Guaranteed to Make Waves: Google Ocean May 9, 2008
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Earth Science, Google, Maps, Science , comments closedYou’ve seen 
Google Earth and Google Sky. Now get ready for Google Ocean.
This image, generated by GeoMapAppVG/Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University is a tantalizing taste of what’s to come.
Put Learning on the Map May 8, 2008
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Google, Maps, Social Studies, Software , comments closedWhat increases the value of learning? Location, location, location! Google for Educators understands this and is passing along the secret via its Geo Education site. This robust site is rich with resources and ideas designed to help teachers and students make better use of engaging tools for learning such as Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Sky, and Google Sketchup.
NOTE: While poking around the site, make sure you take a gander at all the classroom posters.
One Step Away From Disaster May 2, 2008
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Collaboration, Earth Science, Health, Maps, Science, Social Studies, Thinking , comments closedLearning doesn’t have to be a disaster if you allow your students to play with disasters using the Stop Disasters game. Thanks to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, students ages 9 and up can use technology (as well as content specific skills including but not limited to Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics) to learn about the risks posed by natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, and wildfires. Although simulations may not do much for standardized test results, prevention and education increase a children’s chances for survival during real disasters. No matter where trouble strikes, be prepared!
Been There, Done That? Try This. April 29, 2008
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Maps, Social Studies , comments closedEvery once in a while I stumble across something so informative and addictive that I just have to infect others with the knowledge. Want a web-based resource that’ll capture learners’ attention? Here’s something along those lines. If your pupils are studying geography or world events, you’ll want to steer them to the Traveler IQ Challenge. This spiffy site allows parents, teachers, students, and other visitors to test their geo-location skills while simultaneously picking up new information about the people and places that comprise our world.Admittedly, this resource is not going to hone higher-thinking skills. If anything, it’ll reinforce basic information. However, doing so will still be worthwhile.
It’s Later Than You Think: Earth Hour March 25, 2008
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Collaboration, Current Events, Earth Science, Learning, Life Science, Maps, Science, Social Studies, Teaching & Learning , comments closed
What if we taught pupils knowledge and skills so important that they went home and willingly applied what had been learned? Sounds like a teacher’s dream, right? When such teaching opportunities present themselves, educators should jump at the chance to help students eagerly practice what they are learning. Teachers, especially Science teachers, are often in a key position to make this kind of real world learning take place. For example, more than a few science teachers who integrate technology are implementing units regarding ecology. Ecology is an issue that is directly applicable to a student’s life. Knowing this, astute educators guide learners to the intriguing World Without Us site and ask students to think about their impact on the world.
Well, there’s an upcoming event that’s sure to result in a powerful lesson from which all of us–students, teachers, administrators, parents, and (global) community members–can benefit…if we participate. It’s an event that need not be restricted to Science classrooms. Any teacher could and should think about helping pupils tune in. The event is called Earth Hour. It’s sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund. How did it come about? It all began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, with an excellent essential question: What’s the best way to inspire people to take action on climate change? The result was impressive. On March 31st, 2007, approximately 2.2 million citizens and over 2,000 of Sydney’s businesses collectively turned off their lights for sixty minutes, a span of time dubbed Earth Hour. This year, the event is not confined to Australia. It’s going global and cities across the globe are involved. Why not encourage your learners participate?
While we’re participating in Earth Hour we should consider population and consumption and what it takes to work toward sustainability. There are a number of technology-related tools to help educators and pupils explore these and other, similar topics. For example, Celsias and the Earth Clock have sobering statistics that will motivate parents, students, educators, and citizens to explore important ecological concerns.
There’s more!
In light of Earth Hour event, it might be advantageous to think about how we impact the earth with our choices and behaviors. Kevin Kelly, a most fascinating fellow, has ideas that’ll help students and teachers gain a better grasp of how humans affect the earth. A noted authority on digital culture, Kelly is working on an amazing initiative known as the All Species Inventory. He’s one of a number of individuals attempting to compile a complete inventory of all species of life on our planet. As if that weren’t interesting enough, Kelly also shares gems of wonderful insight. For example, in a post on his site, Cool Tools, he asked readers to answer a few questions about “the Big Here” in which they reside. You’ll want to examine the questions that Kelly presents. To say that they are thought-provoking is an understatement. After you read them, you find yourself wanting to know the answers. His queries are paths that to some intriguing revelations. Imagine having your students exploring his questions using digital resources at their disposal–Wikipedia, Google, Google Earth, MSN Virtual Earth, the U.S. Geological Survey, and watershed information, just to name a few. Could they answer his questions? Give it a try. New questions are sure to pop into existence. For example:
- How did you find the answer?
- How do you know the answer is correct?
- Is the answer based on up-to-date or outdated information?
- Now that you know the answer how will you use the information in your everyday life outside of school?
