April 2004
April 29, 2004
I just spent two hours...
Playing make your own widget.
These are meant to be games for kids in preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary Grades.
Nice to know the child in me is still alive...what a great game...
April 28, 2004
iknowthat.com
Search engines for kids
On this website you will find search forms for the major Internet search engines for kids.
Below these are Internet search engine links, links to web guides for kids, some specialized search engine forms and specialized search engine links of interest to kids.
At the bottom of the page there are links to family friendly or general WWW filtered search engines and links to more pages like this.
Internet Search Engines for Kids
Yahooligans
Yahooligans! is a browsable, searchable directory of Internet sites for kids. Each site has been carefully checked by an experienced educator to ensure the content and links are appropriate for kids aged 7-12. In addition to our directory, we also have a number of fun features, including Yahooligans! Games, Sports and News pages, Movies, Animals, Science and Dinosaurs, a Reference section, Parents' and Teachers' Guides, a Cool page, and lots more.
Ask Jeeves Website
Ask Jeeves for Kids is a fast, easy and kid-friendly way for kids to find answers to their questions online. Designed to be a fun destination site focused on learning and "edutainment," Ask Jeeves for Kids uses natural-language technology that allows kids to ask questions, such as "Why is the sky blue?" or "What's it like to live in space?" in the same way they would ask a parent, friend or teacher. The service combines human editorial judgment with filtering technology to enable kids to find both relevant and appropriate answers on the Web.
How to stop Spam Bill Gates style
USATODAY.com - Gates on how to stop spam
I have been sick.
I have been sick with a head cold for the last week and you might have noticed the lack of postings in the blog. This head cold and I have been in battle for a week and it seems to be winning. I sleep lots and complain even more. What I have not been doing is staying up on my readings and emails. So...today with a slightly clearer head I tackled my email inbox. I do not want to hear anymore about my male short comings, my poor morgage rate, the little blue pill that I can get for cheap and all the other things that the spammers of the world feel I need to know. Six out of ten emails are spam. It will be a bad day when we have to pay for emailing just because we cannot find another way to control the spam. Here is an interesting article on the topic...
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2001/04/unsolicommemail.htm
Please could someone figure out a way to control the spam so the email system can remain free and I don't have to be reminded of my short comings daily over and over again.
I also got to reading an email that was talking about internet2
I never knew internet1 was broken, it seems to be working fine and I could not figure out from the website what would be so different with internet2. But I will read a little more, it might just be my fuzzy head.
I then tried a site called
http://www.mycooltools.com
I typed in an IP address from the russian and watched it bounce around the world map. It is amazing to see the route the internet packets take to get to a place. I have this visualization in my mind of these little flashes of light bouncing all over the place and just by chance finding the right place.
It makes me laugh because I get mad so quick when I am sitting waiting for a webpage to download and take no time to think about what is actually happening to make this page appear on my monitor.
I remember in the old days on my VIC 20 when I spent half a day writing code into a page to get my name to scroll down the monitor and being so excited when that worked. Now, I get mad when the images, video and audio take more then 3 seconds to load.
Anyways my head is starting to get fuzzy again...I am going to lie down.
Thats my view through my head cold cyber glasses.
April 23, 2004
Statistics Canada
First visit to our site?
Welcome to www.statcan.ca!
From publications to electronic data, census to survey information, www.statcan.ca is THE official source for Canadian social and economic statistics and products. Our goal is simple -- to provide you with remarkably detailed content on practically every aspect of Canada at a single point of contact. We invite you to browse through our site and discover what the power of information can do for you!
Educator's Resource Center
Proven solutions for your most pressing challenges.
Information Processing 20 Developer / Instructor
Last year I developed a course in WebCT. It certainly took a while to get used to the platform. I've gotten used to it, and I like it. It works well. As an instructor, I'd like to see a few minor changes - e.g. it would be nice if there was an icon that appeared on my WebCT home page that displayed that there was a new assignment available - similar to the new postings, new mail etc. I would also like to see on the assignments page a list of how many assignments were uncorrected e.g. 10/34 like how many new posts there are. This would be helpful.
When I began developing, I found I tried to make each page perfect, all the bells, flash files etc, right from the start. I found out that I was getting way behind in my developing because of this. It was better to get the content down and add the extra later. I could do that as I was offering the course (which I ended up doing). I found that it was easier to do all of the quizzes after all the content was done as well. This is because, I didn't tend to use the tool enough to become as fast with it as with other tools. I was always relearning the tool in between making quizzes. By waiting until the end to use the tool, I found I was faster. Of course, going back now to adjust or add quizzes I have a bit of a relearning.
Offering the course has been great. I really enjoy the unique relationship that is developed with and between students. In this second semester of the course, I have a student who is in my face to face class, taking the cyber course. This has provided me with a great opportunity for feedback.... More in another post.
Jason Benson
Information Processing 20 Developer / Instructor
April 22, 2004
Flash example one
I have no idea what these can be used for but they are very cool.
April 21, 2004
Compensation Models in Distance Education
An interesting article.
Compensation Models in Distance Education:
Leadership in Distance Education
Leadership in Distance Education: Is It a Unique Type of Leadership - A Lit Review
Growing Up Digital
How the web changes work, education, and way people learn.
By John Seely Brown
April 20, 2004
Wired News Hate Sites Bad Recruiting Tools
Online hate is as much a part of the Web as e-commerce, porn sites, and portals. From neo-Nazis and skinheads to the Ku Klux Klan, almost every hate group in America has its own website.
