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YouTube - Teachers Who Inspire Student Entrepreneurs
Winners for imagine cup:
Thanks so much!
This afternoon in Redmond, WA, the nation's best and brightest tech students gathered for the ninth annual Imagine Cup 2011 U.S. Finals. Starting with a field of more than 74,000 students, the final 12 teams presented their life-changing projects to a panel of elite judges, tackling diverse issues from eliminating malaria to promoting alternative energy. After an intense weekend of presentations and eliminations, the winners were named:
* 1st Place, Software Design: Team Note-Taker, Arizona State University. Project: "Note-Taker" - A portable, assistive technology to help vision-impaired students take notes in class.
* 1st Place, Game Design - Windows/Xbox: Team Bloom, Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy. Project: "Spero" - A game focused on alternative energy solutions and educating people on how to live healthier lives.
* 1st Place, Game Design - Mobile: Team Big Impact Bear, University of Houston. Project: "Forest Gun" - A game that aims to prevent and reverse deforestation in the world.
* 1st Place, People's Choice Award - Software Design: Team BearPaw, Brigham Young University. Project: A mobile and cloud solution for ultrasound images that is cost-effective, widely available and easy to implement.
* 1st Place, People's Choice Award - Game Design: Team Bloom, Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy. Project: "Spero" - A game focused on alternative energy solutions and educating people on how to live healthier lives. -
Home to Homeroom | Stop Medicine Abuse
A website about helping teens with medicine abuse. A good specific website from the national association of school nurses.
"Multiple national surveys point to the disturbing abuse of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, like OTC cough medicine, among today's teens. Five percent of high school teens admit to having abused cough medicine containing dextromethorphan, or DXM, to get high in the past year." -
From this organization:
"We’re launching a new “60 Second Lecture” campaign in conjunction with the Ford Focus Global Test Drive, and many interesting individuals from the PresidentAmy Gutmann of the University of Pennsylvania to Dean Thomas Robertson of the Wharton School have already agreed to share their insights." -
MacdonaldTechForTeachers - iPad Apps for Education
Ann McDonald is building a very nice wiki with so many resources! She is an excellent Flat Classroom teacher.
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Excellent article about a struggle to ban cell phones in schools and why it is not working.
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Social Media Policy Best Practices: Trust Is Cheaper Than Control | Beth’s Blog
Nice Social Media Policy Best Practices discussion for nonprofits. The social media policy is related to your strategy. Most schools only have a strategy to prevent litigation and certainly, that is a factor as we look at schools and yet - we're not there yet on this discussion. I have to think at some point we're either going to have platforms that do a better job of protecting the privacy of minors or we're going to have to grow up in how we deal with these tools.
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Flat Classroom : The Tornado Tribune
Helen Harvey's Flat Classroom participation received a write up in her local paper. An important part of each of our projects is to issue press releases to gain media attention for the schools that break down the walls.
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Seth's Blog: Moving beyond teachers and bosses
So we, as teachers, are characterized like this from Seth Godin:
"We train kids to deal with teachers in a certain way: Find out what they want, and do that, just barely, because there are other things to work on. Figure out how to say back exactly what they want to hear, with the least amount of effort, and you are a 'good student.'"
Are we the kind of teachers who have to move past or someone that kids are moved with.
Do we have a limiting mindset? -
Knight Foundation Webinars - Knight Foundation
April 20th from 2-3 pm EDT - a connected citizens webinar about their new report "Connected Citizens: The Power, Peril and Potential of Networks"
sign up for this event here. -
Connected Citizens Report: The Power, Peril, and Potential of Networks | Beth’s Blog
If you have no idea what network-centric grantmaking is and you write grants or work with fundraising - this blog post is an important read for you. (Buy Beth's book - the networked nonprofit - it is great.)
Themes as per Beth:
These themes include:
1. Listening to and consulting the crowds: Actively listening to online conversations and openly asking for advice.
2. Designing for serendipity: Creating environments, in person and online, where helpful connections can form.
3. Bridging differences: Deliberately connecting people with different perspectives.
4. Catalyzing mutual support: Helping people directly help each other.
5. Providing handrails for collective action: Giving enough direction for individuals to take effective and coordinated action. -
join the crowdsourced keynote at the BC educational technology users group. Here are instructions:
We Want Your Videos
April 7, 2011 By grantpotter Leave a Comment
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In June 2011 the BC educational technology users’ group (etug) will be hosting a Spring Workshop in Nelson, BC. The theme? OPEN 4 LEARNING.
In the spirit of openness we would like to invite YOU to participate in a crowd-sourced keynote. Our vision is to create a keynote video that highlights the collective voice on the value of openness.
Here’s what we would LOVE for you to do:
Create a short video/interview/montage answering one or two of the following questions:
1. What is the value of openness?
2. What examples of openness stand out to you as being valuable/worthwhile?
3. WHY do you believe in the value of open education?
If you are interested in participating we would love to have you be a part of this exciting opportunity, to collectively gather voices across the globe in answering the question “what is the value of openness”. Have fun with your video – the more creative the better.
