from Answers.com January 31, 2007
Posted by Michael Stokes in : History, Language Arts, Reference, Seasonal , comments closedBlack History MonthBlack history is essentially linked to American history, whether you examine chapters of colonial history or the Civil War, the struggle for civil rights or achievements in sports. It was Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson who fundamentally revolutionized and created the scholarly field of black history, countering what he saw as the prevailing neglect or misrepresentation of his people. In February of 1926, Woodson established the second week of February as the first annual Negro History Week, and today it has expanded into a month-long commemoration and celebration.
*The Plan: Host a classroom version of Meet the Press Using our newly-added Black Biographies have students choose a notable black figure. Then have them research some additional information to answer questions about this person. (Don’t forget to use ourResearch Right handouts.) Finally, invite the students in groups of three or four to a session of the show where you have prepared questions for them to answer, debate and discuss. You may want to spread this out over a week or two and run one “show” each day.
Literary Locations: Google, Books, and Maps…Oh My!
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Language Arts, Literature, Maps, Reading, Reference, Social Studies, Technology, webtools , comments closedRemember watching an old Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercial? It usually began with one, accident-prone character eating a chocolate candy bar in close proximity to another character eating a jar of peanut butter. Hilarity ensued when the characters collided, creating a completely new flavor. Then came the punchline: “Two great tastes that taste great together!”
Let’s borrow that scenario and alter it a bit. Imagine a cartographer carrying loads of maps hustling down a busy city sidewalk. Enter a bookworm armed with volumes of great works of literature approaching from the opposite end of the street. Each character is totally unaware of the existence of the other. Scene by scene, the tension mounts as they move ever closer to a collision. Hilarity ensues when both parties finally run smack into one other with an audible KA-BOIIING!!!, atomically fusing books and maps into a completely new product. The bookworm looks at the cartographer and says, “You stuck your maps in my book!”
Cue the punchline: “Two great tastes that taste great together!”
Well, something like that has been happening at Google Book Search, a bibliophile’s paradise (by the way, dedicated readers will positively love being able to search key words and phrases in a book–imagine looking up all the times Miss Havisham or Estella appear in Great Expectations). A recent post over at Inside Google Book Search explains how readers will now have an easier and more immediate means of visualizing places mentioned in books. For example, take a look at the Jules Verne classic Around the World in Eighty Days (still on many middle and high school required reading lists). After visiting the Google Book Search entry for Around the World in Eighty Days, students and other interested readers can click on the About This Book link and see a Google map of places mentioned in the text. High school students reading works like Thomas Wolfe’s epic Look Homeward, Angel will find Google Book Search, a veritable godsend.
This simple but incredibly useful feature should make reading assignments more pleasurable and meaningful for both reluctant and dedicated readers. Even more promising is the prospect of teaching students how to use Google Earth to create their own geoliterary resources. Throw in a dollop of Google Sketchup (in the form of artistically rendered 3D models of literary domiciles and/or other structural settings) and learners might begin to look forward to their Literature classes. Who knows? After suffering from bibliomania, these budding members of the literati could even begin asking, “What should I read next?“
Odd Name, Good Tool: Gubb
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Technology, webtools , comments closedForgetful students and busy teachers can integrate a little technology and get more done in the bargain. Designed to help people get organized, Gubb is a simple and free, web-based way of compiling customized to-do lists. Quite a few educators will be using this resource to tie up loose ends.
Convert iTunes to MP3 January 30, 2007
Posted by Michael Stokes in : Music, Technology , comments closedBob Rankin has an answer and a process to convert iTunes to MP3 for those non-iPod users that get their music from iTunes. Check it out here.
Thoughts on School Improvement
Posted by Craig Ellison in : Learning, Reform, Teaching & Learning, Technology, Uncategorized , comments closedLast week was a very busy week. I spent two days at a “High Schools that Work” (HSTW) conference in Atlanta, Ga and three days presenting at the FETC in Orlando, Fl. Both conferences gave me an opportunity to really think and learn about school improvement through the eyes of technology.Â
HSTW and Middle Schools that Work (MSTW) are two great programs that focus on school improvement. Both programs help schools improve through rigorous curriculum and high expectations for all students. One identified area is Career/Technical studies. HSTW strives to use this area as a way to integrate academic studies into Career/Technical classes and vice versa. The infusion of academic studies into the CTA curriculum is a great way to bring validity to CTA classes. HSTW also puts heavy emphasis on the integration of technology into all classes. Technology Integration into all classes can help students become actively engaged in their studies. I think we can all agree this is what we all strive for in our schools and classrooms. If you’re looking for tested ways to improve your school, take a look at their website.Â
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Playing Catch-up on SketchUp
Posted by Daniel Rivera in : MacOSX, Math, Software , comments closed
Google released version 6 of it’s enormously successful and FREE Google SketchUp program on January 8th 2007. I have finally gotten a few minutes to look it over, and the update has several nice features, including 3d text, watermarks and backgrounds, and photo match – which lets you create 3D models from 2D photographs. See the full features page for more updates.
