My Yard Counts

Hi All! For some reason I thought this project started in May, but it really started in April -

It is a bird count organized by Cornell Ornithology - where you can count the birds from your backyard - or schoolyard - and enter the number into an online database. They even have an online bird guide database to help you identify the type of birds you see!

They recommend a minimum of 10 counts, however, if you are more interested in a smaller project or using the database you can do so at eBird - a project with Cornell Ornithology Lab and the Audubon Society. You create an account and then you can add your bird count observations. Then you can create a personalized database or use other entries.

Donna

MySpace makes a Blog Post

Today's post on the Learning is Messy blog has an interesting entry. Is preventing kids from using MySpace.com really protecting them?

It seems to me that the arguments we face today about preventing/protecting kids from sites is the same as the age-old sex education battle.

• Does teaching students about responsible sex cause students to have more sex? Does teaching abstinence prevent students from having sex?
• Does teaching students internet safety skills allow students to be exploited on the internet? Does blocking sites from them prevent them from going to them?

I do not think there is an easy answer, but the discussion is important. One thing I do agree with - Learning IS Messy!

Wired Safety

Mike hooked me up with this site - he saw them testifying in front of Congress about internet safety. Not only do they have educator resources - but resources for parents as well. They also have a page of safe sites.

It seems to be a great resource - but I have not gotten through all of it - there is a ton of information. Maybe it can help you out!

NYSCATE Regional Conferences

NYSCATE has posted podcasts and PowerPoints, videos and other files from the presentations done at it's two regional conferences this spring. What a great way to attend without having actually gone! And it doesn't cost a thing to access the presentations this way. You might want to check these out.

NYSCATE Southern-Tier Conference - Binghampton, NY - Alan November, Keynote

NYSCATE Hudson Valley Conference - Wappingers Falls, NY - Will Richardson, Keynote

There Are No Shortcuts

I highly recommend you listen to this podcast, There Are No Shortcuts. This is a very inspiring look at education by a 5th grade teacher in Los Angelos, Rafe Esquith. The podcast is a recording of a presentation he and some of his students did at the Texas Computer Education Assocation’s annual conference on February 10, 2006. The podcast was recorded and posted by Wesley Fryer on his site, Moving at the Speed of Creativity (I highly recommend his site as well.) In this presentation Mr. Esquith talks about technology in the classroom, but in very different ways. He uses technology very much integrated into real life experience and skills to reach students in an LA elementary school with over 2,000 students, K-5, where more than 90% of them are below the poverty level and speak English as a second language. However, he doesn't focus soley on technology use either. What he has done with his students is incredible. And he doesn't use technology in the ways we are used to hearing about. It's listening to teachers like this that makes me long for a class of my own again.

Some Health Links

Hi All! I was exploring some links and found a few really good websites related to Health Sciences.

Online Exhibit of the Heart
This online exhibit is multimedia with sections to the website:

• Things to Do - Interactives that can be done on the site.
• Things to See - Videos, x-rays, and images of the heart.
• Things to Learn - Teacher resources, activities and glossary.
• Places to Go - Links to online resources.
• Things to Hear - Listen to heartbeats.

Internet Stroke Center with information about Stroke Research and Clinical Care.

Human Body & Mind from the BBC with lots of multimedia and interactive games with facts about the body and mind.

The Arizona Health Institute has podcasts - both video and audio - to educate patients (and the general public) on procedures and healthy lifestyles. Dr. Wheatley, the creator, realized when listening to his ipod what a great tool this would be for patient education. He provides ipod in the waiting room for people to use before and after appointments. The article is here.

VOD: The Brain (Thanks George!)

Health Videoconferences:

Vanderbilt Science Outreach has videoconferences that can be scheduled and that are also archived. In addition, they hold podcasts Snacks 4 the Brain with a corresponding blog! For teachers there is even downloadable lessons!

Cooperating School Districts where my friend from class works have a videoconference series - Adventures in Medicine and Science, with St. Louis University.

The Liberty Science Center offers a series on the Human Body.

COSI has a surgical suite series of videoconferences and even a 2 hour autopsy.

If you know of others, please feel free to add them in here! Donna

WikiVille

Here's a cool idea I came across. This wiki for kids was recently started in the UK but the idea is for kids from all over the world to add information about their schools and their towns. So far, there are no schools in New York who have added information. Maybe we could get the ball rolling!

Welcome to WikiVille 21st Century students building a world-story of life in their home towns.

Has your town been WikiVilled yet?

For every place in WikiVille there'll be stories & stuff about

• school life from the day-to-day to hopes & dreams

• home life from jobs & chores to happy places & things that could be better

• about the past as well as the future

PLUS WikiVille:Community Portal projects help needed

More on Earth Day

Earth Day is April 22nd. I had mentioned a few resources in the Spring post, but here are a few more!

Environmental Timeline

Online Environmental Links

BrainPOP offers free online movies on topics related to Earth Day throughout the month of April.
The movie titles include Earth (April 1-9), Global Warming (April 10-16), Recycling (April 17-23) and Earth's Atmosphere (April 24-30).
To view the films, go to http://www.brainpop.com/ and click on the featured movie.

eMints: Earth Day Resources

Earthday.gov

The Wilderness Society Earth Day

US ARMY Environmental Center

Earth Day Network

Earth Day Lesson from National Geographic Xpeditions

TeacherNet Earth Day ChatBoard

Hope these help! Please feel free to post others! Donna