.
Upload your video to:
http://www.dropitto.me/etug
password: open
.
Deadline: May 9, 2011 -
Online Learning in Australia - Connections, Partnerships and Successes ~ Stephen's Web
A report on the state of elearning in Australia. Every collection must comprise 40% free content.
Again, this article proves that if you're in education and not reading Stephen Downes' feature-rich blog, you're missing out. -
Colleges Spend Far Less on Educating Students Than They Claim, Report Says ~ Stephen's Web
Colleges actually spend LESS educating students than students are paying. From Stephen Downes as cited from the Chronicle of Higher Education April 8, 2011.
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STUDYBLUE | Make online flashcards & notes. Study anywhere, anytime.
Study Blue website to let you make flashcards to study and put on your ipod, ipad, cell phone, etc. Over 12,000 have recommended via facebook. Facebook is linking with learning as are mobiles.
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20 Terrific TED Talks for Language Lovers | Bachelor's Degree Online
Ted Talks for Language Lovers.
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The Truth is Out There | November Learning
Interesting discussion about "blue blood" and the quest for truth in an age where even Googling something may not change minds. By Bob Sprankle
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TLC = Tech + Library + Classroom: iPad Apps To Love
Tara from the TLC (Tech + Library + Classroom) Blog posts her iPad apps she loves.
I think the I write words app is very interesting for handwriting. I wonder if the fact that they are using their finger is a drawback but think that it will help the kids take the strokes the same way. -
Speak Up National Findings 2010
Important study surveying students about empowered education with emerging technologies.
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One Year Later: Assessing the Impact of iPads on Education - iPads in Education
Assessing the impact of iPads on education one year later by Sam Gliksman on the Ipad educators ning (hat tip to Julie Lindsay for this information.)
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Final Teams in US Imagine Cup:
Software Design
TTHV - Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Central Connecticut State University
Uca Ursus - University of Central Arkansas
Lifelens - Anderson School of Management, Harvard School of Business, University of California San Diego, University of California Davis, University of Central Florida
Note-Taker - Arizona State University
Game Design –Windows/XBOX (XNA):
Bloom - Tribeca Flashpoint Academy
Plump Pixel - California State University Chico
Righteous Noodle - University of Houston
XozGaming - Lick-Wilmerding High School
Game Design Mobile (Zune/Phone)
Big Impact Bear - University of Houston
EDO - Arizona State University
Team AAMP - University of Houston
Team Mintrus - Columbia College in Chicago, University of Louisville
Read Alfred's blog for more. -
Alfred Thompson's ongoing coverage of the Imagine Cup. I love this interview with the kids who invented a program about fighting a global pandemic.
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Sneak Peak of New Facebook Nonprofit Use Research from Idealware | Beth’s Blog
Yes, nonprofits are seeing success on Facebook. Beth Kanter, nonprofit social media guru, has a guest post from Kyle Andrei of Idealware on their findings about Facebook and nonprofits. Fundraisers, schools, and facebook fans read up.
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Gesture-Based ‘Gmail Motion’ April Fools’ Day Prank Gets Real - Techland - TIME.com
I love this! Gmail motion was Google's april fools day prank and many people fell for it. Heck, if I'd had time, I might have played with it but after thinking I realized what day it was! Tee hee.
But a lot of people WANTED this -even though the gestures were designed to be silly (who is going to do a jumping jack for making a star on an email.) so ICT used a kinect camera and actually made Gmail actions work! Watch the video and enjoy.
People actually WANT this just not with the exaggerated motions and definitely not a shot that requires the camera to see your feet.
Daily Education & Technology News for Schools 04/12/2011
University Spinoffs & Wealth Creation
Scott Shane's research on university spin-offs highlights their criticality to the entrepreneurship-innovation space:
Drawing from his seven years of research, Shane—who is also Case's academic director for the Center for Regional Economic Issues, a group that ignites new ideas to boost at economic development—defines the university spinoff as a company founded to exploit the intellectual property created in the academic setting.As he tracked the rise of these ventures, Shane found that university spinoffs are remarkably high-performing companies. His research shows that a spinoff from a typical university is 108 times as likely to go public as the average new company.