One of the features that I like most about version 6 (besides being free) is the new tutorials and help. The opening tutorials help teach you many of the basic tools and functions, letting you quickly get up to speed and start modeling. It’s now easier than ever to use SketchUp!
I put together a small course with resources for SketchUp on our Moodle site. Feel free to visit it and use the button labeled “Login as Guest.” The site has many links to SketchUp video tutorials, handouts, and general resources.
Dollars And Sense January 29, 2007
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Economics , comments closedWant to integrate technology while teaching something that’ll really be useful to your pupils after they’ve moved beyond the confines of your classroom and school? Give your learners tools for making sound financial decisions. Potential citizens should understand the nature and causes of the wealth of nations that comprise their world and how economists think. Begin revealing and exploring economic facets of the content you’re teaching. Override that “I’m not gonna teach it if it isn’t on the standardized test” mantra. Think about the importance of financial literacy, make a small attempt to align economics-related issues to your content, and consider the following points:
- the prospect of learning the secrets for attaining, sustaining, and increasing wealth is an attention magnet for most learners,
- topics related to economics lend themselves to closer examination using technology-enhanced resources such as documents and spreadsheets, public radio’s Marketplace, graphing websites (for example, charts at Instacalc, NCES’s super simple Create-A-Graph or Ambleside Primary’s impressive Grapher ), search engines, databases, and concept-mapping software (CmapTools, Inspiration, FreeMind, et cetera)
- economics involves understanding the consequences of making different choices (talk about honing critical thinking skills!) and,
- just about every academic topic (as wells as sports) can, in some way or another, be related to decisions (i.e., Which of these things do you want and what’s the trade-off?) and/or money.
Intrigued? Drop by Mymoney.gov and check out the wealth of resources available on the site. After all, your tax dollars paid for it. Why not get a good return on your investment? Ignore this opportunity or take a chance. You’re free to choose. Welcome to the Knowledge Economy.
Learning Linux Lingo
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Linux, Open Source, Software , comments closedIf you’re toying with the idea of making use of Linux in your classroom or school (like using Edubuntu), do yourself a favor and surf over to Linux 101. It’s a good place to start.
Now Hear This: CapitolTech 2007 Audio-Diary
Posted by Jeff Giddens in : Conferences, Current Events, Government, Technology , comments closedI feel guilty that it has taken me this long to get around to editing and posting the audio clips I gathered while attending the third annual CapitolTech gathering at the Georgia State Capitol building in Atlanta last week on Tuesday, January 23rd. Teachers and pupils attending CapitolTech have an opportunity to meet with state legislators and share all of the wonderful ways technology is being integrated in classrooms throughout the state. Previous visits to the event (2005 and 2006) were exciting and 2007 was no exception. After helping the four representatives from Reidsville Middle School assemble their booth, I was able to move about the Rotunda, immersing myself in the history of the place while looking at the statues and monuments. I used the availibity of participants to conduct brief interviews with student presenters from other ETTC regions of Georgia. My only regret is that I didn’t get to interview everyone. Listed below are recording I made throughout the day.
Note: The player below is set to play the last audio file in the list. Click on the PLAY NOW link next to any of the other schools listed below to hear an interview.
Five Forks Middle School 01: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Five Forks Middle School 02: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Banks County Elementary School 01: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Banks County Elementary School 02: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Banks County Elementary School 03: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Brooks county Middle School: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download International Studies Elem. Magnet Sch.: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Louisville Academy Elem. School 01: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Louisville Academy Elem. School 02: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Montgomery County Middle School 01: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Montgomery County Middle School 02: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Northside Elementary School 01: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Northside Elementary School 02: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Reidsville Middle School: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Springdale Elementary School 01: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Springdale Elementary School 02: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Springdale Elementary School 03: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Springdale Elementary School 04: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadSolar Activity January 26, 2007
Posted by Michael Stokes in : Astronomy, Science, Uncategorized , comments closedScience teachers: Teachable moment alert! Something on the far side of the sun exploded yesterday, hurling a bright coronal mass ejection over the sun’s eastern limb. An active sunspot must be lurking just around the corner. It should appear in a few days when solar rotation carries that part of the sun into view. Integrate some meaningful technology (via Today’s Space Weather) and stay tuned for some interesting solar activity.