Educational Origami

I was a little concerned when I read in a recent post on Mashable that Joe Biden has been asked not to investigate any linkage between violent video games and recent school shootings – http://mashable.com/2013/01/08/biden-video-games/

While we are never going to be able to definitely prove that exposure or addiction to violent video games is responsible for these tragedies, it is critical that this potential contributing factor is investigated and considered in addressing the events that have seen so many lives wasted.

There are a number of reputable studies that indicate there is a relationship between exposure to violent video games and altuism. People exposed to violent video games physiologically and mentally react with a reduced level of responce when exposed to violent behaviour. http://lol.medieraadet.dk/upload/mulige_aasager_social_hensynsloeshed.pdf The people become desensitized and this behaviour becomes more the expected norm.

I suspect that the games industry is protecting itself and its abundant revenue stream derived from these graphic and captivating games.

Further articles:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/08/us-usa-guns-nra-idUSBRE9070TT20130108?irpc=932

http://www.gamespot.com/news/joe-biden-appeals-to-games-industry-on-gun-control-task-force-6402155

http://www.gamespot.com/news/nra-condemns-games-in-wake-of-connecticut-shooting-6401901

http://www.gamespot.com/news/connecticut-town-collecting-and-destroying-games-6401982

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/09/us-usa-guns-biden-idUSBRE9080UA20130109

This is an interesting Infographic looking at Games and education. I found the post here - http://www.knewton.com/gamification-education/

I think we are going to see the use of games in a learning context increase. If we consider the importance of feedback in learning,the level of engagement that games provide the users, the opportunities for genuine learning that these tools provide us, it will be no surprise to see them appearing more and more often in a classroom near to us. here are some links from the info graphic and a couple of my favorites:

http://www.fas.org/immuneattack/

http://brainage.com/launch/index.jsp

http://www.seriousgames.org/

http://www.globalconflicts.eu/

Created by Knewton and Column Five Media

I have been enjoying this summer break and having a little technology downtime. However the kids have been playing quite extensively on the iPads as the weather has not always been conducive to swimming and playing around outside.

We have a wide selection of games on the iPad for the “kids” enjoyment and a couple leap to mine as useful tools that could be applied to learning. Why would I want to use games for learning, well they are engaging, self motivating, rewarding and have instant feedback. So here are a couple that I think have potential:

Simple Physics. Here you are required to build structures for a specific task. In the image below its a bomb shelter. The task is to build a shelter that withstands three explosion and remain within budget. The lower the cost the more points. To build it you must consider angles and strength, direction and force. Its fun and engaging. But its more than a bomb shelter, you build dams cranes, tree houses, submarines and staircases.

URL: http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/simplephysics/id408233979?mt=8

Here is a screengrab

Tinkerbox – this is a similar physics game to Simple Physics. Here you use logic, force, motion and mechanics to solve a series of problems. The game is supported by a tutorials (see below) that assist you in developing your solution. They are not easy either, there is considerable challenge involved in this game.

URL: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tinkerbox-hd/id415722219?mt=8

Rush Hour – this is a change of style and genre, but is an excellent learning and thinking game. This is a computer simulation of the real game of the same name. The objective is to move the cars in a sequence to allows you to release the red car from the grid lock it is in. The number of cars and the complexity of the sequence varies from easy to hard. Its a great game for developing logic and process. .

URL: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rush-hour/id336542036?mt=8

W.E.L.D.E.R. This stands for Word Examination Laboratory for Dynamic Extraction and Reassessment. Yea its a triffle ostentatious, but behind this mouthful lies a great game for the english student. Simply rearrange the letters and add in a few to create words (they have over 15000 loaded in the dictionary) Spell the word correctly, score the points and the letters are removed. It is a very addictive game.

URL: http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/w.e.l.d.e.r./id471056941?mt=8

Its easy to overlook the potential of games for learning. Find a game that matches your learning objectives, that reinforces a concept, that provides a different mode of understanding and you can unlock a world of engagement and fun.

WHAT GAMES HAVE YOU FOUND THAT COULD BE USE IN CLASS? I would love to hear about them.

In this update of on the wire we will look at the IAEA, some Biology, ITGS & Mathematics resources and more

1. IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency – http://www.iaea.org/ This is an interesting site at the best of times, but in light of the tragedy unfolding in Fukushima this site provides unbiased and accurate information. The daily updated blog does not just look at the Fuushima reactor complex rather examines and documents all of the reactors. An excellent valid information source.