He also uncovered that most university inventions are embryonic stage, or what he describes as two stages before the traditional venture capital seed stage. He found that transforming the invention into a commercial new product or service takes an average of $4 million in investments—and as much as four years of additional development beyond the university findings.The spawning of these companies has impact on local and national economies, benefits to society and the university's ability to raise income and move forward its teaching and research missions...[continue reading]
Private Students Scheme: Makerere University
The dwindling funding for Tertiary Education in Sub-Saharan Africa has reached crisis proportions .The challenge is for institutions to formulate alternative sources of income so as to reduce their almost complete reliance on state funding. Makere University's successful Private Students Scheme implemented is an example of one such creative partial solution.M. K. Mayanja wrote:
"...Makerere University formulated its first strategic plan (1996-–2000) to promote this new entrepreneurial approach and adjust its administrative design to enhance the innovative process. The admission of private students, which started in a tentative way, was followed by initiatives such as the introduction of the semester system and an updated curriculum to make courses more marketable. Other changes included the decentralization of authority—including the area of finance...The private students scheme has regenerated Makerere University in record time about 10 years. In order for this process to continue, the university should move quickly to implement the new Universities and Tertiary Education Act, which enhances its autonomy and puts it in control of its own affairs. Furthermore, the university as a whole and the schools, institutes, colleges need to become more cost conscious and adopt a business planning approach in course design and determining fees...",Boston College.
Makerere University Private Sector Forum
Continuing our focus on academia-industry linkages we take a look at the Makerere University Private Sector Forum. They describe themselves:
As a new vehicle for promoting value addition to the University products in addressing the Private Sector needs. It will serve as a central 'hub' for practical support and information dissemination, encourage and facilitate the University Departments by linking them up with the Private Sector in socio-economic development, initiate demand driven joint research and practice to influence development policy and curriculum review, technology innovations and projects at national and regional levels. Value for money based-practices to promote the Private Sector enterprise development is key in the partnership.
Ismail-Musa Ladu covering the initiative at Zibb states
The marriage between the University and the private sector will ensure that both participate in the creation and running of academic programmes like training and research and stand to benefit from technological innovations generated by the academia.
This will also ensure that the University produces graduates who will fit the needs of the jobs market by being employment-focused student training, problem-oriented and demand driven research that include policy at the national and regional level.
The African Student: Stone Throwers to Wealth Creators
The Future of Universities
Writing about the African University Donald Ekong stated that"...Emphasis will have to be on the formation of graduates who have the flexibility to respond to changing demands in the economy and who are capable of self-employment. With the rapid advances in knowledge, structures will be required to provide a space in the university as well as encouragement for life-long learning. The implication is that the university should be able to cater for a variety of learners and a variety of learning needs through diversification of its programmes, curriculum contents, and mode of delivery. Currently in much of Africa the university has a virtual monopoly as the source of learning. But this will change and should change as other forms of higher education are developed and have already begun to be developed in some countries. Only through creativity, innovation, and flexibility in catering for diverse learning needs will the university be able to retain a leading position in terms of relevance to the needs of society.
A further challenge for Africa is the danger of new forms of dependence which could be just as devastating as the current forms if not even more so, that is, dependence on knowledge and knowledge application processes from elsewhere. The challenge for the African university is to contribute new useful knowledge and application processes that derive from the African environment and draw from African experience and ingenuity. There is also an urgent need to increase participation in higher education from all sections of the population-currently participation in higher education in Africa is the lowest in the world-with a view to raising the collective capacity and productivity of African society. Both aspects are essential for enhancing African competitiveness in the global market place..."
Mazrui, African Intellectuals and Values
Kofi Akosah-Sarpong writes:
Prof. Ali Mazrui’s address at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Dakar, Senegal-based CODESRIA on the theme “Intellectuals, Nationalism and the Pan-African Ideal” reveals the growing talks, African-wide, about the implications of the African culture and the continent’s development process. The central theme of Mazrui, currently Chancellor of Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, address is twofold. Why African intellectuals are mediocre and why this informs their inability to appropriate Pan-Africanism ideals into Africa’s development process. I would prefer why African elites have not being able to appropriate African cultural values into Africa’s development process as other elites in other parts of the world have done in their development process.
Using the East African region as a continental reference, Mazrui, known globally as one of Africa’s leading thinkers, reveals how undemocratic political climates undermined Africa’s intellectual growth, and how, by extension, this impacted on the continent’s development process. Unlike other ex-colonies, such as Japan, of which Mazrui used greatly as an example to show how African elites failed to match their Western education with their African values in both their intellectual development and the continent’s progress, the trouble with African elites and the continent’s development process is that, the elites play with ideas are not informed by Africa’s innate, indigenous values or ideas by rather the Western ideas that they have had in formal schools.
Mazrui himself shows this contradicting and confusing state of the African elites in this statement: “Uganda had for Head of Government a person who had changed his name because of admiration of the author of the great English poem, Paradise Lost. Obote became Milton Obote out of admiration of John Milton.” While in the spirit of universal intellectuality Obote could admire Milton, his admiration for a non-African poet and the fact that he is a Head of State, may have let Ugandan and African youth to admire more non-African elites than indigenous Ugandan and African elites. The central issue here is role model, values, and inspiration in the development process. In this sense, Obote did not deeply help the growth of African values and her progress. If Obote had done so, and by implications of Mazrui’s own account of the mediocrity of African intellectuals, and greatly touted a non-African value not because he was educated in Western paradigms but, like most African elites, because either he did not understand African values deeply enough or was mesmerized by Western values or did not respect African values or was confused about African values in relations to the continent’s progress.
