Palm Handheld Computers in the Classroom

Wow, what a project it was.... for full details visit the "official" blog of the project.

www.papalms.edublogs.org

Is e-mail outdated already?

This link takes us to an interesting article on how students communicate....

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryRSS.cfm?ArticleID=6297

Funderstanding Roller Coaster Simulation

I will eventually add this as a link. This is a great little application for kids to explore some of the concepts involved in force and motion. Users must manipulate the variables to keep the roller coaster on the track! Enjoy

http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/

Students "Explore" Geo-Caching

Students in grade 7 and 8 began to explore the high tech treasure hunt game called Geo-caching on Friday March 31st. The grade 7 and 8 girls began during their outdoor phys ed. period, and the boys will do the same during theirs. The students used a hand held GPS unit to look for a hidden "cache". Inside each cache is a small notepad for the student to record the time they visited, plus some various small "prizes" the students could trade for. There were a few "minor" glitches but overall the kids (and adults) enjoyed the beautiful spring morning and a good walk through the neighborhood.

A group of girls find the cache!

Teaching for Understanding (TfU) -- Science Sites

These two science sites are part of my Teaching for Understanding course I am taking. Interesting and perhaps even useful in the classroom.

http://www.fearofphysics.com/index1.html

http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/frog/Frog2/

Perspective is everything...

These two show how things can look either excellent or out of whack, depending on your perspective. Drawn in chalk by artist Julian Beever, the pictures are drawn in a "special distortion in order to create an impression of 3 dimensions."

More of the artists work can be found at the artists homepage.
http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/pave.htm

Virtual Field Trips

These links are part of a "Virtual Field Trips" presented to my Teaching for Understanding class. I found the pathways to be a very interesting and informative site.

http://pathways.thinkport.org/following/


http://www.field-guides.com/trips.htm

Audio Books

With Ipods and mp3 players everywhere it is easy for students to take their music and podcasts with them. They can also carry books, short stories and poetry. This website has "free" books that can be downloaded to computer or mp3 player. For a fee, more modern titles can be downloaded from the iTunes store. It might be worth it to convince your administrator to buy a few liscences to try with your students!

http://librivox.org/

Everybody loves the drummer!!!

Even though computers are highly "technical", I find that the real payoff comes in the creativity that the technology allows people to tap into. The following link is proof. Our school principal, Mr. Pandila, showed the staff at Prince Arthur this website, the interactive drum kit! Turn up the volume and have some fun!

http://www.kenbrashear.com/

First time with snow...

picture104
Originally uploaded by unprofessionaldevelopment.

Our dog Bauer, the faithfull Labradoodle!

I think this is a great picture and it captures the type of dog he is!

I am really just experimenting with flickr...trying to figure out how it will improve this blog!

Stop Frame Animation for Beginners

Every so often I am asked about the "Stop Frame Animation" projects I have done with my class. I have added my "link" to the tutorial that explains it all...


http://news.mjsd1.ca/%7Emcintosh/indexmain.htm

Rookie of the Year!!!!

Say no more about it....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3957094422427700341

Music Fun!!!! A cool online mixing tool

I just saw this on Tim Lauer's Blog ( http://tim.lauer.name/ ) and thought it was pretty cool tool. What a great way for students to explore the world of mixing and organizing sounds!!
http://audiomixer-d.oddcast.com/php/ctc