Post 9- Web Resource

A web-based resource that I find highly interesting is completely online degree programs. Some of the most popular universities that offer these programs include University of Phoenix, Walden University, and Kaplan University. Click here to learn more about Kaplan University and online degree programs in general. Also, schools that are mostly on-campus, including Florida State and our rival University of Florida, are beginning to offer more and more distance programs. The online programs offer a wide variety of majors and specializations (also depending on the school) and at the associate, bachelor, and masters level.

I think this is a wonderful option for students who have families, busy work schedules, unreliable means of transportation, or do not live near a desirable university. I also think it is extremely beneficial for teachers who have these same issues or responsibilities. I would be very interested in teaching online courses. The majority of teacher education and training is based on classroom, face-to-face curriculum and learning. I think it takes a dedicated, organized, knowledgeable teacher to be able to construct a distance course that is as equally effective as traditional classroom learning. I have gained some knowledge and experience by setting up a course on Nice.net.org, as well as taking several online courses here at FSU. I hope to one day have more experience with online courses, both as a student and an educator.

I would love to see more teacher and educational meetings and conferences conducted online in a web chat type of forum. I foresee you being able to click on profiles of user to get more information on the person's school, position (i.e. administrator, teacher and their grade level and subject), and educational background. There would be a "host", likely a principal or administrator, that would bring up a topic and allow others to chime in and comment at will. If desired, there could also be a time limit set for each topic that would be recorded and displayed on your computer screen. This would keep conversations from getting off task or out of hand! Online conferences would be great because everyone could log-in from the convenience of their home or office, rather than struggle to make it somewhere in time for a meeting. Also, I feel that educators who are a little on the shy side but have some great thoughts and ideas would be more likely to speak up (or rather, "type up") in an online forum. Many people can also write more clearly and confidently than they speak. Plus, you can't take back something you verbally said, but you can backspace something you wrote! I think online meetings and conferences would not only be convenient and comfortable, but highly effective.

Post 8: Chapter 8

Security issues with our latest technology have become a serious concern. Security problems within the field of education can have especially devastating effects. There are computer security risks and computer crimes. Risks are simply any action or event that has the potential to cause some kind of detrimental loss in the computer system, where a crime is an illegal, deliberate act involving a computer. Viruses are one common type of computer crime. Viruses are potentially damaging computer programs designed to negatively and unknowingly affect your computer by altering the way it works. The viruses payload is the specific symptom(s) or damage(s) that virus causes you. There are countless numbers of types and kinds of viruses which include the boot, sector virus, file virus, macro virus, worm, Trojan horse, logic bombs, and time bombs. These viruses differ in their payloads and severity.
Luckily, there are effective measures we can take to enhance our network security and help prevent ourselves from viruses and other threats. Antivirus programs, also known as vaccines, can detect and cure computer viruses, as well as prevent you from acquiring them. Rescue discs can save your computer if you are infected with a boot virus. Passwords and user ID's have greatly reduced the amount of hackers and unauthorized use. Firewalls are larger, more complex systems that prevent unauthorized usage on a network. Proxy servers are often utilized throughout all means of communication within a school system. Personal firewalls are an inexpensive yet still very effective way to protect your own personal computers. Backing up your computer is probably the best preventive measure you can take to ensure that you do not lose important files and data.
Since my last post, I learned a lot about computer viruses. I had heard a number of stories about them, and had heard of "boots", "worms" and "Trojan horses", but I never really knew exactly what these viruses are all about. By reading chapter 8, I learned that a boot sector virus replaces the whole entire boot program with an infected version, a worm repeatedly copies itself onto the memory, and a Trojan horse disguises itself either s a harmless program or embeds within an existing program. By having this knowledge, I have a much better idea of how to diagnose possible problems with my computer, as well as be prepared with some satisfactory solutions. Furthermore, my dad is a computer analyst and spends most of his time setting up, modifying, and repairing firewalls. This chapter gave me concrete yet easy to understand definitions for "firewall", "proxy server" and other terms I had heard my dad say, but was never quite sure what he was talking about! now, I not only better understand these important concepts, but I have a better understanding of my dad's profession! (Awww!)