Featured 6-30-2014: The Pericles Group

 

The Pericles Group provides game-based learning solutions for students, teachers, and administrators in a wide range of situations and a variety of disciplines.

 

The Pericles Group offers ‘practomimetic' courses that blend stories and game play providing students the opportunity to explore learning as a narrative and as a game.

 

 

The attitudes and behaviors of students learning in the practomimetic courses change along with their level of knowledge. They can become active learners, metaphorically engaged in making the world a better place.

 

The Pericles Group partners with teachers to develop and deliver materials for game-based courses and curricula that capitalize on the opportunities of teaching as a digitally-enhanced practice. Although the practomimes don’t look like traditional video games, the play is similar and they teach more. Practomimetic courses can teach students to "play the curriculum," reaching the learning objectives and mastering the skills and content the practomime is designed to support.

 

Students might play as scientists, recruited by a shadowy multinational corporation, investigating phenomena out of science fiction and fantasy. Latin students could play as operatives on a mission to find a lost inscription that can only be deciphered if they are able to read Latin. 

 

Currently developed products of The Pericles Group include:

• Operation LAPIS is a two-year introductory curriculum in Roman civilization and the Latin language
• Operation BIOME is a full-year game-based (practomimetic) course in biology.
• Operation CAESAR is an advanced Latin course aligned with the new Latin AP standards.
• CARD-tamen is a stand-alone card game where players construct a persuasive argument about the subject matter in relation to a controversial topic.

 

 

The Pericles Group offers a series of professional development seminars that demonstrate the potential of practomimetic courses. These seminars can be customized to the needs of each school district.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

The Rearview Mirror 6-28-2014

For those of you who may have missed an EDge21 featured post or who didn't have the opportunity to look at some of them during this past week, here's a second chance.

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Monday

The NISE Network is an online digital library of public nano educational products and tools for educators and scientists to use to increase their ability to engage their people in nanoscale technology.

Tuesday

In order to help you integrate core nonfiction topics into your curriculum, Kids Discover has developed hundreds of free downloads, articles, lesson plans, and other resources.

Wednesday

MathTerms is a free illustrated glossary of nearly 1000 mathematics terms for middle- and high-school students and teachers in both English and Spanish.

Thursday

Sharplet is a new web app that promises users will remember more in less time using the spaced repetition learning method to optimally schedule flashcard review sessions.

Featured 6-26-2014: Sharplet

Sharplet

 

Sharplet is a new web app that promises users will remember more in less time using the spaced repetition learning method to optimally schedule flashcard review sessions.

 

 

Spaced repetition is a learning technique that utilizes increasing intervals of time between subsequent review of previously learned material in order to take advantage of the psychological spacing effect. The amount of time between learning sessions is a determining factor in long-term memory formation, not the amount of time spent learning.

 

During your study sessions, grade flashcards on how well you recall them. Cards are scheduled for review based on these grades. Cards you know well will move further ahead in the review schedule so you will see them less often. The progressively increasing review period between each card moves knowledge quickly from your short to long-term memory.

 

 

The founders of Sharplet believe that some flashcard applications may be good but are lacking essential features and none seem to be fully integrating spaced repetition. They endeavored to make Sharplet easy to use and to provide the appropriate features that will allow users to have fun while learning.

 

 Currently Sharplet does not have dedicated mobile apps but the website will adapt to the screen of size of your device so you can study a course on any device. Dedicated IOS and Android apps are planned for the near future.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured 6-25-2014: MathTerms

MathTerms is a free illustrated glossary of nearly 1000 mathematics terms for middle- and high-school students and teachers in both English and Spanish.

 

With its colorful, annotated illustrations, MathTerms has been accessed online by millions of students over the past five years. It is now available as an iPad and Android app with permission of The Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin and Agile Mind, Inc.

 

Key features of MathTerms:

• Free with no advertising
• Covers Middle School Math, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Precalculus, Calculus, and Statistics
• Colorful, annotated illustrations
• Complete, sentence-based definitions
• Alphabetical indexes
• Flash card function
• No internet connection required for use

 

Complete definitions are available in both English and Spanish. Display toggles between English and Spanish terms, and the search function is available in both languages.

