Need an App?

I needed ideas for a book project our 7th graders are doing, and none of my usual line-up--Animoto, VoiceThread,ToonDoo, etc.--would work. So I posted asking for ideas on LM-Net. 800 emails later, I found a "cool" link--cool tools for school that gathers many of the Web 2.0 apps into one well-organized wiki.

What in the World?

I'm attending the Model U.N conference at Brown this weekend, and found a wonderful resource for teaching global issues: Choices.

Created by the Watson Institute for International Studies, the program offers curriculum units on topics ranging from global environment and nuclear weapons to historical hot points such Weimar Germany and the rise of Hitler. Each unit includes lesson plans and primary source documents as well as engaging interactive role-plays. Units are available as books or pdf downloads, and are pretty reasonably priced.

Even if your budget is strapped, the website offers an exciting collection of video resources--scholars online--that are short, informative and excellent for classroom use and discussion. All you need to do is create a free account.

You'll also find supplemental materials and teaching tools. Well worth checking out!

As educators, we have almost a moral imperative to move students beyond an ethno-centric view of the world to a more global perspective. These resources help make that an easier task.

Want a Google Wave Invite?

At last, I am finally on Google Wave. I will work with it today and blog about it later this week.

In the meantime, I have some GW invitations I will give to the first five people who ask. Just send me your email address.

Here's a quick explanatory video


Or here's the official, 7 minute intro

Weighty Issues in YA Lit

This thoughtful post by Elizabeth Bluemle on the depiction of fat kids/people in books is a must read for everyone.

Documentaries: Enough is Enough Already...

Yet another post about documentaries! I'm giving a workshop today at the CECA conference in Hartford. If you're interested, here's a link to my page on resources.

Well, it's getting there...

Here's my first Prezi. I obviously still need work on layout/design, but you get the gist!

Good-Bye Power Points (and good riddance...)

Have you seen Prezi yet? It promises to revolutionize presentations. It thinks WAY outside the linear box, allowing users to create more organic presentations.

There's a definite learning curve--I was going to do one to demonstrate, but I'm struggling with paths. So I decided just to post one of the videos demonstrating the process. Very cool!

I'm actually giving a workshop at a conference on Monday, but that's probably not a good time to try using it. So I may convert one of the power points I do with the students and try that.

The site provides video tutorials, but needs a few that are more detailed (as I said, I'm struggling with the whole create a path thing). It also gives some great ideas for using Prezi creatively. Take a look!