Learning From Games - Edutopia

I featured +Edutopia in a tweet on Twitter today.  In turn they messaged me back thanking me for the mention and introduced another video of theirs from their Big Thinkers collection on their video blog.  This one features James Paul Gee and he talks about how people learn from online gaming and how there is more at stake than just the game.

We quickly discredit gaming as a waste of time and a distraction, however once you involve interested participants, learning is explosive; and there is more going on than mere drivel.  Learning is no longer a one-layer or linear method, but becomes massively multi-layered.

10 Simple Tech Tips

Many of you who may not feel that you are very tech savvy will love these time-saving tips.  Literally they will add years to your life.  They may sound too simple, however I am sure if you calculated the amount of time wasted when you didn't use these you would be blown away.  I find, in my own experience, when learning a new tech tip or method, if I make an effort to go out of my way and rigorously practice it in my regular workflow.  It soon enough becomes habit and easy to do on a regular basis; almost automatic.  That's my tech tip.

This video from TED Talks, explains some top 10 tips that will save you some time and headaches from your computer to your smart phone.

The Best Firefox Addons

Your Firefox web browser can do more than just browsing.  You can turn your web browser into a powerful machine and make it work for you.  There are thousands of Add-ons that you can easily add to your Firefox web browser.  Though, as mentioned, there are many to choose from, do not fret.  MakeUseOf curates what they feel are the best Firefox Add-ons our there and organizes them in categories for easy finding.  MakeUseOf is one of the Tech News giants that feature many different features out there that be very helpful for you to "MakeUseOf".

Here is their list of approved Firefox Add-ons.

Happy browsing.

Interest-driven Learning

I know this goes against what we are used to and how we have been taught our classrooms should run.  This goes against a lot of what we are required by State and Administration to complete on our curriculum checklists and it almost throws classical classroom structure out the window.  But (you were expecting this), there is some definite food for thought here that can still be incrementally introduced into our classroom curriculum.

From Edutopia.

Simple Math With Your Macbook Spotlight

Something that could be a convenient little tool to teach your students is that they can do simple math right from their Macbook Spotlight.

This may not be a commonly used tool, but it's great when a student needs a quick calculation without having to launch the computer calculator.  MLTI explains:

Spotlight, Open an App Fast - MLTI Minute

This is one of my most used Macbook functions.

iPads in Education - techlearning on Livestream

I have embedded this when it was live.  I am not sure if this will remain once the event is finished.

However, Patrick Larkin, Principal for Berlington High School, New Jersey, is one of the main speakers.  He is well known for implementing a 1to1 iPad initiative in his High School (The Journal).

Watch live streaming video from techlearning at livestream.com

You can also find Patrick Larkin on Twitter:

Must Read:"The Smart Way to Use iPads in the Classroom" slate.me/ZTrGTK #TLTF13
— Patrick Larkin (@patrickmlarkin) April 26, 2013

NASA on Google Maps Street View

This is some pretty cool stuff!  I was recently visiting Google Maps' Street Views of the Kennedy Space Center; something I have been wanting to share with my 8th grade team because they frequently connect with NASA for a video conference for their students via Tandberg.

Right from Street View's galleries you can view several collections of imagery that are amazing, interactive and allow you to tour around the world from the comfort of your own classroom.  Click the "Behind the Scenes" tag for more content about the subject and related links.  Browse through their collections, add them to our curriculum and give your students a really cool, life-like tour.  And these interactive Street View tours are amazing on the interactive whiteboard in front of the class.  Have a student pick their favorite and give the class their own tour.

NASA has their own collection of several different locations allowing you the Grand tour - Space Shuttle main engines, Top of launch pad 39A, Apollo 14 Command Module, Atlantis Space Shuttle, Firing Room #3, and more.

Here is a sample of one of their Street Views.  This is my favorite view from it:

View Larger Map

Adjusting Computer Sleep Threshold

An Introduction to Technology Integration

This is a great demonstration and explanation of Technology Integration created by Edutopia (great Education resource).  And as scary as it may appear to some, Tech Integration is NOT just within the four walls of our school buildings; or districts.  Successful people know how to and are comfortable with collaborating nationally and globally.

Thanks to +David Lee EdTech.

Twitter Follow Feature

20 Google Docs Secrets for busy teachers and students → tonyv.me/20docs Each secret is linked to more info! (via @terryhoganson)
— Tony Vincent (@tonyvincent) April 12, 2013

Website Evaluation From Common Craft

Common Craft just released another one of their very familiar video tutorials.  This one demonstrates how to evaluate websites for accurate information and reliable sources.  Often students who do research online face the dilema of having to sort through the buzz of information online and can get disillusioned at what is good information and what is simply...crap.

This simple, easy-to-understand video demonstrates how to recognize sites that contain reliable and accurate information and sources in the eyes of an editor.

This would be great to show your students just before you start your research paper or project.

Splashtop 2 Update - Yes, Another One

For those who frequently use Splashtop as their remote desktop app in their classroom, you know that Splashtop releases updates to their product rather frequently.  This is a good thing.  It tells me that they are always seeking to improve themselves and provide more for their customers.  Their past couple of updates have proven that this is true.  This current update that was released today is yet another improvement.

Splashtop, now, offers annotation ability over live remote desktop screen.  This can be very handy when you want to point out specific features on your screen display while you are floating around the room.

This is from their update blog:

What's New in Version v2.3.0.5

- Annotate over any live remote desktop screen, for presentations or classroom instruction (optional in-app purchase; part of Productivity Pack)
Please install the latest streamer from www.splashtop.com to enable annotation

Please contact your Tech support to have them update your Splashtop Streamer on your Macbook for the annotation feature to operate.

Encyclopedia Britannica Application

All of our Teacher and Student MLTI laptops have the full Encyclopedia Britannica available for us at any time.  What a great resource for research and information!  Students can gather information instantly from a source that we all know and trust.

MLTI's MLTI Minute has a couple of video tutorials on using this application.  You can find this application on you laptop by going to the Applications folder or type a search in your spotlight.

The first video will give you a general overview of the application with some of the things you can do with it.  The second video explains how you/your students can add notes to the application.

Filtering Email in FirstClass

I recently had a faculty member ask me to refresh their memory on how to filter email, so they could automatically get rid of the junk mail they were receiving in their FirstClass Inbox. Well, there is a fairly simple way to do this.  However, not only can you get rid of junk mail, but you can sort important messages into specific folders for better email management.

This walk-through explains:

If you have any more questions about Mail Rules or FirstClass in general, please do not hesitate to contact me.