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Virtual Museum Monday: smARThistory February 23, 2009

Posted by Wendy Wolfe in Museum Monday.
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The Monday Museum highlight today is the smARThistory site. The smARThistory folks call thier site, “free multi-media web-book designed as a dynamic enhancement (or even substitute) for the traditional and static art history textbook” and it is impressive. Searches by time period, style, artist, or theme will reveal information about each, images, audio and video. A powerful resource for art, English, Social Studies and religion courses for sure.

Here’s to a great week!

The Friday Five: Video Resources February 20, 2009

Posted by Wendy Wolfe in Friday Five, Web resources.
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Thinking back to my first classroom, I remember a television falling on me from a top-heavy cart with a VCR on the second shelf. Showing a video clip has definitely come a long way. Today’s “Five” spotlights five great (and free) video resources which will help teachers in all disciplines.

1. iTunes. In the iTunes store, under “Podcasts” if one clicks on “News & Politics,” a wealth of free video resources are revealed (I like the free access to the “Meet the Press” without needing a video tape or dvd!).

2. TV.com is making my list because I have always been frustrated with the availability of “60 Minutes” video and TV.com has it! (Along with a wealth of other videos)

3. National Geographic. National Geographic’s Video collection provides great access to both clips and longer videos in many categories including: Animals, Environment, Culture, and more.

4. SnagFilms. I admit, I’m hooked. History, Music and Culture, the Arts, Politics, Science, Sports, find your documentaries here.

5. Hulu. How could one not include Hulu? Along with the general television shows which those of us without dvrs might miss, there are channels dedicated to Food, Home and Garden, Music, Politics, could provide good content that might be overlooked.

Happy Friday!

Budget Hero – Updated February 11, 2009

Posted by Wendy Wolfe in Games & Simulations.
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Impressive. American Public Media has already updated their Budget Hero program to incorporate the bailout and stimulus package and their effects on the economy. If you haven’t played around with Budget Hero yet, it is well worth the time and students really enjoy it (I first learned about Budget Hero from one of my sophomores last semester, he had some down-time and found it on his own and was playing it).

Budget Hero would be a great addition to economics, current events, statistics, math, and government courses and results would provide for rich discussion of the challenges which currently face our nation.

Museum Monday #1 February 9, 2009

Posted by Wendy Wolfe in Educational Resources, Museum Monday, Uncategorized.
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Last Friday’s post on the Minnesota Historical Society’s resources got me thinking about museums and over the weekend I decided to add a weekly post, Museum Monday. “MM”s will focus on resources available to us through museums around the world, a great way to take the virtual field trips!

For the first Museum Monday post, I would like to highlight a favorite, Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry has an outstanding virtual exhibit focusing on the U-505, a WWII German submarine. The “Exhibit Overview” introduces the history of the U-505, has a video about the sub coming to the museum, and an activity for building your own mini-submarine. Click on “Story” to learn more about WWII and the capture of the U-505. Under “Learning Tools” (or “Activities“) you will find a great pair of learning games focused on WWII submarine warfare.

A great resource for WWII history, possibly science, and supplement to literature, the Museum of Science and Industry has a great online exhibit.