This is now two years old, but it is nonetheless very interesting. Sir Ken Robinson's basic thesis is that our schools are organized on an industrial model that assumes that age is very important to our students and that everyone must move at the same speed. One of the biggest changes I am making is trying to create a classroom where I am the facilitator and the students move more at their own pace. I still believe I need someone to write some algorithms for me so my students can get data reinforcement and learn in time segments that are best for them (Knewton is a company that does this, but only for math) but until that happens (and I am working on this) the video above is a very thoughtful piece that will make you ask why you do what you do when you are doing it. Technology is the answer to improve our educational model.
The Problem w. Education...
This is now two years old, but it is nonetheless very interesting. Sir Ken Robinson's basic thesis is that our schools are organized on an industrial model that assumes that age is very important to our students and that everyone must move at the same speed. One of the biggest changes I am making is trying to create a classroom where I am the facilitator and the students move more at their own pace. I still believe I need someone to write some algorithms for me so my students can get data reinforcement and learn in time segments that are best for them (Knewton is a company that does this, but only for math) but until that happens (and I am working on this) the video above is a very thoughtful piece that will make you ask why you do what you do when you are doing it. Technology is the answer to improve our educational model.
How the Egytpians Built the Pyramids
/>Open Culture posted this video clip about the work of French architect, Jean-Pierre Houdin on the Great Pyramid at Giza. Using 3-D software, Houdin argues that the Egyptians used an external ramp for the lower part of the pyramids and an internal ramp for the higher parts. Egyptologist Bob Brier summarizes Houdin's theory in this short article.
Wallwisher - Going Mobile
Wallwisher With Mobile Devices
(This link will NOT work on mobile devices, so here is one that will if you are interested.)
Wallwisher is a flexible web based collaborative tool that has been presented on an associated blog before.
In January some food for thought was provided on using Wallwisher to encourage questioning, and give voice to reluctant students. January Post
In early December there was a post advancing the idea of using the tool to encourage collaboration between students anywhere, including around the World. December Post
There is also another blog that appears helpful in coming up with ideas to use Wallwisher meaningfully.
NOW, take it Mobile:
Don't worry about Mobile apps (They don't seem to exist for Wallwisher yet.)What is an educator to do??? GO SIMPLE!!!
Get a fully functional BOOKMARK for Wallwisher onto your ipad, and maybe onto other mobile devices (Sorry, I don’t have any Android devices to test the idea.)
Here is what you can do:
Step One: Open whichever web browser you use on your mobile device.
Step Two: Open the Wallwisher web site.
Step Three: Bookmark it.
If you have a g-mail account you can use it to log into your Wallwisher account.
Then start collaborating from.......anywhere your Mobile device will take you.
U.S.H.M.M.- Holocaust Encyclopedia: “The World Must Know”
Why use the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum “Holocaust Encyclopedia”:
- There are more resources than can be imagined on most any specific topic you or your students may want to research for learning purposes.
- We all know there are some “elements” in our world that would argue that what we know as “The Holocaust” never happened. The resources accessible through the encyclopedia can put your students, and you, in the position to follow the call that “The World Must Know” the truth of “The Shoah.”
Go to the USHMM Web Site Then go to the History tab at the top of the page > Then go to the selection “Holocaust Encyclopedia”
Types of resources available through the encyclopedia articles:
1. Explanatory text with hyperlinks to other related ; 2. Photographs; 3. Videos of Survivor stories; 4. Images of artifacts; 5. Maps; 6. Historical film footage; 7. Suggested further readings; 8. Links to related Podcasts; 9. Links to the article in various other languages: Spanish, Arabic, Russian, French, Farsi, Chinese, Korean, and several others.
Christmas Day 2012
It is over and now I am ready for summer. No need to stay cold and gray. Christmas is over let's just move on. No need for the kids to go back to school in a few days. Oh, how I wish. Instead we have at least 3 probably 4 months of yucky weather and homework tears. Okay, sorry I am being a Debbie Downer. Christmas was very quiet this year. Our Christmas Dinner with friends had to be canceled because we were all so sick. We did manage to meet to swap food so that we each at least had a complete meal. We stayed in our pajamas all day and worked on LEGO sets and a 3D puzzle Atley received, skyped with my family, watched It's a Wonderful Life and tried to rest. Thank goodness Harley, who almost always manages to be the only healthy one at our house, won't remember how lame we were. The kids-wait let me rephrase that- Atley woke up at 5:45 and then woke up everyone else. Santa brought the boys Legos and books. Harley got a balance bike and a bouncy puppy from Santa. Other gifts included a hot wheels track, Baby Alive who ate and pooped all afternoon, dress up shoes, video games, playdough, a Doodle Bear and of course every kids favorite clothes.
