[TIPS] Larry Ferlazzo's websites of the Day

I've just recently been reading his blog and I HAVE to point you to it. If you're a teacher of ELL, ESL, or EFL students then you're going to want to subscribe to his blog, as well. He always ties his sites into his mission of teaching the ESL and ELL kids. Great stuff!   http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/   &nb...

Read more »

Provide Outstanding Business IT Services with On-Going Support

How can providing outstanding business IT services through virtual IT benefit you as a consulting firm? Well, most successful small business computer consultants position their companies as virtual IT departments because it gives them stady business that benefits both them and their clients.Virtual IT and providing business IT services is about being an outsourced IT department. Instead of selling merely PCs to customers and clients or servers, routers, Wi-Fi, cabling and other “commodities,” as a virtual IT professional you spend time selecting and designing networks and looking at real business problems. You devote time to figuring out how to use technology to solve business problems and to being a part-time IT manager – a virtual CIO.A Definition of Business IT Services and Virtual ITVirtual...

Read more »

Posted in: business IT services,virtual IT

[TIPS] tagcloud on your webpage

It's been tough trying to find a way to collect your favorite links for your students. You can get them all in one place, but then trying to organize them is tricky. Let's look at one way to display your organized bookmarks on your website using a tagroll on del.icio.us. http://del.icio.us/help/tagrolls First you set up your own del.icio.us account. Then, grab a toolbar or extension from this page: http://del.icio.us/help/ Grab the right one for your browser and drop it onto your Links toolbar. From then on, when you see a page that you want to keep, just click that button and it will guide you through adding it to your del.icio.us account. The KEY to this whole thing is how you TAG your links. You'd like to tag them with multiple tags when applicable, but you don't want to go crazy with...

Read more »

Keyboard shortcut of the week: save and backup regularly

Your PC can crash at any time. Not a comforting thought I know, but one that should prompt us all to save our work as often as possible. So, for this end of the year post I will extol the virtues of saving regularly, and by extension, of backing up your files.Firstly let's deal with saving your files regularly: to do so, simply hold down the Ctrl key and press S.If you wish to use a different filename each time you save, hold down the Alt key and press F then A. This will open up the 'Save as...' dialog box.Now the backing up your files. Since we are fast approaching a new year, now would be a good time to back up all your essential files. There...

Read more »

Posted in: Backups,Keyboard shortcut

SmartDraw 2008- A First Look

It is becoming increasingly clear that there is a real need in today's society for students and individuals to become more adept at both understanding and creating visual graphics that depict information using graphs, mind maps,charts, and pictographs. We are all bombarded with all kinds of information and data that is much more easily digested when put into a visual or graphic form. Many of us were first introduced to these type of graphics in the USA Today. It certainly was a point of departure from other newspapers as we learned how to decode the meaning of these artistically created graphs and charts that appeared in the paper. For many,...

Read more »

Posted in: business graphics,Graphics,mind mapping,smartdraw 2008

Fly Fusion Pentop Update

A lot of my readers have purchased the Fly Fusion Pentop computer from LeapFrog this holiday season and have been having some difficulties installing the software. I just received this email from LeapFrog that I wanted to pass along this information to you. Question What should I try? ..trouble with Fly Fusion downloads, Admin account, Flyworld and/or the Fly Store. Answer Thanks for being one of the first FLY Fusion Pentop Computer Users! Due to extremely high seasonal demand for FLY Fusion, many FLY Fusion...

Read more »

Posted in: Fly_Fusion,LeapFrog

GPS Navigation on your Mobile Phone

I came across this article today and had been thinking of doing a post on my use of VZNavigator service on my cell phone. I have been a user of VZNavigator for nearly two years and would not be without it. VZNavigator provides turn by turn navigation on my GPS enabled cell phone and is a service of Verizon Wireless. While the screen is small, VZNavigator uses the most of the real estate and provides great visual feedback as you are driving. VZNavigator provides you with a high quality voice with full text to speech as you proceed on your route. If you make a wrong turn VZNavigator will quickly recalculate your route and get you back on track....