Still, Mazrui’s argument that “The capacity to be curious and fascinated by ideas has to start early in the educational process. The spirit of intellectualism has to be nourished from primary school onwards, but it can die at the university level if mediocrity prevails,” reveals that the problem of Africa’s intellectual growth is not only at the university level but also at the primary school level; where the values, images and examples which are heavily European-centred are formed. So, if the African primary education system is heavily Western structured, it flows and grows to the high school level, and then later to the university level; thus sowing a culture of mediocrity, in terms of African values not predominantly dictating the intellectual life of the African child early enough. It is in this sense, that Ghana’s Dr. Y.K. Amoako, the former UN Economic Commission for Africa executive secretary, has observed that Africa is the only region in the world where foreign development paradigms dominate her development process. Not only does this indicate that Africa’s development process is not “culturally close” to Africans, but also a revelation that African elites are mediocre in both their intellectualizing and their direction of the continent’s progress.
This has made the African elite mediocre in their own innate environment and in their development process struggles. The mediocrity has come about because Africa’s elites do not think deeply from within Africa’s values first and the enabling aspects of their colonial legacies second in the continent’s development process. Mazrui himself testify of the Japanese elites doing so in their country’s development process. “In this connection it is worth bearing in mind important differences between the westernization of Africa and the modernization of Japan after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Japan’s original modernization involved considerable selectivity on the part of the Japanese themselves (“Western Technique, Japanese Spirit”). The whole purpose of selective Japanese westernization was to protect Japan against the West, rather than merely to submit to western cultural attractions. The emphasis in Japan was therefore on the technical and technological techniques of the West, rather than on literary and verbal culture. The Japanese slogan of “western technique, Japanese spirit” at the time captured this ambition to borrow technology from the West while deliberately protecting a substantial part of Japanese culture. In a sense, Japan’s technological westernization was designed to reduce the danger of other forms of cultural dependency.”
This process should starts from childhood to adulthood based on a curriculum skillfully cast in African values first and any other borrowed ones second; more especially, in preparing African elites’ minds at an earlier stage: from primary and high schools levels. It is in this process that African elites, from their early formation to their university crystallization, will be “culturally close” to the African society, will be culturally close to the African’s progress in the continent’s development journey. By not being culturally close to the African society, African elites could not undertake the Japanese cultural selectivity in relations to their colonial legacies and the enabling aspects of the global culture, and, have, therefore, become both heavily technologically and culturally dependent upon the Western world despite their superb innate culture having huge technological and cultural values for progress. Writes Mazrui, “The nature of westernization in Africa has been very different. Far from emphasizing western productive technology and reducing western life-styles and verbal culture, Africa has reversed the Japanese order of emphasis. Among the factors which have facilitated this reversal has been the role of the African university as a vehicle of Western influence on African culture.”
The challenge for African elites today is how to overturn the contradiction they have caused in Africa’s progress by thinking first from within African values first, by matching African values with the enabling aspects of their colonial legacies and the global values, and by intellectually linking this “to the wider world of scholarship and science.”
Conservative Club Derecognized Over Horowitz
Via Students For Academic Freedom we find out that Central Michigan University has derecognized and revoked the registered student organization privileges of Campus Conservatives for hosting nationally-known conservative author and commentator David Horowitz on Oct. 14, 2008.
Student Life assistant director Tom Idema sent an e-mail message dated Friday to Campus Conservatives president Bryant Greiner indicating the school’s oldest political club and only outlet for conservative students was no longer “recognized as a registered student organization and granted the privileges that are associated with being a RSO.”
No explanation or reason was given for the de-recognizing of the club, but sources indicate that it was because Tom didn't like David Harowitz and decided to abuse the power of the office to get revenge on those who were bringing Mr. Harowitz in to speak. Apparently Tom is an intolerant, hate-filled man who likes to discriminate against others who do not share his views, and is willing to use and abuse the power of his position at a public university to force his hate-filled intolerant views on others.
Tom Idema didn't even have the authority to take this measure, as according to the student handbook, there is a process that one has to go through before revoking the standing of a registered student organization, which includes notification and a hearing that affords a student organization its due process rights, neither of which were done. Tom apparently doesn't care though about due process, individual rights, liberty, freedom, or diversity, instead pushing a liberal agenda and attempting to shut down any group that offers up alternative views.
Without standing as a registered student organization, Campus Conservatives was unable to reserve a room at any CMU facilities, and are being forced to meet as fugitives in public rooms within facilities. But this is the not the first time that publicly-funded CMU has attempted to destroy conservative voices on campus.
