Here is my weekly catch from the net.

1. Alternative to – http://alternativeto.net/desktop this website is present you with alternative application to common or popular software and web based tools. This is an excellent tool for those of us with limited budgets.

2.Science visualisations – http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/08/visualizations/all/1# This is a wired science sumamtion of the best visualisation videos of 2009. This is an excellent resource for science teachers and can add variety into your teaching program. This opbviously appeals to the visual learner

3. How are maps made up from aerial and satellite images – http://qanda.encyclopedia.com/question/topographic-maps-created-aerial-and-satellite-photographs-78979.html – this is an article I found recently which explained how topo maps use images. very interesting and useful for the humanities students and particulalry the geographers.

4. What browser – http://www.whatbrowser.org/ this is a useful resource site for IT classes and also for explaining about a web browser. This site looks at trhe web btrowser youa re using and provides you with some insights into it. For those who are interested it also links to a time line for web browsers - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_web_browsers#Graphical_Timeline

5. e-Glossary http://www.glencoe.com/apps/eGlossary612/grade.php this site produced by McGraw-Hill provides a useful and age specific glossary of mathematical terms. A useful learning aid for teachers and students alike.

Hope these are useful – As always I ave posted these to my Del.icio.us account - http://delicious.com/achurches

The site is called GELESSONS - http://www.gelessons.com/lessons/

with excellent links to videos, courses, resources etc. Well worth a visit

This is very cool  and is reminisent of the Google earth/ sketchup marriage. Photosynth is a great photostitching tool which aloows the user or a collaboration of users to create brilliant 3D images that the viewer can manipulate, dive into to change the depth and perspective. Very cool!

Add to that a 3D globe in Virtual earth and you can take your world tour then zoom in for the almost immersive experience of photosynth.

Yehaa

http://livelabs.com/photosynth/

http://www.microsoft.com/virtualearth/

The basic download (which is available from http://earth.google.com) will allow the user:

• to navigate the globe
• switch easily between map and satelite views
• manipulate layers which overlay infrastructure, roads, etc or areas of social significence
• and more (See the tutorial)

But there is far more tham this available. You can develop your own resources in KML format and share these with colleagues. One of these sharing resources is a mashup between the CIA factbook and google earth maps. This is a good resource and one that will bring statistics and facts to life. http://www.kmlfactbook.org/

This is a screen shot of School Life Expectency. This can be previewed in the browser (as seen here) or downloaded as a KML file.

The statisitcs available are in the following categories:

• People
• Economics
• Transport
• Military
• Geography
• Government
• Communication

The digital explorer website is well worth a visit and as I found out, yuou tend to stay there for a while. Here is what they say about themselves “Digital Explorer is a social enterprise set up to pioneer new ways of engaging young people in global and environmental issues through the application of technology.”

Well these guys have produced three resources in PDF format. The Urls of the manuals is http://digitalexplorer.co.uk/resources/manuals/

	Virtual Fieldwork Using Google Earth Download Manual (PDF, 1.2MB 82 pages)
	Advanced Virtual Fieldwork Using Google Earth Download Manual (PDF, 3.0MB 103 pages)
	School Grounds Projects Using Google Tools Download Manual (PDF, 2.6MB 71 pages)

Every month Educause produces a briefing paper on a new or emerging technology. This months paper looks at GEOLOCATION

Whats GEOLOCATION? Well if you are asking that, this is the link you should click to download this easy to read, education focused briefing paper.

Pssst. Hint. Geolocation is also called Geotagging

For those of use who have had a play with this tool you will have encountered the Layers tab. This tab allows the user to overlay a variety of layers on the base map. You select or deselect the layers but ticking or unticking the box.

The Global Awareness layer is a powerful tool. Various NGO’s and UN agencies have developed layers. These layers often have embedded video and other resources. They highlight the plight of millions, the environmental impact of various activities and much more.

Select the layer or layers that are appropriate. The USHMM layers are brilliant. Then navigate to the location and click on the objects.

The detail on the crisis in Darfur is amazing and the revelations shocking. We can start to make a difference, by showing our students.

• privacy
• accuracy
• reliability
• accessability

Some of the resources we are using are:

1. wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS
2. howstuffworks – http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm – includes a simple video
3. Garmin’s GPS Academy – http://www8.garmin.com/gpsacademy/ – interactive resource
4. US Coastguard GPS resources – http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/faq/gpsfaq.htm
5. US Government GPS  page – http://www.gps.gov/
6. trimble what is GPS  http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.shtml
7. GPS timeline – http://support.radioshack.com/support_tutorials/gps/gps_tmline.htm

Double click to open