Read more »

Posted in: GPS,Verizon,VZNavigator

[TIPS] Nettrekker has big upgrade

This one is for all teachers, students, and parents in the state of Pennsylvania. By now I DO SO HOPE that you're aware that you can have a FREE account on the Nettrekker site. You've been able to have such an account for a couple of years, but in spite of our best efforts to inform you, a great many still have not heard the news. Want an account, email your contact at your local Intermediate unit. That person will tell you how to set up your own account - or an account for your son or daughter.* Nettrekker is a search engine that returns results that have been evaluated by teachers.W hile a google search might return 13 million hits, a Nettrekker search might return only about 1000. But, Each one is home run! Some folks think it's a watered down search engine. Not so. It's just a very focused...

Read more »

IT Marketing: A Study of Postcards

Sometimes your IT marketing strategies won’t give you the results you need. There are some common mistakes you can avoid with postcards that can help you maximize your success. IT Marketing: The Postcard StoryA consultant sent out over 300 postcards offering general troubleshooting services, automated online data backup and wireless home networks. In terms of IT marketing, this consultant purchased lists of area businesses broken down by revenue, credit rating, years in business and # of PCs. The wireless home networks went to homeowners that were over $500,000 in purchase prices and the automated online data backup went to those that had a recent new business license. The general services postcards went to accountants, lawyers and small clinics. The consultant reported not a single phone...

Read more »

Posted in: IT marketing

How To Change XP Log On

Question:-How I can change LOG ON WINDOW in XP?Answer:-Change LOG ON WINDOW in XPWell as the colours used by Windows XP are expressed as RGB values (Red Blue Green), we have to establish what Lime Green's RGB value is.To do this:1) Right click on the desktop and then select "Properties" from the Menu.2) On the resulting window select the "Appearance" Tab then click the "Advanced" button.3) On the next window select "Colour " then "Other".4) Now on the new window select a colour you like and note its RGB as shown in the bottom right hand corner of the new window.For example I have chosen is:R63 G270 B76 or simply 63 270 765) Once you have your...

Read more »

Posted in: Log On Tips

Happy New Year!

It has been a great year for the AssistiveTek Blog and I want to thank my readers and business sponsors for their support! I trust that 2008 will be even better with new and exciting Web 2.0 technologies. I think that this will be a pivotal year for software developers as they try to bridge the gap between their traditional software applications and software as a service model. I think that you will see many software publishers begin to build hooks into their software applications that will make it easier to publish documents, mind maps, and monitor projects on the web with true collaboration. So look for some exciting posts on the AssistiveTek...

Read more »

Posted in: Happy New Year,mind mapping

Mappio- New Place to Post Mind Maps

For those of you that would like to share your mind maps there is a new website that lets you do just that. You can go to Mappio.com to upload your FreeMind or MindManager mind maps. The developers of the site would like to make Mappio the "YouTube of Mind Mapping." Registration is free and it is a great way to share your ideas and mind maps. Once you upload your mind maps you can tag them and decide if you would like to make them public or private. If you find a mind map that you would like to use you can simply download the file and open it with the your mind mapping application. Mappio is certainly a great resource for those that are new...

Read more »

Posted in: Freemind,Mappio,MindManager

[TIPS] Story of Stuff

Many thanks to Linda Brown who shared this with me via email. http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html This site discusses the "underside of our production and consumption habits" in a 20 minute video. THe video is for purchase, but there are teaser videos here: http://www.storyofstuff.com/downloads.html This looks like it would be excellent for those who teach about our environment and the issues we face with our waste disposal, etc. Watch the trailer!...

Read more »

VozMe- Text to Speech Tool

I came across VozMe the other day and wanted to share this resource with you. VozMe lets you convert text into a mp3 file which is an easy way to create text to speech on your computer right within your browser. You simply paste text in the window and VozMe does the rest creating your mp3 file. Give it a t...

