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I still haven't come to terms with what exactly the power of our networks mean for concepts like "cheating" - I am sure there are some who might view what I did as dishonest. I like to think it offers insight into what personalized learning could look like and how doing the same old assignments, the same old way, is not good enough.

A fun mashup of Google Street View and Google Maps. Allows you to hop around the globe by randomly teleporting to a continent. Useful for reviewing how to find coordinates of a location.

DraftSight: Free CAD software * for your DWG files Your software. Your vision. Your community. Free CAD software* available for Windows® and Mac®.  A new 2D CAD product that provides professional CAD users, students and educators with a better way to create, edit and view DWG files.

Data visualizations for a changing world ​The Google Public Data Explorer makes large datasets easy to explore, visualize and communicate. As the charts and maps animate over time, the changes in the world become easier to understand. You don't have to be a data expert to navigate between different views, make your own comparisons, and share your findings.

How much does this owe to the culture of learning developing in a classroom that has been evolving as a continuous 9 / 10 split since 2005? How much does it owe to the evolution of my own pedagogy in relation to technology and student learning networks? And how much of this is the observation of the tidal shift in how the emerging generation, who views technology as an underlying fact of life, rather than ornamental, or merely entertainment, can use technology to empower individualized learning?

Another useful iphone/itouch app if using with students

Memory Stick: Basic, Cheap File Storage for iPod touch For entry into the world of file storage on the iPod, the simple, inexpensive program Memory Stick is a good choice for the task. For just two dollars, this app lets you use your iPod touch for storing and viewing files as well as for transferring files between your iPod and desktop computers.

Based on the integral role technology played in President-elect Barack Obama's campaign, as well as recent announcements that he will be creating a chief technology officer in the federal government for the first time, ed-tech experts suggest that the new administration could revolutionize the way technology is viewed in the United States, and, it is hoped, in education. President-elect Obama is doing for the Internet what John F. Kennedy did for television, says Hirsch, by making it a common and essential staple of American life.

SafeSearch Web features safe links for those who want to search the internet without the risk of inappropriate material being viewed. Enter your search term utilize Google SafeSearch. No search filter can replace parental supervision when it comes to children on the internet, but every little bit helps. You can also customize your computer settings to increase safe search filtering.

Fascinating link and overview of cultural historical view of teaching geometry.

via http://freetech4teachers.blogspot.com/2008/12/secret-builders-virtual-world-for-ages.html\n\nSecretBuilders is a virtual world for children 5 to 14 years old powered by a web 2.0 community of children, parents, educators, writers, artists and game developers. On SecretBuilders, children will explore virtual lands, undertake quests, play games, maintain a home, nurture a pet, and interact with their friends. Three features which form the backdrop for SecretBuilders distinguish it from other online worlds:\n\n * Children learn through immersing themselves in the stories, themes, and concepts from the best in literature, arts and humanities. They will interact with famous historical and fictional figures and be introduced to content and characters from world civilization and the great thoughts and ideas of human creativity. \n\n * Children will create this site, not just consume it. They are directly involved in creating this world with their ideas, critiques and contributions on virtually every aspect of the site and many of their ideas will be implemented!\n\n * Children publish their works - writings, art, videos - making SecretBuilders their own personal store of creativity. They can invite friends and family to view their works, and comment upon them. Seeing their works published and enjoyed by others instills tremendous for self-confidence as well as motivation to do more.\n

This is a very viral video that a lot of the kids are talking about. (It came out LAST June but now is a hot seller on Amazon.) Neil Patrick Harris wants to join the Evil League of Evil. It is 42 minutes long. It is ironic how much of entertainment is becoming viral -- television can no longer control what gets watched - it gets "put out there" and then they see what is watched. In many ways, this viral way of video viewing is very interesting. Not saying this should be watched -- it is quite hot with many college students. I could see how much that is said would resonate with college kids. Listen to the vernacular - even though some of you may find this very napolean dynamite-ish. "I'm just trying to change the world. I don't have time for a grudge match for every poser in a parka." It grows on you -- stick with it. Oh and be warned there are few words in here. But, no rating to catch it! (not sure why not rating movies just released online.) This is sponsored by XO laptop.

Learn how to view primary resources as a historian. Download the "Six C's of Primary Source Analysis" developed by the UC Irvine History Project. Watch/Listen to the podcast video interview of using the 6 C's to see how it is done.

from Free Technology for Teachers eClips videos are arranged by grade level; K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. There is also a section labeled for the general public. The videos are short clips designed to show students the work NASA is doing and how that work impacts space science as well as its potential impact on everyday life. All of the videos can be viewed online or downloaded for use on your local computer.

National Science Foundation's Multimedia gallery of science videos available for viewing- Nearly 100 videos and counting!

The Framework for Teaching is a research-based set of components of instruction, aligned to the INTASC standards, and grounded in a constructivist view of learning and teaching. In this framework, the complex activity of teaching is divided into 22 components (and 76 smaller elements) clustered into four domains of teaching responsibility: planning and preparation (Domain 1), classroom environment (Domain 2), instruction (Domain 3), and professional responsibilities (Domain 4).

Great question: what is our core mission?

So if we view our resource in education and schools as being information, we will find ourselves more and more as one option among many. So I think that we need to ask the question: what is our core mission? What can we offer in classrooms and schools that can be gained nowhere else? What makes our spaces different?

Every few weeks through October, a new podcast episode from Baz and his production team will introduce you to another aspect of moviemaking, starting with on-set still photography, then moving on to costume design, cinematography, scoring, and more. You'll get insights from the artists at work on Australia, watch them in action, view footage the rest of the world hasn't seen yet, and follow along as the movie comes together.

Convert PowerPoint presentations to video files for online viewing.

Finally, a possible solution to the "how can I convert my Powerpoint to a video" question.

Tomorrow is Worldbridges Webcastathon http://worldbridges.net/ to celebrate earth day. Get Inspired by Sasha's post and join the team to share your earthly or dream views!

Article describing real science being done in virtual environments. Excellent read. Also discusses use of second life as an educational tool.