Stephen Wiltshire: The Human Camera

You may have seen this but if not, it's worth a look. It's kind of a throw back to Carla's brain class and all of the complexities that we still don't understand. It's a very interesting look into the incredible ability of one young man with autism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8YXZTlwTAU

Toys are supposed to be fun -- not dangerous

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/shopping/chi-consumers_thujul19,1,5042220.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Two senators propose a bill on the ban of all imported toys unless the importers can show proof that the toys passes safety tests performed by independent labs. I am absolutely stunned that this is still a major issue today. This class and all the recent recalls of tainted items from China have made me much more aware of the need to know the materials used in products and their country of origin. This message really hit home when I saw photos of some toys tainted with lead. They were High School Musical items! I would never have thought to worry about lead content in High School Musical jewelry or other items . . . before now. It is truly that expensive to keep our children safe? Items purchased in this country should live up to the supposed standards of this country. --And frankly, no mother in any country should have to watch her child suffer from the debilitating effects of lead poisoning for any reason -- but certainly not from playing with a toy!

We can check for recalled items at the following site: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

Boycotting China? Good Luck

A telling and entertainingly written article by Sara Bongiorni (author of "A Year Without 'Made in China': One Family's True Life Adventure in the Global Economy") summarizes the experience of a family who went without Chinese products for one year. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-bongiorni25sep25,0,187598.story?coll=la-home-commentary

What Would You Say?

As you all know, since '03 much of my life has been spent dealing with end of life issues. It now continues with my father-in-law. Yesterday I heard about "this speech." "This speech about what you would say if you knew you were dying." As it turned out it was a speech given by Dr. Randy Pausch a professor at Carnegie Mellon. He has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (what my father died from in '03) and has just a few months left. He finished up his career with a final lecture given on Sept. 18th. Dr. Pausch is the creator of Building Virtual Worlds at Carnegie Mellon and is the co-founder of Entertainment Technology Center. I would encourage each of you to listen to his speech. It is quite remarkable. It also encourages (at least it did for me) to consider what I would say.

C.Lewis

Google Docs in Plain English -Video

See the video:
Google Docs in Plain English

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRqUE6IHTEA

Learning Designs Website

Information and Communication Technologies and Their Role in Flexible Learning

It is wonderful that there are many tools and websites designed to access rich resources that support development of quality learning experiences for students.

This learning designs website is one such tool. It is similar to our textbook in that it breaks down design in bite size pieces.

http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/

V. Bruce

Child Labor Current Situation In Poor Countries

If you go to the link there are other active links for expended information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labor#Current_situation_in_poor_countries
Current situation in poor countries
Poor families often rely on the labors of their children for survival, and sometimes it is their only source of income. This type of work is often hidden away because it is not in the industrial sector. Child labor is employed in subsistence agriculture and in the urban informal sector; child domestic work is also important. In order to benefit children, child labor prohibition has to address the dual challenge of providing them with both short-term income and long-term prospects. Some youth rights groups, however, feel that prohibiting work below a certain age violates human rights, reducing children's options and leaving them subject to the whims of those with money. The reasons a child would consent or want to work may vary greatly. A child may consent to work if, for example, the earnings are attractive or if the child hates school, but such consent may not be informed consent. The workplace may still be an undesirable situation for a child in the long run.

In an influential paper on "The Economics of Child Labor" in the American Economic Review (1998), Kaushik Basu and Pham Huang Van argue that the primary cause of child labor is parental poverty. That being so, they caution against the use of a legislative ban against child labor, and argue that that should be used only when there is reason to believe that a ban on child labor will cause adult wages to rise and so compensate adequately the households of the poor children.

Child Labor Laws Around the World

http://www.stopchildlabor.org/ This looks like a good source of information for our class assignment - However there is a $20 fee to join and get to the info. You can open it up and see all the different links available. It looks very comprehensive. I will search around to see if there is something like this for free.

"For Sale: Belgium, a Kingdom in three parts ... free premium: the king and his court (costs not included)."