2. Anatomy Arcade – http://www.anatomyarcade.com/ A games based learning site for anatomy. This site is useful for Science, Biology, health, and Physical education. Worth visiting to appraise.Games for skeletal, respiratory, muscular systems and more

source: http://www.anatomyarcade.com/images/AAheader.jpg

3. Super maths world http://www.supermathsworld.com/ This is a mathematics games based site that provides an engaging way of learning mathematics.

4. TeacherZone - http://teacher.tenmarks.com/ Mathematics video resources. This is a useful site that has over 1000 videos aimed at grades 3-10. Its free for teachers but does require a sign up. Also worth examining are:

• Mathtrain.TV – http://www.mathtrain.tv/
• Brightstorm – http://www.brightstorm.com/ (also science resources)
• MathTV – http://www.mathtv.com/videos_by_topic

5. Here’s to the crazy ones video – I love this its inspiring – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oAB83Z1ydE&feature=player_embedded

and finally for the ITGS and IT students. This infographic about the size of files and storage. Useful for terminology

This is a general update of the material I have found on the wire this week. There stuff for art, history and social studies, ITGS and computer studies as well as economics and social studies

1. An essential guide to digital photography – http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/essential-guide-digital-photography-pdf/ - This is a useful resource from the Make use of team. Well worth investigating and using in you art/photography classes. This Scribd digital book is worth looking at too. http://www.scribd.com/doc/19442574/Absolute-Beginners-Guide-to-Digital-Photography

2. History maps for teachers & students  – http://etc.usf.edu/maps/index.htm -  This is a resource from Florida’s Education clearinghouse. This site gives you access to a broad range of maps useful in social studies and history.

3. Moonbase Alpha – http://store.steampowered.com/app/39000/ – this is a steam powered simulation/game of a a moon base, called moonbase alpha. The product is produced by NASA and is a free resource. Worth investigating for its obvious links to science. It laso has interesting opportunities for cross curricula studies to.

4. Google and social media – http://mashable.com/2010/07/09/google-social-media-attempts/ – this is a info-graphic examining googles venture’s into social media. My word they have been busy, but thats very google. An interesting resource for ITGS, computer studies and anyone interested in social media and its evolution.

5. Admongo – http://www.admongo.gov/ this is a US government website that examines advertising. With resources for teachers, parents and students this is an interesting website to visit and use for economics, humanities etc. This is a resource focused at 8-12 year olds

and finally this from life hacker – the 5 best WYSIWYG HTML editors – a good article and worth reading – http://lifehacker.com/5579328/five-best-wysiwyg-html-editors

Here are some more interesting sites that might well be worth looking at. Science, Humanities, productivity tools and online video editing

1. Microsoft 2010 Posters - http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ukschools/archive/2010/06/21/free-classroom-posters-for-office-2010.aspx This is from the Microsoft UK education site. There are free posters for the key applications in MS Office 2010 . Here is the URL of the World wide education sites from MS - http://www.microsoft.com/education/world.mspx

And here is the pdf version

Worth a visit and a download if you are using this tool suite. If you are not using Microsoft Office, then you may well want to visit http://www.openoffice.org/ because the latest release of open office is available across the platforms for free. This is version 3.2.1 and its a bug fix and rebranding release. I am using it and its good.

2. JAYCUT video editor – http://jaycut.com/ This is an online web 2.0 video editing tool. Always nice to have options and this looks to be a good replacement for Jump Cut

3. Exploring the planets – http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/ceps/etp/ This is from NASA and its a nice resource for science and astronomy for a wide range of students.

4. EcoKids – http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm this is a Canadian site design for students with a teacher resource section. Its an environmental education site with lesson plans, resources and materials for teachers. Worth a visit for the science and humanities teachers.

Augmented Reality is one of these emerging technologies that is starting to creep into education. It has potential to be a very powerful tool for learning.

The commoncraft show has produced another excellent resources that you can view on the web or purchase for classroom use. This is an excellent introduction to the world of Augmented Reality

URL http://commoncraft.com/augmented-reality-video

have a look at this TED talks in Sixth Sense a Augmented Reality project out of the MIT labs – http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html and then check out the Sixth Sense page – http://www.pranavmistry.com/projects/sixthsense/

Other Resources:

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality

Also worth watching – Wikitude using your iPhone – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EA8xlicmT8

Well, it has taken me quite a while to catch up since our return from Nepal. However I have managed to collect a few interesting sites that are worth looking at. I would like to start with a quick plug for the Umbrella Foundation. This NGO provides a safe home for children orphaned, abandoned or deserted in Nepal. They have 8 houses and 300+ young people that they look after. Its brilliant and deserves our help and support.