 

 Watch a video demo of the MathTerms app

 

 The MathTerms iPad app requires iOS 3.2 or higher. The Android version requires Android 1.6 or higher.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured 6-24-2014: Kids Discover

 

In order to help you integrate core nonfiction topics into your curriculum, Kids Discover has developed hundreds of free downloads, articles, lesson plans, and other resources. 

 

The mission of Kids Discover is "to expose kids to all the wonders in the world—science, space, nature, history and culture—in one easy-to-understand, beautiful publication” with the goal of encouraging kids' natural curiosity while fostering an enthusiasm for reading and learning.

 

A Teacher’s Guide and a Power Vocabulary packet accompany every Kids Discover title. These free downloads come with with activities, exercises, and assessments to help you integrate their nonfiction titles into your curriculum.

 

 

More Kids Discover resources:

• Reproducible, one-page infographics and lesson sheets bring complex concepts to life with diagrams and short captions.
• Long-form Spotlights articles each cover one topic in-depth, and include a photo gallery and short assessment to help improve reading comprehension and vocabulary.
• Short (about 300 words) Quick Reads nonfiction pieces are intended to get kids interested in exploring new ways to read and digest information.

A subject-matter expert from a prestigious university or museum authenticates each issue of Kids Discover. All issues are ad-free.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured 6-23-2014: NISE Network

 

The NISE Network is an online digital library of public nano educational products and tools for educators and scientists to use to increase their ability to engage their people in nanoscale technology.

 

Launched in 2005, the NISE Network (Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network) has the target of engaging the public with the development of nanoscale research, as well as capturing the interest of young people and encouraging careers in nanoscale science or technology. The Network now includes fourteen museums and universities across the US.

The NISE Network is home to a selection of educational products designed to engage the public in nanoscale technology: educational programs and activities, media, exhibits, professional development tools, and evaluation and research reports designed for educators and scientists. All products are reviewed by scientists, educators, and tested with visitors. Most are available for free download and can be easily adapted and modified as needed.

 

 Visit the NISE Network Vimeo channel

 

Anyone interested in helping the public better understand nanoscale research is welcome to join. The NISE Network is funded by the National Science Foundation.

 

Note: Many NISE Network educational products are available in Spanish. The most popular programs have been adapted for Spanish-speaking audiences.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

The Rearview Mirror 6-21-2014

For those of you who may have missed an EDge21 featured post or who didn't have the opportunity to look at some of them during this past week, here's a second chance.

 

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 Monday

ParticiPoll is an audience polling add-in for PowerPoint that allows audience members to use their own devices to votes.

Tuesday

The Radix Endeavor is a multiplayer online game for STEM learning in high school.

Wednesday

CollegeEd is the free, standards-based* college planning and career exploration program for middle and high school students from the  College Board.

Thursday

LEGO Education was created to bring classroom tested and ready solutions that will engage and motivate young students.

Plus 6-20-2014: Global Read Aloud

 

Pernille Ripp, a 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, started Global Read Aloud in the summer of 2010 to expand the global collaboration of her students.

 

Participating educators choose a book to read aloud to their students during a certain time period during which they try to make as many global connections as possible.

 

 

Individual teachers decide how much time they would like to dedicate to Global Read Aloud and how deeply they would like to be involved. You can connect with just one class or go for as many as possible.

 

Tools such as Twitter, Skype, Edmodo, wikis, email, regular mail, and others have been used to make these global connections.  Last year more than 144,000 students in more than 30 countries on 6 different continents were represented.

 

The official start date for this year's project is October 6th, 2014. The book choices are:

• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
• The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm
• One For the Murphy's by Lyndy Mullaly Hunt
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 

 Watch What is the Global Read Aloud?

 

You can sign up to participate in Global Read Aloud here.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured 6-19-2014: LEGO Education

 

LEGO Education was created to bring classroom tested and ready solutions that will engage and motivate young students.

 

Combining the fun, exciting aspects of LEGO bricks with subject-specific tools and curricula, LEGO Education can help teachers meet their objectives.

 

Based in Denmark, LEGO Education has been working with educators for more than three decades to provide classroom solutions and resources that can be used to bring subjects to life and make learning fun. 

