Gooru - Free Search Engine for Learning

Gooru is an OER (Open Educational Resource) online beta service that is worth trying out.  As mentioned in the title of this post, Gooru is a search engine.  

What separates this from other search engines, like Google or Bing, is that it sources several resources (websites, slideshows, video, online textbooks, files, etc.) curated by educators and community experts, "guaranteeing you’ll find high-quality materials every time."   Here explains more on how Gooru searches.

Teachers can create their own account, or simply start right in with their easy-to-use menu categorized by content areas - Science, Social Sciences and Math.  Even students can jump right in and start learning.  If an account is made, you will have options for collecting your customized materials and upload your own material and files to be added.

The cool thing about the video options (especially when customizing your own video finds) is that Gooru will allow you to select the specific timeframe within the video for viewers to watch.  This is great when you don't want your audience to have to watch an entire clip in order to get the parts you want them to view.  You could potentially prepare a collection of multimedia in your Gooru account and play segments of an entire video starting and stopping to review other content that you collected in a nice streamlined flow.

Once your multimedia resource collection is ready for viewing and learning, email your students the specific web link given for your collection.

Along with their collections and resources, Gooru offers quizes.

Here is a great little video explaining how Gooru works.

Display Video to Your Class Remotely From Your iPad App

If you use an iPad as an instructional tool in your classroom, you may have had to plug in a video cord AND speakers in to the headphone jack in order to display any video from your iPad or iPad app to your projector for your students.

Here at my local school we are working with an app that allows you to display your video remotely from your iPad when using your apps with out all of the cords.  Just imaging getting ready to show your student a video clip of Hitler for your WWII unit (or you want to use an interactive Math app that has sound) from your iPad while you are walking around your room.

This app is a desktop app installed on your computer called Reflection.  Reflection uses a technology called AirPlay, which allows the user to remotely play media from their mobile device to another projection unit through your computer or to a TV via AppleTV; no messy cords.  The desktop app connects your computer to your mobile device and mirrors everything you do on that mobile or tablet.

Now for those who may already know about AirPlay, here's one thing I that I found out today while working with my 8th grade teachers and my Tech-partner-in-crime.  AirPlay not only will remotely display video footage, but it ALSO remotely plays the auido; no headphone cord needed.  Pretty impressive.

Reflection is relatively cheap.  Here is their price list for single or 5-seat licences.

If you have already been using Reflection, please share your comments below on what you like and/or do not like about this product.

Tweet of the Day

“Slay your dragons before breakfast so they don't eat your lunch.” @michaelhyatt
— Mark Miller (@LeadersServe) November 28, 2012

Getting Best Performance Out of Laptop Series: Intro

Have you caught your self day dreaming about doing something like this, because your computer just is not working properly or running too slow?

I often come across frustrated teachers who tell me how that their Macbook is not operating right, or there is a large amount of delay when typing an email, or their laptop is just plain slow.

This issue will even effect the performance of your interactive whiteboard.  Some teachers will experience long delay when trying to move an object or write with their pen (or finger) and think it is a problem with their interactive whiteboard.

In this series I would like to help with understanding how to minimize these issues and maximize your ability to make the most of your main Teacher Tool, your MLTI laptop.  I will be posting little snippets in the future, each discussing ways that effect laptop performance.  There are a couple of simple steps that can effect the performance of your Macbook laptop.  I hope this series is helpful.  Be looking for upcoming posts in this series.

Also, be sure to find the links to this blog series located in the right column of this blog.

Mac OSX Dictionary/Thesaurus

This is a great feature for our 1to1 students.  Students can not only build their vocabulary, but enrich their writing with this resource.  Each 1to1 Macbook laptop has an onboard extensive Dictionary and Thesaurus that anyone can access with a click.

Apple explains below:

BTW, this any several other "how to" videos about Mac OSX are available in your iTunes store.

Google Earth's Real-Time Cloud Cover

Just perusing the Google Earth blog this morning, discovering the real-time cloud cover layer they offer.  In looking for some material associated with Hurricane Sandy, I found when activating Google Earth's "Weather" layer you can view Earth's cloud cover in real-time, which is very handy for tracking hurricane progress.  Students will love seeing this!

Google's Newspaper Archive

Just streaming the news this morning through Google News and stumbled across their "archived articles".  You can search for old newspapers.

I created a search for - world war germany berlin.  My search gave me some decent return.  I found a newspaper from April 2, 1962 talking about conflict in Berlin between East and West Germany and liquidating World War II.

Full Screen

Google allows you to easily scroll or flip through each newspaper page easily, highlighting your search terms.

I also searched for - kennedy president jfk.  From the search return, I found an article from The Harper Herald from Nov 22, 1963, the day JFK was assassinated.

Be sure to check out the Related Articles section for more.

What a great way to involve primary source material with your history topics.  Each article has its own web link.  Post and share them on your Moodle course or website for student access.