Month: September 2016

Wacky, Wonderful Wednesday

Book Reviews:

Doubt in the 2nd Degree: A Jules Landau MysterySep 6, 2016

by Marc Krulewitch

Synopsis

Jules Landau is an old fashioned type of private eye who reminds me of the Sam Spade type of investigator.

In Chicago, there are the good neighborhoods and the not so go neighborhoods.  The really good neighborhood, obviously are built with money to take advantage of the skyline alongside sparkling blue Lake Michigan.  Jackie Whitney has been bludgeoned to death, her body found neatly wrapped and tucked away on a closet shelf in her own place in this expensive area.  He has been hired to to look into Jackies’ last days and to find the real killer.

My opinion

The story is really good. I liked reading about a man being the sleuth, explore Chicago.  It adds an interesting aspect to the story.  I like the flow of the story and it is a book that keeps my interest.

I was given this book by the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

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A Type of Mystery Genre

Mystery fiction can be divided into numerous categories, including “traditional mystery”, “legal thriller”, “medical thriller”, “cozy mystery”, “police procedural”, and “hardboiled”.  I divide mystery fiction into cozy mystery, two for the price of one mystery and humor mystery.  However, I like all of the above and enjoy reading them for myself.

In researching this topic I have found the one item that most writers used  in outlining their writing; determine what you are writing before you start.  Each sub genre has it’s own criteria and the writer should stay within that guideline as they write their story.  On the other hand it is import to stay focus and write the mystery in such a way to keep the reader interested and wanting to read through the whole story and read it again, again, again.

  1. Traditional Mystery
  2. Legal Thriller
  3. Medical Thriller
  4. Cozy Mystery
  5. Police procedural
  6. Hardboiled
  7. Two for the Price of One
  8. Humor Mystery

Finally

Stay tuned I am really enjoying writing.  Some of you may think that I not following my own advice and stay focused, but that is what Wacky Wednesday is all about.

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Technology Tuesday

Educational technology as technological tools and media that assist in the communication of knowledge, and its development and exchange for information. This is how I reference educational technology.

There are several kinds of technological tools that teachers can use as part of their everyday use in order to complete their own work and teach their students.

  1. Laptop

It wasn’t many years ago that it was considered a a real perk to get a laptop when you were hired by a school/school district. However, today, it is an essential tool in a teachers tool bag. Recently my laptop wasn’t damaged and had to be replaced.  I was without it for almost two weeks. I had to use my personal laptop just to keep up.  The biggest problem was that I had to use the guest wifi service.

2. Cell phone

There are many businesses that issue their employee a cell phone. The upper management in a school district will have a cell phone issued to them and paid for by the school.  However, there are some individuals who are told when they are hired that they need to provide a cell phone number.  It is their personal cell phone, but it is necessary  piece of equipment.  I use mine to record, take pictures, check my email and sometimes to complete work.  My cell phone is in some ways a small tablet.

3.  A tablet

I have a mini iPad that I sue in place of my laptop when I am walking around the area, but need to stay in touch. In some cases, I use to take pictures.  The best part is the apps on the iPad.  I can keep my material and information separate.

4. Promethean Board/Smart Board

I put these two items together.  I like the use of the device and also to include the student in the lessons.  However, I was told by out IT person that the Smart boards will be gone next year and will not be replaced.

5. Docu Camera

These are wonderful and I still know some individual who call this item an overhead.  It is really kind of cool.  However, it is interesting to me, how many teachers sit at their desk, with the doc camera, laptop and cell phone.  They teach on a regular basis in this manner, but their are very effective teachers.  The doc camera is also good to use for presentations and meetings.

6. Swipe Key

The swipe key is similar to the hotel keep that many travelers use. Not only do individuals get into the school, but can work in their classrooms whenever their want to .

7. Google Docs

The last two years, I have been using Google docs instead of of pages or word.  Google docs have the same features that the previous two items  I listed. The Google Docs have spreadsheet feature, powerpoint feature and word document feature.  Thee items can be shared with others on a regular basis.

There are many more, but these are the  main forms of technology that I use in my day to day teaching world.

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Assitive Technology vs Educational Technology

When I was a student in middle school I worked in the audio-visual department at our school. I helped the teachers run filmstrips, films, laminate etc.  Today I am still in special education.  While I like it to a degree I want to be in is the technology department. In fact I want to work as an educational technology specialist. That is one of the reasons, I write this blog, I need to write more often.

I also want people to read which is why I write reviews, children books, technology, teachers, professional development.  I have learned that I need to be more professional, more direct and provide better and more important information.

Let us begin with Technology and what it stands for in education.

Assistive Technology is a term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them.

Educational Technology is defined by the Association for Educational Communication and Technology  as  “the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.

The definitions were copied from Wikipedia.  While Wikipedia is not the most trustworthy source, however I believe that the definition provides a place to start, a place that provide individuals with a way to help teachers teach students.

My degree, a specialist degree in education with a specialist in educational technology,  is the area that I want to stay in and help students learn and teachers to teach. Unfortunately, I need to learn to work with teachers who are need to raise the test scores of students in their classrooms, regardless of whether or not they have disabilities.

Technology is a way to help students  with disabilities, not a way to keep them occupied and/or away from the rest of the class.  Not becoming an issue. Technology. Education. Writing. Book Reivews. All important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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