 

 

LEGO Education educational sets, activity packs, teacher resources, and programming tools can make learning inspiring and meet your curriculum needs. Materials are designed to stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering, computer science, math, and the humanities. 

 

 Visit the LEGO Education YouTube channel

 

The ultimate goal of LEGO Education is to "encourage students to think creatively, reason systematically and release their potential to shape their own future."

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured 6-18-2014: CollegeEd

 

CollegeEd is the free, standards-based* college planning and career exploration program for middle and high school students from the  College Board.

 

 

Drawing on more than a century of experience by the College Board in guiding students on the way to college, the CollegeEd program provides lessons and activities meant to help students evolve the skills needed to meet their goals. In collaboration with Roadtrip Nation, CollegeEd gives students the chance to "explore their aspirations and set long-term goals to get them on the path to higher education and a successful career."

 

Lessons written by experienced counselors and AP teachers are organized around three consistent themes: "Who Am I?", "Where Am I Going?" and "How Do I Get There?" 

 

 

CollegeEd offers flexible options for teaching, implementation, and family involvement. The program consists of three levels, each with its own student workbook and accompanying educator guide:

• Grades 7-8 gets students thinking about the path to college.
• Grades 9-10 has engaging activities to help students discover their interests and begin planning for college.
• Grades 11-12 guides students through the college search and application processes.

 

CollegeEd materials can be used online and are also provided as downloadable, printable PDFs. Materials are also available in Spanish.

 

* The CollegeEd program is based on standards developed by the College Board, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and ASCA.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured 6-17-2014: Radix Endeavor

 

The Radix Endeavor is a multiplayer online game for STEM learning in high school.

 

When a player enters the Radix Endeavor  she finds herself on an island with many unknown species of plants and animals, many mysterious places waiting to be discovered, and many problems to be solved. She must try to determine what is causing the problems, how the natural systems work, and which factors need to be changed to improve the lives of the people and save the island from destruction.

 

 

The game offers students the opportunity to participate in a collaborative, social experience in a systems-based game world while they explore how that world works and discover important scientific concepts.

 

The initial phase of the Radix Endeavor will cover topics in biology, algebra, geometry, probability, and statistics. Designed to align with the Common Core standards in mathematics and Next Generation Science Standards for high school students, there is also particular emphasis on developing key mathematics practices and 21st century skills.

 

 

Innovative task-based assessments will be embedded into the game, and that data will be used to track players’ strategies, progress, and potential misconceptions. The data will be analyzed in real time to offer feedback and support to the player to promote learning when concepts and skills are being first introduced. It will also be available on a 'Teacher Portal' to help teachers monitor student progress and differentiate their lessons to meet students’ needs.

 

 Watch The Radix Endeavor Trailer

 

The Radix Endeavor is being developed at the MIT Education Arcade in collaboration with Filament Games, and is funded by the Gates Foundation.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured 6-16-2014: ParticiPoll

 

ParticiPoll is an audience polling add-in for PowerPoint that allows audience members to use their own devices to votes.

 

ParticiPoll is easy to use. With PowerPoint, create a slide with up to six answer choices. Use the ParticiPoll menu to set options, then click ‘Insert Poll’ and a results bar will appear on the slide. Press the ‘Start Polling” button, log in, and run your presentation.

 

Direct your audience to your assigned URL to vote and see the live vote count. When all votes are in advance your presentation to see the poll results.

 

 

Features of ParticiPoll:

• Clicker-free system that uses your audience members' devices
• Simple to install PowerPoint add-in
• Drop polls straight into your slides without telling ParticiPoll the questions and answers
• View and download historic poll data and anonymous comments (Pro version)

 

 See a video overview of ParticiPoll

 

ParticiPoll is free to use for unlimited live audience polling in PowerPoint. To access audience comments, historic charts, and to download results data you’ll need to purchase the Pro version at £2.99 (about $5 US) per month or £29.99 ($50 US) for a whole year.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

The Rearview Mirror 6-14-2014

For those of you who may have missed an EDge21 featured post or who didn't have the opportunity to look at some of them during this past week, here's a second chance.

 

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Monday

Create interactive presentations, infographics & other interactive content from numerous templates and presets or a blank canvas with Visme.