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/someone-tries-to-sell-belgium-on-ebay/n20070918105009990030?cid=842

So who wants to buy Belgium? oh wait, e-Bay just withdraw the country. Darn! Apparently one could have had the European country for 10million Euro (about $14 millions) and the royal family for free (the small prints mention a $300 billion of national debt, by the way).

"The odd ad was posted by one disgruntled Belgian in protest at his country's political crisis which reached a 100-day landmark Tuesday with no end in sight to the squabbling between Flemish and Walloon politicians. "

I find the news timely (we just mentioned this in class yesterday and last week). Also, it would be interesting to see if this "stunt" has made Belgium more visible to the rest of U.S. Americans (yes, I know...I could not resist the Miss Teen Tenessee-ism, here), hence making e-Bay a learning system for a few days (?). Or as another question: who were the individuals who bid on the country? Did they know about Belgium before? Did they research about the country before bidding? Did e-Bay and Mr. Six provide links to informational resources? e-Bay does not identify the bidder who offered Euro 10million....which is when e-Bay decided that the joke had run its course and withdraw the country from the items for sale.

S.

p.s: I wonder if Mr. Six got the idea from "Magic Kingdom for Sale" by Terry Brooks. For those with a bit of extra reading time on their hands [sic!], this is a quick pleasant read in the fantasy sci-fi genre.

data modeling with Nike + iPod

http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=10588

I read an interesting short article on teaching statistics to children using the Nike + iPod sports kit. Children wear the special Nikes hooked up to their iPod and record workout information, such as calories burned. They can use the data that they collect to make predictions on how many calories will be burned during future workouts -- varying weight, length of workout, intensity, etc.

Although this sounds like a fun way to gather data, it also seems like an extraordinarily expensive way to gather such data. It is also clearly a ploy to boost Nike and iPod sales by selling them to schools and cultivating students' interest in them. I do not love this idea. Children are already bombarded with advertising. They don't need it in their classrooms as well.

Also, Nike does not have a stellar record in terms of social consciousness. They are one of a group of popular shoe and clothing companies who have unfair work conditions for those who manufacture their products. Nike officials even admitted to using child labor to make their products (although, they said it was a mistake).

silly, but applicable to class

I found this amusing little video about global awareness on YouTube. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4XaUHVDmvo

chocolate and child labor

While examining resources related to how our personal buying decisions impact the health and welfare of others, I found something quite unexpected. I knew I would find info relating to problems with buying from the Gap, Nike, and Abercrombie, but I never expected that chocolate could bring so much pain to people. There are several resources that talk about how child labor (sometimes child slave labor) is used in the cocoa industry. Children are bought or kidnapped and forced to work in the chocolate industry. Some are lured with the promise of money, only to be enslaved and mistreated on cocoa plantations. I had no idea that children are suffering to produce chocolate.

So, unless you want to perpetually have to ask yourself if your chocolate contains the blood, sweat and tears of child slave labor . . .

buy fair trade chocolate.

The following link contains "Slave-Free Chocolate Table": http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery/goodchocolateproducts.html

The danger of summarized news pieces

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070917/wl_nm/religion_rights_dc

In short, the U.N. High Commissioner jumped on a report by a Senegal native about bigotry in European countries toward Islam (calling it Islamophobia). The article provides bits and pieces of the report, unfortunately completely undermining whatever initial validity it had. To the complaint of European bigotry toward Islam due to Islamist extremism....why mentioning just Europe? To the mention of the anti-immigrant stand of a right-wing swiss party...what makes a right-wing political party in Switzeland different from another right-wing party in any other country? Not to mention that Switzeland is reputed to have always been a country extremely difficult to immigrate, no matter your religious or political affiliations.
And many other issues in this truncated piece of reporting.

I think that this is a very good example of how "News" is not doing its ethical job of informing...and the danger of misled conclusions by non-informed readers on global/international issues.

