Technology in Action, Eleventh Edition
Answer Key Chapter 1
making the transition to…next semester
1. Drive
Researchers are finding that the critical quality that predicts whether a student will
complete a course or an entire program is “grit”—his or her determination to
continue toward a very long-term goal despite adversity. How does your
determination change as you are given more autonomy in a course? As you feel your
skills are growing? If you have a sense that the work you do matters to more people
than just yourself?
Students will respond with personal discussion of their own observations of
their habits and feelings. Drive by Daniel Pink discusses in more detail the
relationship between autonomy, mastery, and purpose as key components to
maximizing motivation. His TED talk and RSA Animate video are short
summaries of current research.
2. The Mind of the Mob
Crowdsourcing is the gathering of data in real time, as it happens, from a growing
crowd of people. Because of the large number of students who now own phones
with Internet access, crowdsourcing on campus could start to be useful. In what
settings would making decisions based on information from a gathering crowd on
campus be valuable? How would you react to your professor using a form of
crowdsourcing to determine your grade on an essay?
Students should consider what types of questions or issues are best to settle by
group consensus and which are best to settle by having a trained professional
making a judgment. There might be a middle ground as in a trial where
professionals see that information (evidence) is fairly presented, but
individuals from the general population make the judgment. The time element
(instant judgment) may be a critical element students focus on, and students
may question if a crowd can be manipulated to reach the decision a small
group wants.
, 3. Recycle, Repair, Redistribute
The Microsoft authorized refurbisher program and TechSoup both help provide
resources to people in need to reduce the barrier of the digital divide. These
organizations recycle hardware and supply software inexpensively to needy
families. How could a program be set up at your school to make people aware of
these options? Could students donate materials or retrofit systems as part of their
coursework? As part of a club activity? How could you make these programs
work for your community?
Responses should include ways to make students aware of a program to recycle
technology components to those who are less fortunate. Making a donation might
be considered as an example of buying a grade. However, another viewpoint is that
a donation to this type of cause could be seen as building social responsibility,
which can be a goal of education. Student answers to this question should include
reasons for the statements. Asking students to come up with ways to make such a
program successful gives an opportunity to point out potential challenges and how
to overcome them.
making the transition to…the workplace
1. Patients and Medical Computing
As more hospitals and doctor’s offices begin to use electronic medical records
(EMRs), the flow of information among the different doctors and care facilities a
patient uses could become much more reliable. In their training and work, doctors
and nurses rely on computers. What about patients? Examine Microsoft Health
Vault at www.microsoft.com/en-us/healthvault for an example of an electronic
medical history. How does this migration from a traditional paper records system
impact the skills required for medical office workers? New ethical questions also
often arise when technology changes. How would a medical facility now protect
and verify its data records? What risks are there with a product like Microsoft
Health Vault?
You can transfer your health data to another personal health record provider such
as Microsoft HealthVault. What privacy issues are involved? Students can express
their views on using this type of system, including potential benefits and risks.
Use the Internet students should look into the new technologies that are being
used in doctor/dentist offices, hospitals, medical centers or other health care
providers. What concerns do you have regarding the accuracy of the records?
What happens if someone accidentally enters the wrong information or if your
information is accessed for malicious reasons?
, 2. Social Media Careers
With the explosion of users on social media sites, businesses need to establish
their presence on social media sites. Just search for “Vans” or “Starbucks” on
Facebook for examples of company sites. To manage their interaction with
customers (and fans), companies need to hire social media managers. Using a job
site such as Monster.com, search on “social media manager” and review the job
postings. What are the educational requirements for social media managers? What
technical skills do these jobs require? Given your major, what companies would
you do well for as a social media manager? What steps should you take while in
school to prepare yourself for a career as a social media manager?
Students can search on CareerBuilder.com and other job sites for social media
positions. Define what a social media manager does and provide a job description
to the class. Is this something you could do? How can you use your technical skills
to develop a career as a social media manager in your area? Is this career
something that has long-term potential or might you move into a different role?
Are there any specific skills that you need to be ready for this role? What
educational requirements exist? Are there any organizations you need to join?
What kind of technical experience will you have to have to do this well?
3. Edges of Literacy
Employers always seek to hire computer-literate workers. Is the boundary of what
is computer literate changing? Is it enough to just know how to use the most
popular computer programs, or is writing programs important? Is it enough to
know how to use Google, or are there other techniques of finding information
employers expect? Is it enough to be able to install a mobile app, or do employers
want you to be able to create one? How could you document for your employer
your ability to learn, adapt quickly to changes in technology, and acquire new
skills?
In the realm of writing code, there are many indications employers want
programming skills at some level from every employee. The essay published in the
Wall Street Journal “Sorry College Grads – I Probably Won’t Hire You” speaks to
this. The App Inventor site documents many stories of how a visual programming
environment led non-majors to produce very valuable mobile applications. The
use of visual programming languages to create a mobile app quickly would show
an employer initiative, mastery and creativity.
Team Time
A Culture of Sharing
Needs Done Done
, improvement Adequately Well
Student teams research
how crowdsourcing
has affected finance,
travel and
consumerism
Student teams present
group findings for
debate and discussion
Student teams submit
strategy paper that
summarizes their
position, outlines
predictions for the
future.
