Mr. Peterson's Blog

Life Without Satellite TV - part 2

2011-02-01T09:15:00.001-06:00

It has been almost one month since I "cut the cable" and ditched my satellite television provider, DirecTV...and yes, I am still breathing. No major depression or withdrawal in the Peterson home yet.

I am continuing to use my homemade "Boxee Box" to access various Internet video feeds and it is working like a charm. I was going to purchase a Roku player, but honestly, I have not seen the need to. We have become accustomed to watching television programs one day later than it is actually broadcast, but that is what we were doing anyway when we had a DVR with our satellite system.

Our compromise to completely "cutting the cable" was to actually GET basic cable television from our local provider, Three River Digital, and that seems to be working just fine. All of the major networks are there plus a few bonuses....all for just $14.95/month. Now, don't get me wrong, basic cable is just that, BASIC. The picture is analog and not digital, so that is a little annoying, but I still plan on getting a roof-top antenna to access local HD signals over-the-air. With -50 wind chill in Nebraska, I don't see me climbing on my roof anytime soon, so this will have to be a Spring project!

The family has not revolted yet, as my son, Connor spends most of his time watching his favorite television series episodes on the Wii using our monthly Netflix subscription of $7.99/month.

My wife is fairly satisfied with the switch with the only network she can't watch on the Boxee being the Food Network. That is her only concern right now, so hopefully that will be available soon. We can still hook up her laptop to the television and watch those programs, but we are trying to keep things as simple as possible without having to un-hook and hook up various computers. The episodes are available on iTunes for a subscription, but we are trying to SAVE money.

So, in summary, so far, so good! We are saving nearly $100/month by making this switch, and honestly, it is NOT THAT BAD!

I am sure at some point in the future, satellite and cable television will go the way of the "land line" telephone and we will be telling our grandchildren, "I remember when I had to watch television on satellite!"

"Cutting The Cable"...or how I ditched my satellite company.

2011-01-08T11:54:00.000-06:00

Let me say this up front: I have been a DirecTV customer since 1993 and I have loved their product for all of those years. I had always felt that I have been on the "cutting edge" of technology, and when I purchased the dish (yes, back then you had to purchase the dish) I was proving just that. My friends and family were amazed at the clarity of the image and the massive amount of channels available.

Fast forward to 2011. I still feel I am on the cutting edge of technology and read various RSS feeds daily on my iPad as I work out on my treadmill. Articles about Internet TV kept popping up in my daily news feed. I know there is much content out there to view online, but how easy is it to stream to my television? I had purchased a DVI to HDMI converter cable for my MacBook Pro last year to use to stream movies from Netflix as we were monthly subscribers, so I knew it could be done and the quality was very good. How easy is that, though? What I had been doing is just leaving the converter cable hooked up to my 50" plasma and hooking up a stereo audio cable from my MBP headphone jack to my surround sound system. This had been working very nicely to view content, but could this setup actually replace my beloved satellite system that I was so accustomed to?

I really do not want to admit this, but my DirecTV bill has slowly balooned to over $100.00 per month the past few years with the advent of an HD DVR, HD channel subscriptions, 1080i pay-per-view movie rentals, etc. I love the HD quality of the picture and the ease of use of the DVR-honestly, I am not sure how I ever survived before without it.

The terms, "Boxee and Roku" kept appearing in my daily technology news readings about Internet television devices, so my geekiness took over and I had to research this much more. So, actually, what are these devices?

What is a Roku player? This is straight from their web site:

"Roku is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Watch movies and TV shows from Netflix,Hulu Plus or Amazon VOD, listen to music on Pandora, catch the latest ballgame, and more — it's all available whenever you want it."

The prices on the Roku player range from $59.99 to $99.99.
This intrigued me but I was not ready to actually purchase one of these quite yet, so I kept researching. The next big player in the Internet TV devices was Boxee. As I initially visited their site, I discovered that you could actually DOWNLOAD their software and make your OWN "Boxee Box." Now THIS is more my style....cheap. I proceeded to install the software on my MacBook and hook it up to my big screen. Wow, I was initially amazed at the interface. It was very clean and easy to use.

