Attack of the QRs

   The emerging QR codes are making their present known as smartphone users are scanning away. When you scan or read a QR code with your iPhone, Android or other camera-enabled Smartphone, it accesses a link to digital content on the web. While QR codes are still considered a novelty here in the United States, they’ve been actively used for over a decade in Japan where they were invented. QR is a registered trademark of Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota. Denso Wave has elected not to exercise their patent rights of QR codes and that has encouraged their widespread use in other parts of the world.

   The QR code is known for appearing in magazines, on signs, on buses, on business cards, or on almost any object about which users might need information. QR (Quick Response code). Is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) designed to be read by today’s smartphones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background usually big or small. Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR codes as of 2011 are used in a much broader context. Uses extend from commercial tracking to entertainment and from product marketing to in-store product labeling. Many of these applications target for smartphone users (via mobile tagging). Mobile tagging is the process of providing data read from tags for display on mobile devices such as websites, videos, and more.

   In the US, QR Code usage is expanding according to one study, 14 million mobile users scanned a QR Code or a barcode: 58% of those users scanned a QR or bar code from their home, while 39% scanned from retail stores (Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com).

    Additionally, there are sites where you can build your own QR code to display whatever you would like @ http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ 


 Check out my creation:

You Name it, There is an App for it....

  The wonderful world of apps have grown to be more than 400,000 in Apple's online store and 250,000 in Google's Android market. This is very remarkable as you are able to find applications on your smartphone, computer tablet, and even computer that can take you through a wide variety of everyday needs and wants. The markets have untapped potential to the way we conduct our lives on and offline, with many avenues for Education or the act of needing to learning something new standing out as the biggest opportunity. For example, there are more than a few apps that educate like Rosetta Stone, TED, Cnet, that are widely used by smartphone users. One of the best apps that I have seen was Google Body, which I happened to be checking out while waiting to see a doctor. This app allowed me to navigate and search a detailed 3D model of the human body, which was very helpful as the doctor terms can sometimes be quite confusing.


  The app markets are so plentiful that they feel more like a google search when looking for new apps for education, entertainment or whatever you want. Having such a reputation for being used and searched whether on Apple or Android network compared to the many smart phones that now or will be upgraded to in the future, apps will become a lifeline for many. New to offer apps on their network, Amazon app store for Android which adds more apps that brings a liaison between your computer and your smartphone. There has been a early adoption on apps on the computer by Apple as they have had an app market for their computer for some time now. Further confirming the use and need of most to get their technology time at home or on the go.


  By 2015, market research firm In-Stats expects app downloads to come close to eclipsing 48 billion. That’s a healthy figure in an increasingly crowded app market.

It's All In The TV

      This is the next big thing for technology as everyone makes the transition from their cable subscription packages to getting a better internet speed for their computers. The internet empowers alot of air into today's devices and has been the standard for some decades now, providing the source for simple computing, gaming, internet TV, and WIFI capable products. Without the internet, everyday people and even businesses would lose a step or two in their everyday interactions as the internet is irreplaceable in today's evolving circle of needs. The internet is now provided just about every where you go, as more and more businesses adopt the idea of having free WiFi for customers.

    The ever-changing economy is playing a big part in this transition as customers are looking to save money and make the most of their technology to leverage a world that utilizes their devices in a whole new way. It is obvious that technology can be used in new ways because there are apps, TV websites, and more available to gain access to television or movie programs. The majority of households in America have a Netflix, Hulu, or Crackle account to watch the majority of what they want, without a cable subscription. 

With the internet growing everyday, there is guaranteed to be something there to entertain, teach, follow, create, or even communicate to America.

     Looking back at the history of televisions, they were a window for entertainment and now it seems that the internet has found a way to get into the window that we all stared at for hours. 

Say Hello to Mr. All-in-One

    Can cellphones be the all in one of the technology world? These devices are capable of providing a bridge to the internet, no matter where you want to go. Not to forget that the super phones of today can take pictures, record videos, run applications, play your favorite movies and music, and even provide a hot spot for your WiFi devices. The cellphones of today are changing the whole idea of just having a phone, but having a device that can entertain, educate, and even help you plan life events just to name a few. The world of cellular phones have evolved a bit, because these days everyone want to have access to the newer technologies that phones can offer whether it be 3G, 4G, or even mobile hotspots.

    It was not long ago that everyone wanted a cellphone rather than a beeper. The ability to talk on the go has been one of the greatest inventions that has transformed the way we communicate many times over. It all started with the greatness of talking to someone while on the go and having your personal call line for friends and family to call on your hip. Then cellphones managed to add another level of communication by creating text messaging which is probably the most contagious form of communicate today. In this present day, the technology of phones has found a way to add another page to it history, by  giving users a way to communicate face to face by using the likes of Skype, Face-time, and other programs that utilize the camera technology. If you ask me, I think that cellphones have a bone to pick with computers as they manage to get closer and closer to offering the features that a computer provides for it's users. Will they one day become like them or better, no one knows but only time will tell...

