If you haven't been to Google Labs lately you should check out Google Body.
Google Body is a detailed 3D model of the human body. You can peel back anatomical layers, zoom in, and navigate to parts that interest you. Click to identify anatomy, or search for muscles, organs, bones and more.
You can also share the exact scene you are viewing by copying and pasting the corresponding URL. You will need a web browser that supports WebGL, such as Google Chrome.
Please send Google feature requests and feedback via the form linked at the bottom right of the app. Male model is coming soon!
Many interesting comments from users
You can send a link to the view of the body that you were learning about or analyzing
http://bodybrowser.googlelabs.com/body.html#ui=1,1&opa=s:0,m:0,sk:0.56,c:0.56,o:1,ci:1,n:1&sel=&lab=&nav=3.05,155.02,22.37
So much more interesting and cooler than an anatomy textbook.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
OK...I am back...not that I went anywhere
OK...I am back...not that I went anywhere...I just took an unannounced hiatus due to multiple life events which also caused me to take a 90 day leave of absence from my school work, which as of January 1, 2011 is no longer authorized. So you either have to withdraw or get back on track. Along with my return to school, I am back to blog entries.
Lessons learned:
Keep moving forward!
Many thanks to my PLN who kept me connected and motivated during the hiatus...RSS feeds are awesome!
Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did. Sarah Caldwell
Lessons learned:
- Being one part of the sandwich generation causes personal growth, good, bad, or indifferent. Who knew Sandwich Generation Month was celebrated every July?
- Life events can be challenging...but learn from them, go with your gut, and if you mess up, admit it, learn from it, and keep moving forward...or in my jargon, adapt, implement, and overcome (AIO).
- As long as you are a parent, you will always love your child (ren) even when they hit their lowest of lows and even when you cannot skull drag them for assistance.
- If you are contemplating seeking a degree...go for counseling. Mental and behavioral health issues impact people which make up communities...everyone can use a little assistance.
Now for the ed techie part of this post:
A Retrospective on Twenty Years of Education Technology Policy 2003
National Educational Technology Plan 2010, 2004....and archives
On November 9, 2010, Secretary Duncan announced the new National Education Technology Plan as part of his keynote address at the 2010 State Educational Technology Directors Association Education Forum held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. We appreciate the tremendous amount of assistance we received in the form of comments, ideas, research and perspective from the entire education community throughout the development of this plan. Follow the (US) Office of Ed Tech on Twitter http://twitter.com/OfficeofEdTech
The National Education Data Model is a conceptual but detailed representation of the education information domain. The Education Data Model strives to be a shared understanding among all education stakeholders as to what information needs to be collected and managed at the local level in order to enable effective instruction of students and superior leadership of schools.
The Education Data Model can be used by educators, vendors, and researchers to understand the information required for teaching, learning, and administrative systems. The Education Data Model answers questions such as:
What data do schools need to collect and manage in order to meet the educational needs of their students?
What information is needed to effectively manage education organizations such that teaching and learning is successful
The Connected Online Communities of Practice project will steward a scalable, sustainable ecology of online communities in education to improve teacher and leader effectiveness, enhance student learning and increase productivity. There are already many online communities through which educators can connect with people and resources, but these communities tend to be isolated from each other, leading to redundancy of effort, missed opportunities for collaboration, and difficulty in finding appropriate support and resources. Through more efficient and coordinated online participation, education professionals will be better able to share practices, access experts, and solve problems that require systemic solutions in order to improve the opportunity to learn. The first iteration of the project report will be published in March 2011.
The Learning Registry makes federal learning resources easier to find, easier to access and easier to integrate into learning environments wherever they are stored -- around the country and the world. This will enable teachers, students, parents, schools, governments, corporations and non-profits to build and access better, more interconnected and personalized learning solutions needed for a 21st-century education.
Archives of National Ed Tech Plans:
The National Education Technology Plan was officially released at a launch event on Friday, January 7, 2005. Read the remarks given by Secretary of Education Rod Paige and Director of Education Technology Susan Patrick.
Archived data: http://www2.ed.gov/Technology/index-archive.html
Archived Information from the Office of Educational Technology—U.S. Department of Education
This page links to archived pages posted by the Office of Educational Technology (OET) under previous administrations.
