NASA EDGE on Facebook and MySpace

31 07 2007

Source: [NASA EDGE BLOG]

NASA EDGE on Facebook and MySpace
NASA EDGE now has a Facebook and MySpace page. We already have many friends on our site and we continue to add more daily. It’s great to meet new people who have a strong interest in NASA and space exploration. NASA EDGE is new to the Facebook and MySpace world but their co-host and marketing director seem to be on top of things. If you have any advice on how a digital immigrant (host) can turn into a digital native (younger generation) then please pass the advice along.

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File this under: Keep You Up At Night?

18 07 2007

This is too weird.  Had to post this on my blog. 

FBI’s Secret Spyware Tracks Down Teen Who Made Bomb Threats

FBI Spyware in a Nutshell

The full capabilities of the FBI’s “computer and internet protocol address verifier” are closely guarded secrets, but here’s some of the data the malware collects from a computer immediately after infiltrating it, according to a bureau affidavit acquired by Wired News.

• IP address

• MAC address of ethernet cards

• A list of open TCP and UDP ports

• A list of running programs

• The operating system type, version and serial number

• The default internet browser and version

• The registered user of the operating system, and registered company name, if any

• The current logged-in user name

• The last visited URL

Once that data is gathered, the CIPAV begins secretly monitoring the computer’s internet use, logging every IP address to which the machine connects.

All that information is sent over the internet to an FBI computer in Virginia, likely located at the FBI’s technical laboratory in Quantico.

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Example of Voicethread use in classroom

16 07 2007

The more I look at Voicethread, the more I am sold on the idea of trying this with my students.  The way it lets students tell simple digital stories, is classic.  Students that know how to use PowerPoint will fell right at home except there are no titles or test.  Having students create storyboards and script their comments may generate critical thinking opportunities.   I will try to find the time to create a rubric to use with this tool for evaluation of student learning.




Podcasting Tool

16 07 2007

 This is really slick.   I can see this working to help my students that are visual learners.  Students can use digital cameras to collect their observations of plant growth and label the parts and post to their student wiki page or blog.




Almost Free Stuff for Science Teachers

16 07 2007

I know bloggers are not suppose to post stuff like this. But if you have any science teaching friends, please share this info with them.

ALEXANDRIA, VA - In support of Earth Science Week 2007 (October 14-20),
the American Geological Institute (AGI) is publishing its “The Pulse of
Earth Science” Toolkit to enable teachers, students, and the public
alike to actively participate in this year’s event.

This year’s Toolkit includes a wide array of resources, including a new
edition of its popular Earth Science Calendar filled with activities and
important geoscientific dates.  These activities, supplied by AGI member
societies and other organizations, engage students in learning about the
earth sciences. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has provided both
“Facts on Disc,” a CD-ROM which includes all of the USGS fact sheets
from the last twelve years and the brochure “USGS Education Resources
for Teachers.”  The Toolkits also contain materials from NASA including
the CD-ROM “Exploring Ice” and an “Earth and Space Explorers Series”
poster.  ESRI has provided a copy of its “GIS Solutions for Education”
CD-ROM.  NOAA is also providing information on student opportunities and
careers within the earth sciences. 
read more…

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Wireless Devices and Field Trip Adventures

11 07 2007

The Best FCC Regulation, Ever ~ Chris Pirillo

The Best FCC Regulation, Ever July 11, 2007 at 2:07 am · in Communication · Comments New rules could rock wireless world, literally: Coming soon could be a wireless broadband world in which consumers get to pick any smartphone or other device and load any software on it - not have to take what the wireless carrier wants to sell.

Dude. DUDE?! This can’t be true. I simply can’t believe that this is actually (possibly) happening. Of course, I’d imagine that Apple’s lobby won’t let it fly - but if they really, truly cared about users - as they claim - they won’t have a problem in opening up a little bit more and playing along with the rest of the consumer electronics world. The carriers and phone manufacturers must become more interoperable.

