Group items tagged

"Are there alternative presentation approaches beyond PowerPoint, and which are accessible to small colleges? We explored this topic through a NITLE prediction market, which closed last week. As noted in our earlier post, researching that game's outcome triggered a wide-ranging discussion about presentation methods and technologies. We will address presentation methods in a subsequent post; here we will survey available technologies. The prediction market selected five, when it launched this past May:"

The Smithsonian site is a wealth of outstanding activities and interactives. In the Walk in the Forest interactives, students are guided through a virtual forest where they do field research using the same scientific methods and tools that Smithsonian scientists use to monitor forest biodiversity. Students can act as dirt detectives, predicting which trees will thrive in each type of soil; learn about forest layers and the plants and animals that take up residence in each; identify a tree; observe seasonal changes; map the forest; and use amphibians as an indicator of the forest. Each of the interactives has the option of narration (audio) or non-narrated (students read through the interactive).

This goes along with what Alan November shared with the group in the spring.

ReadWriteThink: Lesson Plan as described by the site, "In this lesson students learn how to use comprehension strategies involving a sequence of planning, predicting, monitoring, and evaluating. Once students learn the strategies, they read a variety of hoax websites and evaluate the content. They then demonstrate their learning through the creation of outlines for hoax websites."

It combines an element of fantasy sports where you predict the future with great background information (maps, opinions of world leaders, and video clips) as well as the higher-order thinking required to say not just what you think WILL happen, but what SHOULD happen.

Even if the skyrocketing rates of obesity level off, 42 percent of Americans will be obese and 11 per-cent will be severely obese by the year 2030, a new report predicts.

Various videos expressing opinions about where education will be in 2030.