Alan November rocks!

Yesterday's talk by Alan November only served to highlight everything you read below. I'm so thankful to have someone come who can effectively articulate the need to integrate new technologies in school. Here is a link to his website: www.novemberlearning.com

Knol = Google Knowledge Articles

Knol is Google's able-bodied attempt to serve up "authoritative" articles on a myriad of subjects. If you are looking for information on a subject or want to write like an expert about any topic go to knol.google.com

A New Take On Plagiarism From Down Under

According to an Australian online journal "cut and paste is not plagiarism". Read the whole article here to get the gist of this unorthodox point of view.

Absolutely Amazing Greek History Website!

"Interactive and extremely well illustrated, Odyssey Online's Greece uses a treasure trove of historical artifacts to illuminate all the concepts essential to a coherent study of ancient Greece. Comprehensive coverage includes death and burial practices of the ancient Greeks; Greek wars of conquest; the Greek warrior ethos; Greek gods, goddesses, and mythic heroes; Greek democracy; Greek architecture; geography of Greece; daily life in ancient Greece; and Greek epic literature and theater. Also includes an interesting sidebar about American cities that have Greek place names."

Go To Site

High quality multimedia content - all subjects

HippoCampus is a project of the Monterey Institute for Technology and Education (MITE). "The goal of HippoCampus is to provide high-quality, multimedia content on general education subjects to high school and college students free of charge." Don't pass up this valuable online resource which has something for everyone. To access, Click Here

Any web page can speak to you!

In Safari, select the text from the poem below and then click on Safari/Services/Speech and select "Start Speaking Text". Your Mac should start speaking the text you have selected. To change the voice, simply go to System Preferences and click on Speech.

A Thing of Beauty (Endymion)

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its lovliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkn'd ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
'Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink.

John Keats

Amazing list of 60 Projects using technology!

Here is an amazing list of projects that use Web 2.0 (videos, podcasts, wikis, blogs, twitter, websites, etc...) It is divided up into age groups so you can choose the level you want. Click Here for the PDF...

The Future is Already Here at Some Schools

Schools have already started getting rid of textbooks, notepads, paper and even the schools themselves. A pilot middle school in Boston "offers a glimpse into the future." No textbooks, the students receive an Apple laptop at the start of each day. Students and teachers blog, classwork is done with Google applications, which are free. Much of the lessons are delivered via applications like iMovie, iChat and so on. Parents, students and teachers chat online and exchange files through "electronic drop boxes" provided on the school's website. And to top it off "U.S. enrollment in online classes reached the 1 million mark last year, 22 times the level in 2000." To read more on all of this CHECK THIS OUT

Are Students "Powering Down" When They Enter the Classroom?

Here is a video by enVisionMATH demo-ing one of their interactive math products. They point out that "America's students are growing up in a digital world of iPods, the Internet, instant messaging and computer games, but, until now, they have been 'powering down' when they enter the classroom.

26 Learning Games to Change the World

When I saw the title I was intrigued, but it wasn't until I read the article detailing the games did I stand up and take serious notice. From "Darfur is Dying" to "Whack TB" and "World Without Oil" or "Climate Change" and more I was impressed by the seriousness of the topics covered. Now you can participate in a political adventure, learn to fight TB, donate rice to the United Nations World Food Program, save lives from malaria, role-play what it's like growing up in poverty and even more. Plus they're all free and browser based. Nothing to pay and nothing to install. Check it out HERE

iTunes U

iTunes isn't just for listening to your music. It also contains tons of free podcasts and a section called iTunes U. It's located in the iTunes Store section and contains plenty of resources for just every subject. So open up iTunes and check out the iTunes U...

