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The video I have embedded above is from a team of engineers and students at the University of Maryland.  This team built the first self propelled human helicopter known to man.  The first flight lasted a little over 12 seconds which isnt that long but it is an awesome feat to overcome nonetheless and a great start.  I think this is an awesome Idea to think that one day we might be peddling our way around the sky!

SAP Distribution Game Post

Our team, team O, consistently ranked third or so on the list.  I believe that my partner and I worked very well together and each of us picked up the extra slack since we only had two people while all other groups had three.  I was in charge of pricing while he was in charge of marketing and we both kept our eyes on inventory.  There was also alot of verbal communication between me and my teammate so we both knew exactly what was going on throughout the mock company and what changes needed to be made to keep the profits coming in at a high rate.
     This game's ranking was based solely on profit but that is not the only thing a company needs to keep an eye on in real life business.  Companies need to make sure they are turning over their inventory at a quick enough rate while also trying to minimize operating expenses as much as possible.  They also need to make sure their reputation to their customers remains in good standing and that people continue to come back to the company for business.
      Two things I learned in this activity were how closely each department within a business needs to work together in order for the company to thrive.  Marketing, pricing, stock, management, etc all have to be on the same page at any given time if they want their company to become successful.  I also learned something about myself and that is that I enjoyed doing this kind of exercise.  Dealing with these kind of day to day business tasks never peaked my interest until after this game.  In the future it will teach me to keep my mind open to all different job fields within a business.

Apple firing employee

I am not surprised by the actions of apple in this scenario at all.  The article states that Apple “made it absolutely plain throughout the induction process that commentary on Apple products, or critical remarks about the brand, were strictly prohibited”".   Since the employer was informed about this while applying for and accepting the job, he should have kept this in mind when he made that post.  Especially in retail, how can you expect someone to sell your product who is secretly trashing it behind the scenes.  A company does not need that kind of person on its staff and made the best decision in this case.

Plagiarism

Technology makes it easier to plagiarize then it ever has been in history.  To copy someone else's work all one needs to do is "copy and paste".  Someone can copy 1000 words of one person and stick it in their own writing in one split second.  This almost promotes plagiarism by making it so easy.  Colleges are using websites like turn it in.com which makes a student upload documents to a website which scans the document for similar or exactly the same writings on the internet.  This makes policing for plagiarism that much easier on the teacher.
http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/school/plagiarism.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/17/tech/main2580771.shtml
https://turnitin.com/static/index.php

week 6 blog entry

Back in high school was when this subject came closest to me.  My senior year I took a test in math class and I knew my stuff. I was confident all the way through the test and finished rather quickly.  When I got to the front of the classroom and set my test on the podium my teacher quickly said "Hey Joe, can I see you in the hall for a second?".  When we got into the hallway he immediately accused me of cheating on the exam. I was extremely upset since I did nothing to even spark the accusations.  The issue went all the way to the principle where I sat down and had a meeting with him.  In the meeting we talked about the situation and he found me not at fault for cheating.  I knew that if I just stuck with my story and relied on my reputation as a good student and an honest person, that I would be fine.

Education Collapse in America

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters-readers/2011-02-09/story/us-education-falling-behind-developed-world

http://chronicle.com/article/America-Falling-Longtime-D/48683/

I think these two articles do a good job of summing up what is wrong with America's approach to education.  For many years, even before the huge economic downturn, this country has put education low on the totem pole of importance when it comes to budgeting and funding.  This means when tight economic times come about it is one of the first things to be cut back.  America needs to put education as one of its top priorities and one of the main areas their money needs to go.  If we do not we will continue to fall behind countries around us and our days amongst the elite will come to an end sooner then we think.

Technology in the classroom

Every single classroom I have been in since 9th grade has had some form of technology in it.  Usually the technology consists of an overhead projector and at least one computer. I have also dealt with a smart board or two in a few classes. What has mainly changed in regards to schooling is how this are taught now a days.  Class seems to be almost 50/50  in class to online work. Everything in education is seeming to become more and more digital.