The Boxee interface is very easy to use and can actually be navigated by my MacBook Pro remote, so no additional hardware is needed. As Christmas break approached, I felt this would be the perfect time to do some testing on the Boxee. There are many "apps" available for the Boxee and these include, Pandora, Netflix, YouTube, Justin.TV, CNN, just to name a few, with more added daily. The apps are easy to install and find. A big concern of mine was being unable to watch "live" events, but with the Justin.TV app, there is plenty of live content to view at any time.
I actually watched many NFL and college football games and found many in near HD quality. I was totally surprised how much content was available through the apps available.

Boxee actually does sell their player and it is a pretty cool little device:

The current cost for their box is $199.99. Pretty sleek design and very cool remote that has a full QWERTY on the back of it.

A really cool feature of the Boxee is a "Bookmarklet" browser button that can be added to your bookmarks bar on your individual browser that will actually allow you to add whatever video you are viewing on your personal computer to your "Queue" on your Boxee. It is a simply awesome feature:

Now, this feature, I have discovered, does not work on ALL sites, so it is a little hit-and-miss, but for the sites it does work on it is a great way to get the content to your Boxee queue.

O.K., now I think it is time to set this plan into action, so I asked my family what TV shows they actually watched on our satellite system, and I was shocked with the fact that is was not actually that many....and the channels they watched were all channels we could access online. This just made my decision that much easier, so it was time...cut the cable...or dish in our case. We were paying for a bunch of channels that nobody seems to watch.

My main concern was not being able to get the networks and watch live sporting events, so my compromise was to get "basic" cable from our local provider, Three River Digital, which gives me all of the major networks, plus ESPN, all for $14.95/month. I am probably going to install a roof-top antenna so that I can actually get these channels in HD, but for now, this is what I have done.

So, now, the BIG step, canceling the DirecTV. It has become a real comfort to just come home and fire up the satellite box, peruse the massive amount of channels available (that apparently nobody watches) and check out what has recorded on the DVR, so I knew this would be the hardest part. We called DirecTV and told them we were canceling. They asked, "May we ask why?" So-we proceeded to tell them what we were doing. Shockingly they said, "Here is what we are going to do, cut your monthly bill by $30.00 for 12 months and give you a $100.00 credit to your account immediately." WOW...this was an unexpected turn of events. What to do? My feelings went from shock to anger as I thought, why don't they just do this in the first place? They are just making WAY TOO much money off of me and to give me this deal actually just made me want to cancel even more.

So, it is done. Three days into our new life without satellite television, I think we are going to survive. No visible signs of withdrawal...yet. Kids are watching a lot of Netflix ($7.99/mo) and the various content available on the Boxee.

The next step in this is to order my Roku box that will fully replace my homemade Boxee. Not that I am dissatisfied with the Boxee, but the Roku seems more user friends at this point and allows content from Hulu Plus and Amazon Video on Demand.

Stay tuned.....

Phishing?

2009-11-19T08:32:00.001-06:00

You may or may not have heard about "phishing." These scams find ways to get you to a page that looks like the login to a financial institution or other site where knowing your credentials can benefit them in some way. Many times the "hook" comes in the form of an e-mail that appears to be from a trusted source. Also in the e-mail is a call to click a link to go to a site that is made to look like the one you know.

The link below will take you to a site where you can take a "phishing" quiz. Take the quiz, see how you do and then talk about how you did.

http://www.sonicwall.com/phishing/

Hopefully this will keep you from getting "hooked" in the future! Have a great weekend.

What if???

2009-11-12T11:16:00.000-06:00

What if the school did not filter anything on the Internet? What if we allowed cell phone use in school? What problems can you imagine if we did this? Should we allow cell phone use in school? What would be an appropriate cell phone policy?

Lots of things to think about this week. Let me know your thoughts. Have a great weekend.

Ah..the dreaded WHITE LIST.