Read more »

Posted in: mp3,text to speech,VozMe

Computer Consultants Secrets to Improved Postcard Response

There are some computer consultants secrets that can help those overcome some common mistakes people make when doing postcard mailings. The biggest mistake people make is failing to create a sense of urgency. Basically, this means they don’t create a compelling reason for their targets to hire their computer consulting firm NOW.But a prospect gets a mailing that says a company is offering a free system analysis to the first 25 people that respond, the prospect will be more likely to respond quickly.Computer Consultants Secrets: Limit Your ResponseIf you don’t want to limit the number of people that respond to an IT marketing campaign, attach a set date. Urgency and scarcity helps with any direct mail or online marketing. You want a prospect to take action with a response that is measurable...

Read more »

Posted in: computer consultants secrets

MindManager 7.1 Screencast

With the recent release of MindManager 7.1, I created this screencast to show you some of the new features that have been added to this release.Here is the l...

Read more »

Posted in: MindManager,MindManager Pro 7,screencast

[TIPS] A GREAT tale of sportsmanship

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4751391   This is an old report, but one that I’ve never forgotten since I first heard it in July of 2005. Here is Frank Deford telling a wonderful story about Jack Nichlaus at a British Open Tournament years ago.   Save this for AFTER Christmas. It’ll keep. But, it’s a great story of sportsmanship that should be heard by players and parents alike. That Jack Nichlaus is a class act.   Present this story to your students in the form of a multiple choice poll, with one option being what Jack did, and the other two choices being the other possible options. See how many students would do what Jack did.   THERE’S a writing prompt in this, too, don’t you think?   ...

Read more »

[TIPS] 10th Anniversary of the Blog

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17562078   This link was brought to my attention in Vicki Davis’ blog (again). This is an NPR audio file about the blog. What’s very cool is that the story is being told, in part, by the bloggers themselves. It’s very well done. And, it’s just the first of a five part series on blogging. Every once in a while you’ll hear an echo in their voice which represents what would be a hyperlink. And… well, wait ‘till you hear them scroll down the page.   Bookmark it and follow it through the week, if you’re not sure what this blogging thing is all about.   What’s ironic in this whole thing is that Vicki Davis’ voice is heard in this report, yet, for SOME VERY STRANGE  reason, neither her blog nor her OUTSTANDING wiki project...

Read more »

Happy holidays

Hopefully most of the readers will be enjoying these holidays with their families and friends, so I'd just like to send you all my votes for an Happy Christmas and a great 2008!I have the feeling that 2008 will be a great year for all people involved with IBM Informix. 2007 was a remarkable step in the right direction, and we should see more in the next year.I'll just leave here a few notes, but none of this is new stuff:Eric Herbert is doing an impressive job with IDS developer edition Wikihttp://www.informix-zone.com/idswikiThe chat with the labs series continues to deliver good information http://www.ibm.com/informix/webcastsIIUG has started another monthly publication, the IDS developers desktophttp://www.iiug.org/devnews/issues.phpGuy Bowerman continues to bring us articles and news...

Read more »

[TIPS] Christmas lights tour

http://www.tackylighttour.com/interactive/christmaslightsvideos.aspx   The very best (?) displays of Christmas lights from around the country, all in one place. Beneath each video is a link to enlarge the viewer, and I suggest you do that. These are amazing!   Then, just when you think you've seen them all - you notice that there are 14 pages of them!!   The HOURS and HOURS that went into these displays...   And my wife said, "Yes, but I'll bet if their wife asked them to take out the garbage they'd complain!" Well? But or COURSE! Taking out the garbage isn't the LEAST bit creative! &nb...