Latest TRADOC Pams:
TP 525-8-2 The Army Learning Concept for 2015, 20 January 2011
TP 525-8-3 The Army Training Concept for 2012-2020, 7 January 2011
Many thanks to my PLN who kept me connected and motivated during the hiatus...RSS feeds are awesome!
Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did. Sarah Caldwell
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Searching yourself?
One of the first tasks we do in the workshops I facilitate at the library is to have participants search themselves so they are aware of the information that is associated with their name, aliases, and screen names.
We use Google, cvgadget, iSearch, Googlism and some participants are surprised what they discover. While we can talk about the importance of a digital footprint we discover the importance of searching yourself online. I let them Google my name. Explaining the importance of verifying sources makes an impact when the entries that appear show my name, with a different middle initial, a different state, different age but a convicted sex offender. How do they know it is not me? We compare details and images but for those who do not know me they are only going what they learn about me from previous participants, follow me on Twitter, connected through Linkedin or through my blog how do they really know who I am?
I encourage them to take ownership of their digital footprint before they apply for a job, scholarship, volunteer opportunities, or any other possibility where they can connect with others. While I have background checks conducted by the various organizations that I apply for as a volunteer and different states requirements for substitute teaching, I have a security clearance because of my career with the military. So I assure them that I am safe and another reason for us to meet in the library where everyone can look, listen, and learn from everything we do in the workshops. Trust but verify is just another step as we challenge individuals to become self aware and empowered.
This blog post was engendered by a retweet I did of EdTechSandyK 's tweet, "Student Googles Himself, Finds Out He is Wanted for Murder".
We use Google, cvgadget, iSearch, Googlism and some participants are surprised what they discover. While we can talk about the importance of a digital footprint we discover the importance of searching yourself online. I let them Google my name. Explaining the importance of verifying sources makes an impact when the entries that appear show my name, with a different middle initial, a different state, different age but a convicted sex offender. How do they know it is not me? We compare details and images but for those who do not know me they are only going what they learn about me from previous participants, follow me on Twitter, connected through Linkedin or through my blog how do they really know who I am?
I encourage them to take ownership of their digital footprint before they apply for a job, scholarship, volunteer opportunities, or any other possibility where they can connect with others. While I have background checks conducted by the various organizations that I apply for as a volunteer and different states requirements for substitute teaching, I have a security clearance because of my career with the military. So I assure them that I am safe and another reason for us to meet in the library where everyone can look, listen, and learn from everything we do in the workshops. Trust but verify is just another step as we challenge individuals to become self aware and empowered.
This blog post was engendered by a retweet I did of EdTechSandyK 's tweet, "Student Googles Himself, Finds Out He is Wanted for Murder".
Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project published a report on May 26, 2010 by Mary Madden and Aaron Smith, titled: Research Reputation Management and Social Media: How people monitor their identity and search for others online. This article addresses several major trends have indicated growth in activities related to online reputation management.
What is your favorite search tool when seeking information about yourself? Do you have a story like the young man in the story that discovered his name associated with a murder warrant? How do you manage your digital footprint when a search produces information about your name but not necessarily you?
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Vertical silos of excellence
Success in a vertical silo of excellence is just that. You may win awards and collect accolades but if you are not integrating with others who will replace you or those you represent...well you just leave us with your vertical silo of excellence that exists in a vacuum.
Are you part of a vertical silo excellence? Are you working to eradicate one? When the decision makers exist in their own enclave who suffers? All stakeholders. So where is this coming from?
October 19, 2010 Converge magazine announced the Top 10 US School Districts in Digital Technology and Richmond County School System (GA) made the list. The article still sticks in my craw.
On October 21, 2010, the Augusta Chronicle reported, Richmond Schools ranked in technology communication.
When you talk to the students, educators, parents, in this school system you would think that we are talking about another school district. This is the same school district that bans social media and cell phones. When you read the article and determine responses to the 5WH model, you can see the disconnect. The opening statement from Converge magazine's article, Top 10 US School Districts in Digital Technology:
Top school districts have been announced in the seventh annual Digital School Districts Survey by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education and the National School Boards Association (NSBA). From the Center for Digital Education site, the description of the survey purpose is to, "Examine how school boards and their districts are applying information technology to better engage local communities and improve service delivery and quality of education in public schools" (2010).
So while the district not the schools tout this award...those of us with boots on the ground know that is award was meant for the school board aka The Puzzle Palace, The Tower of Power, or The RC Vertical Silo of Excellence. It may brief well but when we look behind the curtain we see the real deal.