Google+ Hangouts In Action - World History
As the December 23rd post from Ken about Google + states, there is more and more collaboration happening between teachers using this Google tool. (See the example embedded in that post made by Wallace of Wallace and Gromit.)
One such example of collaboration was when a “Civil War Soldier” was whisked through time from December 13th, 1862 to December 13th, 2012, where he met with a class of High School students after his time travel, answered their questions, and added to their content understanding
Sometimes students pay more attention to a “Show.” They hear more when occasionally someone else shares information. Think of the benefit to students of:
- Having a member of a hunter-gatherer society visit with your classes
- Ask a Phoenician about their culture, and how they came up with the Alphabet
- Talk with someone from the early culture of Greece, China, Rome, or any other place being studied.
- Hear from a feudal lord or serf about what life is like for them
- Converse with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci
- Listen to a trader working the commerce routes linking Europe with Asia and Africa
- Study the Reformation and Counter-reformation with John Wycliffe, John Calvin, Martin Luther, or an Inquisitor.......
- Sit in a room where the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact is discussed and signed
- Hear from a simple member of The Hitler Youth
- Experience the story of a Holocaust Survivor, Liberator, Resistance Fighter, or even a Collaborationist
ArcGIS Mobile App - FREE!!!
NO!!! Don’t skip over this because you have dealt in the past with a difficult to use ArcGIS product. This one really IS great!!!
Main Points:
- Can use GPS tool to locate a bookmark pin where you are located. Bookmark still saved after closing and reopening app
- Has a centering tool that allows you to move around a map, and then move back to view the spot where you are located.
Measuring Distance Tool (has two arrows above a ruler):
You can place your location on the map with the GPS function. Then tap the map at the place to which you want to know the distance.
Maps available: Basic map, Imagery, Imagery with labels, Streets, Topographic, Terrain with Labels, Light Gray Canvas, National Geographic, Oceans, OpenStreetMap, Bing Maps Aerial, Bing Maps Hybrid, Bing Maps Road
Interested??? - Click on THIS LINK to go to the esri web site with information on where to get the app. There are links for those with: Apple Devices, Android Devices, and Windows Phone Devices. )
Christmas Eve 2012
We spent most of Christmas Eve driving home from New York City and feeling deathly ill. Unfortunately, for Scott and I this will be the Christmas we remember as being the sickest we have ever felt. The kids were sick too but seemed to handle it better than us. We are all still feeling pretty horrible three days later and since the doctor says it is JUST the flu, we have no choice but to tough it out.
Christmas Eve the kids got to open one present-their pajamas, a game, and a Christmas book. We mustered enough energy to read the book, play one round of the game and snap a few pictures before collapsing into our beds heavily medicated.
NYC @ Christmastime
What we did...
Ice Skating at Central Park
Walking and admiring the amazing lights and store windows.
Sony Wonder Tech Lab. So, much fun and it is FREE!! Above Atley is performing open heart surgery.
Freezing at Times Square. Check out one of the biggest ads. That's right. The Mormons!!
Saw a show on Broadway. We saw Nice Work if You Can Get It!
It was hilarious. At one point I was laughing so hard I hit my head on the seat in front of me. Apparently, the lady sitting in that seat gave me a killer look. But, I was a little too dazed to notice. 
Santaland at Macy's. Worth the long lines.
Riding the Subway to Grand Central Station.
Train Exhibit and market at Grand Central.
Where We Ate...
Most of the time we ate at our apartment, with a view like this why go out. So when we did go out we chose very carefully.
First, stop. Dylan's Candy Bar Cafe.
Carnegie Deli. As you can see Nash was not as excited about Corned Beef, Pastrami and pickles as Harley.
Nash was a lot happier at Giovanna's in Little Italy. (Just off of Canal on Mulberry Street) The best Italian I have ever had!!!
Where we shopped...
FAO Schwarz of course!
and Chinatown, where Harley got her very own Louis Vuitton. She was so happy we found her sleeping with it that night. This is a girl after my own heart!
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