Lead Poisoning

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/news/?id=article.2007-08-15.0950055012&msc=S50588

Lead is more dangerous to children than adults because it can harm the developing brain, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems, among other things. Experts said it could take some time before any problem is apparent because of the gradual nature of lead poisoning.
Dr. Michael Shannon, a Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School pediatrician and toxicologist, said the risk to children playing with these toys is low. "Frankly, I think the biggest story is the clear failure of federal agencies to protect us," Shannon said. "I'd call it a public health disaster. It's frustrating. You would think that after so many recalls ... that federal agencies who have this as part of their charge would have done something effective. I have not seen that happen."
Dr. Jacqueline Moline, a lead poisoning expert at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, said signs of lead poisoning may include irritability, low appetite and lethargy. "Parents should make sure that they discuss with their pediatrician whether their child should be tested for lead and re-evaluate what kind of toys they have in their homes. The problem is that we don't know the provenance of their toys," Moline said.

Second Life Best Practices in Education

International conference - May 25, 2007. http://slbestpractices2007.wikispaces.com/SLCN.tv+Archives
Interesting reading as a follow-up to our recent discussions. You can view excerpts from the keynote addresses, which were not produced without technical difficulties. However, these educators (including corporate folks) are moving forward with development on many fronts. Presenters talk to the benefits and challenges of Second Life and its potential as a learning environment. If you have time to listen to one or two speakers, I'd recommend Ken Hudson from Loyalist College and Sarah Robbins (co-author of the forthcoming "Second Life for Dummies" book - "Engagement in Second Life Learning") who both speak about aspects of community and student engagement.

Apple Learning Interchange 2007

successful combination of global awareness and educational technology

Rethink: Global Awareness
http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/collection.php?collectionID=98

Creating an iStory Tour: Traveling to Learn, Learning to Travel
http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=9239

Directory of Global Awareness Resources
http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=843&version=566&pageID=2334
(The Global Schoolhouse, iLearn, Taking It Global, Rock Our World, One World Youth Project, and many many more exciting resources)

Giving and Economic Development One Person at a Time

I wanted to share with you something I saw on Oprah this last week. Oprah did a show on giving. Her featured guest was former president Bill Clinton who was talking about his new book titled Giving. In it he features individuals who have created extraordinary ways to give. An example features a young couple who have created an organization called Kiva. This organization links lenders with individuals in developing countries looking to start a small business. Many of those requesting loans are women who are solely responsible for their families. Here is how this very simple idea works. A lender logs on and looks through a list of requests. These requests features a description of the business idea and a picture of the entrepreneur. A lender can lend as little as $25. When the money is repaid an account is created for the lender who then can help another. 97% of all loans have been repaid. There really is no downside to this idea. I logged on and found only two requests. Alongside the requests was a note from the founders stating that since their appearance on Oprah and the release of President Clinton's book they have been deluged with lenders. They will post more soon but in the meantime there are two individuals looking for support. I think this is a beautiful way to learn about people and countries and entrepreneurship in a very personal and real way. The website is http://www.kiva.org/

E-Learning: Teaching Music

This is a very interesting video. The instructor teaches the e-course: Experiencing Music 2200. He explains many of the “e-tools” he uses to teach the course to high school students. The information reminds me of some of the steps in our E-Learning text. I learned about PICZO which is a site where students create their own websites: http://www.piczo.com
See the video about the music class at:
http://paulhami.vodpod.com/video/185770-e-teaching-and-equity

What is a blog?

This is my first experience with posting blogs. I wondered how I could make them as interesting as possible and not so much like the del.icio.us entries. I found a website that offered a few ideas. Here are the key points: 1. Consider your audience, 2. Pictures speak a thousand words, 3. Make constructive and beneficial blogs, 4. Avoid making multifaceted and complicated blogs, and 5. Make it interactive. For more info, visit the site at:
http://www.computersdontbyte.com/blogs/interestingblogs.html



I tired key point number two: This is a photo I took while on a "nature walk" at a botanical garden.

