a page. I only became familiar with the internet in college during my last semester in the spring of 1996. I always tell my students the story about my experience with intense changes in technology in that I began college in 1992 writing my papers with a Smith Corona electronic typewriter and ended in 1996 by writing my papers with computers that had Microsoft Word Perfect.

Upon graduating from college, I purchased my first modern computer at the time. It was a Packard Bell with Microsoft Windows 95. I also purchased dial-up internet access through a small local provider. I can’t even remember the exact name of the provider. (I think it was part of the Mindspring chain.) I just remember the frustration of not being able to log on at times because the Net was overloaded and the dial-up process would not complete itself. I remember thinking about how I wished my computer would have worked like the ones at Shepherd in that all I had to do was click on the Netscape Icon and I would automatically be logged on. I did not know anything about DSL or even wireless at the time. Remember this was 1996. I couldn’t even find Netscape on my computer. The only way I could surf “The Net” was by clicking on the icon with the blue, lower-case letter e after the dial-up process was successful.

Most of my early surfing days were done via Microsoft Explorer. Later on, I was able to find downloads for Netscape Navigator, but it seemed as though explorer did not lock up as frequently as Netscape. Oh yeah, that was another frustration during my early days with the internet. In the early part of the first decade of the 21st Century, (2002-03) my wife and I (I got married in 2002) decided to try this service offered by Verizon called DSL. I really liked this because it reminded me of the computer lab as an undergrad in college. Along with this, my wife purchased her first lap top computer, an IBM Think Pad. With this, we also decided to get wireless access with our DSL package. This was really awesome, but in terms of browsers, we both patronized Microsoft Explorer mainly because our computers were equipped with Microsoft Windows operating systems. I do remember wondering in the early-middle part of the decade where Netscape went. It seemed as though it had fallen off the face of the earth.

I was exposed to Mozilla Firefox a few years ago when I used my brother’s computer for something, and he told me to click on the Firefox icon in order to access the net. I really liked using this browser because it opened with two screens. It also allowed me to save the page I was viewing if I had to log off. When I logged back on, that same page automatically opened. I downloaded this browser on all of more recent computers even though the all use Microsoft Windows as the operating system. I wasn’t aware that Netscape had heavy influence in the creation of Mozilla Firefox until I read the Browser Wars article. I also was exposed to Google Chrome in the fall of 2009. I really liked it, but shortly after downloading it, the IBM Think Pad issued to me by my school crashed. I doubt that this was due to Google Chrome, but I just didn’t download it again after that. This pretty much sums up my experience with browsers.


Browser Wars Test Questions

(Upon reading the article on browser wars and the statistics on browsers)

1. What is a web browser?

A web browser is an application tool that enables computer users to easily maneuver through the many facets of the World Wide Web. Along with assisting users with traveling through the World Wide Web, browsers also enable them to retrieve and present information

2. List the most popular 4 web browsers currently?

According to most recent statistics, the four most popular web browsers are Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Safari. Three different versions of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer are more popular that Safari however. Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8 are still more commonly used than Safari.

3. What does the term 'browser war' mean and what drives the competition between web browsers? What is the big deal in having the #1 browser?

The term “browser war” describes the competition between several internet browsers for use. This is all about economic advantage. The browser that receives the most use and popularity has the financial advantage in the browser market. As with anything in the economy competition to be the best and profit drives the competition. Having the top used browser assures a greater share in the market place. With this, it also hypothetically puts the corporation in a stronger financial position to invest in research and development in order to continue to improve the browser in order to strive to maintain their economic advantage.

This assignment corresponded well with standard 4 from ISTE's NETS 2008. Learning about the history of internet browsers and the current state of browser use is an excellent assignment 21st century educators to promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. This is an economic issue relevant to anyone who works in a field that depends on the use of the World Wide Web. It is always important as citizens to study these types of issues and to be as informed as possible.

My Current Answers to the TPACK Questions

I went ahead and answered the TPACK questions as best I could. I embedded them as well as provided a hyperlink to them with this posting. The use of Google Docs to answer questions such as these is an excellent example as to how teachers can use technology in a way the corresponds with standard 2 of the NETS (2008) established by ISTE. This is a great example of a digital-age learning assessment that is designed and developed around a course scope and sequence as well as learner objectives.

I will definitely provide updates to these questions throughout the semester.

Blogging Post 2

I am really getting the hang of this blogging thing. I have experimented with the different functions from it, and I have figured out many of the things I can do to it. I like the different gadgets that can be used and displayed. I also like how easy it is to move those gadgets around on the page. I also figured out how to upload documents as well as links to web pages to my blog. As I use it more and experiment with it the better I get at it and the more comfortable I am at using it.

Blog Address Survey

I did the Blog Address Survey without a problem. I thought it was pretty easy to use, and I hope that it processed properly when I submitted it. I am going to practice with the blog a little mores. This activity was a great example as to how teachers can provide digital age learning experiences and assessments with their students. It matches with the second standard established by the International Society for Technology in Education and their National Education Technology Standards (NETS) set forth in 2008.

First Day of Class (Summer Semester)

I got off to a slow start with class today. After completing a busy day at work with IEPs as well as getting my students prepared to take their final examinations in the coming weeks, I had a ton of chores to do when getting home. I was fortunate that my wife and I worked together at completing these as we took turns between completing the chores and taking care of our children. I did manage to become familiar with the course syllabus, content, and demands. With this I set up my first gmail address (I always used hotmail, but I figured I would eventually create a g-mail account). I also set up my blog for the class. Upon looking at the National Education Technology Standards for 2008 that were established by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), I have concluded that the use of a blog in a class pretty much covers each of the five standards adequately. The standard that is most covered by the use of a blog however would probably be standard 1. The use of a blog is an excellent way for teachers to enable students to express their knowledge in a creative manner that is outside of the box in terms of traditional learning. Students are given more leeway with a blog to demonstrate their mastery of content. With this, the use of a blog facilitates and inspires student learning and creativity. I felt a little inundated when I first looked at the schedule from the "home sweet home" page for the course, but I figure I will get better acquainted with it. Anyhow, I am looking forward to learning more about how to use technology in the classroom for the benefit of my students. I am also looking forward to meeting my classmates this summer. I shall return for more discussion tomorrow. Good night all.