Free Stuff for Educators

Here is a blog that discusses some free resources:

http://www.techlearning.com/Blogs/18598

Enjoy!

CLRN

Currently, my GE-555 class is examining and blogging about the California Learning Resource Network site http://www.clrn.org/

Today, I received the following email:

Dear Dr. Luongo,

I discovered several of your student's blog posts regarding CLRN through an automated daily Google search and noticed that you're sharing our great resource in your class. Thank you. The California Learning Resource Network has been a state-funded project for the past 10 years, although we’ve been around for the past 25. We began by reviewing commercial electronic learning resources, but expanded to include data assessment resources and free web information links. I’m curious to know which parts of our site are of value to you and your students.

You can always catch up with our new features through one of our nine blogs or through my blog . In addition to the two new WILs categories we added in February (Free Software/Web Tools and Free Supplementary Course Materials), we’ve added a user feedback system to both our ELARS and our WILs. Now, educators can rate and comment on any of our free resources. We’re even giving away an iPod Nano each month to one of the participants.

We’re just beginning our yearly evaluation period where we’ll be collecting data about our progress and our user’s needs. If there are any features you feel should be added, we’d love to know.
BTW, our data shows that 1% of our users come from New Jersey, 13% from Virginia, and 3% from New York (let alone the 4% from Beijing).

Thanks,

Brian
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Bridges
Director, CLRN
Your source for California standards-aligned electronic learning resources

bbridges@clrn.org


Ah~ the wonders of the digital age!

Worksheets for Teachers

Take a look at this link:

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/

I just found it and plan on using it in my classes.

Enjoy!

Facebook Freedom?

Recently, I shared Ginette's (GE-555) blog posting with a colleague of mine... She had been complaining about her vulnerability on the web and use of Facebook and Twitter, etc...

The blog made an impact, and she deleted her Facebook account. She explained that she thought she was becoming too reliant on it and wasting too much time. Since that time, she told me she has become "freed" from the constant checking and updating she used to do on Facebook. People wonder where "she is", but she is back where she should be--the real world.

Is this the backlash that will eventually occur when people get tired of Facebook and MySpace? Will this ever occur with the current generation?

Take a look at this link and see what you think:

http://news.myjoyonline.com/features/200904/28721.asp

Wacky Web Tales

Take a look at this WACKY site provided by Houghton Mifflin.

http://www.eduplace.com/tales/

Your students who enjoy Mad Libs will enjoy this site.

"The Raven" on You Tube

How could you use this YouTube video in class? Would you use this video or audio to engage students?

Quotation

It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts... it is to teach them to think, if that is possible, and always to think for themselves.

-- Robert Hutchins

Educational Videos

Here is an additional link to some educational videos that may be of help to you:

http://www.kidsknowit.com/interactive-educational-movies/index.php

This site claims, "Our Free Educational Movies bring your student on a fun and interactive journey through the world around us. Each movie begins by introducing students to the topics that they will be learning about, and ends with an online quiz. In order to successfully complete each online video, your student must watch, and then successfully answer the quiz questions with 80% or higher accuracy....Students who do not obtain 80% comprehension will be instructed to watch the movie a second time, and then again try to answer the quiz questions."

Enjoy!

Saint Peter's College Launches CETL Website

Here is a link to the new Saint Peter's College Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning!

The mission of the Center is to promote excellence in teaching and learning. The Center seeks to communicate and provide information to students, link students to resources for learning; to support and foster the development of faculty as teachers and scholars and to create a venue for dialogue and sharing among faculty. The Center is intended to serve undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty members of all ranks and status.

You will find many useful inks on this site.

April Fooling Worm?

Take a look at the CNN story about the April Fools' Day Worm:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/24/conficker.computer.worm/

Has anyone had any problems?