Cell Phone: From Brick to Slick

Ah, the good old days, when cellphones were the size of bricks. Some were so big you had to carry a separate bag containing their electronic innards, and if you weren’t careful, you might end up with a dislocated shoulder by the end of the day.

Fast forward to today, where cellphones have gotten plenty smart. One factor should catch your eyes: Notice how different all the phones start looking around 2007. Wonder what happened then (cough! iPhone cough!)?

This infographic from Wilson Electronics (maker of cellular signal boosters for buildings and cars, so they know about these things) takes you from Dr. Martin Cooper’s laughable handset (that looked more like a cream-colored shoe than a phone) up to today’s darling of the moment, the Apple iPhone 4S.

Tell me in the comments how many of these cellphones you’ve used, which one was your favorite, and how you would compare your previous model to today’s latest phones.

Also, I would love to know why you could or couldn't live without your phone! Please post your comments below.

Thanks,
Mrs. Dowker

2011 A Year in Review

Looking Back at 2011 – A Year in Review Assignment

Part 1: What Will You Remember Most From 2011?

Something to think about – What national, international, cultural and personal events in 2011 stand out for you most? Why?

Take a moment and record the first 10 things/events from 2011 that come to mind when you think about the year as a whole. This can be anything – relating to your life personally, media, global, entertainment, trends, controversy etc.

Part 2: I'd like you to watch these two videos:

Video #1: Zeitgeist 2011: Year in Review(A Google Spin Off Video)



Video #2: 2011 – The Year in Rap and Rhyme

The Year in Rap: 2011 from Flocabulary on Vimeo.

Part 3: Images and Videos of the Year

The Nyiragongo Crater in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the world's largest lava lake, one of the wonders of the African continent. The crater bubbles 1,300 feet deep. (Olivier Grunewald)

Anti-government protesters celebrate inside Tahrir Square after the announcement that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had resigned on February 11, 2011. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters)


Scroll down to images and videos of the year (please keep in mind that any “best of” list is subjective. Major news events were used as a guide). There are several top photo lists in this section, please view The Big Picture/ 2011 Year in Photos Part I, Part II, Part III

Media Analysis – What makes an effective photograph? What types of events were captured? How did you feel as you viewed different photos? What made you feel this way?

In a short paragraph, describe what a photograph should have in order to make a “best of “list like this. Please support your answer with an example, making specific reference to at least one of the photos that you viewed.

(If you enjoyed these pictures, check out the National Geographic Photography Contest Winners for 2011 here.)

Part 4: Words of the Year (this should make you laugh)

Click this link for the words of the year: New York Times/ which words from 2011 will live on? Collecting the past year’s words is like sifting one’s pockets at the end of a trip. Some things you’ll keep, some you’ll discard. Please read the text at the top of the page and scroll through some of the catchwords that were snagged throughout 2011. Some are new while others are oldies that have resurfaced and taken on new life!

Evaluation - Can you think of any words that are not on this list that should be. Reflecting on my last year of teaching, the word “epic” seems to have wormed its way into grade 8 students everyday vocabulary. What do you think?

From the New York Times list, select what you think would be the top three words – which will have longevity (ie – these will stick around for some time)? Be sure to explain your reasoning for each choice.

Are there any words that were listed that you feel will be easy to forget about in 2012?

Part 4: Writing Task - Your Review of 2011 – Ideal length, approximately 1 page.

You may take some time to view some of the other categories on the retrospectives list - - there are lots of interesting “best of” lists that can fit a unique interest of everyone – enjoy!

Tell us about what you’ll remember most from this year, whether it’s a news event, something that’s gone viral on the internet, a new innovation or fad etc. An event in your own life, or something else entirely may even be included - - it’s your choice as this is your reflection of 2011. How would you sum up this year? What are you looking forward to in 2012?

Formatting tips for a well-organized piece of writing.

A catchy title that will grab your reader’s attention

Paragraph 1 - Your introduction should generally discuss 2011 and memorable moments/events

Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 - You should have distinct body paragraphs that discuss some of the events that you feel are most memorable. For example, perhaps the passing of Steve Jobs makes your list. You would have a distinct paragraph for this. You would need to be sure to fully discuss why this was such an important event and touch on how his life influenced so many. I would recommend selecting 3 significant events to focus on (i.e 3 body paragraphs).

Paragraph 5 - Your last paragraph should be a conclusion. How would you sum up this year and what are you looking forward to in 2012. You may even want to put a creative twist on this and predict what 2012 may have in store for us.


Good luck!! I can't wait to read your thoughts and opinions:)

Mrs. Dowker

P.S. "Just because these are interesting:)

Popcast: The Best Albums of 2011

Arts | The Year in Television

Arts | The Year in Video Games

The 10 Best Books of 2011

Fashion and Style | 2011 Red Carpet Hits, Misses and Risks

Technology: Award Time for Ideas That Shine

Lens Blog | Looking Back at the Year in Sports

And here is a link to many, many other lists from 2011.