Sunday, October 31, 2010

Globaloria Assignments

Please remember to go back and correct the things in your Wikis and Blogs that I spoke to each of you about. You must complete all of the assignments. 
Again, I am available several times each day to help you. 
You can come in at 8:30 during home base. 
You can come in during intramurals, but remember I have to work that lunch time. You and other students can help each other.
You can come in during your lunch. Bring your lunch with you and eat while you work.
I am available in the mornings before school. Trevor and I get to school each morning at 7:00. You can come in and work from 7:00 - 8:00.
I am available after school. Trevor and I will stay after school when you need help or just need to work on your project. Just speak with me and we'll set up a time. I can do this on a weekly basis.
Hopefully, I have offered enough times during the day for each of you to get your work done. In fact, I have already offered these same time frames since September. Many of you take advantage of this extra time when you need to. However, there are some of you who never come in other than during your normal class time. This is fine, if you get your work done. However, it isn't fine, if you are not getting your work done.
 You are all good students, so let's work together to get your projects caught up and done correctly.


Why Be An Engineer?

This is for all the females in Globaloria class. 

Take a moment and  check out the EngineerGirl website.
You'll read about the EngineerGirl! Essay Contest. 
You'll find out more about engineering careers. 
You'll see profiles of women engineers. 
You'll find out what classes to take in high school to pursue an engineering career.

 

 


 

Happy Halloweeen!!!!!

Sure hope you all had a great Halloween weekend and are ready for another Globaloria week. Let's get our game on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Energy and Power Technology-Part 10-Final Blog on Technology

The 8th sub-category of technology is Energy and Power Technology.
Energy is the ability to do work. Power is the rate at which energy is transformed from one form to another or as the rate at which work can be one. Technological products and systems need energy to function.
Examples of Energy and Power Technology are:

Chemical Energy            Mechanical Energy     Thermal Energy       Electrical Energy       Radiant Energy
Gasoline                         Motion                         Steam                      Electricity                  Light

Power Measurement                   Power System        
Horsepower                                 Turbines
Kilowatt                                       Portable generators

Positive Impacts of Energy and Power Technology are:
Without energy and power, most technologies would not exist or work.
Negative Impacts of Energy and Power Technology are:
The overuse of natural resources is a concern of many people.
Briefly describe a game that you could do involving Energy and Power Technology.

Transportation Technology-Part 9

The 7th sub-category of Technology is Transportation Technology.
Transportation Technology is the process by which people, animals, products, and materials are moved from one place to another.
Examples of Transportation Technology are:

Air                               Land               Water                           Goods              
Airplane                       Train               Commercial Ships          Conveyor Belts
Rocket                         Subway            Cruise Ships                  Robots
Space Shuttle               Automobile       Utility Vessels               Trucks
Helicopter                    Bicycle

Positive Impacts of Transportation Technology are:
  Commuting is easier
  Traveling long distances faster
Negative Impacts of Transportation Technology are:
  Pollution
  Accidents
  Use of energy
Briefly describe a game that you could do involving Transportation Technology.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Production Technology-Part 8

The 6th sub-category of Technology is Production Technology, which  is the manufacturing of physical goods on an assembly line and the construction of structures on a job site. 
Manufacturing Technology is the process of changing materials into usable products, natural (found in nature) and synthetic (human-made). Most manufacturing takes place in factories on assembly lines. Manufacturing results in items that are either consumer products (used up) or industrial products (used to make other products).
Examples of Manufacturing Technology are: 
  Clothing
  Entertainment devices 
  Automobiles
  Chemical products
  Lumber
  Steel
  Food 
Construction Technology is the study of the processes to: 
(1) Build a structure - made by joining parts to meet a certain need
          Involves building a foundation, erecting the super structure, and finishing work.
(2) Support the load - external force on an object.
(3) Control the quality of construction using control systems.
'Examples of Construction Technology are:
  Human-made structure:
    Houses
    High-rise buildings
    Bridges
    Roads
    Dams
    Schools
Positive Impacts of Production Technology are: 
    Manufacturing - new products help to make our life easier and increase leisure time.
   Construction - provides shelter, improves roads, creates employment opportunities.
Negative Impacts of Production Technology are:
   Manufacturing - many industries use materials that can harm the environment.
   Construction - noise and debris, traffic problems, accidents & injuries
Briefly describe a game that you could do involving Production Technology.





Environmental Technology-Part 7

The 5th sub-category of Technology is Environmental Technology.
Environmental Technology is study of the processes to control waste, soil erosion, reducing sediment in waterways, conserving water, and improving water quality, artificial ecosystems, and the effects of technology on the development of flora and fauna.
Examples of Environmental Technology are:
Conservation
Synthetic energy
Waste management
Positive Impacts of Environmental Technology are:
Earth – improves quality of life
Disease – reduces chance of disease from bad air and chemicals
Negative Impacts of Environmental Technology are:
Earth – use of technology may hinder life span of the planet
Disease – economical forces the need to make choices that are not easily made
Briefly describe a game that you could do involving Environmental Technology.