Vera Bruce

Using a Story to Make a Point

My brother-in-law's daughter, Theresa, works at an information desk in Gatwick, a major airport serving London. An English lady approached her.Lady: Has my auntie Sue got in yet?Theresa: Your auntie?Lady: Yeah. She'll be wearin' a red dress.Theresa: What flight was she on?Lady: Oo, I dunno. She's cummin' 'ome from a 'oliday on a island somewhere.Theresa: Can you tell me what island it was?Lady: Oo, I dunno. But I think it started wiv a 'S'.Theresa: Samoa? Solomon Islands?Lady: Nah.Pause...(Gatwick serves the Spanish package holiday business for southern England)...Theresa: Spain?Lady: Yeah! That was it! Spain!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~On the question of British attitudes to Europe, The British media always uses the term 'Europe' to mean the European continental mainland. It is always implicit that it is a separate entity from Britain. The expression 'the continent' is used synonymously. Europeans, apart from British ones, do not know what you mean if you say "the continent". Euro-bashing is a favourite staple of Robert Maxwell's newspaper stable, which dominates the British press. Britain is schizoid about Europe. Half the population are 'Europhiles' and half are 'Europhobes'. The other half are more rational about it. http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=65291&page=6

Did You Know -from DeVere

Scott McLeod is one of the authors of the "Did You Know" video on UTube that DeVere sent out . I remember his email expressed concere on the validity of the facts. I've attached this contact information for Scott McLeod. He is the author of the article I posted on the blog last week Scott McLeod is director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE) at Iowa State University. He can be reached at www.scottmcleod.net or mcleod@iastate.edu. I've also attached the link again. I don't know if Bernie got it earlier. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U

Maps Lead to Borders -- and Borders Lead to "Issues"

One of my co-workers forwarded this link and as I watched and listened, I couldn't help but think of the assignment to make maps important, especially to the young, as well as our discussion on culture, etc.

I hope you'll watch it all the way through, even though it is almost 14 minutes. Whether or not you like what he is saying, he's a master teacher with his use of charts and object lessons -- and still so matter-of-fact. He lets the data tell the story. Jade Winn would be so proud. If only I had been so clever in capturing the attention of the Jr. High age Sunday School class I used to teach :)

I find this issue gets people's blood pressure up in every direction and on every level. I think everyone, including our elected "representatives" needs to have this kind of information in front of them whenever they make decisions that have a permanent impact on our own culture.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4094926727128068265&q=number

I'm also including here the text of the person who forwarded to me.
-------------------------------------
Below is a link to an excellent video about immigration. WAIT! Before you hit the delete key you should know this is NOT just another email either for or against immigration. On the contrary, the link to the video below shows a presentation that simply brings to light how immigration has changed and will change America. It really defines the situation quite clearly. It brings out some key points that must be considered in light of any immigration policy that is developed, such as looking at the issues in the countries from which the immigrants come.

Again, it is not meant to engender hostile feelings toward immigrants, for we all know that our country is what it is today because of the immigrants that have come here over the years.

Below the link is an essay written by the man making the presentation on the video. You can tell from his essay that he is simply trying to bring to light key facts to consider before any immigration policy is created and passed.

A very enlightening video presented from a very objective perspective.

Best Regards,
Craig

Training Room Simulations by Enspire Learning.

On Wednesday, Sept 5 I participated (listened in on) a webcast presented by the American Management Association. The presenters were owners of Enspire Learning a company that creates simulations and games for training purposes. One of the points I found most interesting had to do with attracting Gen Y employees into "training rooms." Unlike previous generational cohorts this group has spent more time in online activity than they have in watching TV. As a result trainers and organizations that develop workplace training, have to find creative, interactive ways to reach this cohort. When you click on Enspire Learning's site you will find a list of "Quick Jump Options" and can choose to view a demo. You will need to register an account but it takes a second and the demos are good and highly interactive. Much of their content has to do with decision making regarding resource allocation. I have looked at the "Global Supply Chain" and "Virtual Team management" and found the second to be less complex. I'm looking forward to your comments. Let me know which games or simulations you especially found interesting.