2009-11-06T08:15:00.000-06:00

As some (or most) of you know, when a student is on the ineligibility list, they are placed on a "white list" on their laptop so that they may only access certain educational web sites. This week I want you to discuss your feelings about the white list: Is it effective? Does it motivate students to get their grades up? These are just a few items you could discuss. Have a great weekend.

What is your first memory of technology?

2009-10-15T12:56:00.000-05:00

This week I want you to think back as far as you can and recall what is your first memory of technology. Your generation is thought of to be "Digital Natives" - that is you have GROWN UP with technology around you and don't know anything different. My generation is thought of to be "Digital Immigrants" and that we did not grow up with it. Talk about your earliest memories of technology and how you think that shapes who you are today.

No texting at dinner!

2009-10-01T13:20:00.000-05:00

Read the following article and comment about your feelings.

No texting at dinner! Parenting in the digital era by AP: Yahoo! Tech

Comment On Your Classmates Blog Pages!

2009-09-18T08:02:00.000-05:00

This week I want you to view my Photo Blog page: http://mrpetersonphotos.blogspot.com/ and look through the "Digital Design Blog List" on the left side of the page. I would like you to post comments on 5 of the students' blog pages of your choice giving them some feedback on their Photos or Photoshop work.

Be honest in your comments telling them what you like and what you do not like!

Why do we Facebook and Twitter?

2009-09-11T07:49:00.001-05:00

EVERYBODY seems to be on Facebook and Twitter these days. Why do you think that is? Ashton Kutcher has more that 1 million followers on Twitter. What is the appeal of these "social media" sites. Why do YOU use Facebook or Twitter? If you do not use Twitter, Google it and see what it is all about. Have a good weekend!

What's new in Technology?

2009-09-03T11:08:00.001-05:00

This week for our blog, I want YOU to show me something NEW in technology. It can be gaming, cell phones, computers, anything that relates to technology news. Put the link on your post and tell a little about it! Have a GREAT THREE-DAY weekend!

Texting and Driving-NOT a good idea.

2009-08-27T10:52:00.003-05:00

You may have heard about this article, but it is a real eye-opener about the dangers of "texting and driving." Please read the article and write some of your thoughts after reading it.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10296992-94.html?tag=mncol

Also, please place you "Digital Design" Blog link on this post for me to link to (example: http://mrpetersonphotos.blogspot.com/)

Welcome Back to School!

2009-08-20T08:50:00.003-05:00

Okay, some of you are probably not TOO excited to be back, but hey, what can you do? This week I just want you to tell me what you want to learn in whatever class you are taking and what are some of the goals you have for your learning in here.

Remember-Please use complete sentences and REAL words...avoid texting slang...LOL, BRB, OMG, etc.!

Have a good weekend and see you on Monday!

Your laptops so far....

2009-02-24T20:59:00.003-06:00

I thought it would be good time to "sound off" about your MacBooks. How are things going so far? This week I want you to take some time to blog about what you LIKE and what you DO NOT LIKE about your MacBooks. Be specific and take some time to do this to help us make this program even better next year!!

Nobody SAYS, "I Love You Anymore?"

2009-02-11T08:26:00.003-06:00

This is an interesting video from ABC news. Watch it and write about your feelings about it. I thought this was appropriate for Valentine's Day!

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6844633

Too Much Technology?

2009-01-29T23:39:00.003-06:00

As I was searching for something to blog about....I read HUNDREDS of articles about tech news. Sometimes it overwhelms even me, so I decided to go a different way with the blog this week! I talk a lot about all of the "new and exciting" things going on in the world of technology....but can TOO much technology be bad for you? Do you ever get sick of the "next new thing?" Do you long for a time where life was more simple without all of the advancements we have in technology? Do you remember when you did NOT have access to a cell phone? Were these better, or worse times?

Write about what you think about my statement...and as usual..have a GREAT weekend.

Favorite Movie Growing Up...

2009-01-22T09:30:00.002-06:00

For this week I want you to think back to when you were a little kid! What movie did you just love and made your parents watch all of the time! Why did you like this movie so much? As you are making projects this year, the movies you have watched in your past will definitely influence the way you make movies, so it is good to identify what movie styles you like.