Tuesday

TERC is an independent, non-profit, research-based organization that has been introducing millions of students to math and science learning for nearly 50 years.

Wednesday

The School-2-School program, part of the America’s Unofficial Ambassadors* initiative, promotes goals related to education and mutual understanding at the  grassroots level in the United States and in the Muslim World.

Thursday

The TypingClub School Portal gives you the ability to completely manage your students' typing progress. You can setup your classes, design engaging typing lessons, and track student progress.

Featured 6-12-2014: TypingClub School Portal

 

The TypingClub School Portal gives you the ability to completely manage your students' typing progress. You can setup your classes, design engaging typing lessons, and track student progress.

 

Customize lessons and create lesson plans using the TypingClub School Portal. Then assign lessons to your students within a user-friendly interface.

 

The student interface is designed to be clean, simple, and engaging. Helpful instructions guide students through every step. Students receive continuous feedback and are motivated to repeat each lesson to mastery before proceeding. You also have the option to add your own instructions to each lesson to further guide your students.

 

 

The TypingClub School Portal allows you to track the progress of your students class-wide and individually with a rich set of analytics data.

 

 Watch Improve your Students' Typing with Typing Club

 

The TypingClub School Portal is available in free and paid versions. The free version includes an unlimited number of students in up to three classes for two teachers, as well as access to Create/Customize Lessons, Lesson Plan Marketplace, and Typing Games.

 

 TypingClub School Portal's free iPad app, lets students use their iPad to sign into their account and continue practicing. Whether students use a browser or iPad to practice, you will still be able to view and track their activities.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured 6-11-2014: School-2-School (AUA)

 

The School-2-School program, part of the America’s Unofficial Ambassadors* initiative, promotes goals related to education and mutual understanding at the  grassroots level in the United States and in the Muslim World.

 

Through School-2-School, an American school partners with a school in the Muslim World to design and implement a plan for their students to engage with and learn from each other. Further, the American school helps its partner school by raising money to purchase needed educational supplies.

 

 

Over the summer, an educator from the American school volunteers to travel to the partner school and work with the school’s students and educators. This teacher then shares the experience with his or her school and the local community.

 

School-2-School is a competitive program open to all American middle school or high school educators. Partner schools are carefully vetted to assure students and teachers have the appropriate English language skills and infrastructure to fully participate.

 

 See video profiles of AUA Volunteers and School-to-School teachers

 

Since 2005, School-2-School has benefitted thousands of students and their teachers in countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the United States.

 

* America’s Unofficial Ambassadors is a citizen diplomacy initiative aimed at developing mutual understanding and enhancing people-to-people partnerships between America and the Muslim World by placing Americans in volunteer positions in the Muslim World.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured 6-10-2014: TERC

 

TERC is an independent, non-profit, research-based organization that has been introducing millions of students to math and science learning for nearly 50 years.

 

TERC has striven to engage and inspire all students through stimulating content intended to develop the knowledge and skills they need to ask questions, solve problems, and expand their opportunities.

 

Simply put, the mission of TERC is to improve mathematics and science education. TERC hopes to:

• Contribute to a deeper understanding of learning and teaching
• Enhance instruction through teacher professional development
• Develop applications of new technologies to education
• Create curricula and other products
• Support reform in both school and informal settings

 

Since it’s founding in 1965, the work of TERC has spread across all areas of STEM education to reach K-12 and postsecondary students as well as adult learners. TERC is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

Featured 6-9-2014: Visme

 

Create interactive presentations, infographics & other interactive content from numerous templates and presets or a blank canvas with Visme.

 

Visme promises the ability to customize every object to fit your specific content needs using attractive fonts supported in a range of languages, millions of free images from Flikr, and thousands of free vector images.

 

 

Transform data into engaging visuals with custom built infograph widgets,charts and graphs to quickly visualize your data to engrossing content.

 

Visme is built on HTML 5 so it's light, quick, easy-to-use, and supported on every device mobile.

 

 Watch Animating with Visme

Visme Basic is free and includes up to three projects, 100 MB of storage, publish or download as jpg, and public projects. Paid options offering more projects and storage as well as additional features start at $4.50 (US) per month.

 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0