Welcome to the Ocotillo Emerging Learning Technologies report for the week of November 29. I hope you have all survived Thanksgiving. Thursday, I suffered through another Detroit Lions loss, ate, then took a nap. But FRIDAY was different! MMMMMM! Hint: BEAR DOWN, ARIZONA! And I was in the middle of it. Thank you, thank you. Oh how I have had a super November. But enough about that.
From the Technology and Learning Magazine at http://www.techlearning.com/ comes an interesting article on mini storage devices and their use in education. Hey, I have two of the USB storage devices and use it to easily transport files to and from work. ZDNET has a nice review of 14 of the devices at http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/USB_flash_drives/4520-3240_16-5128560.html From Australia, comes an article describing how to use these flash drives in education located at http://members.ozemail.com.au/~leemshs/flash.htm And Kathy Schrock presents more gadgets for educators at http://kathyschrock.net/magic/
This is from the Fred Langa list at http://www.langa.com and it is about a new software called EverNote 1.0. EverNote lets you put all your notes and content (text, web clips, images, etc.) on an endless, electronic roll of paper and makes them instantly accessible anytime, any place. You can download your own free beta copy of EverNote at http://www.evernote.com/en/downloads The EverNote people plan to ship smartphone and PDA versions by the end of the year, complete with the ability to take a digital snapshot from your mobile device and have it appear automatically in EverNote. EverNote is a new software product that gives you a single place for all of your notes. With EverNote, you can capture and easily find all kinds of notes: text, Web, email, handwriting, image clips and more. EverNote innovates by storing content on an endless, virtual, time-stamped roll of paper so you can quickly jump to any date and scroll chronologically through your notes, without having to open them individually.
Here is a web site http://surfthenetsafely.com that includes discussion of viruses, worms, Trojans, cookies, email attachments, phishing, and spam. It also goes into detail on how to configure Outlook Express and Internet Explorer for greater security. We cannot enjoy our emerging learning technologies if we do not have a secure environment.
Some of you know how ga-ga I am over digital photography. Last summer Phil Mistry did a two day workshop for us here at PVCC and wants to come back again. Phil is director of Digital Days and the web site is at http://www.popphoto.com/digitaldays My personal page is at http://members.cox.net/cogent I have some ideas on how to use digital photography in the classroom and hope to share that with you in the future.
From Great Britain comes a nice site http://www.vnunet.com/ You can read about hardware and software here from the British view.
The latest neat downloads from PC World are available at http://www.pcworld.com/downloads One of the feature articles is on Internet Explorer alternatives like Mozilla Firefox.
And, finally… should I post this? Hmmmm. Another great way to waste time, tada! Check out PC Game World at http://www.pcgameworld.com/ This is jammed with stuff to distract you from writing that long report or doing work on your dissertation. ENJOY!
Until next week…
Jim Patterson
Ocotillo Emerging Learning Technologies Co-Chair (with Roger Yohe of EMCC)
and
PVCC CIS Faculty
Welcome to the Ocotillo Emerging Learning Technologies report for the week of November 22nd. I trust you all are looking forward to a restful holiday as am I. The tradition for me is nobody in the house moves or breathes too loudly while my Lions are on television. Of course, I have a long tradition of supporting losing football teams from the Detroit Lions to my beloved Arizona Wildcats. I won’t even count the Cardinals, haha.