Medical Technology-Part 6

The 4th sub-category of Technology is Medical Technology.
Medical Technology is the study of medicine through the use of and advances of technology, such as medical instruments and apparatus, imaging systems in medicine, and mammography.
Examples of Medical Technology are:
Medical instruments and apparatus
Vaccine
Pharmaceuticals
Artificial limbs
Imagining equipment
Ergonomics – the study of designing equipment to fit the human body, its movement & thinking patterns
Positive Impacts of Medical Technology are:
Health – improves quality of life
Disease – research on controlling diseases and their spread is shortened
Negative Impacts of Medical Technology are:
Health – use of technology may hinder life span
Disease – not all cultures embrace use of vaccines and thus disease spreads
Briefly describe a game that you could do using Medical Technology.

Bio-Related & Agricultural Technology-Part 5

The 3rd sub-category of Technology is Bio-Related and Agricultural Technology.
Biotechnology is the application of the principles of biology to create commercial products or processes.
Agricultural Technology is the application of processes that make it possible for food to be available year-round and to conserve resources.
Biotechnology and Agricultural Technology both deal with living things:
Plants
Animals
People
Examples of Bio-related Technology are:
Pharmaceuticals
Artificial limbs
Genetic engineering
Hydroponics
Imaging devices
Cardiovascular devices
Ethics
Examples of Agricultural Technology are:
Agriculture
Food, Fiber, and Fuel
Plant growth
Machines
Production of agricultural products
Transportation of agricultural products
Storage of agricultural products
Positive Impacts of Bio-related and Agricultural Technology are:
  Health – improves quality of life
  Environmental – can produce more food per acre than before
Negative Impacts of Bio-related and Agricultural Technology are:
  Health – Drugs may cause birth defects
  Environmental – Chemicals have found their way into ground water, polluting good drinking water
Briefly describe a game that you could design in this technology sub-category.

Communication Technology-Part 4

The 2nd sub-category of Technology is Communication Technology.
Communication Technology is a process of giving or exchanging information. 
Communication Technology has:
  Streamlined publishing techniques and allows us to produce more accurate drawings
  Expanded entertainment choices
  Enabled us to contact people thousands of miles away
Examples of Communication Technology are:
  Cell Phones
  Computer Aided Drafting
  Video Cassette Recordings
  Internet
  Radio
  Television
  Graphic Arts
Positive Impacts of Communication Technology are:
  CAD – using a computer to generate drawings
  Internet – a means of communicating quickly and inexpensively over long distances
Negative Impacts of Communication Technology are:
  Paper usage – People tend to create and print more documents.
  Internet – People tend to misuse the internet for personal gain.
 Briefly describe a design game that you could do using Communication Technology.

Information Technology-Part 3


The 1st sub-category of Technology is Information Technology.
Information Technology is the process of gathering and storing data to be used in various forms.
Information Technology has:
   Streamlined access to vast sources of information
   Allows us to produce more accurate forms of communication
   Expanded resource choices
   Enabled us to retrieve data in seconds
Examples of Information Technology are:
  Data collected on paper
  Data stored in computers
  Data stored in books
  Data stored in equipment or machines
Positive Impacts of Information Technology are:
Computers – use of a computer to gather data easily and store
Internet – using to store information for easy access
Negative Impacts of Information Technology are:
Obsolescence – machines need to be maintained and upgraded
Internet – information is not always accurate or reliable
Briefly describe a design game that you could do using Information Technology.

Getting Our Needs and Wants Met Through Technology-Part 2

Technology addresses human needs and wants.

What are human needs?
Physical Needs
  Basic Shelter
  Basic Clothing
Biological Needs
  Water
  Food
Psychological Needs
  Family
  Friends

What are human wants?
Physical Wants
  Nice House
  Nice Car
  Nice Clothes
Biological Wants
  Fresh Water
  Fancy Food
  Healthy Living
Psychological Wants
  Talk with Family
  See Friends
  Entertainment
How does Technology address human needs and wants?
Through the use of the technology subcategories (that I listed in my last blog), often the meeting of human needs and wants is accomplished.
Can you think of other needs and wants that technology addresses? If so, list some.

Technology vs. Science-Part 1

Since our games are going to be in the S.T.E.M. genre, which is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, I want to explain what technology is and how it and science are alike and different. 
The definition of technology is the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants. 
Technology is the study of our human made world and deals with "what can be." Science is the study of our natural world and deals with "what is."•
Technology is made up of the following sub-categories:
Information 
Communication 
Bio-related and Agriculture 
Medical 
Environmental 
Production:
  Manufacturing
  Construction 
Transportation 
Energy and Power
Science is made up of the following sub-categories:
Earth Science 
Biology 
Chemistry 
Physics 
Astronomy 
Other specialty areas: 
  Quantum Physics 
  Computer Science 
I'd like to hear your comments on the above information, especially in relation to what technology is. Did you know that technology includes all those sub-categories? If yes, explain how you knew. If no, what did you think technology was?