So, list some movies you LOVED growing up and a short reason why on each one.

Have a great weekend!

New Semester!

2009-01-15T13:04:00.001-06:00

Simple blog this week. You need to write about what you want to accomplish this semester in whatever class you are taking. Digital Media can talk about projects they would like to do, etc.

Have a good weekend.

YOU find some tech news to share!

2008-12-12T08:45:00.002-06:00

This week I want you guys to find something "tech" newsworthy to share with everyone. It can be anything that deals with technology in the news recently. Have a great weekend!

ahh...the power of the text message!

2008-12-05T07:44:00.005-06:00

Read the following and blog about your thoughts.

Doctor Performs Amputation By Text Message

Peace Corps Online writes "Vascular surgeon David Nott performed a life-saving amputation on a boy in DR Congo following instructions sent my text message from a colleague in London. The boy's left arm had been ripped off and was badly infected and gangrenous, there were just 6in (15cm) of the boy's arm remaining, much of the surrounding muscle had died and there was little skin to fold over the wound. "He had about two or three days to live when I saw him," Nott said. Nott, volunteering in with the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, knew he needed to perform a forequarter amputation requiring removal of the collar bone and shoulder blade and contacted Professor Meirion Thomas at London's Royal Marsden Hospital, who had performed the operation before. 'I texted him and he texted back step by step instructions on how to do it,' Nott said."

A mother faces 20 years for harassing teen on MySpace.

2008-11-20T11:20:00.002-06:00

You may or may not have heard about this story, but it is pretty interesting. Watch the video at the link here: http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6297216 and write about what you think about this.

Will you take the bait?

2008-11-13T13:47:00.006-06:00

"Phishing" is defined as the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

See how much you know about "phishing" by taking this quiz below and then blogging about what you find out about how much you know...or don't know.

http://www.sonicwall.com/phishing/

How has technology influenced your generation?

2008-11-06T11:33:00.003-06:00

A digital native is a person who has grown up with digital technology such as computers, the Internet, mobile phones and MP3. A digital immigrant is an individual who grew up without digital technology and adopted it later.

Blog your feelings about this statement.

This Quarter Went By Fast!!

2008-10-23T11:07:00.002-05:00

This week's blog is pretty simple. Write a few lines about what you thought about the first quarter...the good and the bad. What you liked or disliked. What you did that you are proud of, etc. Have a great..COLD? weekend.

Mr. P

"I hate this stupid Internet re-router."

2008-10-17T09:02:00.004-05:00

This was a quote heard by several students at OHS. Internet filters are required to make this 24/7 laptop program successful, but students have differing views on them. What do you feel about the school's filtering system and do you think it is necessary? What should our policies be on playing games/Facebook, etc. during school hours?

Thanks...have a great weekend!

Think your parents can't limit how fast you drive...well then read this!

2008-10-08T16:02:00.004-05:00

Ford feature will let parents set limits for teens

The company will roll out a new feature on many 2010 models that can limit teen drivers to 80 mph, using a computer chip in the key.

Read the article and write about what you think about this technology!

Are you "GoogleAble?

2008-10-03T09:18:00.003-05:00

One in five employers research job applicants on the Web

Please read the following article and blog about what your feelings are about it. Have you ever thought about what shows up if you are "Googled?"

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/yoon/1123/one-in-five-employers-research-job-applicants-on-the-web/

Makes you think, doesn't it?

Have a good weekend.

Mr. P

What's new in technology?

2008-09-26T09:24:00.001-05:00

This week, I want YOU to list something here that involves something that is new in technology recently. It could deal with anything related to technology: cell phones, video games, computers, etc. You just need to summarize what you found and where you obtained the information. DON'T CUT AND PASTE-YOU WON'T RECEIVE CREDIT.

Thanks.

DWT? Driving While Texting?

2008-09-18T11:56:00.004-05:00

The engineer of the Los Angeles-area train that killed 25 people when it crashed into a freight train Friday was sending text messages while on board, sources close to the crash investigation say. Officials still don't know how close to the moment of the accident the texts were sent.

