[TIPS] graphs and charts in Google spreadsheets

This isnt brand spanking new, but relatively so. Now you can make some really cool graphs - even animated ones - in Google spreadsheets. Graphs include the animated bubble charts ala Gapminder.org, or worms or trains, or Gantt charts, and more. And, as you would expect, when the data changes so does the chart.

I'm going to experiment with a spreadsheet that is already set up to make a graph, and then have folks use the form to submit their data and see if the graph shows it. I'm betting, of course, that it does, and wont THAT be cool?

Check it out!

[TIPS] slideshare widget

Did y'all know this and just not tell me? Did you know that slideshare.net has a cool little widget that will let you display a panel of between 3 and 5 thumbnails of your slideshare presentations? They're then clickable to view the full slideshows.

Very nice.

http://www.slideshare.net/widgets

[TIPS] A Darfur project

An event was held recently at Pennsylvania's Capital Rotunda to showcase student work that was created since the start of the Classrooms for the Future project. (http://www.edportal.ed.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=475&&PageID=202788&level=2&css=L2&mode=2&in_hi_userid=2&cached=true)
Sorry, I can't make hyperlinks in this Mac web version of outlook - don't get me started.

Anyway, I had the chance to talk to some students who were doing projects on the topic of Genocide. Here's the project that one student created. http://squirrelbit01.googlepages.com/home It was interesting talking to this young person about what he learned about doing the project. Those things included the fact that there is SO MUCH MORE of that kind of horror in the world than just Darfur. And, the rest of the world has never felt horrified enough to interfere. And, they found that there seemed to be a relationship between the willingness to become involved and that nation's oil production. I wonder if that idea was put into their heads or if they "discovered" that?

Do you remember when you were 17 or 18 and you had a chance to wax philosophical about such things? Did you ever have a chance to create something for the rest of the world to see that JUST MIGHT make a difference? That's an example of how the web has changed things for the common man (or woman), eh? In the past the student would have cut out some pictures from a magazine and taped them to a piece of posterboard, it would have been tacked to a wall for a few days, then taken down and destroyed. Now, LOTS of people can see it, and they can be linked to other sites that are providing ways for folks to DO something about the problem, and you JUST MIGHT be making a difference.

Y' gotta LUV what the web is doing, don't you?

[TIPS] worldwidetelescope is LIVE!

Thanks to Alma Row for reminding me via email that the Worldwidetelescope from Microsoft is now active.

I had mentioned it back in February( http://tipline.blogspot.com/2008/02/tips-stop-what-youre-doing-and-watch.html) and now it's active. Of course, it's not yet available for the Mac, and it does require the .NET network, and it's not the easiest thing in the world to install. BUT, if you CAN meet all the requirements, it's going to be a phenomenal experience!

http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/experienceIt/ExperienceIt.aspx?Tat=takeatour - That's the tour page. You can download it here: http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/experienceIt/ExperienceIt.aspx?exp=true

It's just a shame that microsoft has this instead of someone who isn't concerned about your OS. Let's hope that a MAC version is out soon.

[TIPS] update on Google talk translator

I was excited to show the Google talk translator (http://tipline.blogspot.com/2008/05/tips-great-google-talk-tip.html) to the German teacher at school. She wondered aloud as to its accuracy so I decided to check it out. Here is the way the translator translated this sentence: "Soon the school year will be over and both the students and the teachers will be happy."  You can tell me how well it did with the translation.

Bald des Schuljahres wird und sowohl über die Schüler und die Lehrer werden glücklich.

She replied that it was almost gibberish. Had she not known what it was supposed to say she could not have guessed, she said.

Anyone read German? Do you agree?

Oh well, it was a great little idea while it lasted.

[TIPS] GREAT Google Talk tip

Thanks to Tony Oneal for sending this to me in an email.

http://www.therecruiterslounge.com/2008/05/07/cool-tool-google-helps-me-chat-in-multiple-languages/

This is a blog I hadn't seen before, but one to which I've just subscribed. This article shows you how you can talk in any one of about 8 different languages using Google Talk. I tried it in the Google Chat that appears along with the Gmail page, and it works just fine.