Maricopa's own Alan Levine sent me an article called Ten Technologies That Are Going To Change The Way We Learn at http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2004/11/21/ten_technologies_that_are_going.htm You can click on the video and hear about a ten minute discussion of this. If you want to save time, here are the ten according to Robin Good -
1. Search technologies
2. Data visualization tools
3. Blogs - Direct publishing and content aggregation tools
4. Audio and video - increased use of audio and video as communication channels for small publishers
5. RSS - content syndication, aggregation, re-use
6. P2P - private and public file sharing networks
7. Unlimited storage - on the desktop and online
8. Unlimited bandwidth - Wifi - WiMax
9. Real Time Collaboration Tools
10. Collective and Collaborative Filtering - human spontaneous cooperative technology like del.icio.us and FURL.net
From THE Journal, Atomic Learning, a provider of affordable Web-based software training and tutorials, released 12 new tutorial movie series comprised of almost 700 new tutorials this week. The company now offers over 12,000 tutorials for more than 75 different applications. The new tutorials include 151 advanced tutorials for Access 2003 and Word 2003 plus 52 intermediate tutorials for Excel 2003expand the Office 2003 offerings to over 600 tutorials. In addition, demand from many Atomic Learning users resulted in 40 first-time tutorials for Garage Band software, which allows users to learn how to create, perform and record their own music and turn their Macintosh into an anytime, anywhere recording studio. For more information, visit http://www.atomicLearning.com
ETIC, or the Educational Technology Information Center, is the latest free online resource from T.H.E. Journal, providing peer reviews of hardware, software (both instructional and administrative), and services being used in the K-12 and higher education markets. Currently, the site is seeking educators and others to become part of this interactive online forum by submitting their personal experiences with any technology product or service. Prospective buyers will then be able to read and post comments and questions to help them make more informed buying decisions. In addition, ETIC will be loaded with education-specific case studies from our archives; pertinent white papers; helpful tools, tips and decision-making aids; as well as companies’ links to obtain greater detail about product features and availability. Go to http://www.edtechinfocenter.com
The Learning and Instructional Development Centre (LIDC) at the Simon
Fraser University has developed three new short courses for teachers,
instructors and trainers:
1. Classroom Applications of OpenOffice Tools,
2. Enhancing your Classroom Instruction with Impress/PowerPoint,
3.Creating Your e-Portfolio with NVU.
In each course, participants use free software to achieve practical results
for their students. These courses are offered face-to-face and online as
well. For more information go to www.sfu.ca/lidc/telestraining or email harasimt@sfu.ca
From Converge Magazine, a FREE Trial for an Artificial Tutor
Quantum Simulations Inc., developer of artificial intelligence tutoring software, announced that students having difficulty with high school and college chemistry can receive affordable, personal tutoring help online and see immediate results in comprehension, problem-solving skills and test scores. To provide immediate help to struggling students, Quantum is offering free 15-day trials to all 13 Quantum Tutors (Chemistry and Applied Mathematics for Science) through its distributing partner, Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories, at the Web site http://www.sciencekit.com/elearning
This is from the educational technology blog at the University of Illinois in Springfield at http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/blogger.html
Try Science is a website supported by IBM Corporation, the New York Hall of Science (NYHOS), the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), and science centers worldwide. The site provides a variety of mathematics, science and technology experiments and activities for students. Many of the activities are interactive, although the experiments are largely meant to be conducted offline. A section on Field Trips allows visitors to search for local science centers, which are described as "places where people of all ages can learn at their own pace, engage their curiosity, use their senses to ask and answer questions, and explain to others what they have learned." Webcams are set up to let visitors view activities at select science and technology centers worldwide. A section for teachers provides suggestions for how to use TryScience in the Classroom, discusses how the website meets Standards in the U.S, Australia and United Kingdom, offers some testimony from teachers who have used TryScience, and lists several professional development programs offered by science centers. Parents will also find asection with some helpful information about science and education along with resources on ways to get involved. Sending one of the Try Science experiments home with students is one suggested way that teachers can get parents involved in their kid's science education. Note that many of the pages require Flash plug-ins. From The NSDL Scout Report for Math, Engineering, and Technology, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2004. http://scout.wisc.edu/
Simplice Njoya, a University of Memphis basketball forward, sat hunched over a laptop, testing an idea first studied on Israeli fighter pilots. The premise: Skills he picks up playing a complex computer game can make him a better ball player. The theory is," said Memphis assistant coach Ed Schilling, referring to the computer game, "it's going to be the weight room for the brain." http://www.eschoolnews.com
Incorporating the SMART Board for Smart Teaching - Bobbi F. Adrian, techLearning
Technology, ever changing, has become more accessible to teachers in the last few years. Teachers need to be able to use technology to increase their professional development and to have positive contact with students on a regular basis. The action research report discussed in this article illustrates the positive effects of using a SMART Board interactive whiteboard in a fourth-grade classroom. Incorporating this interactive technology increased student contact time and decreased behavioral issues.http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=51200657
Looking to waste more time? Try the “most addictive games” section at PC World at http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/collection/0,collid,1339,00.asp and their most popular screen savers are at http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/collection/0,collid,1248,00.asp
Do you collect and use clipart? If so, I found a place called Awesome Clipart for Educators and it is at http://www.awesomeclipartforeducators.com/
Have a most restful Thanksgiving holiday!