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=5825124&page=1

Read this article and talk about how you feel about this. Remember on your blog posts to use correct spelling, grammar, etc. Don't use Internet language...lol, etc, b/c ur, etc......gtg....:)

Have a good weekend.

Illegal Music Downloading

2008-09-11T13:59:00.000-05:00

What are your thoughts on sharing mp3's (music files)? This is an illegal activity and recently the University of Nebraska was named as one of the top 5 schools in illegal music downloading. Read the article about this here and blog about what you think.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18644781/

Have a great weekend.

Lucky?

2008-09-05T09:23:00.002-05:00

I have presented to different school districts this summer and have come to realize that we are VERY lucky in O'Neill to have access to the technology that we have.

Talk this week about if you have experienced this in your situation. Do you have friends in other school districts that are jealous of your 24/7 laptop access? Do you know of other schools that are doing what we are doing?

Thanks and have a great weekend.

Your MacBooks so far....

2008-08-29T10:52:00.002-05:00

For this week's blog, talk a little about how you feel about your MacBook. You can be totally honest, but keep it clean! How are the teachers using/adapting your lessons, etc. Are you having problems, etc?

We Survived!

2008-08-21T11:59:00.002-05:00

We all survived the first week? of school. Talk about how everything went and what you would like to accomplish in this class this semester. Have a good weekend.

Final Thoughts and....

2008-05-12T10:34:00.004-05:00

This will be your final blog. Please take some time to reflect and comment about your experience in this class this year. Tell the good and the bad. That is how we get better.

Also, please help Northeast CC with their new website. They want STUDENT input for their new site:

We are looking for some “student eyes” on the new website and someone thought it would be great if the TANN students could give us some feedback. If they are interested in taking the survey, I will enter them into a $30 gift certificate to the college bookstore.

Homepage draft mockup: http://dev.northeastcollege.com
Homepage draft walkthrough: http://dev.northeastcollege.com/demo
Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9V459iC27GRaWjnGdClSfg_3d_3d

Thanks, and have a great summer!

Tell us about your laptops....

2008-04-30T08:09:00.008-05:00

This week I want you to blog about your feelings about our 24/7 laptop initiative. Here are some things to consider:

1. What can we do better?
2. What did you like the best/least?
3. Did this influence you to buy a MacBook/laptop for college?
4. What is the ONE BIG THING you would change for next year and the years to come?
5. Anything else?

Seniors, this will be your last chance to let us know what you thought about our 24/7 laptop initiative and, yes, your final blog. Thanks for a great year. Hopefully you will take something you learned from this class with you in your life after high school.

Juniors, this is your chance to help us make the program better for you next year when you have your laptops for THE ENTIRE YEAR!!

Also....if you have not taken this survey for Mrs. Morrow, please do so:

24/7 Laptop Survey

Plus...please take this survey for HTC if you have not done so already:

HTC Survey

THANKS...THAT IS ALL? or is it, check out Brett Rash's blog here:

16 Year Old Girl Beaten With the Intent to Post Video on YouTube

2008-04-10T12:17:00.006-05:00

Please read the following article and watch the video. I think you will find the story interesting and sad.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20080408/NEWS/804080385/1134

Please blog about what you think about this incident and what the parent's of the girl have to say about MySpace, YouTube, and the Internet.

How has technology influenced this generation?

2008-04-03T09:20:00.003-05:00

Responsibility?

2008-03-27T09:17:00.008-05:00

In this week's blog, I want you to tell me why you think some students just don't do their work? Are they just unmotivated, don't care, or Senioritis??? Digital Media, Web Design and Digital Design are project based classes and some students just do not do their projects, making them fail.

What can I do as a teacher to improve this?

SchoolTube?

2008-03-13T09:39:00.002-05:00

I have just recently been exposed to the website:

www.SchoolTube.com

SchoolTube provides students and educators a safe, world class, and FREE media sharing website that is nationally endorsed by premier education associations. SchoolTube is the recognized leader for moderated internet media content sharing for teachers and students.

So check it out and blog about what you think about it and what you can see the uses would be for you here at OHS.