Social Learning Theory Pt. 1

Today’s journey will be in the learning domain of Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Learning Theory. Through examples I will describe phases of his cognitive learning process and show steps to learning at work. Through extensive research, I have discovered a way to correlate the learning to Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory.

Phase 1- The beginning phase of Bandura’s theory is called Attention, which involves vicarious learning through modeled events and observer characteristics (Kearsley, 1994-2008). This phase describes the initial process of being introduced to training material along with detailed actions that depict a companywide reference standard performance. This information is displayed in a recorded format for every store companywide to observe the modeled event on their storefront computers.

Phase 2- The second phase is called Retention, which includes symbolic coding, cognitive organization, and symbolic rehearsal (Kearsley, 1994-2008). During this phase, attempts will be made to learn new information in the best possible method to form knowledge organization that will activate memory processing (Alessi & Trollip, 2001).

Phase 3- This is the most engaging phase called Motor Reproduction, which involves self-observation of reproduction and accuracy of feedback. This phase of learning is the trial and error process of becoming familiar with saying the show script verbatim. This phase can not be completed without the Retention phase, which is the root of mastering reproduction fluency.(Bransford,2000)

Phase 4- This phase is called Motivation, which depends solely on factors that usually have to be determined within self to be a task or skill that is meaningful; if not learning will not happen. For example, a worker knows that he or she will get fired for not knowing a required skill on a job that they need. This type of motivator would be considered an extrinsic motivator (those from the outside), because the pressure or demand of the job is why they push themselves to learn. But on the other hand if my motivation comes from just the challenge of learning the skill, this would be an intrinsic motivator (those that come from within the person). These motivators will vary from person to person depending on what is important to them. (Bransford,2000)

Phase 5- This phase is called Self Observation, which requires that I observe myself and evaluate my actions to determine whether they are positive or negative habits. In this phase, my observations direct my thinking, back into the previous stages to determine if my actions are satisfying my requirement to learn the script (Alessi & Trollip, 2001).

Phase 6- Self Response deals with my responses to feedback and how it is handled, whether encouraging or disappointing regarding my learning actions. This can be affected by other colleague’s feedback as well as my self criticism.

In conclusion, Albert Bandura is arguably the most eminent living psychologist. His Social Cognitive theory has influenced many areas of inquiry: education, health sciences, social policy and psychotherapy among others. This film presents some additional footage of Dr. Bandura’s best-known research such as the BoBo doll experiment, treatment for snake phobias, and the use of television dramas to convey positive social messages. (Moore,1999) 

Social Cognitive Theory Revisited....

Albert Bandura is arguably the most influential living psychologist among many greats to study Social Learning Theory. His Theory has influenced many areas of inquiry: education, health sciences, social policy and psychotherapy among others. As it relates, the internet was once a wealth of knowledge that was read only, that now provides results in our search engines that are socially interactive reactions. Surfacing as the newest area of influence is Social Learning Through Technology because most learning online is done by social interaction between one or more people to solve a problem or comment a topic. This was a revelation by Bandura that we could learn by watching each other, which has become a primary component of how we learn in our modern day enlightenment journeys. Social Learning through Technology is a powerful element that we will be around for a while, but I wonder will it take over the learning process and teach fundamental skills?

Are You on The Social Media Bandwagon?

Social Media is an ever vibrant technology for us to be social in the 21st century. Not only are individuals benefiting from the social media explosion, but businesses are using it to spread their message. The Social Media Bandwagon has a wide variety of users that participate for anything from social interactions, professional growth, and even to learn about varied subjects. Today's social media has fundamentals that can be used as learning tools, because from my experience using these media services there has been learning moments that I have taken away. For example, with Twitter you can read posts that are listed on your home page that will give you access to a learning on demand type environment. The same is true for YouTube, it has just about anything that you want to learn on their site presented as channels. The best part is that you can subscribe to the channels that benefit your learning.

Today's Social Media can provide benefits even without interaction. For example, with Digg, you can have a search engine find information that relates to what you are studying or want to become more familiar. Even better you can go to Flickr and have the site show you different parts of the world, which is a virtual field trip. At some point now or in the future, we have all been on the Bandwagon even if we did not know it learning or possibly teaching something. The influence of Social Media is that we can all learn something new by the power of another person's thoughts or ideas. Which leaves me to think should we all strive to be on the Social Media Bandwagon or stay away?