Reading in Cyberspace ?!?
Grade 10 Journal Entry Question #5

Google Book Search is a tool from Google that searches the full text of books that Google scans and stores in its digital database. The service formerly known as Google Print has caused some contraversy.
View the following video on YouTube(the newest addition to google), read about it and try it out for yourself at http://books.google.com/

View the video: Is Google Book Search "fair use"?
Read about it: http://books.google.com/googleprint/library.html

In your journal answer the following questions:
1. What effect will this library-based digitization have on Google’s relationships with publishers?
2. How have Google’s competitors, such as Yahoo! or Microsoft, respond to this challenge?
3. What impact could this project have on the access to information?
4.Will librarians be threatened by the new development?
5. What do you think?

Reminders for you Media/Tech Lovers

Reminders for you Media/Tech Lovers

Great work today starting up your class blogs!
I have a few important reminders:

1. These are STRICTLY class-related blogs, meaning I don't want to read comments about your "extra-curriculars", ie: going to Pacific Mall for bubble tea. Only include postings which respond to the media/tech journal questions

2. Offensive material (racist, sexist, stereotypical comments) are NOT welcomed! :( There will be consequences. Please be thoughful and respectful :)

3. I've noticed that some of the blogs are not loading up. Remember to Save and Publish changes.

4. Do not publish any personal information, such as your address, phone #, etc. Remember: the web is a PUBLIC SPACE. You wouldn't advertise your personal info on the street, so don't do it here either.

5. You will write your responses in EXCELLENT ENGLISH, meaning no text messaging lingo, no "lol", "l8r", "btw"...

Okay! That's it for now. Stay tuned for upcoming journal questions. Make sure that you are responding to the correct questions. (Grade 10s respond to Gr10 questions, Journalism students respond to journalism questions, etc.)

Peace out.

When War meets Video Games

When War meets Video Games

Grade 10 Journal Entry Question #3

Read this article from Wired News War Games Come Marching in and answer the following questions:

1. Why are war video games so popular now?
2. "If it's not realistic, it's not worth playing," is a quote in the article. Do you think realistic war games desensitive people to the horror of war or is it just fun?
3. What do you personally think of war video games?

300 words.

What Makes YOU special?
The Genographic Project
Grade 10 Journal Entry Question #4

In the space of just a few thousand generations, the linguistic, cultural and genetic diversity of the human race has exploded. Scientists agree that all humans share a common ancestry in Africa. Much less well understood is how the human race migrated out of Africa and became so diverse. To discover more about this ancestral journey, IBM and National Geographic have launched the Genographic Project, a landmark five-year study which will collect a massive sample of human DNA to put together a map of how humans populated the planet.

Explore the Genographic Project Site
Explore the IBM Site

View the videos, listen to the podcasts, read the articles and write an entry considering the following:

• · consider the scientific and technological advancements that make the project possible;
• · consider the impact of our highly mobile, global society on migration;
• · describe the importance of the Genographic Project;
• · project future migration patterns;

Some questions to help you:
What are the scientific and technological advances necessary to accomplish the Genographic Project?
Could researchers have accomplished this project 100 years ago? 50? 25?
Why is the timing of the Genographic Project important?
How important are the indigenious groups to the project?