Read more »

[TIPS] Larry Ferlazzo's Top web 2.0 picks for Education

While reading my blogroll today I came upon this post from Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach (http://21stcenturylearning.typepad.com/blog/2007/12/the-best-web-20.html) in which she pointed me to THIS post on Larry Ferlazzo’s blog: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2007/12/21/the-best-web-20-applications-for-education-2007/   Here, Larry tells us his top fourteen web 2.0 website picks for educators. Stop by there to check out his list. There were several on the list that I hadn’t heard of, including http://showbeyond.com , http://sketchcast.com , http://www.CircaVie.com , http://www.daftdoggy.com (yes, where DO they come up with these names?) and others.   Anyway, stop by there and check out his list. Be prepared to be at the computer for a while as you go to the sites to play.  ...

Read more »

Important Software Update: MindSystems ThemeReader

If you are using MindSystems ThemeReader please note that there is an important update at their website.IMPORTANT SOFTWARE UPDATE: MINDSYSTEMS THEMEREADER If you currently have Mindsystems ThemeReader installed (Business or Basic), and you first installed it before 23rd December 2007, it is important you download and run this software update. How do I run the update? After you click the download link below, select to 'Save As' to your desktop. Once the download completes, navigate to your desktop and click on the 'Update.exe' (the icon is a blue upward arrow). Follow all instructions in the update console window. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD...

Read more »

Posted in: MindManager,Mindsystems,ThemeReader,update

From Project Kickstart 4 to Mindmanager 7 Pro

Here is another screencast showing you how you can move your project management data from Project Kickstart 4 to MindManager 7 Pro. You will notice how easy this process is!Click here to view the screenc...

Read more »

Posted in: MindManager,MindManager Pro 7,Project KickStart,project management

Project Planning with MindManager 7 Pro and Project Kickstart 4

In a previous post, I reviewed Project Kickstart 4, an easy to use project management software application and now wanted to share with you how this application can work seamlessly with MindManager 7 Pro. With many companies and individuals using mind mapping for all aspects of running a business it is great to know that there are other applications that can complement MindManager 7 Pro, in developing and managing projects. While MindManager Pro 7 is a wonderful tool to brainstorm and start project planning there will come a point in time when you will want to move the data to a project management piece of software. This is where Project...

Read more »

Posted in: MindManager,MindManager Pro 7,Project KickStart,project management

[TIPS] Biebl's Ave Maria - Merry Christmas

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9WSbq3TCcd0   I'm not sure if it's this version or the Turtle Creek Chorale's version (http://66.49.136.32/music/mp3/Peace/06.mp3) that I like better. Both bring me to tears by the time it's over. Such beautiful tenors. From the Sancta Maria through the Amen's... just beautiful. No video. Just music.   Merry Christm...

Read more »

Eye-Fi releases Software and Firmware updates

I have been using Eye-Fi for over a month now and really love the freedom of having my pictures uploaded to Phanfare automatically via my wifi home network. Eye-Fi has recently announced updates to their Eye-Fi software as well as a firmware update. I performed both updates without a hitch on my MacBook and was up and running within minutes. The new update now supports Mac Leopard (OS 10.5). Give it a try and let me know what you thi...

Read more »

Posted in: digital photography,eye-fi,phanfare

ProjectKick Start 4-Easy to Use Project Management Software

Over the last couple of months, I have had the opportunity to take a look at several project management software applications that work seamlessly with MindManager Pro 7. With this in mind, I took a look at Project KickStart 4, which is a very user friendly project management software application that can export data directly into MindManager Pro 7 and create a complete mind map. I would like to thank Roy Nierenberg at Experience In Software for providing me a copy of Project KickStart 4. for this review. Similarly, one can begin the project planning process in MindManager Pro 7 and export it directly to Project KickStart 4, with a click of...

Read more »

Posted in: MindManager Pro 7,Project KickStart,project management

An IT Marketing Case Study

Many consultants think that an IT marketing campaign has to cost a lot of money and spend $1,000 or more on glossy advertisements or brochures.No Poor PositioningOften consultants will spend a lot of money on an expensive ad then have a horrible IT marketing position. For example, in a headline I recently saw for an ad was “Computer Repair, I Come to You.” “I Come to You” will not set you apart from the rest. If you are doing just retail business, that is a nice benefit. But most computer services firms don’t go after retail customers these days. Come up with a unique IT marketing message in your headline to grab attention.IT Marketing: Don’t Talk about Price The next part of the ad stated, “Computer Repair A+ and Microsoft Certified Professional, Repairs, Upgrades, One-on-One Lessons...