We know Mr. Svelha does a great job of broadcasting information for RCSS through Facebook, Twitter, and the RCSS website but effective communication is a collaborative process. I give him props because he did get the Richmond County School System enrolled for the SpeakUp Survey and he does respond to emails, which can be challenging because we still run different domains. We never know if the person we send email to is using the @rcboe.org or @boe.richmond.k12.ga.us.
How much better would it be if the system went to Google Apps for Education? We will keep working to eradicate the FUD perpetuated in the community and we still review the $250,000 report from 2008, Performance Review of the Richmond County School System produced by MGT of America, Inc.
So do you exist in a vertical silo of excellence or do you work to eradicate one?
I continue to thank my PLN that keeps me connected and continues to share with me the great things that are happening in the realms of learning, education, technology, our future leaders, and the intergenerational connectivity. Please continue to do the great things that you do and know that no matter how trivial the accomplishment means to you...it is that one little tidbit that hooks the curious to research to a root cause and find a way to implement it in the real world, regardless of where they may be or how oppressive a bureaucratic entity may try to squelch their positive actions.
Are you part of a vertical silo excellence? Are you working to eradicate one? When the decision makers exist in their own enclave who suffers? All stakeholders. So where is this coming from?
Photo from FreeFoto.com This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
On October 21, 2010, the Augusta Chronicle reported, Richmond Schools ranked in technology communication.
When you talk to the students, educators, parents, in this school system you would think that we are talking about another school district. This is the same school district that bans social media and cell phones. When you read the article and determine responses to the 5WH model, you can see the disconnect. The opening statement from Converge magazine's article, Top 10 US School Districts in Digital Technology:
Top school districts have been announced in the seventh annual Digital School Districts Survey by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education and the National School Boards Association (NSBA). From the Center for Digital Education site, the description of the survey purpose is to, "Examine how school boards and their districts are applying information technology to better engage local communities and improve service delivery and quality of education in public schools" (2010).
So while the district not the schools tout this award...those of us with boots on the ground know that is award was meant for the school board aka The Puzzle Palace, The Tower of Power, or The RC Vertical Silo of Excellence. It may brief well but when we look behind the curtain we see the real deal.
We know Mr. Svelha does a great job of broadcasting information for RCSS through Facebook, Twitter, and the RCSS website but effective communication is a collaborative process. I give him props because he did get the Richmond County School System enrolled for the SpeakUp Survey and he does respond to emails, which can be challenging because we still run different domains. We never know if the person we send email to is using the @rcboe.org or @boe.richmond.k12.ga.us.
How much better would it be if the system went to Google Apps for Education? We will keep working to eradicate the FUD perpetuated in the community and we still review the $250,000 report from 2008, Performance Review of the Richmond County School System produced by MGT of America, Inc.
So do you exist in a vertical silo of excellence or do you work to eradicate one?
I continue to thank my PLN that keeps me connected and continues to share with me the great things that are happening in the realms of learning, education, technology, our future leaders, and the intergenerational connectivity. Please continue to do the great things that you do and know that no matter how trivial the accomplishment means to you...it is that one little tidbit that hooks the curious to research to a root cause and find a way to implement it in the real world, regardless of where they may be or how oppressive a bureaucratic entity may try to squelch their positive actions.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Making a difference and Community Collaboration
Today I will facilitate another Scholarship Workshop in the computer lab at Diamond Lakes Library. Wednesday's workshop was fun, everyone learned something new and students connected with others they may not have met on the street.
We run through a Google Presentation that is shared with the public and participants can view it at their own pace before, after, or during the workshop and for those who cannot physically visit the library, the chat function in presentations is used. I provide them with a printed handout that is also available through Google Docs and ask them to share any golden nuggets of what is working or has not worked for them. This document is updated by participants so it is a continuous project. So this post is used to document lessons learned and consolidate the resources.
We also walk through the library to see the options of printed books, from the reference section of books that do not leave the library to the library books that range from college life to tests available/required for career and college options that can be checked out. We also point through the glass of the available study materials that can be checked out and used in the library.