CMU has tried repeatedly since February to charge Campus Conservatives for security provided by school police officers at last October’s event with Horowitz. The organization has steadfastly refused to pay for police protection, citing a letter from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education legal defense group to then-CMU president Michael Rao warning that such a charge would be unconstitutional under the decision Forsyth County v. Nationalist Movement . CMU has made no attempts to charge any other student organization for police services, singling out only the conservative voices on campus for expressing voices that the university disagrees with.
In October 2001, CMU students were prohibited from displaying the American flag on doors to student dorms because it was “offensive” to Muslim students. Under threat of litigation from FIRE, the unconstitutional prohibition was dropped.
For more information about this story, including how you can help, please contact cmucampusconservatives@gmail.com.
To contact your legislator about this event and encourage them to cease funding a public university that acts in such a manner, find and email your Michigan House member by clicking here.
To contact someone at Central Michigan University to express your outrage, try contacting Student life at studentlife@cmich.edu, or Alumni Relations at alumni@cmich.edu, or the Student Ombuds Office at ombuds@cmich.edu, or contact members of the Board of Trustees by going to this link and then emailing various members.
Daily Education & Technology News for Schools 07/14/2011
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Students are already peer reviewing each other's work using kibin.
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Flat Classroom brings world closer - Pelican Press
Another great local press coverage of how our amazing Flat Classroom teachers are collaborating. This is a story that our communities are hungry for. Social media is great but social learning is transformational. The best teachers are attracted to the Flat Classroom projects - apply now at www.flatclassroomproject.net
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The 35 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen By You - Edudemic
Awesome! RT @FlyontheCWall for later: The 35 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen By You : http://ht.ly/5CXkW #5thchat
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College Readiness with Knewton's Adaptive Learning Platform™
Colleges are struggling because incoming students aren't ready for the rigors of college. Here is a clip of a press release about how some colleges are using Knewton.
"Today, educational technology company Knewton announced that its award-winning Adaptive Learning PlatformÔ has been selected by Penn State University (PSU), University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the State University of New York (SUNY), and Mount St. Mary’s University to power college readiness courses that will help condition incoming students for the rigors of college-level academics and identify and address academic areas of improvement for each student. Recognizing the successful implementation of blended learning at ASU, both state universities with large student bodies like SUNY, Penn State, and UNLV, and small selective private universities like Mount St. Mary’s are turning toward Knewton’s Adaptive Learning PlatformÔ to power their college readiness programs.
College preparedness continues to be an issue that impacts students across the nation and can hinder a student’s chance of completing a four-year university program. According to the Alliance for Excellence in Education, 50 percent of students who enter college remediation programs fail to reach graduation. " -
Create, Share and Learn with a Global Repository of Tests
Online test site for homework or review. Let the computer do what it does best.
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Digital Scholastic is free for the rest of this summer and is being marketed for your IWB. Looks like some interesting content.
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The Kids Are Ready | Classroom Applications
Nice write up on how Brad Flickinger is running his elementary classroom with a lot of high-quality technology equipment where the students serve as mentors for each other. Love this model.
Hat tip: Robert Madden -
Multimedia Learning Resources - Educaplay
There are some free activities here but this is a tool to develop multimedia activities for LMS systems. It is in beta.
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This website helps US public schools install and pay for solar power.
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Best College Scholarships and Grants. Compare, reviews & ratings.
Search tool to help you find the best scholarships online. With a high school junior, I'll be working here.
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Website by a 17 year old high school students in a Silicon Valley incubator. Looks interesting. "Find and share notes with your friends."
If we don't help them share - they will. If they learn is it cheating? -
Educator Application « 140 Character Conference
Got a note that if you want to go to the 140 character conference for education and are an educator you can attend for $1.40. Here is the application, it is coming up August 2/3rd.
"Your readers / subscribers may join us for a special price of $1.40 (seriously) if they apply here and prove they are part of the education community. Otherwise, participation is $140.00 for the two-day event. " -
DEN Research | Discovery Education
Membership study of Discovery Educators network and the impact on their professional development. While I have just become someone that you CAN book through Discovery for speaking (to be on their website soon) I do learn a lot from DEN.
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Global World History Project: And We're Off...
A teacher is working on a global world history project and is looking for friends and partners. If you teach history in high school, he's looking for more partners.
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Beginners » The Krazy Coupon Lady
This isn't related to teaching but IS related to managing a household and saving money. I have some friends who are going crazy about how the krazy coupon lady is saving money. Times are tight and I think my teacher friends out there will like this website.