Jim Patterson
PVCC Faculty and Ocotillo ELT Co-Chair
Participants: Chris Schnick, Tom Foster, Bill Guerriero, Bill Holmes, Victor Navarro, Wendy Matar, Audree Thurman, Jessica Jimenez, John Garza, Shirley Miller, Brien Dieterle, Austin Godber, Mary McGlasson, David Weaver, Belinda Ramos, Karen Reeder, Jill Pabst,
Learning Challenges
RESULTS FROM ELT AFFINITY DIAGRAM:
Methodologies
Connectivity
Software
Hardware
Support
Welcome to the Ocotillo Emerging Learning Technologies (ELT) report for the week of November 15. I’m Jim Patterson, ELT co-chair along with Roger Yohe. I hope you will find something here for you this time around. Let me know if you do!
From Edweek (http://www.edweek.org) A New Law to Offer Technology to People With Disabilities - EdWeek - President Bush last week signed a bipartisan measure that seeks to expand access to technology for individuals with disabilities. The Assistive Technology Act of 2004, overseen by the Department of Education, won unanimous support in both the House and the Senate. The law was last reauthorized in 1998. The legislation aims to provide more direct aid to individuals with disabilities, according to an Oct. 26 press release from the House Education and the Workforce Committee. It also encourages states to invest in programs that have been shown to be most effective in providing assistive technology. Assistive-technology devices include a range of aids, such as wheelchairs, communication devices, and computer hardware.
Computer games can motivate young people to learn says new research - Public Technology http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2031 Computer and video games can motivate children and young people to learn, according to a new report from Ultralab and the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA). The report, based on a review of research literature, provides plenty of evidence to show that the alleged 'addictive' nature of computer games and simulations can be utilised to help learners to work towards educational goals.... The conclusions, published in The use of computer and video games for learning, suggest games that entice people to win or achieve a goal can be useful learning tools, particularly for subjects such as numeracy and literacy, foreign languages, sciences and business administration. Games are also useful for teaching scientific or mathematical concepts that may otherwise be hard to visualise or manipulate. Action and adventure games, in particular, can be used for industrial training as they help to develop proactive thinking and spatial awareness.
Checklist for Designing a Technology-Friendly Classroom - Virginia Murphy and Patricia Hayes, THE Journal http://thejournal.com/magazine/vault/A5060.cfm
Technology integration has never been more pervasive in classrooms nationwide, with computers becoming a fundamental teaching tool for students of all ages. In light of this, teachers and principals have realized that structuring the physical layout of a classroom is almost as important as knowing which technological solution to choose. There are five key issues that are critical when designing technology-enhanced classrooms for primary-age children.
From my pals at the Virtual University Gazette at http://www.geteducated.com/vugaz.htm Hot Online Degree Specialties for Teachers
America’s teachers aren’t going back to college – they’re turning instead to their PCs. The master’s degree remains the number one education degree sought out online, according to a recent survey by GetEducated.com, LLC, America’s leading online degree clearinghouse.
Alan Levine and my own Dean Bob Bendotti sent me this one. I had bookmarked it earlier but have no idea how I originally heard of it. The Encyclopedia of Educational Technology (EET) is a collection of short multimedia articles on a variety of topics related to the fields of instructional design and education and training. The primary audiences for the EET are students and novice to intermediate practitioners in these fields, who need a brief overview as a starting point to further research on specific topics. Authors are graduate
students, professors, and others who contribute voluntarily. Articles are short and use multimedia to enrich learning rather than merely decorate the pages. Go to http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/
From the THE Journal, Students may be too young to vote, but they can “speak up” to President Bush about technology and education. That’s because NetDay plans to compile hundreds of thousands of student responses to a question from the Speak Up Day survey and deliver them to President Bush. The students were asked to respond to the question: “What is the one thing you would like to tell the President about how you use technology for learning?” Student responses will be delivered to President Bush after he is sworn in for his second term. For more information, visit http://www.netday.org/speakupday2003_report.htm
While browsing through the online Chronicle of Higher Education http://chronicle.com/ recently, I went to the link that had a report from the League for Innovation conference. It was about a training grant that supported getting faculty up-to-speed on computer security issues. So I dived into the site at http://www.cssia.org/ and registered myself to take the week-long security course in January in Michigan (I know, I know. Yes, I know it is cold). Like you, I am a learning junkie and will love the opportunity to get more in-depth on security issues.
