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How cool. Ardulab is an open source platform powered by Arduiono to help monitor and control experiments sent to the International Space station. As I talked with Kaci Heins this week on every Classroom Matters, she has her students designing experiments to go onto the space station. This is doable. We have an ardino in my classroom. Very cool.

A breathtaking online space resource. Users explore the International Space Station from the outside in a realistic 3D space walk simulator. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Science

BWO Twitter: htjoshua @downingstreet what chance PM invites pupils 2write2 Mugabe on behalf of persecuted teachers who ran poll stations returning "wrong" results

In the light of post election persecution of teachers who ran poll stations returning the "wrong" results in Zimbabwe's recent elections, I have just asked our Prime Minister if he is going to invite pupils worldwide to write to Robert Mugabe expressing concern for: * teachers in fear of their lives, * pupils who miss learning, and * exams that cannot be run even. It happens the form of the question was by way of Twitter:

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has closed the book on the Space Shuttle program, which begs the question: what is the focal point now for space exploration? Is there a still an ongoing role for the International Space Station's (ISS) to support NASA's space research and exploration?

Must read article on blended learning (in particular if you're an elementary teacher or principal, you'll want to read about the "Rocketship model" of lab station rotation instead of learning centers. This was written by Michael Horn for Forbes Magazine on March 28, 2013.

This is a hands-on laboratory unit from the U.S. Department of Energy exploring the concepts of heat and movement. Teachers set up six laboratory stations that will introduce students to the basic concepts of thermodynamics, including atomic structure, atomic and molecular motion, states of matter, heat transfer, thermal expansion, specific heat, and heats of fusion and vaporization. It also includes a unit exam and teacher demonstrations.

Track satalites and the Internation Space Station, see visiual data about the Earth and so much more with this 3D Virtual Earth.

Did you know it took 13 years for television to reach 50 million users? TV has evolved from the time it started with just a few programs airing each day into 24/7 news and hundreds of stations to choose from. People didn't immediately embrace the new technology though. 10 years after its debut in 1936, the head of 20th Century Fox Darryl F. Zanuck (seeing TV as a competitor to movies) famous last words were predicting it would not catch on.  He said he thought "People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night."

"NASA Images provides photos and video related to space exploration, aeronautics, and astronomy. Topics include the universe, solar system, earth, and astronauts. A space flight interactive timeline shows images and video from the 1959 launch of Explorer 1, the first spacecraft successfully launched by the U.S., to the Mars Rovers and International Space Station. (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)"

No mention here of the teachers persecuted merely for running the election stations that may return the same "wrong" result in a presidential runoff, nor of the pupils who will not sit exams because their teachers are in fear of their lives.

Here's a spaced-out selection of sites and social media resources that will have you reading the thoughts of astronauts, taking a virtual tour of the International Space Station, and viewing galaxies far, far away.

 Sky Calls is a NASA-supported astronomy alert service that puts kids in touch with the sky-night and day.  Anyone with a telephone can participate. When there is an eclipse, an alignment of planets, a big solar flare, or a flyby of the International Space Station, the phone rings.  A voice message from NASA alerts students to the event and tells them how they can see or experience it.  Students with cell phones can choose to receive text messages instead of voice.  Of course, teachers can participate, too.

maps of current postion of the International Space Station

ORBITER is a free flight simulator that goes beyond the confines of Earth's atmosphere. Launch the Space Shuttle from Kennedy Space Center to deploy a satellite, rendezvous with the International Space Station or take the futuristic Delta-glider for a tour through the solar system - the choice is yours

"I have access to an incredible wealth of credible resources, and I am given as much time as I need to synthesize information and determine how to best leverage it. I have opportunities to collaborate and learn with, and from, experts all over the world. I have the chance to participate in challenge based learning projects where I work to find solutions to a variety of real world problems, and I do it with individuals in locations that I have never been to." "You may be wondering where this amazing classroom is, and my response is unique given the time of day: at home, the gym, my car, the gas station, a school, a picnic table, a friend's house, my back deck, a restaurant… and that is just a few of today's locations. "

A video about the students in Texas and their struggle to raise money to come to the Flat Classroom conference - this is a great piece and captures so much of the essence of what makes this project so special - it is so much bigger than any of us and a HUGE undertaking for any teacher - but is so worth it. I find it so interesting that so many schools don't have "room" in their curriculum for these experiences.

powerpoint for students and teachers elementary

A Collection of FREE Presentations in PowerPoint format for K-12 Teachers and Students.

Presentations and activites in PowerPoint format