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Design presentations automatically - VisualBee PowerPoint plugin
Visual bee looks at the words and text on your slides and helps "soup up" your powerpoint presentation for you. There is a free plug in for PowerPoint. If you've gotta use it, perhaps some of the intelligence in here would be beneficial for you
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Apps are emerging like marble jar to help give children rewards and promote long term behavior improvements. This may work for some kids. I prefer the hug and kiss method myself. ;-)
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Museum of Science and Industry | About The Museum | Press | Month at the Museum 2
I love this! Apply to spend a month at the museum and win $10,000 in the process. Here is the info:
"The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago is once again holding a nationwide search for a live-in roommate for Month at the Museum 2, an innovative experiment where one curious and adventurous individual will have full reign of the Museum for 30 days and win $10,000. Last year’s roommate captured the imagination of people around the world. " -
How to Send a Direct or Private Message on Google+ ~ LockerGnome Social Media & Technology
(Hat Tip to Danita Russell for sending this to me)
Here is how you private message people on Google+ -
Philips' Luminous Wallpaper Will Create the Mood Lighting of the Future | Popular Science
Excited about the LED wallpaper and the potential it has for making learning spaces more powerful and engaging. This self-luminating wallpaper takes "mood lighting" to a whole new level.
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Cool article on 3D printing in the classroom. There are so many great applications for this! I'm excited it is finally coming.
Hat tip for this one to the president of our tech support contractor, Paul Blough from Bloughtech - great company to work with. -
Kids News and News Articles for Kids - GoGoNews -
"Big news for little people" this website is targeted news for kids aged 7-14 and may be something you can use in your classroom. What a fascinating discussion you could have about July 13th's topic the "crazy basketball court."
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A childhood obesity program centering around some really cute puppets. These guys are cute. They have a program you can use in health class too.
Congressional Democrats Continue Mockery of Global Warming Debate
After the recent global warming scandals whereby government workers faked and falsified research in order to get more money, the 'consensus' on global warming is now being called into question. So what does Congress do? Hold a phony sham of a Congressional committee hearing and invite four out of five 'believers' to testify in front of Congress how people are harassing them now that their cover has been blown and people realize what hacks they are. Next Hearing 5/20: Climate Science in the Political Arena On Thursday, May 20th, the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will hold a hearing to examine the intersection between climate science and the political process. This hearing, entitled “Climate Science in the Political Arena,” will feature prominent climate scientists, some of whom have been the target of these attacks. This hearing will explore scientists’ ability to present data and information that can guide global warming solutions in a sometimes fierce political landscape.
Democrats are not holding a hearing to investigate the truth behind the matter. They are not having witnesses come forward to testify about anything that could to increases in my life, liberty, and property. Democrats are not trying to uphold the rule of law, achieve more transparency in climate change research, or contributing new information to the debate. They are simply engaging in typical sham fraud and giving a forum for fraudulent scientists to get on record with their opinions about the myth of man made global warming. As long as Democrats run Congress, you can expect thousands of conferences like this every day in Washington DC, all paid for by your tax money.
The Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is an utter joke- this is the actual government official meeting notice.
According to the Huffington Post, the first four people are all true believers (who feel that there can be no arguing or even suggesting that global warming is happening, that it is man made, that it is bad, and that only massive government control over every aspect of our lives can save us) and only William Happer is a non-believer ("the sole GOP witness arguing against the global warming consensus"). Yeah, that's fair and balanced- a four to one ratio to testify about this issue.
Select Committee hearing to examine attacks against climate scientists:
The scientists involved in the stolen climate emails from the University of East Anglia were exonerated by the British House of Commons and an international panel of climate experts, led by Lord Oxburgh. Even after these investigations found that nothing in the emails undercut the scientific evidence of climate change, attacks against scientists continue. Reports of harassment, death threats and legal challenges have created a hostile environment, making it challenging for actual data and scientific analyses to reach the public and policymakers.
WHAT: Climate Science in the Political Arena
WHEN: Thursday May 20, 2010, 9:00 AM
WHERE: 1334 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC and online
WITNESS LIST:Dr. Ralph Cicerone, President of the National Academy of Sciences and Chair of the National Research CouncilDr. Mario Molina, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and Professor, University of California at San Diego Dr. Stephen Schneider, Professor, Stanford University Dr. Ben Santer, Research Scientist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Dr. William Happer, Professor, Princeton University
Every Democrat in Congress needs to be thrown out of office sooner rather than later if this is representative of how they spend their days. Every single one of them.
Makerere starts turning itself around
Image via Wikipedia
Makerere University is turning itself around. Change began in the early 1990s. Makerere devised a series of university-wide strategic plans. In 1992 it went semi-private, a pivotal move that generated much-needed revenue from students (although science benefited less than other subjects).It is the changes of the last decade, however, that are attracting international interest. As a result of them the university has started producing healthy numbers of PhD students and has created a vibrant research culture...[continue reading]
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Top Donors From Obama's 2008 Presidential Campaign
From Open Secrets, here are the top donors for Barack Hussein Obama in the 2008 election cycle. The organizations listed below did not donate themselves; rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.
