02.10.08
learn it for free
Online Education Database has compiled a very impressive list of “100 Free Podcasts from the Best Colleges in the World.” It’s a great list.
04.22.07
interesting uses of Second Life
I’m always interested in how companies and people use new technology to communicate and connect with customers (and each other).
Don’t know what Second Life is?
Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 3,031,536 people from around the globe.
- From the moment you enter the World you’ll discover a vast digital continent, teeming with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Once you’ve explored a bit, perhaps you’ll find a perfect parcel of land to build your house or business.
- You’ll also be surrounded by the Creations of your fellow residents. Because residents retain the rights to their digital creations, they can buy, sell and trade with other residents.
- The Marketplace currently supports millions of US dollars in monthly transactions. This commerce is handled with the in-world currency, the Linden dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several thriving online currency exchanges.
Welcome to Second Life. We look forward to seeing you in-world.
So how are people using Second Life? Harvard Law School has begun the CyberOne: Law in the Court of Public Opinion, a Second Life course that’s unlike anything I’ve heard of:
Throughout the course we will be studying many different media technologies to understand how their inherent characteristics and modes of distribution affect the arguments that are made using them. Students will be immersed in this study through project-based assignments in which they will be using these technologies to make their own arguments. For a good introduction to the class, watch this video of a discussion with Charlie and Rebecca hosted by the Berkman Center.
Shel Holtz reports that Coca-Cola has entered Second Life, taking a different approach:
Coca-Cola has entered Second Life by taking an approach other than buying an island, building an edifice, and hoping residents will stop by for a visit. Working with crayon (yes, I’m part of the team, along with several other crayonistas led by C.C. Chapman), Coca-Cola opted to break into the 3D metaverse by getting out amongst the population.The effort is a competition, labeled “Virtual Thirst.” The idea is for residents (and, in fact, anybody else) to design a Coca-Cola vending machine that dispenses an experience rather than a can or bottle of Coke.
Sprint Nextel is using Second Life to target the Hispanic community:
Sprint Nextel continues its innovative marketing efforts towards the Hispanic community by opening the virtual doors of the first-ever Sprint Center in the 3D, online digital world of Second Life. Exclusively for Latin music fans, the virtual Sprint Center will stream pre-recorded one-of-a-kind performances from the Sprint-sponsored reality TV series, Concierto Clandestino, broadcast on the Spanish-language programming network, Telemundo. The concert series will include performances from an internationally renowned line-up of Latin artists including Paulina Rubio, Obie Bermudez, Tego Calderon, Fonseca and Belinda.
Related posts:
Also in the discussion:
01.31.07
Teachers who blog
I recently found four new blogs to monitor, written by educators:
- Libby Nicole Ingrassia at www.notesgirl.com
- John Pearson at learnmegood2.blogspot.com/
- “Mike in Texas ” at educationintexas.blogspot.com/
- “Ms. H ” at moldingyoungminds.blogspot.com/
Found via a Houston Chronicle article discussing how teachers are using blogs to vent, anonymously.
07.05.06
Facebook tips for administrators
From Fred Stutzman, How University Administrators Should Approach the Facebook: Ten Rules offers “some suggestions regarding how administrators should approach and understand the Facebook.”
Excerpted below:
- The Facebook isn’t going away.
- Almost all of your institution’s undergraduates are on the Facebook.
- Students are not being cautious regarding their private information in the Facebook.
- Students may do stupid things on the Facebook. Really stupid things. However, aren’t mistakes something we all make? The critical difference I concede is that anything they say or do can be copied from the Facebook and rebroadcast elsewhere.
- Students are using the Facebook any way they want to.
- Weird, interesting and touching things are happening in the virtual world the Facebook creates on our campuses.
- Your campus IT department doesn’t offer anything like the Facebook.
- Back to privacy and security. Why do the students feel so secure sharing their information publicly on this network? I believe the answer is they feel secure in the fact the Facebook represents a (virtual) walled garden.
- Since you can’t make Facebook go away, and even if you tried to, you couldn’t, you might as well accept it and deal with it.
- Finally, give up on prosecuting your students for the minor violations you find on the Facebook.
One more item to point out:
Additionally, I provide a list of constantly updated news stories on the Facebook at http://del.icio.us/fstutzman/facebook, which may also be subscribed to as an RSS feed.
How is your university handling Facebook?
06.07.06
free & low-cost summer programs for kids in Houston
Trying to find something your kids can do over the summer? In Houston, you can get them out of the house to learn tennis or swimming as part of the Parks programs:
City offers free, low-cost programs for kids
– reported by KHOU CBS Channel 11[snip]
Child care can be too expensive for some families, but the city of Houston has some low-cost or free programs for families.
It’s called the Summer Enrichment Program, and the Parks and Recreation Department is in charge.
Children can learn how to play tennis, take field trips across the area and even volunteer.
Some of the camps start next Tuesday, and they are $25 a week.
They department also offers a swimming program in partnership with the Red Cross to teach lessons at 23 area pools.
[SNIP]
The phone number to find out more information on the Summer Enrichment Program is (713) 845-1236.
04.15.06
stud via flashcards
Flashcard Exchange has nearly four million flash cards you can print to help you study everything from phonics to pharmacology.
Found via LifeHacker.
03.29.06
Pasadena ISD calendar for 2006-2007 set
2006-2007 school calendar now official
Key dates on the 2006-2007 school calendar are as follows:
First day of school for students - August 10 (Ninth graders will begin one day earlier on August 9)
First day for teachers - August 3
Last day for students - May 24, 2007
Last day for teachers - May 25, 2007Holidays
Labor Day - Sept. 4
Thanksgiving - Nov. 20-24
Winter Break - Dec. 18-Jan.3, 2007 (Employees will return Jan. 2, 2007)
Martin Luther King Day - Jan. 15, 2007
Spring Break - March 12-16, 2007
Easter - April 6 and 9, 2007
Need the 2005-2006 calendar? It’s available, as a PDF.
03.21.06
Online coloring book
LifeHacker pointed me to this online coloring book:
For those of you who love to color (or who have kids who love to color) coloring-book.info has a whole bunch of printable coloring book sheets. They’ve got everything from A Bug’s Life to The Chronic (what!?) cals of Narnia and everything in between. Who needs coloring books anymore?
The coloring book is provided by Xiti Gratuite.
03.05.06
you chance to take classes at MIT
Ever wished you could take a class at MIT? Now you can, and for free.
MIT is offering free online courses, available to everyone.
Welcome to MIT’s OpenCourseWare:
a free and open educational resource for faculty, students, and self-learners around the world. OCW supports MIT’s mission to advance knowledge and education, and serve the world in the 21st century. It is true to MIT’s values of excellence, innovation, and leadership.
MIT OCW:
* Is a publication of MIT course materials
* Does not require any registration
* Is not a degree-granting or certificate-granting activity
* Does not provide access to MIT faculty
So what classes are available? Too many to list here. But check them out for yourself.
02.03.06
FAFSA
Did you know that you can file your FAFSA online? You can. Submit 2005-2006 FAFSA on the Web Applications by midnight Central Daylight time, June 30, 2006 and the 2006-2007 FAFSA by midnight Central Daylight time, July 2, 2007. (Found via LifeHacker.)