From PC World comes news of a program called Video Edit Magic. With this video editing software you can edit and add effects to videos, and create VCD and DVD output. You can capture videos using any USB or Firewire input device, add transitions and a score, overlay videos, and save the media files in a choice of formats including .avi, .mpg, .wmv, .wma, QuickTime, and DV AVI. You can even export the video to any digital video camera. The program also saves still images in several formats, including .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .tga and Mode 2 (uncompressed RGB). Download Video Edit Magic now at
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,23237,tk,hsx,00.asp
Purrint is another useful utility. The Print Screen key doesn't always print out what you want to see. Purrint lets you preview your screen captures before you print them out. You can save them in .bmp, jpg, or .png format. You can even automate the process--say, choose a default folder or let the program name your images after the dominant open window. Download Purrint now at
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,23220,tk,hsx,00.asp
Do you want to share your pictures online and have a way of chatting about them? If so, consider Hello. http://www.hello.com/
And check out the cool software at http://gabrieleponti.com/software/ including something called Send To Toys, which is an enhancement of the Send To system menu.
Hey that is enough for this week. Tell me what you are doing and liking and I will give ya more! And if you find a cool site, email me about it at jim.patterson@pvmail.maricopa.edu for inclusion in a future blog!
Jim Patterson
Emerging Learning Technologies (Jim Patterson, co-chair) visited Rio Salado College studio, Wednesday 10 November, 2004, from 1:30pm to 2:30pm where I talked to the Digital Library Group. We were connected via teleconference to folks at Glendale Community College.
Those at the Rio Salado studio-
Larry A. Miller, Library at CGCC
Karen Biglin, Library at SCC
Cheryl Laieski, District ITS
David Steele, District ITS
Ann Tolaman, Library MCC
Shelle Witten, Library PVCC
Kathy Lynch, Library GWCC
Jill Seymour, Library SMCC
Janelle Underhill from RIO
At the Glendale C.C. Studio-
John Chavez, PVCC Library
Kelly Kelchlin, Phoenix College
Chris Zagar, Estrealla Mountain
Cate McNamara, Gateway C.C.
Jim used the ELT slideshow as a way of stimulating discussion. The entire event moved quickly and lasted about an hour. Attendees always thank me for keeping it under an hour.
“What Comes to Mind When Thinking of ELT?” Was the first question posed. Participants saw a number of examples of ELT’s without my commentary. Then participants began talking. Some answers – An online catalog that will provide more action to digital collections, ADA stations in the library, a TOP grant proposal at PVCC for 30-mile radius wireless transmission for students, faculty, and staff. RFID to identify books that are shelved incorrectly (it is a chip with information on it). Having robots go out in the library and get books are in shelves. Somebody said that e-books are never in the wrong place. More improvement to downloading information to PDAs. Many of those present said students prefer online information to books. More consolidated searching (one stop) over the internet. Better voice over IP and translation software.
Next question: “What are the major learning challenges, barriers to higher education, or problems we face at Maricopa within the next ten years?” Some responses include… From Mesa, a comment that there is an economic problem serving Internet students t provide service, content and even instruction. 30-40 students often gather in the library to do online work. Some students don’t have a home computer so they do the work in the library. The entire library mission is expanding. Doing all kinds of things other than information searching. Students want to do all their work in one location and not have to go to a computer lab then back to the library. We need more funding as the library seems to becoming more popular. At PVCC, the computer commons has a $5 fee and the library charges nothing, so they get the students in the library. Another comment was the inconsistencies in what software course management system is used in the district from MIDAS to WebCT to BlackBoard. More younger students taking college courses and what technology we will use to identify them. We need a universal card identification for the district. Printing is also a problem. Sometimes students without home computers will print out all of their online course on BlackBoard, for instance.
The next question for discussion was, “What emerging learning technologies will impact your college in the next ten years?” Some answers: Internet2 will have an impact for video conferencing, streaming video, etc. Digital storage will come into play. Libraries seem to get the technology after it comes out so they expect that to be the case again. Emerging and evolving search engines using more natural language. Engines that will group results more intelligently. More cataloging of individual private websites with information. Using PDAs to bring in information wirelessly.