It was 2 years ago that I gave my last workshop at the library before transitioning to North Carolina. My local library was also one of my first stops when I returned to Georgia. While I was glad to see the library offering free wi-fi and basic computer classes during the day, I was sad that no one had picked up the Google products and Scholarship workshops even though all materials used are available on the web and printed copies were left with the library.
So what did we learn?
Everyone shared something and everyone learned something new.
Everyone was registered through GACollege411 and Fastweb.
Everyone has a resume but not available online.
Everyone used Google to see what is associated with their name and screen names used on other sites and viewed the web results, images, news, and maps.
Everyone understands that competing for scholarships is as challenging as competing for jobs.
Almost every scholarship source has some type of social media connection.
School counselors still do not provide information to students that dual enrollment is an option during high school.
Google Alerts
Google Books
Google Voice
That volunteering can lead to a real job.
We (as a community) lack support and encouragement for our young adults in the tech world at the local college and high school levels.
I limit the workshops to one hour and it seems to be the quickest hour of my day, even after a long day on the job with our service members in the professional military education (PME) system. I stay afterwards for those who have additional questions or recommendations or to just use my library for the many resources available. This time I am giving the participants a printed copy of the Tech Sharing gift certificate and a challenge to share what they learned with a friend, a parent, a neighbor and to return to the library to do it.
The follow up emails, texts, and voice mail messages are what keep me going back. I believe in our replacements, regardless of their computer skills, race, sex, age, national origin, religion, ability/disability and/or sexual preference. Regardless of how you feel about a younger generation, you eventually will be replaced. What is your continuity plan as you look to exit a position, a community, or life? After you are gone, it is the difference you made represented by the dash in between the date you entered the world and the date you expire.
The Dash by Linda Ellis
The story behind the poem
Movie Time: 2:47
A Teacher's Dash
A Mother's Dash
How are you making the difference in your replacement's life?
Comments, recommendations, and/or check the block of the Reaction boxes are always welcome.
We run through a Google Presentation that is shared with the public and participants can view it at their own pace before, after, or during the workshop and for those who cannot physically visit the library, the chat function in presentations is used. I provide them with a printed handout that is also available through Google Docs and ask them to share any golden nuggets of what is working or has not worked for them. This document is updated by participants so it is a continuous project. So this post is used to document lessons learned and consolidate the resources.
We also walk through the library to see the options of printed books, from the reference section of books that do not leave the library to the library books that range from college life to tests available/required for career and college options that can be checked out. We also point through the glass of the available study materials that can be checked out and used in the library.
It was 2 years ago that I gave my last workshop at the library before transitioning to North Carolina. My local library was also one of my first stops when I returned to Georgia. While I was glad to see the library offering free wi-fi and basic computer classes during the day, I was sad that no one had picked up the Google products and Scholarship workshops even though all materials used are available on the web and printed copies were left with the library.
So what did we learn?
Everyone shared something and everyone learned something new.
Everyone was registered through GACollege411 and Fastweb.
Everyone has a resume but not available online.
Everyone used Google to see what is associated with their name and screen names used on other sites and viewed the web results, images, news, and maps.
Everyone understands that competing for scholarships is as challenging as competing for jobs.
Almost every scholarship source has some type of social media connection.
School counselors still do not provide information to students that dual enrollment is an option during high school.
Google Alerts
Google Books
Google Voice
That volunteering can lead to a real job.
We (as a community) lack support and encouragement for our young adults in the tech world at the local college and high school levels.
I limit the workshops to one hour and it seems to be the quickest hour of my day, even after a long day on the job with our service members in the professional military education (PME) system. I stay afterwards for those who have additional questions or recommendations or to just use my library for the many resources available. This time I am giving the participants a printed copy of the Tech Sharing gift certificate and a challenge to share what they learned with a friend, a parent, a neighbor and to return to the library to do it.
The follow up emails, texts, and voice mail messages are what keep me going back. I believe in our replacements, regardless of their computer skills, race, sex, age, national origin, religion, ability/disability and/or sexual preference. Regardless of how you feel about a younger generation, you eventually will be replaced. What is your continuity plan as you look to exit a position, a community, or life? After you are gone, it is the difference you made represented by the dash in between the date you entered the world and the date you expire.
The Dash by Linda Ellis
The story behind the poem
Movie Time: 2:47
A Teacher's Dash
A Mother's Dash
How are you making the difference in your replacement's life?
Comments, recommendations, and/or check the block of the Reaction boxes are always welcome.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)