Answer Key Chapter 1
making the transition to…next semester
1. Drive
Researchers are finding that the critical quality that predicts whether a student will
complete a course or an entire program is “grit”—his or her determination to
continue toward a very long-term goal despite adversity. How does your
determination change as you are given more autonomy in a course? As you feel your
skills are growing? If you have a sense that the work you do matters to more people
than just yourself?
Students will respond with personal discussion of their own observations of
their habits and feelings. Drive by Daniel Pink discusses in more detail the
relationship between autonomy, mastery, and purpose as key components to
maximizing motivation. His TED talk and RSA Animate video are short
summaries of current research.
2. The Mind of the Mob
Crowdsourcing is the gathering of data in real time, as it happens, from a growing
crowd of people. Because of the large number of students who now own phones
with Internet access, crowdsourcing on campus could start to be useful. In what
settings would making decisions based on information from a gathering crowd on
campus be valuable? How would you react to your professor using a form of
crowdsourcing to determine your grade on an essay?
Students should consider what types of questions or issues are best to settle by
group consensus and which are best to settle by having a trained professional
making a judgment. There might be a middle ground as in a trial where
professionals see that information (evidence) is fairly presented, but
individuals from the general population make the judgment. The time element
(instant judgment) may be a critical element students focus on, and students
may question if a crowd can be manipulated to reach the decision a small
group wants.
, 3. Recycle, Repair, Redistribute
The Microsoft authorized refurbisher program and TechSoup both help provide
resources to people in need to reduce the barrier of the digital divide. These
organizations recycle hardware and supply software inexpensively to needy
families. How could a program be set up at your school to make people aware of
these options? Could students donate materials or retrofit systems as part of their
coursework? As part of a club activity? How could you make these programs
work for your community?
Responses should include ways to make students aware of a program to recycle
technology components to those who are less fortunate. Making a donation might
be considered as an example of buying a grade. However, another viewpoint is that
a donation to this type of cause could be seen as building social responsibility,
which can be a goal of education. Student answers to this question should include
reasons for the statements. Asking students to come up with ways to make such a
program successful gives an opportunity to point out potential challenges and how
to overcome them.
making the transition to…the workplace
1. Patients and Medical Computing
As more hospitals and doctor’s offices begin to use electronic medical records
(EMRs), the flow of information among the different doctors and care facilities a
patient uses could become much more reliable. In their training and work, doctors
and nurses rely on computers. What about patients? Examine Microsoft Health
Vault at www.microsoft.com/en-us/healthvault for an example of an electronic
medical history. How does this migration from a traditional paper records system
impact the skills required for medical office workers? New ethical questions also
often arise when technology changes. How would a medical facility now protect
and verify its data records? What risks are there with a product like Microsoft
Health Vault?
You can transfer your health data to another personal health record provider such
as Microsoft HealthVault. What privacy issues are involved? Students can express
their views on using this type of system, including potential benefits and risks.
Use the Internet students should look into the new technologies that are being
used in doctor/dentist offices, hospitals, medical centers or other health care
providers. What concerns do you have regarding the accuracy of the records?
What happens if someone accidentally enters the wrong information or if your
information is accessed for malicious reasons?
, 2. Social Media Careers
With the explosion of users on social media sites, businesses need to establish
their presence on social media sites. Just search for “Vans” or “Starbucks” on
Facebook for examples of company sites. To manage their interaction with
customers (and fans), companies need to hire social media managers. Using a job
site such as Monster.com, search on “social media manager” and review the job
postings. What are the educational requirements for social media managers? What
technical skills do these jobs require? Given your major, what companies would
you do well for as a social media manager? What steps should you take while in
school to prepare yourself for a career as a social media manager?
Students can search on CareerBuilder.com and other job sites for social media
positions. Define what a social media manager does and provide a job description
to the class. Is this something you could do? How can you use your technical skills
to develop a career as a social media manager in your area? Is this career
something that has long-term potential or might you move into a different role?
Are there any specific skills that you need to be ready for this role? What
educational requirements exist? Are there any organizations you need to join?
What kind of technical experience will you have to have to do this well?
3. Edges of Literacy
Employers always seek to hire computer-literate workers. Is the boundary of what
is computer literate changing? Is it enough to just know how to use the most
popular computer programs, or is writing programs important? Is it enough to
know how to use Google, or are there other techniques of finding information
employers expect? Is it enough to be able to install a mobile app, or do employers
want you to be able to create one? How could you document for your employer
your ability to learn, adapt quickly to changes in technology, and acquire new
skills?
In the realm of writing code, there are many indications employers want
programming skills at some level from every employee. The essay published in the
Wall Street Journal “Sorry College Grads – I Probably Won’t Hire You” speaks to
this. The App Inventor site documents many stories of how a visual programming
environment led non-majors to produce very valuable mobile applications. The
use of visual programming languages to create a mobile app quickly would show
an employer initiative, mastery and creativity.
Team Time
A Culture of Sharing
Needs Done Done
, improvement Adequately Well
Student teams research
how crowdsourcing
has affected finance,
travel and
consumerism
Student teams present
group findings for
debate and discussion
Student teams submit
strategy paper that
summarizes their
position, outlines
predictions for the
future.
