Thursday, November 29, 2012

Natural Play and Learning Spaces


This announcement is reposted from EarlySpace. Sorry if you find the font annoying.

Are you concerned that your students don’t spend enough time outside? 
Are you worried about what Richard Louv calls “Nature Deficit Disorder”? 
Are you ready to DO something—but aren’t sure where to start?
I can help!  I made a little video that you might like to check out. 
It’s about connecting children to nature and creating natural play and learning spaces.
Click here to watch the video (it’s very short)  www.createoutdoormagic.com 
Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to learn about creating the outdoor spaces your children deserve.
 (My winter DIY Natural Play Space Coaching program starts in January-- don't miss your chance to be part of it!)

Nancy Striniste, MLD
EarlySpace, LLC
earth-friendly people-friendly landscapes

office 703-532-0018

designer of 
The 2012 DC Metropolitan Council of Governments 1st Prize Green Garden
and 
NoVA Outside 2012 Green School Award Winning Natural Playspace

Visit www.earlyspace.com to start creating your dream landscape-- 
and to subscribe to Earth-friendly Landscape News.

Please look for EarlySpace on Facebook

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Marymount STEM Club Event - Dec. 7

I don't know if this is a matter of convenience or a recognition of the connections between the STEM workforce and the economy, but Marymount's STEM and Econ clubs are co-mingling.  As some of you know, Maryount University has a growing relationship with the Washington Academy of Sciences.


Monday, November 26, 2012

Upcoming AYPF Discussion on Disconnected Youth


American Youth Policy FourmLike This on Facebook
www.aypf.org
Invitation
American Youth Policy Forum
Invites you to our upcoming Lunchtime Forum and Discussion
Over the past several months, AYPF has conducted in-depth studies to examine how three high-achieving youth-serving programs utilize data as a tool for continuous program improvement and ongoing accountability. Key research questions included: how has the organization’s use of data evolved over time; how is a comprehensive data management system serving the dual purposes of program improvement and compliance with reporting obligations; and what information is most useful to drive program improvements.
This forum will serve as the release of our report, Beyond the Numbers: Data Use for Continuous Improvement of Programs Serving Disconnected Youth.  Following a brief presentation from each program, our panelists will engage in a conversation about the successes and challenges around data use at their programs as well as explore the common themes.
The three profiled: Diploma Plus Network, Our Piece of the Pie, and Roca were selected because of their proven track record of success in serving the needs of disconnected youth. 
*     *     *     *     *
DATE:  Friday, December 7, 2012
TIME:  12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION:  Capitol Hill, Room TBA
RSVP:  Please Register Here
Box lunches are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, to those registered.
*     *     *     *     *

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Top 100 Technology Tools for Last Year

As the Center for Learning and Performance Technologies prepares its list for 2013, where do you stand on the old list?  Keep in mind, the process for identifying these tools means they actually reflect last year's results.  Their list of 50 to Watch seems to have disappeared.
=====
From Jane:
This year  I’ve highlighted where the Top 100 Tools are mainly being used – ie for Personal/Professional use, in Education and/or in the Enterprise.  (Please note that the absence of a checkmark in a column does not mean that the tool is not, cannot or should not be used for that purpose!)


January 2012 List

↑↓

rank
Tool
Notes
Pers
Edu
Ent
=
1
Social network & micro-blogging service
=
2
Video-sharing site
=
3
Office suite and data storage service
(✔)
11
4
Web search engine
=
5
Blogging/website tool
=
6
File synchronization
↓ 3
7
Text and voice chat tool
(✔)
11
8
Presentation software
5
9
Social network
1
10
Collaborative encyclopaedia
(✔)
↓ 3
11
Course management system
(✔)
5
12
Note-taking tool
↓ 4
13
Slide sharing site
↓ 7
14
Presentation software
↓ 3
15
Blogging tool
=
16
RSS aggregator
9
17
Social network/video meetings
↓ 5
18
Social bookmarking/ annotation
23
19
Word processing software
11
20
Private social networking engine
(✔)
↓ 11
21
Interactive posters
=
22
Educational social learning network platform
↓ 2
23
Professional network
9
24
Curation software
5
25
Inspirational talks/lessons
↓ 8
26
Screencasting tool
↓ 7
27
Web mail
(✔)
(✔)
=
28
Screencasting tool
=
29
Audio recorder/editing tool
↓ 7
30
Wiki hosting platform
↓ 6
31
Digital storytelling platform
27
32
Web conferencing software
10
33
Web/wiki hosting platform
(✔)
10
34
Apple tablet and apps
10
35
Web browser
NEW
36
Virtual pinboard
9
37
E-learning authoring software
=
38
Interactive maps
↓ 12
39
Video creating software
↓ 3
40
Social media dashboard
32
41
Social media dashboard
5
42
Screen capture software
5
43
E-Learning authoring software
20
44
Digital organizer
20
45
Collaboration platform
(✔)
6
46
Mindmapping software
19
47
Audio/video player / course distribution platform
↓ 24
48
Social bookmarking tool
20
49
Email client
10
50
Web conferencing software
23
51
Survey software
BACK
52
Search engine for scholarly works
(✔)
BACK
53
Image editing software
BACK
54
Web conferencing software
↓ 20
55
Branded Google apps
18
56
Video learning platform
NEW
57
Online language translator
24
58
Flashcards & study games
↓ 3
59
Document sharing site
↓ 24
60
Photo sharing site
NEW
61
Social magazine for iPad etc
NEW
62
Web search engine
↓ 6
63
Community platform
↓ 13
64
Screencasting tool
BACK
65
Web browser
NEW
66
Read it later tool
2
67
Collaborative course authoring
BACK
68
Movie authoring tool
BACK
69
Mindmapping tool
12
70
E-book reader
29
71
Note-taking software
↓ 18
72
Online noticeboard
NEW
73
Social magazine for iPad
↓ 19
74
Apple smartphone and apps
7
75
Live polling
14
76
Read it later software
↓ 3
77
Educational blogging platform
↓ 29
78
Video sharing site
↓ 40
79
Word cloud generator
↓ 39
80
Visual bookmarking dashboard
=
81
Spreadsheet software
8
82
Curation tool
↓ 15
83
Sticky note service
↓ 44
84
Speaking avatars
5
85
Social engine (WordPress plugin)
↓ 28
86
Course/Learning Management System
↓ 26
87
Office software
↓ 54
88
Wiki software
NEW
89
Pinboard learning sites
NEW
90
Create Learning Playlists
↓ 24
91
ePortfolio/social networking platform
NEW
92
Event scheduling
BACK
93
Presentation software
(✔)
↓ 6
94
Devices using Google mobile operating system
(✔)
↓ 6
95
Course management system
BACK
96
Micro-blogging platform
NEW
97
Q&A platform
NEW
98
File synchronization
NEW
99
Visual bookmarking
↓ 6
100
Video creation software