Wired News: Hate Sites Bad Recruiting Tools
Hate on the internet
The wonder of the Internet has been tarnished by hundreds of Web sites that spew hate. Using the Net, hatemongers can now reach into the room of any child who has a home computer. Their sites are often deceptive. Many attempt to disguise their message under a veneer of respectability. They use manipulation and lies to make their ideas sound almost reasonable.
Tolerance.org: Hate on the Internet
Museum of Tolerance
The Museum of Tolerance is a high tech, hands-on experiential museum that focuses on two central themes through unique interactive exhibits: the dynamics of racism and prejudice in America and the history of the Holocaust - the ultimate example of man's inhumanity to man. The Museum, the educational arm of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, was founded to challenge visitors to confront bigotry and racism, and to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts.
A break... 150 day entry and exit system
Easter has just passed. As you notice by the lack of posting within the blog I was on vacation. A vacation where my wife told me that I must leave my "satan in a box" (my laptop) at home. We went on a cruise, I ate too much, and had a very good time. I relaxed. I was back at work for one hour and I was back into the swing of things... three hundred e-mails (not spams) needing to be answered, thirty five new registrations, phone messages, budget issues.
I did look at the new timing system we have been using at the cyber school this year. This is the result of the look.
The 150 day timing situation in which the Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School has developed as a replacement system for the timing of student entry and exit into the School. Each stage of the 150 day system will be explained, problems will be identified and comments will be made on how these could have been prevented, alleviated and resolved.
Brain Implants
Stephen Downes states "I get so tired of having to hit the keys on my keyboard; I want one of these. Also, it would be nice to have a place to store my memories " This article brings so many things to my mind...no pun intended.
April 6, 2004
Center For Academic Integrity
The Center for Academic Integrity provides a forum to identify, affirm, and promote the values of academic integrity among students, faculty, teachers and administrators. The CAI Web site is divided into a public tier, which contains general information about the Center and its activities, and a members-only tier, which contains specific information on CAI projects, research, and a list-server for members to exchange ideas and information. Learn how your academic institution can gain access to all of the online resources
Plagiarism Resource Site
The goal of this web site is to help reduce the impact of plagiarism on education and educational institutions. At present, it distributes free software to detect plagiarism and provides links to other resources.
Plagiarism Resource Site Home Page
iParadigms
iParadigms is a pioneer in the rapidly expanding field of digital information tracking. The Internet, though an invaluable resource for services and information, is unfortunately also an unparalleled environment for all varieties of intellectual property theft. We have developed a suite of advanced tracking tools to combat the piracy of intellectual property and ensure the originality of written work. These tools have already been adopted and successfully implemented for thousands of institutional clients all over the world.
April 5, 2004
A guerrilla guide to virtual field trips
Virtual field trips offer entertaining and informative extensions of classroom activities. They can be used for multiple purposes, including:
1. A substitute for a site visit when costs or logistics make the visit impossible;
2. Preparing students for a real field trip;
3. Follow-up activities after a real field trip; or
4. Sharing your actual travel experiences or those of your class.
Discover and Create Your Own Field Trips
Medical Mysteries
MedMyst, short for "Medical Mysteries," is an Internet-based adventure designed with Macromedia Flash® in which you are on a mission to discover the causes of diseases. As you follow clues to solve the mystery, you also are given the opportunity to explore -- chemistry, pharmacology, neuroscience, medicine, public policy, history, and more
The Reconstructors Solve Medical Mysteries - Rice University
Super science fair projects
WOW! Today your teacher announced that your school is going to have a science fair and students are responsible for exhibiting their projects. What do you feel? Enthusiastic? Despondent? Dreadful? Fearful? Excited?
Whatever you are feeling, don't worry, this site is designed to walk you through the world of science fairs. Yes, this site is for YOU!
April 4, 2004
Teachers Hub
Welcome to the K-12 Interactive Learning Center!
Homeschool Hub
Here you will find a treasure trove of online homeschool curriculum resources.
High School Hub
High School Hub is a free online learning center
that features subject guides for English,
foreign languages, math, science, and social studies.
MiddleSchoolHub.org
Middle School Hub is a free online interactive
learning center for students in grades 5-8.
It includes educational games, puzzles,
quizzes, spelling activities, and subject guides.
KidsHub.org
Kids Hub is a free online interactive learning center for elementary school students. It features
fun educational games, puzzles, and quizzes.
April 2, 2004
Classroom filled with returning adults.
About 75% of colleges and universities have some sort of online program. The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) in Washington estimates that roughly 4 million students are involved in doing coursework at a distance at U.S. colleges and universities. According to the Department of Education, the estimated total enrollment for both undergraduate and graduate students in the USA was 15.7 million in 2003.
USATODAY.com - Classrooms filled with returning adults
The New York Times Article
Salem-Keizer Online, or S.K.O., is one in a growing number of public, private and charter schools available to kids who are looking for an alternative to a traditional education. Commonly called ''virtual school,'' it's a way of attending school at home without the hovering claustrophobia of home-schooling. S.K.O. has 131 students enrolled in the Salem area. Nationwide, there were about 50,000 students in virtual courses last year. As a business, virtual school is booming. Jim Cramer, co-host of CNBC's ''Kudlow & Cramer,'' calls online-school-software companies a hot commodity.