Read more »

Posted in: IT marketing

Mindmanager Pro 7 Updated

Mindjet, Inc has posted an update for MindManager Pro 7 as well as for MindManager Lite 7 which can now be downloaded from this link. You can also simply click on Tools and Updates from within MindManager to get to the link. This Service Pack 1 corrects for a number of issues and has some added features with respect to PowerPoint and the newly added Export Toolb...

Read more »

Posted in: mind mapping,Mindjet,MindManager Pro 7

[TIPS] Blogs vs wikis debate

Thanks again to Sue Sheffer for sharing this one via email.Now, while I WAS around to hear this debate, I don’t remember it. But I somehow doubt that THIS was their topic of conversation back then.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsFU3sAlPx4In this fun little remix of the Kennedy/Nixon debate, listen to them discuss the notion of whether wikis or blogs are in the best interest of the country. J Just for some fun.Remember, if youtube is blocked, either send this to your home account to see it there, or use this link: http://www.zamzar.com/url/?u=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsFU3sAlPx4 to convert it to viewable format (mov or avi, etc) and have the link to it sent to your email address where you can then download it.Enj...

Read more »

[TIPS] John Henry Faulk's 'Christmas Story'

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1115979 It’s that time of year again when I send out this pointer to a story that I have listened to for... several years. (How many years in a row have I sent this out?) I’ve heard tell from a few of you that you, too, enjoy listening to it each year. This is absolutely one of THE BEST stories I’ve ever heard told. It’s a wonderful tale and message in itself, but it’s also just TOLD so well.I don’t know if this is OK to play in school or not, but if not, it’s a darned shame. I think it would a wonderful story to play for the elementary students – maybe as a writing prompt, or a study of vocabulary, or even just a study in story telling. “What does it mean when this boy says, ‘We played Christmastime..’”, or “Describe the house in which...

Read more »

[TIPS] monkeys vs humans in estimating game

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17344697&ft=1&f=1013When both groups were given a test that measured their ability to estimate amounts of, in this case, dots, the monkeys were correct 75% of the time. Their rival group, some Duke University undergrads, scored correctly 90% of the time.Now, we shouldn’t look at this as a measure of the quality of Duke undergrads. Nor should we look at it as a commentary on humans vs monkeys in general. If the rules were to change to allow the participants time to actually COUNT, then the humans would have obviously outdone the monkeys.This harkens back to a story I heard tell a long time ago on Johnny Carson, I think. (Ah, he was the Tonight Show host before Jay Leno.) It seems that a study showed that when the monkeys start to...

Read more »

[TIPS] Innovative high schools report

Many thanks to Sue Smith for sharing this with me via email.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17323154I would be willing to bet that this district is unlike anything you’ve ever seen or heard about. Within the same district you’ve got one school that functions like a private school, with dress uniforms, students sitting in rows of desks, etc. A few miles away is another school is a technical school for the computer kids. In another school, the students study one topic all year long, with ties to all disciplines. Yet another school focuses on teaching leadership skills.What have these changes done to their test scores? “’Oh they're terrible, they're embarrassing,’ Ciancio says.”This is definitely an article to read and/or listen to via the link at the top of the article....

Read more »

[TIPS] 'Death Star' Galaxy Black Hole Fires at Neighboring Galaxy

I hope it’s ok that I merely copied that from NASA’s article headline. But, I heard the story on the way home tonight and I had to check it out. Read it here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/news/07-139.htmlHere are some cool facts: The two galaxies are 1.5 BILLION LIGHT YEARS from earth. This collision has been happening for about one million years! Scientists believe that these collisions may be both destroying AND creating life forms.Listen to the NPR story here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17371531 (The audio will be available sometime after 7:00pm)Send this to your favorite Earth and Space Science teacher. If kids think that the ‘60’s were ALMOST B.C., what will they think of THOSE numbers?...