This would be great for when students are away from school or on their way home on a school bus. However, in a recent conversation with a middle school teacher, she told me why this is not such a great idea. My fellow educator told me that a group of middle school students participated in a field trip to a North Carolina city. Their educational goal was well documented and communicated with parents and students. Students asked permission to carry their Sony PSP and Nintendo DS gaming devices to play on the bus ride. When the students got bored walking around the scheduled educational venue, the middle schoolers began to explore on their own. They used their DS and PSP wireless Internet access to access their own entertainment. Mark one up for “disruptive technology”. Lesson learned: wireless Internet on cell phones would be very disruptive on a school field trip. FaceBook, YouTube, AOL Music. I can hear it now– “HEY! we are on school field trip…if you wanted to just play on the Internet you should have stayed home.”

While attending the Model Schools Conference, I keep hearing that educators need to focus on Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. My question is this: How can educators motivate students to use their problem solving skills when learning about how to analyze variables in scientific investigations?

Until I can get a handle on the pedagogy– Sony PSP and Nintendo DS are not welcome on any of my potential field trips.

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Wireless Devices and Field Trip Adventures

11 07 2007
The Best FCC Regulation, Ever ~ Chris Pirillo

The Best FCC Regulation, Ever July 11, 2007 at 2:07 am · in Communication · Comments New rules could rock wireless world, literally: Coming soon could be a wireless broadband world in which consumers get to pick any smartphone or other device and load any software on it - not have to take what the wireless carrier wants to sell.

Dude. DUDE?! This can’t be true. I simply can’t believe that this is actually (possibly) happening. Of course, I’d imagine that Apple’s lobby won’t let it fly - but if they really, truly cared about users - as they claim - they won’t have a problem in opening up a little bit more and playing along with the rest of the consumer electronics world. The carriers and phone manufacturers must become more interoperable.

This would be great for when students are away from school or on their way home on a school bus. However, in a recent conversation with a middle school teacher, she told me why this is not such a great idea. My fellow educator told me that a group of middle school students participated in a field trip to a North Carolina city. Their educational goal was well documented and communicated with parents and students. Students asked permission to carry their Sony PSP and Nintendo DS gaming devices to play on the bus ride. When the students got bored walking around the scheduled educational venue, the middle schoolers began to explore on their own. They used their DS and PSP wireless Internet access to access their own entertainment. Mark one up for “disruptive technology”. Lesson learned: wireless Internet on cell phones would be very disruptive on a school field trip. FaceBook, YouTube, AOL Music. I can hear it now– “HEY! we are on school field trip…if you wanted to just play on the Internet you should have stayed home.”

While attending the Model Schools Conference, I keep hearing that educators need to focus on Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. My question is this: How can educators motivate students to use their problem solving skills when learning about how to analyze variables in scientific investigations?

Until I can get a handle on the pedagogy– Sony PSP and Nintendo DS are not welcome on any of my potential field trips.

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Fireworks

8 07 2007

I know it has been four days since the 4th and I am late celebrating. Still, this is a clip I grabbed on a digital camera while standing on my family’s pier at Lake Waccamaw, NC. Great way to unwind from 180 days in a classroom. Back to recharging my brain…




Using Excel to Make Posters

7 07 2007
This is a great idea for summer projects.  If you have a few minutes, and you want to knock out a few room rule posters to print when you get back to school, watch this video for instructions.  The video shows how to use Excel to create classroom posters.  I had an idea to use a digital camera the first day back and photo the students in my class and make a poster to put on our bulletin board.  Thinking about a title for the student photo poster.  Here is the results of my brainstorming:
  • “NWA- All Stars”
  • “Can Do”
  • “On the Way to Excellence”
  • “On the Road to Success”

Here are some I might not what to include: (just kidding)

  • “Most Wanted”
  • “Wanted Dead or Alive”
  • “I’m Back!”
  • “Bless Their Hearts”

Download Video: Posted by josmith at TeacherTube.com.

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July Fourth

4 07 2007

Our family celebrated the 4th at the lake house.

From July Fourth 7…