University of California, $1,591,395
Goldman Sachs, $994,795
Harvard University , $854,747
Microsoft Corp, $833,617
Google Inc, $803,436
Citigroup Inc, $701,290
JPMorgan Chase & Co, $695,132
Time Warner, $590,084
Sidley Austin LLP, $588,598
Stanford University, $586,557
National Amusements Inc, $551,683
UBS AG, $543,219
Wilmerhale Llp, $542,618
Skadden, Arps et al, $530,839
IBM Corp. $528,822
Columbia University, $528,302
Morgan Stanley, $514,881
General Electric, $499,130
US Government, $494,820
Latham & Watkins. $493,835
Two things to point out - is the US Government seriously one of the top donors to Obama? Something needs to be done about having a more non-partisan government, otherwise it isn't going to be shocking to have government employees choosing politicians to rule over us who then give more money and power to government employees. And last- it isn't a shock that our country under Obama has become a joke- one of his major donors was National Amusements Inc! You look at the data yourself and draw your own conclusions.
By the way, for comparison, the top donors for John McCain are:
Merrill Lynch. $373,595 (1/5 the amount of Obama's top donor)
Citigroup Inc, $322,051 (half what was given to Obama)
Morgan Stanley, $273,452 (half what was given to Obama)
Goldman Sachs, $230,095 (one/third what was given to Obama)
JPMorgan Chase & Co, $228,107 (one/third what was given to Obama)
US Government, $208,379 (half what was given to Obama)
AT&T Inc, $201,438
Wachovia Corp, $195,063
UBS AG, $192,493 (half what was given to Obama)
University-Industry Links
Glenda Kruss writes about University-Industry linkages and the South African experience:
Establishing effective cross-sector networks rather than limited contracts and consultancies can reconcile these two positions. Africa needs partnerships that both harness the innovation potential of university research and meet industrial needs for development. South Africa's best examples can lead the way...To create such partnerships, institutions first need to understand the competitive dynamics of their target industry, and what individual firms in their region could use. And they need to be realistic to avoid ambitious science parks or design centres failing.
Universities must build their general research capacity, and specific expertise in niche areas (most of South Africa's best networks are in just a few well-established universities that have well-organised research systems). Then, they need to develop research policies and mechanisms to specifically support partnerships. They must decide which partnerships will best promote their academic mission and serve their financial imperatives, as well as contributing to national development goals.
via SciDev
Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 12/25/2011
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Cool Cat Teacher Blog: 5 Fantastic Things to Do Over Winter Break
Blogged: #education 5 Fantastic Things to Do Over Winter Break http://t.co/urPRT9u7
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The Tevatron's enduring computing legacy | iSGTW
A fascinating article on the mind blowing influence the Tevatron particle accelerator has had (and will have) on technology and the world we know it. This will be required reading for my computer science students when we return in January.
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How Smartphones Are Changing Photography: The Numbers Are In | Gadget Lab | Wired.com
27% of photos taken this year were taken on smartphones.
I am not sure why schools are banning cell phones and buying cameras. -
Pudding vending machine tells kids to scram
No undoing for you! Face scanning uses the measurements between your eyes and a few other dimensions to determine if a person is old enough to buy something out of the machine. But the fact that it is put on a jello pudding machine is pretty funny to me. Guess junior will need an older sibling tonget that jello for him. Humor aside, there could be use for this in areas served by kids and adults although kids do get around obstacles when they want to.
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Facebook and iPhone Lead Way on Klout's Top Topics of 2011 Lists [INFOGRAPHIC]
This infographic from Kliut depicts the most popular conversations and people on Twitter. No doubt,MIT is a hub for pop culture. But there are great microconversations happening in education using this site so don't let the trivial steer you away.
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How to Recalibrate Your iPhone’s Home Button to Make it More Responsive
So, you want your iPhone home button to behave like it did when you got it. This very simple tip is spreading like wildfire through the iPhone networks and just involves a simple recalibration with the power off switch. Try it if you are having trougble or if you have had your iPhone or iPod touch for a while. Very cool.
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As some of you experience Microsoft's super cool Kinect system for the first time, you'll be thrilled to know this tool is being used in school as well. Here, my go to Microsoft blogger And dear friend Alfred Thompson gives an overview of Kinect in education.
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Paul Stacey writes an excellent overview of Open Education (hat tip Stephen Downes edcurator extraordinaire) that is a great read for those trying to keep their finger on the pulse of the very rapidly changing landscape of education.
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Esther Wojcicki: Give Yourself A Free University Education at University of the People
University of the people, a site offering free degrees in business administration and computer science continues to gain momentum as leading the effort to "democratize education." Things are underfoot that will radically change the expensive landscape known as higher Ed. The bottom line is that universities without solid online platforms won't be ready for the changes they will need to made. Their greatest commodity will be excellent teachers who can now be beamed from one end of the planet to the other. This crazy upheaval in education is only beginning and the competition is no longer limited by geography.