Many of you know I helped bring Digital Days (http://209.249.75.158/) to the PVCC campus last summer and hope to do the same this summer. I was recently told that the Digital Days Newsletter would like to invite all of us to the FREE on-line Tamron/Popular Photography slideshow/chat/workshop with master nature/wildlife photographer Don Gale.
Sign-up free at the web site: http://tamron.popphoto.com
Then join us for the live event on:
DATE: Tuesday, November 16, 2004
TIME: 6:15pm MST the slide show with commentary is active
7:00pm MST the live chat/workshop occurs
PLACE: http://tamron.popphoto.com
To encourage even more participation from you they are offering a FREE TAMRON TEE-SHIRT or HAT for those who LOG IN and PARTICIPATE in the chat. When you sign up for the chat you can also become part of the Tamron Lens sweepstake worth about $800!
So be there and if you have any problems you can e-mail the site monitor Bill Indursky at bill@flashcap.com
My personal digital photography website highlighting some of the Summer 2004 Phoenix Digital Days activities is located at http://members.cox.net/cogent
Jim Patterson
Ocotillo Emerging Learning Technologies Co-Chair
This session was conducted at Estrella Community College Community Room.
Participants: Ellen Gergely, Gita Perkins, Alise Widmer, Dee Long, Jann Contento, Natalie Rivera, Rosemary Lery, Larry Pest, Rich Marmon, Diane Stonebrink, Linda Scott, Linda Cutright, Donna Tayler
Learning Challenges
RESULTS FROM ELT AFFINITY DIAGRAM:
Student Services and Support
Campus Infrastructure
Flexible Learning
Welcome to the Ocotillo Emerging Learning Technologies for the week of November 8, I’m Jim Patterson (co-chair along with Dr. Roger Yohe).
Sunday night I had the pleasure of watching and listening to Yanni (http://www.yanni.com/) in the Glendale Arena. I was struck by his use of computer technology for sound mixing and the visual effects he displayed. I also noted his use of ancient musical instruments used in new ways. I think there are lessons there in how we use technology in the classroom.
This in from the Chronicle of Higher Education. When Good Technology Means Bad Teaching. Giving professors gadgets without training can do more harm than good in the classroom, students say. Read it at http://chronicle.com/free/v51/i12/12a03101.htm
From MCLI's Maria Harper-Marinick comes a fascinating site. DO BOOKMARK THIS. It is called E-Learning Reviews. There is a ton of interesting research including one on technology. The site is at http://www.elearning-reviews.org
From the DEOS-L listserv there is information about using video postcards. This might be a way to bring some personality to the web, bringing us closer to our students using technology. With or without a cam, from both Mac and Windows platforms, in IE and Netscape, you should be able to view this "postcard"
http://tinyurl.com/5d9zt
Viewing this will give you a good idea if you want to go to the next step - create your own "video postcard".
I'm told that anyone with a cam on a Windows machine, can send a video recording in seconds.
The URL to send create a postcard is at http://www.realvideomail.com
Go to Italy. Here is another call for abstracts from the Institute for Educational Technologies – ITD International Conference on Methods and Technologies for Learning ICMTL-2005 Palermo (Italy), March 9-11, 2005 See http://icmtl.pa.itd.cnr.it
From fellow Ocotillian Shelley Rodrigo comes word that nnovate-Live webcasts offer an opportunity to synchronously interact with the authors of the articles in the October-November issue of Innovate (http://www.innovateonline.info). The webcasts are produced as a public service by ULiveandLearn. All times are Eastern Time zone. You may use the world clock at http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ to coordinate the time with your time zone.
The schedule for the November Innovate-Live Webcasts is provided below.
Experiencing Knowledge. Donald Norris, co-author; Tom Longin, moderator Tuesday, November 9, 1:00pm ET
Scaling Up: From Web-Enhanced Courses to a Web-Enhanced Curriculum Robert E. Wood, author; James Shimabukuro, moderator Wednesday, November 10th, 2:00pm ET
Effective Technology Integration in Teacher Education: A Comparative Study
of Six Programs Kathleen Fulton, co-author; Gary Brown, moderator Friday, November 19th, 11:00am ET
The Future of Learning Technologies: An Interview with Chris Dede Chris Dede, author; James Morrison, moderator Friday, November 19th, 1:00pm, ET
If you cannot attend a webcast, note that it will be archived within the
features section of the article itself shortly after the webcast.