Cindy

Instructables

In looking for examples of learning objects (on the lighter side), I came across the Instructables website (love the name) which has little how tos submitted by inventive folks who want to share. Check out the instructable for Bowling Ball Garden Water Feature at http://www.instructables.com/id/E4LXFU1F5R8MS43/ There is a comments section at the bottom for feedback and exchange of ideas. I like the quality improvement aspect that the comments function affords. Although most of the content I viewed was not stellar, I think the idea is, and that something like this in an educational environment would be very engaging and fun for students. There are a lot of recycling ideas that could be worked into a global issues module. Students could come up with ideas and create their own modules. Here's one that was created by a physics teacher that includes a video http://www.instructables.com/id/ENMGONMF54HJ2QJ/ and hyperlinks throughout the description.

The Flat Classroom Project

In connection with technology and geographical ignorance, innovators are making strides in helping learners to learn about the world. Learning and Leading with Technology is an International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) publication. In the August, 2007 (Vol 35:1) issue in an article by Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis, The Flat Classroom Project is discussed. Information on this project can be found on You Tube. It is an 8 minute video where students from around the world are involved. They share their perspectives of the experience. It is interesting.
View the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgc7ERRrLmQ&mode=related&search

Vera Bruce

Practical Article for Learning Object Authors

After reviewing our textbook E-Learning, I found it to be a very practical tool that can be used as a handbook. I also found another very practical tool. It is a 32 page article entitled: Guidelines for Authors of Learning Objects by Rachel S. Smith. It defines a learning object as “… any grouping of materials that is structured in a meaningful way and is tied to an educational objective (Johnson, 2003).”
The article offers practical advice for the designing, using and reusing of learning objects (specifically digital learning objects). Additionally, it offers “marketing” tips. This article can be accessed at http://archive.nmc.org/guidelines/NMC%20LO%20Guidelines.pdf

V. Bruce

Virtual worlds as learning systems

To quote William Sims Bainbridge (Science, vol317, 27 July 2007 (www.sciencemag.org)), Second Life is an example of current virtual worlds "that foreshadow future developments, introducing a number of research methodologies that scientists are now exploring, including formal experimentation, observational ethnography, and quantitative analysis of social networks or economic markets."

The point of interest though is more related to the "transformation of some kinds of education at precollege levels, which might harmonize with scientific values more than with traditional values. NSF has supported the development of 2 virtual worlds devoted to science education (River City, where students explore public health issues in a simulated 19th-century town; and Quest Atlantis, where preteens develop fundamental research skills by solving environmental problems)" (p475).

Bainbridge's examples above are certainly scientific education examples. However, other grants have supported humanity-related subjects. One may visit a period-piece in Second Life to walk through the streets of Rome in antiquity, visit the Renaissance island to check out 19th-century fashion, literature, music, etc.

Last but not least, the social network character of Second Life makes it a prime choice for cheap and easy foreign language practice (especially since the entire grid is now voice-enabled...also free), cross-cultural exchange (via virtual pal systems), and potential cultural virtual immersion. And that's my dissertation interest.

Also of interest:
Communities in Cyberspace
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/soc/csoc/cinc/

Terra Nova
http://terranova.blogs.com/

Quechup: Genuine social network, questionable recruiting

Quechup has been making the news as the cool new social network. Having received an invitation by a couple of colleagues from the Second Life Researcher listserv, I felt so special! Well, my happy bubble just exploded this morning.

According to TechBlog, BoingBoing and Mashable (I even searched Technorati and Twitter on it), Quechup starts spamming your address book as soon as you are done registering. Some victims have even seen their Gmail account suspended for spamming suspicions!

So to avoid embarrassing situations and email overload, just say "no" to Quechup.

(I am now off to email all warnings about Quechup ...and dismiss whatever looked like an email from me (Quechup does recruit from your address book using your name) inviting to join Quechup.)

Good point about ethical practices in social networks.

S.

Our Ethical Obligation

The current issue of Technology and Learning magazine has a short article by Scott McLeod discussing students' feelings about "tech-phobic" professors. http://www.techlearning.com/content/about/tl_current.php "This technology-free approach to learning can't make much sense to the average 20-something college student, who may be skepticsl about her professor's general relevance in this digital era." This same issue has a good article on the need for building online communities. Jane

William Horton Interview Podcast

check it out at: http://www.webcourseworks.com/mp3/William_Horton_Interview0207.mp3