Feedback March 16-20 - Technology?

I think technology is use of mechanical devices that uses some sort of energy to generate itself. It helps humans do things that we can't do with human skills or helps humans to do things faster and easier. Also, it helps humans achieve goals such as putting men on the Moon. I think the five most important technologies used today are light bulbs, transportation such as cars and buses, refrigerators, computers, and cell phones. Those are things that help us to communicate with each other, keep food fresh and cool, travel to different places, etc. The five least important technologies would be automatic sliding doors, Christmas lights, things that light up unnecessarily, doorbells, and coffee machines. Those are devices that we consume electricity unnecessarily. We use technology in almost all of our classes: humanities, algebra, science, Spanish, yearbook, robotics, etc. I think that AES uses a lot of technology, maybe more than needed; however, I think it teaches us a lot of things and how to use technology well. Also, I think we are lucky that we can use technology at AES as it is better than technology that I used in the school I went before.

Vonnegut and Technology

Using examples from “Harrison Bergeron”, “The Euphio Question” and current events evaluate the statement:

“Do you know what a Luddite is? That’s a person who doesn’t like newfangled contraptions. Contraptions like nuclear submarines armed with Poseidon missiles that have H-bombs in their warheads, and like computers that cheat you out of becoming. Bill Gates says, “Wait till you can see what your computer can become.” But it’s you who should be doing the becoming. What you can become is the miracle you were born to work—not the damn fool computer.”

- Kurt Vonnegut

I don't agree with Kurt Vonnegut about computer is a damn fool thing that make people less human. Firstly, as the technology helps us to live in comfort, we are able to do things that we can't do with just things that we have that are not related to technology. You can find different information easily by just typing a few words in internet, and you can make things quicker and do things faster. We are able to think more when we are not busy with the help of technology. Secondly, technology helps us to communicate with one another. By using internet, phone, and other communicating devices, we can communicate with people far away quickly, meet people we haven't met before, read other people's thoughts and opinions, and etc. That helps us think of other sides of opinions and thoughts differently, which teaches us many more things. Lastly, it's technology that does everything for us or help us do things faster like I said before. If there is no technology, we would have more diseases, wouldn't be able to learn more than now, travel to other countries or cities, get information we want, etc. Technology actually helps us survive in this difficult world.

Though Kurt Vonnegut disagree with my thoughts and wrote stories that shows the cons of technology, I think it's exaggerated too much. Even though the people use technology nowadays to do almost everything, we won't be using it as a dangerous weapon or for uncomfortable use. Technology is actually designed to help people live in comfort, therefore, I do not think it would be used like that in the story or in a sort of similar way.

End of Quarter 3 Feedback

My first goal for Quarter 3 was speaking more in classes and discussions. I think I reached that goal quite well because I got a good grade in Socratic Seminar and the PowerPoint presentation. The second goal was to improve my reading skills such as speed and understanding the story. I think I reached that goal as I got a good grade on my total grade for reading. My last goal was to improve my vocabulary skills. But I think I did not reach that goal as I do not think I used variety of vocabularies and got some wrongs on Animal Farm Vocabulary Quiz. Overall, I think I did quite well this quarter though my grade was not as good as last quarter's because I finally reached the goal I could not meet last two quarters.
My first new goal for Quarter 4 is to improve my vocabulary skills. I'm trying to meet this goal because I could not meet it last time and also, I think I use same vocabularies too much (as you can see in this post). My second goal for Quarter 4 is to use my time well. In Quarter 3, I did not use the time given to me very well; I actually played before doing my homework. I will try to sleep earlier than before after finishing all of my homework. My third goal is to get an A in humanities. I am trying to meet this goal because my overall grade was worse than before.

Feedback March 2-6

An oxymoron is two words that don’t belong being used together. Why is the phrase “Holy War” an oxymoron? Why is it that so many conflicts in the world today are based upon religious differences yet all major world religions condemn killing?

As an oxymoron is two antonyms that are used together, "Holy War" is absolutely an oxymoron. The phrase "Holy War" is surely an oxymoron because holy means sacred and war means a conflict that involves violence. They cannot be used together, however, "Holy War" is a real phrase that is used and means a struggle between different religions. There are many conflicts in the world today that are based upon religious differences; however, most religions actually condemn killing. I think that is because the people might think they are killing the devils that are trying to wipe out their own people who believe in one god. They might not think of them as humans or even living creatures. Or they might think it's okay to kill people to protect their god.