Google Earth-Additional Features

I personally don't look into Google Earth that often as I have no reasons to use it except for the once in awhile curiosity of what it can do or its additional features.  I did however come across a website for Google Earth showcasing its many features (new or not) that it has to offer besides just typing in addresses and "flying" to those locations.  

Google Earth Showcase

If you click on any of these Showcases, such as Ocean, you should see a list of activities/adventures/expeditions on the right hand side that you can look through.  Some of them even allow you to "Download in Google Earth," which is located underneath the video.

If you choose to Download in Google Earth, double click on the file that is downloaded and it should open up in Google Earth.  If it opens up in a different application, Control + Click on the file, choose Open With and locate Google Earth.  It takes you right to the activity/adventure/expedition.

Science Teachers use in the classroom

Ocean-Explore the Ocean SeaFloor

Mars-View images downloaded by Mars just hours ago

Sky-View constellations and movement of the planets

Moon-Take tours of landing sites

Climate Change-Explore the potential impacts

Hubble Telescope-Browse the amazing images or fly to them in space

Social Studies Teachers in the classroom

Historical Imagery-Explore Las Vegas or Berlin as it was many decades ago

U.S. Presidents-View their birthplace or see a progression of the states that voted during each election

UNESCO-Explore some of the world's most remarkable natural and cultural landmarks

Self-Guided Web 2.0 Tools Challenge

The HDCSD staff has been challenged:

I challenge you to to register for this Free 2 week Self-Guided Web 2.0 Challenge.  I did it over the summer and learned some things.

http://plpnetwork.com/2010/12/21/self-guided-web-2-0-tools-course/

"This self-guided course using Web 2.0 tools, such as blogs, wikis, Twitter, and social networking/bookmarking sites, will help you begin to build your personal learning network and prepare you for participating in a connected learning community as a whole. We hope you feel the excitement building as you take the first steps toward preparing for what’s ahead this year in your Community."

And if you feel like it is something you already know or it is too much, you can skip the activity, delete the email and wait for another activity the next day.

Let's see you takes on the challenge and learns something new.

Online Learning/Online Text Books

Below are some free online learning materials and online text books that could easily take the place of physical text books in the classroom.  The material is provided as to read through it online and/or read through and interact with video, questions, and other material online.  All of these web sites provide the opportunity for students and staff to save money with future textbook purchases.

CK-12 - Free easy to use tools for you, your teachers and your schools so that you get your learning done. (Matches to Core Curriculum Standards)
Opening Learning Initiative - Transforming higher education through the science of learning.
Sophia - What do you want to learn?

Help your student become better searchers

Take a look at this link for helping your students to become better searchers.
http://www.google.com/insidesearch/searcheducation/index.html

It has Lesson Plans & Activities, has Live Trainings, "A Google A Day" Challenges and a Power Search Course.

The Lesson Plans & Activities range from Beginner, Intermediate, Advance and includes topics such as:
Picking the right search terms
Understanding search results
Narrowing a search to get the best results
Searching for evidence for research tasks
Evaluating Credibility Resources

"A Google A Day" challenges might be a good beginning of the class activity while taking attendance or end of the class when some time is left.

The Power Search Course is an online course that runs from September 24-October 10 that you can signup for Free and personally learn how to Search better which will help you when instructing your students.

Iowa Core - 21st Century Skills: Technology Literacy Integration

Technology Literacy Essential Concepts and Skills

• Creativity & Innovation

Grades 9-12: Demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

Grades 6-8: Demonstrate creative thinking in the design and development of innovative technology products and problem solving.

Grades 3-5: Use technology resources to create original products, identify patterns and problems, make predictions, and propose solutions.

Grades K-2: Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions.

• Communication & Collaboration

Grades 9-12: Use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

Grades 6-8: Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using interactive technology.

Grades 3-5: Use interactive technologies in a collaborative group to produce digital presentations or products in a curricular area.

Grades K-2: Use a variety of technology tools and media-rich resources to work collaboratively with others.

• Research & Information Fluency

Grades 9-12: Utilize predetermined digital resources and tools to answer questions or solve problems.Grades 6-8: Utilize digital tools and resources to investigate real‐world issues, answer questions, or solve problems.

Grades 3-5: Plan strategies utilizing digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.

Grades K-2: Apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information

• Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, & Decision Making

Grades 9-12: Demonstrate critical thinking skills using appropriate tools and resources to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions.

Grades 6-8: Use critical thinking skills to conduct research, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate technological tools and resources.

Grades 3-5: Use technological resources to develop and refine questions for investigation.

Grades K-2: Use technological resources to investigate given questions or problems.

• Digital Citizenship

Grades 9-12: Understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.

Grades 6-8: Understand the legal and ethical issues of technology as related to individuals, cultures, and societies.

Grades 3-5: Understand and practice appropriate, legal, and safe uses of technology for lifelong learning.

Grades K-2: Understand and practice appropriate and safe uses of technology.

• Technology Operations & Concepts

Grades 9-12: Demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

Grades 6-8: Demonstrate creative thinking in the design and development of innovative technology products and problem solving.

Grades 3-5: Use technology resources to create original products, identify patterns and problems, make predictions, and propose solutions.

Grades K-2: Use technology to create projects, identify patterns, and make predictions

Hampton Chronicle

Hampton Chronicle

Check out our information about Free Technology Recycling

20 Web 2.0 Sites Not Requiring Student Email

This web site lists 20+ 2.0 web sites not requiring student emails for access to use the web sites.  This then provides teachers with the possibilities to create the accounts for the students to login and use or the web sites do not need accounts but what the students create or work on has to be completed within the time frame of the period or with the responsibility of not quitting out of the web site or logging out of the computer.

http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=4761