Here's the bottom line. Once you add the account as he describes, you send the message to IT and it will reply with the translated version of what you just typed. Then you COPY AND PASTE that translated version into the other windows to be able to 'speak to them in that language." For instance, I typed in, "Can you read this?" and it returned, "usted puede leer esto?" Er, that means, "Can you read this", in Spanish. :-)

Try it! It seems to work VERY well. Thanks to Tony and the RecruitersLounge blog for this great tip.

[TIPS] Smartboard podcast blog

Yes, I know. Podcast blog? Well, you'll see when you check it out.

http://pdtogo.com/smart/

There are 125 episodes so far. This is very nice. If you've got an interactive whiteboard, you'll want to subscribe to this blog.

Now, on an interesting side note, you'll never guess how I learned about this blog. I had just received an email notice from twitter saying that someone was following me. (No, Caren P it's not stalking :-)  ) Before I even consider following that person I look to see the kinds of tweets he or she has ben sending out. If they appear to be professional I consider further.

Well, while considering I noticed a tweet this person had posted in which she mentioned this blog. I'm now following that person, too. I just LOVE my learning network!

[TIPS] A video to see

I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier, but better late than never, I suppose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb7CXcQhqRI

This is one of the winning videos from last year's Horizon Project. You know, the amazing project that Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis and others ran last year. I point to this year's version all the time in my workshops.

Anyway, I was just browsing and I discovered this video. Check it out, when you get a chance. No wonder it won the award in that category last year.

oh... YouTube blocked, you say? Remember, you can use the online conversion sites to get a converted copy. Go ahead, it'll be good practice for you.

[TIPS] authorStream - Slideshare alternative

Again, I found this one while scanning a website made by Larry Ferlazzo (http://larryferlazzo.com/world%20history.html). The site is authorstream: http://www.authorstream.com/ and it looks like it's similar to slideshare.net. I'm showing this because slideshare can be VERY slow - to the point of being unusable during peak times.

authorStream allows you to upload your powerpoints and get the embed code, as well, but it offers some other features, too. Unlike slideshare, authorstream will keep the animations in your slides. I guess this can be good and bad, depending upon the the animations. Check out this example: http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/hemafulara-66580-green-house-effect-entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/. Dont blame the tool, of course. And, if your powerpoint is timed or with recorded voice narrations, it will be converted to both iPod and video formats.

Did you catch that last sentence? If you've got recorded sound in your presentation, and if your slides are on a timer, then it will be converted for download to your ipod or as a video format, like the YouTube videos. HELLO! Oh, and if you put hyperlinks on the images in your powerpoints, they will work, as well. (Not hyperlinked text)

My sample powerpoint loaded very quickly (on this Sunday morning) and it was processed very quickly, as well. I even received an email to let me know that it was processed, although I had hung around to see how long it woult take. I don't think it took a full minute. Maybe it did, but not much longer than that. I'll just HAVE to try one with sound and on a timer. I did email to ask if they support Keynote files, but I'm suspecting not. I'll let you know if they do. They DO support Powerpoints made with the Mac version of Office, however.

The FAQ's on the site pointed to this application, too: http://www.authorgen.com/authorpoint-lite-free/powerpoint-to-flash-converter.aspx. It's a free powerpoint to flash converter, but it's windows only.

Bottom line - very nice! Check it out.

[TIPS] iCue - from NBC News

WOW! I was just catching up on my reading (my blogroll) and I started down through Larry Ferlazzo's blog and stopped on this post: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/05/06/icue-is-a-neat-way-to-learn-about-the-news/. In it, he points to this great site: http://www.icue.com/portal/site/iCue/tour (the online tour of the site) from NBC News.

I could try to describe it, but I know I wouldn't do it justice. Larry, as well, pointed to where HE heard of it, David Warlick's blog: http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/archives/1443 and David gives a nice overview of it. Suffice it to say, for the moment, that this is a social learning site, with activities and the ability to compile your own NBC News videos and images to create you own project. And you can participate in discussion forums with your friends and teammates.

