Bill Gates: "No cell phone 'till you're 14!"

Bill Gates: "No cell phone 'till you're 14!"

What is the earliest age that a child should have a cell phone? Parents wonder what the right answer to this question is - at what age did YOU get your first cell phone?

Well, Bill Gates chimed in on the subject during a recent interview - he says that his children didn't get one until they were 14. Click HERE for an article on the subject.

Take a look at the "...list of questions parents should answer before giving their child their first phone" at the bottom of the article.

We will watch this 60 Minutes story in class about how cell phone apps "hack our brains".

HERE is an article about proposed legislation to ban 'pay to win' features in games, such as loot boxes.

What should a student due to make sure that they don't "overuse" or become addicted to their phone or "screen". Do you think you've become addicted to your phone?  What IS the earliest age that you think a child should have a cell phone?

Knowing the risks, what types of things would you want to talk to a child about, like a younger brother or sister, before they are given the responsibility of having a cell phone?

The Skills Gap

The Skills Gap

After watching the 60 Minutes report, discuss the following:

Despite the fact that the U.S. has a very high unemployment rate, there are some career areas where there are thousands of jobs available that can't be filled.  Why is this?

What can be done - who, according to the video, should have a greater role in this?

60 Minutes: "The Skills Gap"

March of the Machines

March of the Machines

Technology is making our lives simpler, and helping industry to be more efficient, but is it at the cost of our jobs?

Everyone thinks about "what they want to be when they grow up". Do you have to take another look at what you've planned, or start thinking of a new career, because of advances in technology? If you think about it, it's a good thing that we've rolled out the ACP program, because it's important to be aware of what your talents, skill and abilities are, and how they align with what's waiting out there in the world.

What is the job market going to look like when you look for that first job?

Discuss this idea. I've just given you a couple of questions to get the thought process going.

60 Minutes: "March of the Machines"

The Making of a Vine Celebrity

The Making of a Vine Celebrity

There has NEVER been a time in the history of the planet when people had the ability to become instant "celebrities" as you can today. Think about it: Philip DeFranco, Rhett and Link, Justin Bieber - a person can be "discovered" instantly, just by posting a video - even a SIX SECOND video.

Read this article from 2015 about a Vine "celebrity", named Jerome Jarre. Take a look at the videos that are linked in the article also:

"Jerome Jarre: The Making of a Vine Celebrity"

Not only has this guy become famous in an instant, it looks like he's not just a "flash in the pan" because is seems as though he understands how to use social media apps to promote himself and other things around him. [Update: He and everyone else IS a "flash in the pan" as far as Vine is concerned - since they're pulling the plug on Vine!]

Had you heard of Jerome before reading the article? What do you think of what he's done on Vine?  What do you think about this kind of opportunity with mobile apps, such as Snapchat? Can anybody do it? Will such fame last, and is it something that can be made into a legitimate business?


HERE is his YouTube channel.

IoT: The Internet of Things

IoT: The Internet of Things

- The screen on your refrigerator tells you that your blood sugar is running low, so you grab some fruit. 

- While flying to your vacation destination, you realize that you forgot to turn the thermostat down at home, so you do it from your smartphone.

- Your car is about due for an oil change (using that fancy synthetic oil you like), and your mechanic is ready for you because he monitors your engine, as well as his supply of synthetics.

This might sound like the future, or maybe you've heard of one of these things already happening - both are true. They're examples of what things might be like with the "Internet of Things".

In the IoT, EVERYTHING is connected via the internet (cloud): cars, appliances, planes, security, hospitals, animals and.....yes, you. The idea is that everything will communicate, and, in the end, this communication will help us to lead better lives.

"The Internet of Things is the next generation of personal computing, whereby objects interact, potentially independently, with each other and with their environment,”

"The Internet of Things is the combination of sensors, actuators, distributed computing power..."

"Tiny detectors that can gather and relay data about location, activity, and health...", "The IoT makes it possible to monitor and control the location, condition, and behavior of objects, machinery and devices through networks."

Here are some resources to look at that will help you understand the IoT. Take a look at them, and talk about what you think about the idea. Pros and cons.

Diagram: What kind of things are/will be connected?

We Need To Get The IoT Right

A Hacker's-eye View of the Internet of Things

Your Online Image #2

Your Online Image #2

You are the young manager of a local ice cream parlor that is beloved by local families. You are looking to hire some teens for the summer when the shop is open late every evening. You require an application and at least one reference. It occurs to you that you could look on Facebook to find out a bit more about the applicants.

What might you find that would make you not hire someone?

Is there anything wrong with using Facebook in this way?

Below are a couple of articles that talk about how employers use social media to help screen applicants.

70% of employers are snooping candidates’ social media profiles

Employer’s using social media in hiring process: Why do they do it?

Your Online Image #1

Your Online Image #1

You've discussed in your Keynote presentations about how important it is for you to be very careful when you're online.

- be careful with your personal information

- be careful about what you say about others

- be careful about language, images, etc

- be careful about secrets, embarrassing or other personal info about others

Things that you post online can also be damaging to your reputation - now, or in the future.

We're going to handle the blog differently the next couple of weeks.  You will be presented with different scenarios, that involve online social networking.  Respond to the question(s) asked. Give your answer some thought. 

First Scenario:

You are finally old enough to join a social networking app/site and set up your own profile. You spend a lot of time adding pictures and connecting with things that you "like", and you have links to many friends. Your mom makes her own profile and asks you to be her “friend.” What do you think about that? Explain your thinking.