- What does this tell you about how well prepared you are to live in your own “Big Here” environment?
- What legacy will we leave for those who come after us?
We only have one earth. Let’s use it wisely.
Going (Virtually) Anywhere February 26, 2008
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Maps, Social Studies , comments closed
Though technology is making the world flat, innovative Social Studies teachers who integrate a little technology can take their students around the globe without ever having to leave the classroom. With rich tools like Google Earth and 360 Cities, learners can overcome the limits of distance and see the wider world with greater clarity.
It’s Time to Travel Through Time: Exploring History Explorer February 13, 2008
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : History, Maps, Social Studies , comments closedHistory/Social Studies teachers: If your students are researching North America’s past, increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their efforts by integrating technology. The National Museum of North American History (a veritable cognitive treat itself) has an excellent, user-friendly web-based resource called the History Explorer that’s sure to please your pupils. What’s great about the History Explorer is that it’s like using Google Maps to locate a particular point in time rather than space. Learners can zoom in and out of North America’s chronology, pin-pointing specific events. Spiffy!
Related links:
- Why not allow pupils to integrate technology in the form of BrainyHistory?
- When it comes to the past, the folks at the History Channel make it easy to find out what happened on this day in history.
- The BBC also makes historical events easy to explore on this day or any other.
- Open the dMarie Time Capsule and see what history has to offer.
- Too impatient to search the internet for historical information? Want a front row seat to history’s greatest events? Well, you’d better get started exploring how time travel works. Don’t be too quick to write off temporal travel. Yes, it’s a staple of philosophical speculation and science fiction but, real science (as in Physics) finds time travel worthy of investigation. In fact, NOVA’s exploration of time travel is quite intriguing.
- Time Travel for Beginners is probably a good place to start if you’re serious about traversing the tachyon highway. Just keep an open mind when it comes to time travel. Even if you know the kings of England and quote the fights historical (from Marathon to Waterloo in order categorical), you’ll find that it’s extremely helpful to have a pretty taste for paradox.
- Let’s do the time warp again! Great Scott! Enough of this riff-raff. Seriously, speaking of time travel in science-fiction, the ever impressive SciFan site has loads of literary resources related to temporal tinkering. Also worthy of a visit is Andy’s Anachronisms.
Welcome to 2008. Now, Get Busy! January 3, 2008
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Maps, Social Studies , comments closedFor quite some time now, forward-thinking leaders in industry and education have been trying to tell us something important. Like proverbial canaries in a coal mine, they’ve picked up on something that everyone–administrators, teachers, parents, and average citizens–ought to pay attention to before it’s too late. They’ve been stating how important it is to prepare today’s students for life in the 21st Century. You see, along with all of the exciting new technologies generated by 21st Century’s “flat world” of creativity and the global integration come a number of daunting challenges.
However, the 21st Century began on January 1st, 2001. Now, it’s 2008. Think about that for just a moment. We’re seven years into the 21st Century.
In a sense, many policy makers and educators are late to the game. That’s bad–very bad. These people know virtually nothing about the “rules” for 21st Century success. They and too many political leaders express a I could care less attitude or outright contempt for the necessity of preparing students to collaborate and compete in an economic environment increasingly demands creativity and digital skills. In fact, a large number of the apathetic are looking backward, hoping that a nostalgic reliance on prepping for standardized tests, rote learning, and good, old-fashioned pencil and paper assignments will make everything alright.
Well, it won’t.
Driving pupils to cram for once-a-year, standardized tests as a short term, political quick fix for parents who want proof that their children are learning something in school is grossly unfair to students. Superintendents, principals, and teachers who are serious about preparing young people to be innovative and use technology efficiently, effectively, and ethically know that there a number of global issues that must be explored and addressed. They know that the 21st Century demands more than rote learning. Simply put, administrators and teachers must begin–right now–changing the way teaching happens. Things often get messy when new technologies come into play and folks aren’t sufficiently prepared to change how they live and do business. Want a sure-fire recipe for failure? Just refuse to change. Given the state of the world and current issues related to global inequality, maybe it’s time we all got serious about helping our children prepare to change it for the better.
Stately Knowledge at the Interent Public Library
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : History, Maps, Social Studies , comments closedOn this day in 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the official declaration which made Alaska the 49th state. If this is the kind of information your students need, you’re in luck. Kidspace at the Internet Public Library site has information about each state’s entry into the Union and other state-related facts. Just drop by Stately Knowledge and have a look around.
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New from Google Maps! December 4, 2007
Posted by Daniel Rivera in : Current Events, Google, Maps , comments closedHave you ever typed a location in Google Maps and it was a bit off? Ever wish you could fix it? Well now you can!
Oh, Gmail also has a small update: you can now use Group Chat, and colored labels. WoohoO!