From Converge Magazine online, Education Giants Come Together to Improve Blended Learning. Two education giants--McGraw-Hill and Cisco Systems--form a partnership to enhance learning
By Michelle Gamble-Risley - November 2004
When two giant education-related powerhouses come together, what they produce is sure to be newsworthy. This would certainly be case with the recent partnership formed between McGraw-Hill Higher Education and Cisco Systems where its first endeavor brought together the use of McGraw-Hill's Online Learning courseware developed for and delivered by the Cisco Global Learning Network (GLN).
http://www.centerdigitaled.com/converge/?pg=magstory&id=91958
Also from Converge, what is optical wireless?
Penn State researchers develop new approach to help optical wireless signals.
Multi-rate, ultra-short laser pulses -- with wave forms shaped like dolphin chirps -- offer a new approach to help optical wireless signals penetrate clouds, fog and other adverse weather conditions, said Penn State engineers. See http://www.centerdigitaled.com/converge/?pg=magstory&id=92028
THE Journal launces a new site. T.H.E. Journal will be launching a new web site, Educational Technology Information Center http://www.edtechinfocenter.com/ in the coming months. This is not a re-design of our current site; it is a brand-new web site concept and service that is unique to educational technology.
The purpose of this new FREE web site is to provide a forum for educators to share their "real world" experiences using hardware and software products in an educational environment.
Enter now for a chance to win a Gateway laptop computer and peripherals worth more than $4,000! Go to www.Ed TechInfoCenter.com and write and submit a review for a product you've purchased or used in an educational environment, and you'll automatically become eligible to win. In fact, they will enter your name into this sweepstakes every time you submit a review between now and January 31, 2005.
Edutopia, The George Lucas Educational Foundation's new magazine, is looking for reader voices and comments for our next issue. They'll be featured in an ongoing department called Sage Advice in which our audience suggests solutions to problems that are thrown out there. (Think of a reverse Dear Abby.)
You can see a few of the many notes received in response to the last topic, How can we alleviate childhood obesity? at http://www.edutopia.org/sageadvice.
The question for the next issue is What's your secret weapon in the classroom?
From the Fred Langa site at http://www.langa.com comes Computer Advertising Terms Defined
NEW - Different color from previous design.
ALL NEW - Parts are not interchangeable with previous design.
EXCLUSIVE - Imported product.
UNMATCHED - Almost as good as the competition.
FOOLPROOF OPERATION - No provision for adjustments.
ADVANCED DESIGN - The advertising agency doesn't understand it.
IT'S HERE AT LAST - Rush job. Nobody knew it was coming.
FIELD TESTED - Manufacturer lacks test equipment.
HIGH ACCURACY - Unit on which all parts fit.
FUTURISTIC - No other reason why it looks the way it does.
REDESIGNED - Previous flaws fixed - we hope.
DIRECT SALES ONLY - Factory had a big argument with
distributor.
YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT - We finally got one to work.
BREAKTHROUGH - We finally figured out a use for it.
MAINTENANCE FREE - Impossible to fix.
MEETS ALL STANDARDS - Ours, not yours.
SOLID-STATE - Heavy as anything!
HIGH RELIABILITY - We made it work long enough to ship it.
From PC World’s TechLog at http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/ you will find the start of another browser war with Mozilla Firefox at http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ Check that site by November 9th!
From the for fun department, I found a new site to waste your time at http://www.thefreesite.com/Free_Software/Fun_freeware/ Check out the prankster software at http://www2.hawaii.edu/~rubio/error95/ This reminds me of when I was teaching my dear bride Marni how to use a computer years ago. I put on a Terminate and Stay Resident program under DOS called DRAIN. When she hit a keystroke, the computer speaker made a flushing sound and the announcement on screen that the hard drive was being reformatted. It was a lot of fun then. The couch was lumpy though.
Enjoy!
Jim Patterson
This session was conducted at Phoenix College Library.
Participants: Jody Brabec, Debby Kurtz-Weidinger, Virginia Simmon, Cindy Ortega, Sara Soller, Michael Rosenberger, David Williams, Li Ranf, Sandra Wells, Ginny Simmon
Learning Challenges
RESULTS FROM ELT AFFINITY DIAGRAM:
Learning without Boundaries
Access to Content
Support
Teaching and Training
This session was conducted at GateWay Community College's Center for Teaching and Learning.