Read more »

IT Marketing and Trusted Business Advisors

If you want to succeed at IT marketing techniques that really get your name out there, you should try going through trusted business advisors. Small businesses look to these advisors for advice and put a great deal of trust in their recommendations. A referral from these experts can be worth a lot, whether they be accountants, lawyers or bankers.How can you use trusted business advisors as part of IT marketing campaigns? Take an accountant for example. You can see if accountants need help with technology, and if you do a good job for them, they may recommend you to those that put faith in them.Ask Your Accountant QuestionsNo matter what you do, you need to talk to your accountant about his/her computer problems and the computer problems of his/her clients. Accountants will typically get...

Read more »

Posted in: IT marketing

[TIPS] digital story telling - on Atomic Learning

From time to time, Atomic Learning makes certain resources of their site available for free. Some are free ALL the time. This one arrives at just the right time. http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/digital_story/   Will YOU be working with students and doing some digital story telling? If so, there are some rules to follow that will make your presentation stand out far above the rest of the pack. Some may seem simple. Others are not. And there are a LOT of things to consider. Camera motion, sound, editing tricks, how to show various effects without words… many things.   This is an excellent resource! It’s available from now until January 15th, too, so you can sit down at the site and explore the many videos and pages of hints and tips.       ...

Read more »

[TIPS] a glimpse at the future

Y’ know, I *do* feel like an echo chamber at times, and this time is no exception. I’ve mentioned this guy’s blog many times before. http://educationaltechnology.ca/couros/ I look forward to reading what he has to say every time he posts.   In this post: http://educationaltechnology.ca/couros/729 he embeds a YouTube video (Danger, Will Robinson!) of a man who has invented a printer that prints 3-D objects. Wait ‘till you see what it does. It’s in its infancy, but here’s another one to project out 20 years. Then go out another 20 yrs or so. What will the world be like when we can build those little things that we need on the spur of the moment – when we’re ALL able to manufacture things. Those folks with the creative talents will have a field day, won’t they?   This reminds...

Read more »

Small Business Networking and Dedicated Servers

When you are dealing with small business networking needs, you have to remember that PC-based servers and LANs are fairly new technologies. You will need to be responsible for handling configuration, customization, security and maintenance for the clients’ appropriate networking tools.Real Servers for Real Small Business Networking Many times you will find a new small business client that claims to be perfectly satisfied with a P2P network, even though you know it is really causing a lot of issues. The truth is, Microsoft Windows P2P small business networking is no way to run a successful small business. Maybe it would work for a two- or three-person company, but these are not going to be profitable clients for you. Clients Need Real Small Business NetworkingClients will come to you because...

Read more »

Posted in: small business networking

[TIPS] graphwise - create graphs from web data

This is the last time I’ll try to send this (the 5th time). Thanks to Sue Sheffer for sharing this with me via the for:jgates513 tag on del.icio.us   http://www.graphwise.com   This site allows you to search the web for data and then it gives you the tools to create great charts to show that data. Best of all, you can share those charts! In previous attempts to send this I gave examples of things to search for. That may be what was preventing it from going out. So, I’ll leave it to you to check out the samples on the page.   My only complaint was that I couldn’t find the Save button. I know it’s got to be there, but I couldn’t find it.   ...

Read more »

[TIPS] graphwise - GREAT tool

This is the fourth time I’ve tried to send this. No idea why it’s not going out (It must sound too much like that OTHER kind of email), but here goes again….   Again, many thanks to Sue Sheffer who sent this to me via the for:jgates513 tag on del.icio.us.   http://www.graphwise.com/   Imagine doing a search for, say, “Iraq civilian casualties”, or “highest paid athletes”, or maybe, “education spending” and then having the site search the web for any tables of data it might find with those numbers and finally creating a chart of that data. What if you could then share those graphs? Does that sound cool to you? Then you must check this out. You can search for, for example, graphs made from table data found on the Web, or custom graphs made by other users. The only thing...