1. Quick Translator - http://quicktranslator.net/index.php This is a great resource for language students and teachers. This service translates English into 13 different languages and back again. Useful.

2. Foreign Service languages – http://fsi-language-courses.org/Content.php This is a more advanced language courses developed for the US Foriegn Service and made public domain. This is a useful secondary school and adult education resource.

3. Stop Disaster - http://www.stopdisastersgame.org/en/playgame.html this is a disaster game from the United Nations and the International Strategy for disaster reduction. Its an online game with good resources and fact sheets – http://www.stopdisastersgame.org/en/information.html well worth using.

4. Free posters for Office 2007 – http://blogs.msdn.com/ukschools/archive/2009/02/26/reminder-free-office-2007-classroom-posters.aspx Here is something free from Microsoft – posters for their Office 2007 productivity suite. (You need to email them so it may or may not work) If you use open office (I do) then try this blog as a great resource – http://openoffice.blogs.com/openoffice/

5. Draw.to drawing tool http://draw.to/new This is a web 2.0 online drawing tool.

and finally – Explore – http://explore.org/. This is an interesting website that promises much here is what they say about themselves -  “explore is a multimedia organization that documents leaders around the world who have devoted their lives to extraordinary causes. Both educational and inspirational, explore creates a portal into the soul of humanity by championing the selfless acts of others.”

In this update we have a little something for everyone.

1. State of the Internet – http://www.focus.com/fyi/information-technology/state-internet/ – this is a good infographi summarising 2009 and the internet. This graphic looks at connections, bloggers, speed, access and use… An excellent resource for technology and Humanities.

2. Creative Chemistry – http://www.creative-chemistry.org.uk/index.htm – This is a UK site targetted at teachers and students undertaking Secondary school chemistrey. Lots of resources and materials.

3. Math Dictionary - http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/ – This is a useful site for students and teachers alike. The site is a dictionary of mathematical terms and flash interactive exercises that help to clarify the definition.

4. Fundamentals of student success in middle grades – http://www.nmsa.org/Advocacy/AdvocacyToolstoUse/FundamentalsPresentation/tabid/793/Default.aspx# – this is the download for a 17 minute presentation from the National Middle School Association. Worth watching – Home page – http://www.nmsa.org

5. Daggett’s Application Model - http://www.cordonline.net/connections/19_7/19_7_daggett.htm I found this after reading an interesting blog post from David Warlick – http://davidwarlick.com. This information Model looks at applying knowledge, processes and skills to different scenerios, with increasing  complexity of application and with successful application retention and understanding. This is a good model.

6. Nourish Interactive – http://www.nourishinteractive.com/ - this is a useful site for Health, science and PE. It contains nutritional information and resources.

7. VUE – Visual Understanding Environment  – http://vue.tufts.edu/index.cfm this is a open source visual tool that allows you to “search, organise and present”. An excellent free, open source mind mapping/graphical organiser.

and finally Vision Mapper – http://www.visionmapper.org.uk/ this UK site is part of Future Lab and an excellent resource for learning, teaching and pedagogy.

The number of websites that have come across my desk this week is quite outstanding. There are some great resources here that will suit many subjects and curriculum levels.

1. Working on the food chain - http://www.msnucleus.org/membership/storybooks/foodchain.html this is a simple explanation of a food chain. A good resource suiting younger students – upper Junior & lower middle school.

2. Cell visualisation project – http://www.kenneth-eward.com/cvp/cvpindex.html This is a more senior site with resources for the cell. Good graphics. The home site has a number of other resources that you may find of benefit – http://www.kenneth-eward.com/index.html

3. Purpose games – http://www.purposegames.com/ this is a site that hosts educational and quiz games. Really its a portal that you should consider visiting.

4. 35 + educational games http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/10/35-educational-games-and-games.html Free technology for teachers is one of my favourite sites and this is an excellent collection of educational games.

5. Web 2 tools for schools – http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/ This is an excellent wiki developed by a New Zealand Colleague Lenva. A great resources.

6. Starter sheets http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Starter+Sheets Professional development  and teaching resources for commonweb 2 tools