Angel eLearning

2008-02-28T07:43:00.002-06:00

Hopefully you have been introduced to Angel course management software that your teachers are using now. For this week's blog, write about your thoughts/feelings/praises/complaints about this new learning and communication tool. Some of the things to think about are:

1. Has it helped communication with your teachers?
2. Do you feel you are getting more or less homework?
3. Is it helping you keep caught up when you are absent?
4. What would you do to improve it?

Thanks...have a nice 3 day weekend!!

What's new in Technology?

2008-02-22T08:11:00.002-06:00

Poll on MacBooks

2008-02-14T08:38:00.003-06:00

The blog this week is to take a poll on the features of your MacBook. The poll is on the right, just vote and check the results. Pretty easy!

Have a great, "long" weekend.

What you have done this week....

2008-02-07T16:26:00.000-06:00

Pretty simple blog this week. Please list some things you accomplished this week. Here are some possible points to consider:

1. New things you learned/discovered.
2. Plans for next week.
3. Anything else you want to talk about!

Have a good weekend. See you on Monday.

Mr. P

Feelings on Laptops...so far.

2008-01-29T19:33:00.000-06:00

It has been a couple of weeks since we have blogged, but I want you to let us know how the 24/7 Learning Initiative is going with your laptops. Talk about the good, the bad and the really bad. You might talk about what you have been using the laptop for, how is has changed what you have done in school, etc. You can also give us suggestions on what we can do better, also.

New Semester!

2008-01-11T09:10:00.000-06:00

This week's blog is an easy one. Let me know what you would like to accomplish this semester; whichever class you are in. Such things as projects you would like to work on, skills you would like to learn, etc.

Field Trip

2007-12-18T17:40:00.001-06:00

For this final blog of the 1st Semester, I want you to put down your thoughts about our visit to Special T's in Lynch. Some things to think about:

1. Were you surprised at how big of a business they are for a small town?

2. What impressed you the most about the business?

3. What was something that your learned from the trip?

These are just things to think about, you can write about anything you want about the trip. Have a great holiday.

Next Semester....

2007-12-14T08:16:00.000-06:00

This blog entry will be an easy one...hopefully. I just want you to write down what class your are planning on taking next semester. Here are your choices:
Obviously if you have already taken one of these you can't take it again! Here are some possible scenarios:

Digital Media-Learning about Movie Making using Final Cut. (This would be a good choice for those of you that want to make a "senior video."
Web Page 1-Learning how to plan, construct, publish and maintain a web site.
Web Page 2-Learning how to do Flash animations and other advanced items. (could include adding a podcast to your website.)
Digital Design-Learn about Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.

Here are some possible situations:

If you have taken Web Page 1, you can take Web Page 2, Digital Design or Digital Media.
If you have taken Digital Design, you can take Digital Media or Web Page 1.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

$200 laptop?

2007-12-06T09:57:00.000-06:00

Check out this link about the $200 laptop that Nicholas Negroponte, a professor at MIT, has produced. There is a 12 minute video there that is very interesting if you would like to learn more about it. After visiting the link, blog about what you think about this idea. You might compare what you see with these students getting laptops with our experience here at OHS. Also vote on the Hot Tech Items Poll on the right. Thanks, have a great "cold" weekend. NOTE: When you blog, it has changed. You need to put your name in the NICKNAME box then post.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/20/60minutes/main2830058.shtml

Technology in Your Life

2007-11-30T06:49:00.000-06:00

1. Please write a few lines about what technologies you use in your daily life. It could be at school, work, home, with friends, etc.

2. How has technology changed your life in the past 10 years?

Thanks have a great weekend.

Mac v. PC

2007-11-16T08:40:00.000-06:00

Now that you have been working on the iMac computers for almost a semester, let me know what you think.

1. What things DO you like about the Mac?

2. What things DON'T you like about the Mac?

3. Which system do you like better? Mac or XP? Why?

Have a great weekend.

(image from mac.com)

2007-11-09T09:17:00.000-06:00

Thoughts for the Week....

