Podcast resources for K-12 instructors and students

Students in Coppin's teacher education programs can find a huge assortment of resources online for engaging their students with technology. The trouble is, where to start?

Here are a few good places:

* Scholastic.com -- Top 10 podcasts for Teachers and Kids
http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=11531


* Learning in Hand - Free podcasting booklet
http://learninginhand.com/podcasting/booklet.html

* NASA's do-it-yourself podcast - materials for teachers and students to create their own podcasts
- Example: Spacesuits

Mathematica... it's not just for math! :)

We have a site license for Mathematica here at Coppin... not only is it installed on the computers on campus, but faculty staff and students can get a copy to install on their home computer.

To learn more about Mathematica @ Coppin, check out our webpage: http://www.coppin.edu/mathematica/

If you have an on-campus computer and would like to get Mathematica installed, contact the HelpDesk at x 3888.

To request a copy for your computer at home that you own:

• faculty/staff: http://www.wolfram.com/siteinfo/homeuse/?parent_license=L3191-1844&request_type=NEW_HU_LICENSE
  
• students: talk to your professor

Mathematica offers free seminars weekly to show you how to use it: http://www.wolfram.com/services/education/seminars/

Just for fun: Mathematica can play music! http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=C+E+G+Bb+D+F%23+A

Learn PowerPoint online...

Microsoft has created many online tutorials and videos to help you get up to speed with the Office 2007 suite. If you are looking to get started with PowerPoint 2007 to create presentations, you can check out their recorded tutorials here:
- Roadmap to PowerPoint

They helpfully provide tutorials to help all of us... those of us new to PowerPoint, who are creating a first presentation... to those who are familiar with PowerPoint 2003 and are looking to learn what is new in 2007.

Check it out!

Blackboard 9... wow!

I attended a workshop today on Blackboard 9, the latest and greatest version of the course management system. At Coppin, we currently have Blackboard 7... our tentative plan is to move to Blackboard 9 in Fall of 2010.

That gives us a year to promote awareness of the new features, train faculty and students and IT staff, and transition over to the new software. Whew!

See attached video for a "sneak peek" of some features in version 9.

Easily add Google Images clipart to Microsoft Word documents

I was just creating a document in Microsoft Word, and needed a map of the United States to illustrate a point. I went to Insert, ClipArt... but I was underwhelmed by the choices from Microsoft.

My favorite place to find images is using Google's image search... and a friend just showed me a way that I can easily search those Google images right in Microsoft Word!

Check out: OffiSync. It is a free download!

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/29/who-needs-clip-art-offisync-20-integrates-google-image-search-into-microsoft-office/

Twitter in the classroom?

Some universities are using aspects of Web 2.0 ( aka "the read-write web") to enhance teaching and learning. Check out this article, "Embracing the Twitter Classroom."

An interesting idea to try:
- have each of your students sign up for twitter accounts, and have them post comments during lecture... be sure to have a screen open to show the comments... this can help keep students engaged, as they read the comments of their classmates, and their own, on screen...

Read more about using Twitter in the Chronicle of Higher education article, "Professor Encourages Students to Pass Notes During Class -- via Twitter."

Follow Coppin TLT on Twitter!

If you are interested in checking out new instructional technology tips, and random insights into teaching and learning with technology, you can now follow Coppin's Center for Teaching and Learning with Computers -- on Twitter!

Check us out at http://twitter.com/CoppinTLT -- and if you are on campus this summer, be sure to stop by the Center in Grace Jacobs 107 and say hi, sip some coffee, munch a pop-tart, and try out some new things.

IMPORTANT - Take Action now -- PDF - Adobe Reader - hackers exploit bug!

There was an article in ComputerWorld about hackers exploiting a bug in Adobe Reader, the software that allows us to view PDF files.

Click here to read the article: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128278

Take Action:
To disable JavaScript in Adobe Reader, go to the Edit menu and select "Preferences" then click on "JavaScript" in the list and uncheck the box marked "Enable Acrobat JavaScript." Mac users will find Preferences under the "Adobe Reader" menu.

Free documentary videos online

We all know that video can present information in a captivating way to our students. The combination of visual and audio stimulation can "hook" them in to the subject matter.

While researching resources for faculty (really, I was NOT looking at the latest LOLcats cartoon!), I came across a website with free documentaries.

http://www.freedocumentaries.org/

Here are a few I can recommend (because I saw them in the movie theater or rented them):

• Control Room: Propaganda of the Iraq War


• PBS Frontline: Merchants of Cool

Be sure to check out this great resource!