Final Reflexion

     I have learned a lot in Internet this year that I did not know in the beginning. The information has really helped me a lot, and I am more aware of all things on the Internet. I was introduced to many websites that I never knew existed, and they have helped me with research and sharing things. My resources and general knowledge of the Internet have expanded since I have been in Internet class.
     I already had an igoogle page set up from last years English class, but I have figured out and searched my page a lot more this year. I like all the features that you can add. I mostly have a lot of games on mine to keep me entertained, but there are also things such as calculators, measurement converters, music, social networks, and lots of pages of random things. I like that I can pick and choose what I can add to my page. One thing I like about igoogle is that I have a countdown. On my countdown I have things such as a countdown to my birthday, the end of school, and vacation. Igoogle has helped me with a lot of things. When I need to ask my teacher a question, I can ask them on chat, I can talk to my other classmates through chat, I can open gmail up right from my igoogle, and I can also compose mail and play games from my igoogle. The advanced searches that I explored in Internet have made me smarter. I've researched and learned about things I probably would never look up on my own. Other than research, facebook, youtube, and a couple of game websites, I never really use the Internet for anything more. I was not aware that under the search  button on google was an advanced search that allows me to narrow down my search on google by a lot. I think that this will be useful to me in the future for schoolwork. If I need to look up a direct quote, or if I have to type something in word for word, the advanced search can really come in handy. Through the packets we have done, I have learned a lot about the history of the Internet, commonly searched items, history in general, and common uses and safety tips about the Internet. The packets were not hard, but they contained a lot of questions that simply typing into google could not always find. So, through the packets, I have learned some websites that may help me in the future.
     Voicethread deserves its own paragraph so I can talk about why I like and mostly dislike this website. Voicethread can be good for many things. Projects are sometimes easier on there, and also other students and adults post threads for you to view. Either for research, or just leisure time, they're are voicethreads that will fit each.  I mainly dislike this website. Voicethread is hard to use and sometimes understand. First, it's kind of hard to concentrate on what you are saying if they're are other people in the classroom that are speaking into a microphone also. If your doing the voicethread at home, it is easier, but most uses are for projects and commonly done at school. Second, you really have to check the microphone often so that your voice can be heard, and to see if you are being to loud in the microphone. Listening to other people's voicethreads can useful, but sometimes they have an annoying voice, they are laughing, or make mistakes often. It is very easy to make a mistake on voicethread, and if you do, most likely people tend to start over. I remember having troubles with voicethread last year and English, and still today I don't think that voicethread will be more useful to me in the future than other websites will. I think that if you are educated on the website and explain to others how to create a voicethread really well, than  it can actually be a useful tool to share information with the public.
      The google presentations were fun. I like making presentations because I like creating all the slides and adding the effects. Public speaking does not bother me, so I did not mind researching and giving a presentation about what I learned. Ms. Naylor even showed the class some helpful websites that are directly linked to the schools home page, so I can access them anywhere there is Internet.
      Diigo, I never knew this website existed until this year. We haven't done a whole lot with Diigo, only a few assignments, but that is all the farther we have gone with Diigo. I think  that Diigo is helpful because you can instantly bookmark and page, you can also add your friends and share information on it too. Even though we didn't spend to much time on the website, I took away some tricks and tools that will help me if I need to use Diigo again sometime.
      The last thing I liked was watching the Internet safety video as a class. Watching the video gave me lots of opinions and made me realize that even though the Internet is helpful, it can also be a very dangerous tool to use. Lots of people use the Internet because it is quick and easy, but there are also lots of risks, and harmful viruses that you computer can pick up. Safety on the Internet is all about how you portray yourself, and what you want to be seen as. The Internet can be great for being discovered, but also very dangerous in chat rooms and on social networks if you do not use it wisely. The video opened my eyes to how many stalkers might be out there, and I do not want to be their next target. I think that the video helped me to watch what I am doing on the Internet and open my eyes to the other possibilities.
      Overall, I have learned a lot in Internet so far. I will take this knowledge and use it for future reference, because I know it will come in handy.  The google maps helped me and I'm sure I will use that again. Everything we have learned applies to life somehow, and the websites we viewed makes research and organizing easier.
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Holiday/Vacation Travel

Harrison Park, Springfield IL to Hollywood, California
Starting Point: Harrison Park, Springfield Illinois
First Destination: Hollywood, California
Distance: 1,933 Miles
Time: 1 day and 7 hours travel time

Hollywood, California to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Starting Point: Hollywood, California
Second Destination: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Distance: 2,536 Miles
Time: 1 day 17 hours travel time

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Las Vegas, Nevada
Starting Point: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Third Destination: Las Vegas, Nevada
Distance: 2,319 Miles
Time: 1 day 14 hours travel time

Las Vegas Nevada to New York City, New York
Starting Point: Las Vegas, Nevada
Fourth Destination: New York City, New York
Distance: 2,526 Miles
Time: 1 day 17 hours travel time

New York City, New York to Death Valley, California
Starting Point: New York City, New York
Fifth Destination: Death Valley, California
Distance: 2,676 Miles
Time: 1 day 19 hours travel time

Death Valley, California to Harrison Park, Springfield IL
Starting Point: Death Valley, California
Ending Point: Harrison Park, Springfield IL
Distance: 1,809 Miles
Time: 1 day 5 hours travel time


Total Distance: 13,800 Miles
Total Time: 9 days 7 hours travel time
Total Gas Usage: 396 MPG

Cities to stop for gas:
Lincoln, Nebraska
-Gas Station: Phillips 66 ($2.83)
Haxtun, Colorado
-Gas Station: Cenex ($2. 94)
Victorville, California
- Gas Station: Circle K ($3.14)
Los Angeles, California
-Gas Station: ARCO ($2.89)
Birmingham, Alabama
-Gas Station: BP ($2.51)
Augustana Richmond County, Georgia
-Gas Station: Sunoco ($2.69)
St. Stephen, South Carolina
-Gas Station: Kangaroo Express ($2.79)
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
-Gas Station: Cash and Dash ($2.53)
Marietta, Georgia
- Gas Station: Shell ($2.58)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Gas Station: Goodies ($2.52)
Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Gas Station: Sams Club ($2.59)
Las Vegas, Nevada
-Gas Station: Funnys ($2.79)
Denver. Colorado
-Gas Station: Everyday ($2.40)
Omaha, Nebraska
- Gas Station: Conoco ($2.75)
Cleveland, Ohio
-  Gas Station: Gas USA ($2.67)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Gas Station: Shell ($2.86)
Scranton, Pennyslvania
-  Gas Station: Pilot ($2.89)
Chicago, Illinois
- Gas Station: Costco ($2.78)
Des Moines, Iowa
- Gas Station: Casey's ($2.67)
Grand Junction, Colorado
- Gas Station: Sinclair ($2.54)
Bullhead City, Arizona
- Gas Station: Maverik ($2.63)
St. George, Utah
- Gas Station: Costco ($2.81)
Manhattan, Kansas
- Gas Station: Cenex ($2.70)
Springfield, Illinois
- Gas Station: Shell ($2.79)