2007-10-30T12:27:00.000-05:00

I hope everybody had a nice week off of blogging. This week's blog will be pretty open. I just want you to talk about whatever you want to as long as it relates to technology. It could be about :

1. Our Class (Digital Design, Web Design)

2. The 24/7 Learning Initiative (laPtops) notice the P in laptops...NOT laBtops....I think if anybody says they are getting a laBtop next semester we will not give them one!! ;)

3. Tell me something you would like to learn in your class that you have not learned yet.

4. Remember the Lesson Plans are just "plans" they are not set in stone. If you are working on something every day, you are doing fine. I AM VERY PROUD OF YOUR EFFORTS SO FAR THIS YEAR. You have done more than most of my Web Design classes in the past. NICE JOB!

5. I would also like to get everyone's e-mail address. Please send it to me at: mpetersn@esu8.org.

Remember, talk about anything you want...just as long as it relates to technology.

Juniors and Seniors.....Ready for your laptops?

2007-10-18T12:39:00.000-05:00

This blog will celebrate the fact that the School Board graciously approved our 24/7 Learning Plan!! What this means to you is that next semester you (Juniors and Seniors) will be getting a laptop to enhance your learning 24/7. Next year ALL students 7-12 will be receiving them.

For this blog I want you to talk about what this means to you and what about getting the laptop is most exciting to you.

Laptops....Part 2

2007-10-12T08:22:00.002-05:00

For this week's blog, I would like to find out your feelings about our proposed laptop program again. Please answer or talk about the following:

1. Would you be willing to pay a rental fee of $25.00 for the use of a laptop for the school year? (You would possibly get back $20.00 if your computer is returned in good shape at the end of the year.)

2. What is your NUMBER ONE CONCERN if we loaned laptops to all students 7-12?

3. Don't forget to place your portfolio folder in my dropbox. BOTH CLASSES MUST DO THIS. For more information on how to do this go to my website and click on the link, "How To Drop Box."

Weekly Summary 7

2007-10-05T09:20:00.001-05:00

This week will be a pretty basic blog. I just want you to highlight your accomplishments this week in your class.

1. What was the favorite thing you did this week?

2. What was the thing you disliked most about this week?

3. Vote on the poll I created about how you communicate. Similar to last week, but I want to see the voting.

Thanks! Have a great weekend.

MySpace, Facebook and Cell Phones

2007-09-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

For this week's blog, I want you to blog about:

1. Do you use MySpace or Facebook? If you do, do you let your parents see the site?
2. Do you think these sites should be blocked at school? (Why or why not)
3. What is your favorite way to communicate with your friends?
4. Do you think cell phones should be allowed at school? (Why or why not)

Week 5

2007-09-21T09:07:00.000-05:00

Another week has gone by and some of you are really creating some neat stuff. Blog on the following:

1. Blog your accomplishments this week!(something you did you are proud of)
2. Blog about what you would like to learn in your particular class.

Laptops for Everyone?

2007-09-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Well, you may or may not have heard the rumor....we may be in the process at O'Neill Public Schools of getting laptops for every student at O'Neill High School!

Now that you are over the shock, please blog on how you feel that would help you in your classes, life, etc. How can you see having a laptop 24/7 help you at OHS?

For more information, you can check out this site :
(image from Apple.com and Omaha Westside)

Tech Classes-Week 3!

2007-09-07T09:39:00.000-05:00

Time is going by quickly. Again this week, I want you to list a couple of new skills learned in your classes.

Next I want you to list how you think you can use what you have learned so far in school, job, life, etc.

Thanks, have a great weekend!

Technology Classes-Week 2

2007-08-30T10:31:00.000-05:00

Another week has gone by and more learning has occurred! Again this week, I want you to comment on one or two things NEW things you learned this week, either in Photoshop or Dreamweaver.

Also, let me know what you liked MOST about this last week's work and what you liked LEAST!

Thanks. Have a great weekend!

Welcome to Technology!

2007-08-24T08:42:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to Mr. Peterson's Classroom blog. Here we will share information and learning with the world! Stay tuned for more information and instructions.

For our first blog, I would like you to share one or two things you learned this week.