Second thought, don't let that description suffice. Go check it out. And send this to your favorite Social Studies or Current Events teacher. It looks like it has a bit of a learning curve to it if you want to use all its features, but it appears to be an amazing resource!

I DO hope I can get some time to create a sample like they used in the tour.

[TIPS] a 235 mpg car?

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/05/09/vw-will-have-a-235mpg-car-by-2010/

With a top speed of about 74 mph, this car won't appeal to everyone. Plus, it looks like it seats just one. But, if the price is right this thing could change urban traffic tremendously.

One commentor on the article suggested they shoot for 150 mpg and allow faster speeds. But, as I say, this may be perfect for the urban areas, and they don't need the speed. They're bumber to bumber anyway.

 

[TIPS] dipity timelines - and TimeTube

http://www.dipity.com/

 

This post in Techcrunch (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/05/09/timetube-the-timeline-that-youtube-should-built/) pointed me to this site. Dipity (who said "Dipity Do?") allows you to make very interesting timelines, like this one: http://www.dipity.com/user/sharonbetts/timeline/Iraq_War. Notice that you can view it in List form (The Listview Tab) and you can zoom in or out. Plus, you can embed it! First stop - check it out.

 

Then, the part that Techcrunch REALLY pointed me to is this: http://www.dipity.com/mashups/timetube. Timelines made up of YouTube videos. It looks like you can embed THIS timeline, too.

 

Timelines just got MUCH cooler!

[TIPS] GEARS - MORE than a game

Many thanks to Kevin Conner who shared this with me via the for: tag on delicious.

http://gears.nndsonline.org/

As the site says, "GEARS is serious education delivered through fun games." Check out these demo movies: http://gears.nndsonline.org/downloads/demo-movies.php

Holy cow! I need to look into this further, but this looks amazing!

[TIPS] css in google docs

Am I one of the last to learn this? You can now edit the CSS in Google Docs. http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=94168&hl=en

That article leads to another page with examples. they show different headings, customized bullets, and more.

I'm thinking that this would be great for your programming kids or the kids who are learning html. Have them create different kinds of custom documents, complete with your school heading, and more. What fun!

[TIPS] Pangea Day

http://www.pangeaday.org/howToWatch.php

Just a final reminder that tomorrow is an historic day. Pangea Day. Read more about it here: http://www.pangeaday.org/aboutPangeaDay.php

One thing is assured - these films will be POWERFUL films, and ones that your students should see. Do they have a blog in which to reflect about the films? How will you maintain the dialogs?

I'd LOVE to hear how YOU brought these films into your classrooms. Please leave a comment in the blog to tell us about it.

[TIPS] need an avatar?

Here’s another great tip I picked up from a tweet from someone (nod to gcasy) this AM. http://www.reasonablyclever.com/mini/kidsafe.htm It’s a site that lets kids make cute avatars that they can then use as their avatar for their blogs or other profiles.

What fun!

[TIPS] Speechless

I haven’t been able to forget this ever since I heard it yesterday. A teacher told me that she had mailed out a “technology needs” survey to the teachers in her district. Her UNION PRESIDENT would only comment, “We don’t need more technology. Buy more books.”

I’ve been rendered speechless about that. Even now, the best I can say about it is, “He is SO VERY MUCH in the WRONG profession.”

And then I read a message from another person who said that he had just seen a teacher coloring in a map which was taped onto the face of the $6000 interactive whiteboard in the room.  I’m speechless all over again.

Rally the troops – we’ve got a LOT of work to do.

Live from IU6

Join this live blog

[TIPS] Watch this video

Thanks to a post by Ken Pruitt I saw a very interesting video. Of course, someone shared it with him and someone shared it with that person, and so on. But, our learning networks serve us well. Who's in YOUR learning network?

http://dasdtips.blogspot.com/2008/05/learning-to-change.html

Watch the video. What do you think?

Live from IU 5

[TIPS] Footnotes in PBWiki?

Wow! A nice feature has been added to PBWiki - the ability to add footnotes. Watch the video here: http://educators.pbwiki.com/HOW+To+-+Create+Footnotes

You'll need to be registered as an educator.

But, this appears to be a very nice feature.