I know nothing about computer programming. When I copy the “embed” codes to include videos in this blog, they look like alien script. So when I heard about the global movement to have teachers and students engage in an Hour of Code, I’ll admit I was dubious. It sounded important, but was it for me? … Continue reading
While working on my “Ideas are Scary” post, I came across one more irresistible item from General Electric—a 6-second science fair. For a week last August, General Electric challenged young people to create 6-second videos using the Vine app and post them on Twitter under #6SecondScience. Talk about a social media bonanza! While the fair … Continue reading
It isn’t often I recommend that classes (or families) watch a commercial, but for this one I’ll make an exception. Take a look. General Electric (which is barely mentioned) lives up to its slogan “Imagination at Work.” What a great way to start a conversation about innovation, risk taking, and the kind of atmosphere we … Continue reading
What child doesn’t love being a bit sneaky? From stealthily creeping down the hall way-too-early on Christmas morning to sneaking a peek at a friend’s nervous prom date, I’ve gathered seemingly valuable data that way! Fortunately, with his Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things, Cy Tymony has raised sneakiness to a new level and proposes “sneaky” … Continue reading
Not long ago I wrote about how depressed I was by a Washington Post article titled, “Can Kickstarter save arts education?” It was full of gloomy statistics: Nearly one in 10 U.S. secondary schools has no music program. Eleven percent don’t teach art. More than half have cut theater. Nine in 10 have cut … Continue reading
Remember Caine’s Arcade? In that viral moment, a chance encounter between a young boy with a cardboard arcade and a filmmaker became an Internet phenomenon. It also launched the nonprofit Imagination Foundation, whose mission is to foster creativity and innovation in children around the world. I first learned about the Imagination Foundation through their Global … Continue reading
I love the stream of imagination that comes out of Google. Recently I came across yet another great classroom resource: Google Story Builder. The original Google Story Builder allowed users to create a story as a series of Google searches. This version allows us to create a video conversation among characters as if they were … Continue reading
Have you ever looked at the rows of games in the toy aisles and thought, “Who thinks of these things?” Or even, “I could design something more interesting than that.” Perhaps now is the time you can! GameKit is a website from the Institute of Play for those who’d like to make games, without a … Continue reading
It’s bedtime. Just envision yourself snuggling with children you love and a good book. Can’t you picture them begging, “Please, please, just one more…..math problem!” I will admit, I’ve never thought about bedtime math. But then I ran across the Bedtime Math book, which led me to the Bedtime Math website—and now I’m a Bedtime … Continue reading
The Spark website, sponsored by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) can be your center for learning materials on weather, climate and related atmospheric sciences. There’s lots of basic information and class activities, but my one of my favorite parts is the interactive simulations. Simulations allow students to explore “what if” questions that are … Continue reading