Participants: Lisa Young, Kerry Vrabel, Mauro da Fonte, Karen Bandy, Charlene Thiessen, Jim Carr, Steve Slayden, Roxana Maskell, Diane Dietz, Connie Rainey, John Lampignano, Nancy Johnson, Gloria Stahmer, Jolyne Ghanatabadi
Learning Challenges
RESULTS FROM ELT AFFINITY DIAGRAM:
Network Electronic Delivery Resources
Technology Support
Classroom Environment
Mobile Access
Resource Libraries
Ocotillo Emerging Learning Technologies Report for the Week of 1 November.
Greetings. I do not know about you, but I will be happy when Tuesday is over. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, I am sure you agree the signs around town are an eyesore. That is why I love getting my political news online through news outlets and blogs (had to put a little ELT spin on it!).
Let us get to business.
The first interesting thing I found comes from T.H.E. Newsletter. Laptops offer another option for teaching. Students are at ease with technology, which allows them to conduct virtual dissections. From The Indianapolis Star
Animals are not dissected, and microscopes and chalkboard diagrams are not used in Michael Rash's seventh- grade life science class at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. Yet, students here are studying the structures and functions of a cell. Rather than use traditional scientific equipment, these kids are pointing and clicking their way through the Internet on laptop computers as their primary tool for learning -- including virtual dissections
For the full story, visit: http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/186069-6933-176.html
Have you ever thought how you might get the attention of your students from the cell phones that seem to grow out of their ears? Cell-phone lessons prompt students to prepare for SAT. — From The San Francisco Chronicle
For generations, college- bound seniors studying for the venerable SAT I exam have carried around hefty volumes of test preparation booklets and stacks of flash cards. Now, teenagers can just flip open their cell phones to study for the college admissions test…
For the full story, visit: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi- bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/10/18/MNG3S9BHPN1.DTL
Elliott Masie, founder of TechLearn and CEO of the Masie Center, has prepared a short video update on hot issues in the world of learning and a TechLearn overview. It is just ten minutes long. You will need speakers to hear him talk about many cutting edge issues in e-learning and technology. Go to http://www.accelacast.com/programs/advanstar_techlearn/
From the DEOS-L listserv is an interesting note about using technology such as online delivery to teach mathematics. If you have doubts about teaching math online, you need to talk with Ms. Kim Peppard at West Texas A&M University. And you might find it helpful to check out the Virtual Math Lab she has created. She is enthusiastic about teaching math.
The Virtual Math Lab is at
http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/beg_algebra/
I enthusiastically recommend the new Google search tool, currently in beta. It will allow you to quickly search your local computer for files and email. I had the occasion to need it last week for Ocotillo business and within a fraction of a second it found the email! It is located at http://desktop.google.com/ While I was playing around with Google, I also found this page http://www.google.com/options/index.html I’ve had the opportunity to use the translation tool in some real time online chats. It is not perfect, but it gets the point across (sometimes, haha). As long as you let the other person know you are using a translator, that will cut down on unintended misunderstandings.
ComputerWorld magazine often has stories about emerging technologies. Not necessarily with an education bent, the stories are often quite interesting. Take a look at http://www.computerworld.com/departments/technology/emergingtech There is a story on collaboration using technology and how information technology is helping avoid astronomical Armageddon.
From PC World, Three Minutes With Ray Kurzweil -
Visionary tells how biotechnology and nanotechnology will extend human life spans into near immortality.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,118375,tk,wb110104x,00.asp
And from the just for fun department, go to http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/index/0,00.asp and check out some neat things. You will see another story on Google (mentioned above) plus the feature download of a free graphics editing tool.
Finally, from the I Have No Idea What This Has To Do With Emerging Learning Technologies But Many of You Love This Stuff, Pretty Good Solitaire does an excellent job of exploiting the addictive nature of playing cards. It claims to be the largest collection of solitaire games available, with over 600 games. Included, of course, are the classics: FreeCell, Spider, and Klondike. Go to http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,3601,tk,hsx,00.asp for a free download.
I meet with the Digital Library Group on Wednesday 10 November at 1:30 pm in RIO 6C. PVCC’s John Chavez is the contact.
That is enough for this week.
Jim Patterson