Computers that can "feel your pain"

I just read an article detailing a program that actually detects users frustrations when they are working on a computer. Using sensors, the program detects students emotions allowing teachers to adjust their teaching methods. Hopefully they will expand the program to include the rest of us and our frustrations! To read the article CLICK HERE

Virtual Trips Save Gas

Think about it. With gas prices heading up and up, try saving some money by taking your students on a "virtual field trip." Read more about this idea HERE

Bye Bye Microsoft Office, Hello Google Docs

Well "the avalanche has started and it's too late for the pebbles to vote." Google Docs has been chosen over Microsoft Office by one of the largest school districts in Australia. Considering the strides Google has taken with its own software and the fact that it's FREE, it's no wonder this is happening. Now users can utilize Google's mail, write documents, make presentations and spreadsheets and more without having to pay a dime. Imagine ridding our budgets of Microsoft Office and the savings that would imply... Hats off to Google. Guess it really is a good time for Bill Gates to retire... Smart man... Here is a link to the article.

And here is a very important link to Google Teacher Academy Resources. Check out the agenda, materials, and additional links.

Connect With Schools Around The World!

I have been looking for websites that allow teachers and students from all over the country and world to collaborate on projects. With all the people, schools and resources out there it would be a shame to limit ourselves to our tiny corner of the world. With these links you will find the world to not only be a valuable resource, but also not that big after all...

Global School Network

ePals Global Community

Have you Googled Your School Recently?

You might be surprised what comes up. The following video gives some pretty candid examples of the power of YouTube and the way it impacts your school's presence on the Web. It isn't always in ways you would expect...

Radio Open Source

The best in user/expert generated podcasts can be found at Radio Open Source. They sum it up well when they state "Conversations are happening everywhere on the web, and they’re not just about computers or Star Trek. They’re about God and the world, people taking pictures and and comparing notes of what they see around them." If you want access to thousands of podcasts covering a million topics then check out Radio Open Source.

For you coach!

Technology helping football players!

"Sensor-embedded glove technology can help identify whether a ball is being handled, caught, and thrown properly."

Check it out!

Learn a Language Online

I came across some wonderful resources for learning languages online. Many of the features are free, but premium paid membership opens up doors to exercises, written dialogue and much more. Check out some of these online lessons:

SpanishPod

ChinesePod

ItalianPod

Minnesota Virtual High School Graduates First Online Class

It was bound to happen. "Minnesota Virtual High School (MVHS) graduated its first class of 43 students last Friday. The school, a partnership between Minnesota Transitions Charter School of Minneapolis and Advanced Academics, was launched in 2007 and serves more than 1,000 students from all over the state." Her is a link to the ARTICLE in The Journal, as well as a link to MVHS HERE.

Not enough

I keep reading about schools that "buy laptops, printers, scanners, Web cams, electronic whiteboards, digital cameras, and video cameras." But so what?! What else is out there? What are they doing with all that equipment? I will continue my quest to find out, to push the envelope and to bring the latest and best technology developments to the classroom. But what is a classroom anyway these days? Do we still think of them the same way? The best classrooms break down their walls with technology. Just thoughts...

Skype is what and all you need

Skype is THE TOOL for online chat collaboration. It works on any platform and allows users to chat, video chat, share files and even collaborate in groups. The possibilities for online collaboration between students and students and students and teachers is unlimited. And best of all it's all free. You just download the software, install, go through a simple sign up, choose username process and voila, you are ready to go. Just share your username with other Skype users of your choosing and you are ready to start collaborating. So get rid of Yahoo and MSN Instant messengers and climb aboard the premier instant chat tool: SKYPE

Here is a link to the "tres hip" elasticillusion guys who give you a very quick introduction to Skype. Enjoy...

CLICK HERE

I'm back, somewhat...

Well it's been a long ten days. I've learned about the marvels of medical technology and have been humbled by the expertise of the stroke trauma unit here at HCMC. They went out of their way and tried every new trick in the book and here I am, back to blogging. I just wanted to say I've missed everyone and have appreciated all the well wishes. I thought I'd share an excellent blog with you that has a lot of cutting edge information for educators. The blog is called the "cool cat teacher blog" and has videos from the latest Horizon Project that you should enjoy. Anyway, it's good to be back. It may be awhile before you see me on campus, but out here you'll find me on the web ever trying to find the latest information for you teachers to use in and out of the classroom.