Read more »

[TIPS] a little quiz

OK, here’s a little Jeopardy quiz. Don’t feel bad if you get it wrong. You supply the correct QUESTION.   Here you go: “It was 5% in 2001. It was 70% in 2004. Today it’s over 95%.”      What is it?   *Playing the Jeopardy theme*   Time’s up. What is your answer? Ooooohhh, I think some of you got it right. The correct Question is, “What percent of all emails in those years was spam?”   Think about that for a moment. Some of you receive a LOT of email in a day. Lots of people do, right. Yet, GOOD emails account for less than 5% of ALL emails being sent out daily. And if the best filter can only catch 99% of them, then that leaves a TON of them that still get through.   I guess that’s why this post was necessary. : - ) So, don’t be...

Read more »

[TIPS] Learning 2.0: A Colorado Conversation

http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/12/learning-20-colorado-conversation.html   Do you think this school “gets it?” They’re going to have a one day conference for students and parents – on a Saturday. Check out their agenda: http://colearning.wikispaces.com/Schedule (It’s on a wiki so you may have to wait until you get home to see it.)   Listen to this description of the purpose of this day: “Education is conversation. Conversation creates change. The future of education does not exist in the isolated world of theory and abstract conference sessions. Instead, it exists in conversations. It exists in creating a robust learning network that is ever-expanding and just-in-time. Learning 2.0 is not the beginning of this conversation. It is merely a stopping point, a time to...

Read more »

[TIPS] ted video for the math teachers

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/199   Show this one to your favorite math teachers. Mathemagician Arthur Benjamin dazzles the audience with some cool math tricks. At the end he thinks out loud to reveal some of his “magic.”   The number he squares in his head at the end is 57,683 squared. Amazing!   ...

Read more »

[TIPS] Daniel Pink discusses his book - on PopCast

http://poptech.com/popcasts/popcasts.aspx?lang=&viewcastid=158   I thought I had posted about this before, but I couldn’t find it. I watched it today in preparation for something coming up soon – that I’ll say more about later.   In this PopCast video, Daniel Pink relates the right/left brain ideas to the economy – and summarizes his book. ...

Read more »

[TIPS] What students CAN do if given the opportunity - a rant

This is so frustrating. On the one hand, I met with some teachers today who expressed sincere frustration because their ... person in charge of making this kind of decision ... has diabled the right-click on all of the computers in the school. I can't even BEGIN to get my mind around such an outrageous plan. And I'll bet that whoever is making that decision is also bragging about the kinds of computers they have in school. "Yes, we only buy HP's with two gig of ram and we upgrade to all the latest Microsoft products the minute they hit the streets." FOR WHAT? ARRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! OUTRAGEOUS!! And somehow the administration and the Curriculum Directors stand by and let it happen. Who is supporting whom? Isn't the network supposed to support the curriculum? Not there. The curriculum...

Read more »

[TIPS] winning the oil game?

There are two sites here. First, the TED video: http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/51 (You can download his powerpoint and presentation here, too.) Then there is the speaker’s site: http://www.oilendgame.com/   Send this to your sociology teachers and your current events teachers and even you business teachers. Amory Lovins takes us through his vision for how the US can get off our dependency for oil. He’ll do so AND increase the job markets and the economy AND lower the emissions – all by 2040. We’ve already got the technology. Lighter, stronger materials and better designs. As he says, SOMEBODY is going to make these cars. Will it be the US?   This is a fascinating talk with even more fascinating statistics. What do you think? Watch this video and you, too, may be convinced...

Read more »

[TIPS] love letters - a movie to review

http://educationaltechnology.ca/couros/727   Once again I find another gem in my blogs. This is another from Alec Couros. He points us to a movie that tells a very moving story – with no spoken words. Just a game of scrabble.   Send this to your favorite digital movies teacher and your favorite Creative writing teacher. Very nice. A bit sad for this festive time of the year but well worth the time to watch it. ...

Read more »