Just following up a few leads whilst working away and was pointed towards this little gem: Google Chrome. This development has huge potential to change our online usage - if you look at the other tools and applications Google has developed or introduced us too and consider the potential for browser based integration, then the possibilities could be huge; especially for education.
Just recently I have been involved in a number of professional development activities - during the planning of these activities I have come across some great sites that offer free content for people to use (consequently I am building a wiki to map and provide structure to all this information - details soon).
I want to share 2 sites that I have been pointed towards by friends and that I have started to use in my PD sessions and personally, both are worth a look and some time exploring:
Sound Snap http://soundsnap.com/ This site is great and has heaps of cool sound effects - I particularly like the Comic and Film effects. Have a look at this site when doing your next video or audio work with students. Thanks Darrel.
InCompetech http://www.incompetech.com/ This site provides music and scores that you can use with video and audio productions. All the details for use and application can be easily found on the site. I really liked the beautiful track Aretes. Thanks Bil.
What always amazes me is the fact that there are all these talented out there in the world willing to share their work with others - thank you to all you.
Last week it was interesting to see all the different blog entries about the NetAlert changes and the Federal Governments offering parents free internet filtering software for the home computer. $68 Million Tax payer dollars have been spent on the filters and the associated resources and help line - without any real impact on the Australian Society.
I conduct and run cyber and online safety sessions almost weekly at the moment and most people I speak too have very little idea of Net Alert. The parents that do attend sessions and information evenings are almost always the parents that are talking with their children and taking a pro-active role in regards to their children's online activities - yet these parents still struggle. There is a huge number of parents out there that either have no idea or no interest in what their children do online or how to raise the issue - it really all boils down to good basic parenting skills (its just that technology is the issue to discuss).
It was sobering to see the following article about a child hacking and getting around the free filter software. Our money well spent - what the federal government should have invested in was talking to students and getting students to develop online video and audio clips to highlight the issue about going online, about privacy and cyber bullying. Things to get the discussion started at home, at school and in the community.
Content filters are only just a part of the whole issue (not a really good one at that). Our children should be learning about information privacy and identity management, they need to develop a critical eye in regards to what is posted online and they need to be smart about others making contact with them especially those that they do not know.
In the article it points out that Senator Fielding suggests content filters and ISP level filters are the way to go - he really has no idea. The key issues are about educating our children, about good parenting and discussion about online safety and cyber ethics and societies role in what is acceptable or not. As a parent it is not acceptable to say "I have no idea" or "technology is for the kids" - get involved with your children and what they do online - pay attention and let them teach you a thing or too - don't let the computer become just a handy baby sitter.
If you would like more information about online safety and resources just let me know - always happy to share.
For those that have used Google Docs - there have been major changes in the past day or so - well worth a look. The changes include the following:
Organize your documents with folders
Easier invitations
New keyboard shortcuts
Right to left text support
Charts!
Range names
Comments
Access Google Docs & Spreadsheets in 14 languages
Timezone controls
Add your active docs & spreadsheets list to your iGoogle page
Browse (and revert to) past versions of your spreadsheet
Publish spreadsheets as web pages
Spreadsheets get smarter with 2 special functions
Document spellcheck in 30+ languages
Two new ways to browse your documents & spreadsheets
If you have never used Google docs - you should give it a go - find out more here...
Something Funny
Recently I wrote a post about the new Microsoft Surface, well con not let the following video slip by - a very funny parody on the surface. Have a good one.
One of the services I provide to schools and school communities are information sessions on Cyber Safety and Cyber Bullying. These activities have increased recently, one because of the awareness in parents and the media around the issue and two because of the lack of understanding teachers have about what students do online outside of schools. I sometimes find these sessions hard to do as it can paint a negative picture around technology, ICT and the internet - when I know that these can be great tools and provide valuable learning and communication opportunities.
I was sent the following video today by a friend, the video has been created by
Max Joseph who contributes to the Good Magazine - this video takes a look at the porn industry on the web in a very interesting way (Note - it is safe to watch). One piece of information that amazed me was that 70% of porn traffic occurs between the 9 to 5 workday - what are people doing at work!