Peace,

Keith

Well I'm posting this in the Emergency Room just to show you can take it with you and keep working. Notified my wife, my boss and my family with my cellphone. Logged onto the hospital's WIFI and caught up with some work. Sent video email to my parents. Watched CNN News. And now I'm blogging. They registered me here with a portable computer. And all from the comfort of my hospital bed. I'll probably listen to some Spanish language podcasts if they keep me here much longer. 

Oh? What happened? I started feeling dizzy and the right side of my body started to go numb. They're doing a bunch of tests to see what's wrong with me. Hopefully they have the latest in technology! I feel better now. 

When it comes to your health I guess you want the best in technology!

Say hi to the other Blake if you see him...

Update to follow...

Touch Screen Turntable

A university student has invented a touch screen turntable that "allows technologically-inclined DJs to spin, scratch, and mix digital music, all while mimicking the physicality of DJing on vinyl."

Check out his invention here:


Final Product // ATTIGO TT from Scott Hobbs on Vimeo.

Explore the Universe in 3 Dimensions!

Celestia is an application that works on Macs and PCs that allows you to explore the universe in three dimensions. Check out a video of my first explorations:

Like it? Try it by clicking here...

Zen and the Art of the Inner Twitter

OK, maybe you have heard of Twitter, an application that allows you to post from your cellphone or computer anything and everything you happen to be doing. Limited to 140 characters , but not limited in it's applications, Twitter is quickly becoming the fastest and most seamless way to post information to the Web. Sure, many people use it to post things like "sitting at Starbucks, drinking a latte" or "eating a bowl of cornflakes and watching Good Morning America" but Twitter is being used for much much more. Businesses use it to respond to customer queries and check on minute-by-minute trends and media groups often check with "Twitterers" as the first to the scene reporters. The first reports coming out of China minutes after the quake came from Twitterers. Teachers are collaborating with students to post project updates and share information.

Ok, you're saying "Twitterers?" Are you kidding me? I must admit that the terms they come up with for new application users is a bit ridiculous (Twitter, Vlogger, Blogger, Wikis, etc...) but the applications are becoming more and more ubiquitous by the day. For example, 170,000 blogs are created every day!

Well, I discovered that Twitter actually has Zen uses. Inner Twitter will send you a text message every hour (or however often you like) to remind you to "Stop. Listen. Pay attention to your breathing. Pay attention to what is before you. Forget yourself and become whatever resonates, like stillness, peace and beauty." And you respond in kind. Here are some recent Chime responses:

artemisthunder: in front of me is two days off!
Sue: a peaceful night...
Wendy Haylett: - Relaxing in acceptance of myself and my nature, work is easy and fun
artemisthunder: in front of me is a book
Sue: A glass of wine. A quiet evening.

Can Inner Twitter really "leverage the best of modern technology" and help us "live a good and satisfying life in the modern world?"

Find out at Inner Twitter

See my Wiki Twitter Pod Blog... post if you want a quick 5 minute tutorial on Twitter.

Google from your Cellphone!

For simple searches like weather, pizza, addresses, phone numbers, stock quotes just text your question to the Google SMS number 466453.

For example, I typed the following questions and got reliable results:

John F. Kennedy birthdate?
Pizza Minneapolis?
Weather Minneapolis?
Walker Art Address?

So if you need answers and a computer is far away try texting Google at 466453

Latest Doonesbury Sums It Up

Click for larger version...

View Articles on 1 Page

This may sound like a no brainer but I get tired of having to wade through internet page after internet page reading articles and constantly having to click next. I want to read the whole article in one fell swoop. My solution? If it's there, I select "Printable Version" and most of the time it opens up the whole article for me to read. Like I said, no brainer, but wanted to share...