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Zoo tool is a new bookmarking tool that is more visual. I am a huge Diigo fan but this tool is worth a mention.
African Universities and Endowments
Continuing our coverage of alternative financing methods for education, we take a look at Ellen Mashiko's report on existing university endowments within the continent, she states that:
Endowing African universities is not an audacious initiative but a sound investment in the future by the recipient and the donor. The recipient commits to fulfilling the conditions put forward by the donor, which in the best cases are jointly developed, and to ensuring that the endowment is integrated into an institutional strategy and action plan for sustained growth. The donor supports the university by providing the funds and offering follow-up programs and activities that not only help ensure sustained growth but also expand the opportunities for the university beyond the parameters of the endowment.
Bill Ayers Event Details
As initially reported by theblogprof and RightMichigan.com, Bill Ayers is going to be coming to Michigan next week, appearing in the Oakland County area. What these websites did not provide though were the details for this event, so I would like to pass those on you so that if you wanted to show up and hear what Bill Ayers talks about, or talk to Bill Ayers about what you think of his policies or past, you can do so.
Next Tuesday, March 24, Bill Ayers will be at the Oakland Center, on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, in the Gold Room. If you would like to go to the event, click on the link for the the address for Oakland University which is 2200 N. Squirrel Road, Rochester, Michigan 48309-4401, and here is a link for a map of campus.
He will be speaking from 10:00 AM- 11:45 AM about Democracy and Education. There are no tickets for the event- everyone is welcome as seating permits. His books will be sold at the event, and there is the possibility for some book signing to take place. The event is being hosted by the Oakland University Communications and Journalism department, so contact that department for more details if needed.
From what I gather, people will be showing up to protest the event, either in the Oakland Center or around it. It is during the day, but if you are a student, unemployed, or just can get away that morning, show up and show what you think of this unrepentant terrorist and friend of Barack Obama.
Learning about Learning 12/29/2011
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iPadApps-DigitalLearningFarm.jpg
Incredible resource to find apps. This is from Silvia Tolisano as a digital apps farm for learning. It includes apps, websites, tools. Pretty ubiquitous tools but some specifically ipad/iphone.
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Larry Ferlazzo can curate some sites. If you are interested in international testing, these are some good sites to review.
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Microsoft Working On Social Network For Students
Microsoft not going for social networking but for educational networking. Before you roll your eyes, the fact is that overlaying educational networks on top of social networks is rife with problems. This is being tested at University of Washington, Syracuse University and New York University. There are many benefits to keeping work and personal separate and educational networks may be a great asset if done right, to the education space.
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Virtual Worlds - Resources - TES
This is a video investigating the use of virtual worlds in schools in the United Kingdom. It goes from college level into younger students. This video and background documents is available. Although second life excitement has died down (particularly with open source alternatives and things like Jibe and Unity platforms that will let you deploy to tablets and gaming environments) the potential is still there. June 2010 video.
The part you MUST see is at minute 6 where they are at a jetty where they are taking measurements and preparing to put it into the virtual world. They take pictures and measurements to build a real-life location into the virtual world. This is a phenomenal use of so many cross disciplinary concepts. -
Introduction to PLN - Flat Classrooms
A screenshot of a teacher's PLN on iGoogle. You can look on the left to see different things included on her pln.
Elearning and global competency #flatclass #globaled 12/30/2011
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Application for Flat Classroom® Project 2011-2012
Current application dates for Flat Classroom projects.
I'll be running NetGenEd and co-planning Eracism with Julie as well as work with the book club starting in February.
Flat Classroom Project - application deadline January 23, 2012 for FCP12-1
Digiteen - application deadline February 1, 2012 for Digiteen 12-1
'A Week in the Life...' - application deadline February 15, 2012 for AWL12-1
Eracism - application deadline February 30, 2012 for Eracism 2012
NetGenEd - application deadline February 1, 2012 for NetGenEd 2012
APPLY NOW! to become a Flat Classroom® Certified Teacher. Courses will run starting in September and November 2011, as well as March 2012.
Global Education Conference 2011 -
A Twitter party talking about the 21st century workforce online January 5, 2012 from 8-9 pm EST. The hashtag is #edworld for this event. So, you already have your favorite hashtag? I find this a way to find and meet new people.
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Flat Classroom 11-3 Project - Awards
Watch some inspirational videos on technology with the Flat Classroom 11-3 awards. Scroll down to see the winning first, second, and third place videos. We had more than 200 videos submitted this time.
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Microsoft Working On Social Network For Students
Microsoft not going for social networking but for educational networking. Before you roll your eyes, the fact is that overlaying educational networks on top of social networks is rife with problems. This is being tested at University of Washington, Syracuse University and New York University. There are many benefits to keeping work and personal separate and educational networks may be a great asset if done right, to the education space.
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Open education resources in Brazil and where it is now. This link is to Stephen Downes' overview of the work.