Have you ever given your students some free time to explore Google Maps? What do they do? In my experience, with the power to view the entire world, walk the gilded halls of the Palace of Versaille, jump to Everest Base Camp, dive into the Great Barrier Reef, or teleport to the International Space Station, … Continue reading Get More from your Tour
Tech
That’s a lot of stars.
So, I guess I am a little late on this one, but I found it so interesting. I was searching for a work around of a dead link of a post I did a while back and I came across this amazing interactive visualization from Chrome Experiments. You have probably heard that the universe is … Continue reading That’s a lot of stars.
Panorama-rama
Has anyone tried Google Cardboard yet? I love how it is making VR experiences available for everyone, especially cash strapped educators. Virtual reality is really in its infancy, but the availability of VR tools, like the cheap paper goggles offered by Google and the apps that utilize its simple concept, make it easy for a generation … Continue reading Panorama-rama
Amazing Animations!
They say a picture say a thousand words. How about an animation? Jake and Wes O'Neal are the creative brains and graphic-design brawn behind the amazingly illuminating animations of Animagraffs. In the same spirit as The Way Things Work but with the visual flair of Interactive Simulations, Animagraffs breaks down everyday technological and natural wonders into their … Continue reading Amazing Animations!
Explore More!
I am a huge fan of Museums and other species of exhibitionary locations. (Is there a word for the planetarium/science/interactive exhibition/type place that I am talking about?) In St. John's, my favorite school days are visits to the Fluvarium, Geo Centre, or The Rooms. I count myself lucky to have such institutions available in my … Continue reading Explore More!
Simulations!
Physics can be hard, right? Even though the idea of curved space-time has been around for at least 100 years, most of us average Joes and Joelles have a hard time wrapping our heads around the concept. And so even upon the recent proof of gravitational waves many of us still have a hard time understanding … Continue reading Simulations!
AI and Language Learning
Over the summer I did a course called Design of Technology Supported Learning Environments. I posted my group's final project out of a sense of duty and shameless self promotion. I post this link from another group in my class out of interest and respect for a job well done. If you are even the … Continue reading AI and Language Learning
Multimedia Lesson Plan
I am working on my Master's of Educational Technology from the University of British Columbia. I am about to wrap up a course that deals with the design of learning spaces. As a final project, my group designed a unit for Social Studies that deals with propaganda and the use of digital tools. You can … Continue reading Multimedia Lesson Plan
Game on
I recently became very excited about a discussion of educational gaming. Imagine, playing games for fun, but learning at the same time. Sounds crazy, right. Well, believe it or not, there are well respected intellectuals working on it as we speak. Check out this video where James Paul Gee distils the salient points in the … Continue reading Game on
The New Taxonomy
Most teachers will remember Bloom's Taxonomy from their days in teacher's college. Our ideal as pedagogues is to bring students from the lower levels of knowledge acquisition and understanding to the higher levels of synthesis and evaluation. Moving through these levels is necessary for critical thinkers. The original was proposed in 1956 by Benjamin Bloom … Continue reading The New Taxonomy
