Hey You Guuuuyyyys!! They're Back!

While doing some research for a parent meeting presentation, I stumbled across some good news. One of the best educational tv shows is returning to the small screen. That's right -- The Electric Company is coming back! Right now, in NYC, new episodes are being filmed. The new show is slated to run in January of 2009. While I know they will update the show to appeal to today's youth, my heart will always belong to the orange-hued, scanimation-filled original. The show helped me continue a love of words and language that was started by my parents. Hopefully, the new show will do the same for a new generation. "Sounds righteous, delightious, and out-of-sighteous! Heavy, heavy [*finger snap*], heavy! Ha-ah!"

NY Times Article: "PBS Revives a Show That Shines a Light on Reading"

Taking Notes With Mind Maps: Presentation and Video

A few weeks ago, I gave a presentation on taking notes using Mind Maps. Since I have been using this method to take notes, I have found that I stay focused on what the speaker is saying and that I retain information better. Mind maps help me organize my thoughts as well. I know this method has been around for a while, but it seems that it is not used as much in school today. However, I think students today, being such highly visual learners, would greatly benefit from using mind maps.

Here is the presentation:


Also, there is an excellent video by Tony Buzan (considered to be the father of the mind map) where he explains the psychology behind mind maps and why they work. Check it out here:

The BEST Social Bookmarking Tool You Should Be Using

Yeah! Diigo has finally released version 3.0! Looks pretty slick, I must say. I absolutely LOVE Diigo! The fact that you can highlight and leave sticky notes on sites that you bookmark were the main features that attracted me to try it. So many times I had bookmarked sites on del.icio.us only to go back wondering, "Why in the heck did I bookmark this Winnie the Pooh site?" But once I began using Diigo, I could see what part of site I found interesting/important/relevant by looking at my notes or highlights. If you already use del.icio.us, Diigo will even import all of your bookmarks.

If you have not tried Diigo, I highly recommend it. You can even join my Education Technology group! Check the video below to learn more about Diigo...

The Death of Palm?

I have been using Palm based devices for almost ten years -- from my first Handspring device to my current Palm Centro. While my Palm devices have served me well, I must admit to gadget envy when the iPhone was released last year. And to make matters worse, the Palm OS has not made any major changes or improvements in years. When I updated my Treo 650 to the Centro, the only notable changes were that adding the third-party apps of PocketTunes and Google Maps.

However, for the past couple of years, there have been rumors flying around the net about a "gPhone" being released. In the video below, you will see that Google will NOT release a "gPhone." However, what Google has shrewdly done is create a new open-source mobile platform called Android. And it looks poised to deliver the death-blow to the Palm OS, while giving iPhone some much needed competition. The video shows Android in action on an unidentified handset. Check it out:



Did you see it? Looks pretty slick, huh? My green-eyed gadget monster is rearing its ugly head. Could this also be the answer for using cost-efficient mobile computers in the classroom?

Funday Monday...

When I was little, I used to play this song over and over on my Mickey Mouse record player. I haven't seen or heard this clip in years. There's something about Lena Horne's voice and Jim Henson's perfect puppetry that touches my heart and makes me want to burst into tears. Such a wonderful song with a beautiful message. Absolute classic.




*UPDATE: It's back!!

Eduism, eBeam and a $100 Whiteboard!

Rich White of Edusim had posted a comment about my Smartboard Presentation that I accidentally deleted. He directed me to his site -- and I'm glad he did. Eduism is a free opensource 3D environment specifically for the interactive whiteboard. Check out the video below. It looks almost like a SecondLife environment. Wow!



Then I found this video showing another way to create a DIY interactive whiteboard with a Wii remote. Could/Would school districts be willing to take advantage of this type of technology? Teachers would still need a projector, which can run from $500-1200. But it's definitely cheaper than the $2500 and up needed for a commercial interactive whiteboard. Check out that video below.


Then my jaw dropped further when I saw this video of a device called an eBeam that turns regular monitors into touchscreens! Amazing!!



I will definitely post more about Eduism as I peruse the site some more. VERY cool stuff!

Taking notes in the 21st Century...

Just saw this awesome post at EduTechie on LiveScribe, a note-taking tool.  Looks like the Flypen, but better.  I want one for my notes!  Check out the video below.  (Sorry if YouTube is blocked at your school.)

LiveScribe - Take Awesome Notes at EduTechie.com

 

 

Make an Interactive Whiteboard for Under $100 using the Wii Remote

via Mark Wagner: Educational Technology and Life » Blog Archive » Links for 2007-12-17

This is absolutely amazing!  Inventor Johnny Lee has devised a hack that allows the Wii remote to become a sensor for an interactive whiteboard.  Then, with a  few LEDs and reflective tape, he turns his TV into a "Minority Report"-like machine.  A projector would still need to be purchased, and of course, the Wii, for this to work.  But is this a low-cost alternative for struggling districts?



See the video for yourself:

Tim Wang’s eLearning Blog - Multi-touch Whiteboard Under 100 Dollars - Using The Wii Remote