CofC Weblog for EHHP Faculty
Have you ever lost your owners manual for an electronic device? What a nightmare if you need to re-program it or fix it yourself or order a part. Well, here’s your solution — www.retrevo.com.
Write this one down or bookmark it–I just did.
Retrevo has owners manuals for your car, camera, stereo, tv, coffeemaker, grill, refrigerator, printer, computer . . . I could go on and on, but you get the picture. Check it out now!
The USGS Multimedia Gallery contains large collections of educational videos, animations, podcasts, and image galleries. You can search each collection by topic and or keyword tags. RSS feeds are available for each gallery. In addition to the videos in the USGS Multimedia Gallery you can find many videos on the official USGS YouTube channel.
Great opportunities for teachers to add interest to lessons and for students to find resources for projects.
By Michael T. Eskey, PhDWe all have students in every course that send us e-mails. Some provide us with information. Some provide us with “excuses”. Some question our instructions. Some question our syllabus and/or course requirements. Some have complaints. Some want “special” treatment. Some feel others have received “special” treatment. In most cases, they want “satisfaction.” And, if you don’t provide this satisfaction, they will go higher to achieve this satisfaction. They will go to your program coordinator, or department chair, or dean, or vice president, or even the president. While the student is a customer, the customer is not “always” right. Instructors have a very difficult job and must always try to strive to be fair and use discretion; however, we must adhere to policies and regulations. Unfortunately, some students will not be able to maintain their “4.0” average or a graduate student may earn a “C”, or a “D”, or even an “F.” Sometimes, they have legitimate reasons and they have provided valid and validated excuses. Sometimes, they are simply not satisfied with their grade and will do anything to earn the grade they wanted or “perceive” they earned. They may make accusations; they may bypass the instructor in their complaints and, in some cases, may make the call or send the e-mail directly to the top decision-maker on campus. You will then be asked to “defend” yourself. My advice is simple: At the beginning of the term, set aside a separate thumb drive for e-mails for a specific course, or create a separate subdirectory on your hard-drive for that course. When you receive e-mails, save them by last name and number (Smith – 1; Smith – 2, etc.) When you send e-mails, save them in the same manner. When you send e-mails to the class, save them by class number, for example CJ400-1, CJ400-2. When necessary, in responding to students, inform them that you are cc:ing your supervisor (and do so). This may seem like extra work and, for some, much ado about nothing. However, if you are not able to provide documentation of your correspondence to students, it is difficult to defend what you have said. You also may find that the same student often complains in more than one class or seems to have “excuses” for not completing assignments in more than one class (your program coordinator or chair might validate this). I once had a student whose mother died three weeks before the final in two separate terms with two separate instructors. When we keep and share this information it will begin to prevent much of the problem in the future and provide you with very valuable documentation. It also will prevent unnecessary correspondence with your program coordinator, department chair, dean, and president. Michael T. Eskey, PhD is an associate professor of criminal justice at Park University. |
It happens to all of us. You set your phone down to go do something and later on you can’t remember where you left it. Or maybe it fell out of your pocket somewhere. Whatever the case may be, a lost cell phone can give you a headache in a hurry.
After all, we’re dependent on these devices. What if it was stolen? You don’t want your private information in the wrong hands, especially since these new phones are capable of making purchases online.
In this article, I am going to cover a few of the tools you can use to locate your lost or stolen cell phone. So the next time you lose your phone, hopefully it won’t take all day to find it.
[Note]: Finding your cell phone is much easier if you have the ringer turned on or at least have it on vibrate. Finding a phone on silent can be done (if you have GPS), but it is by far the trickiest of all recoveries.
For a lot of you, this may be the only tool you need. If you don’t have a house phone (less and less people do every day), you can go to WhereisMyCellPhone and dial your number for free. We’ve covered this app in our directory before. Simply type in your number, click Find It!, and let it ring until your phone is found. There is no registration required to use this app. This app is US-only.
If you think you’ve left your phone in a public place, you can try this directory app. BlueRetriever is pretty cool in that it allows you to create a wallpaper for your phone that has a site URL and an ID number on it.
When someone finds your phone, they can go to the website, type in the ID number, and they will be able to find out who the phone belongs to. You can even offer them a reward, which you set yourself, of up to $100 in gift cards (Amazon, Starbucks, Target) or donations with Kiva.
Site registration is free and BlueRetriever supports the following devices:
[Note]: If your phone is not on the list, feel free to try the service anyway. You may however need to crop the image to fit on your phone’s screen.
This app supports Android, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile phones. Lookout provides security in the form of virus and malware protection, data backup of your contacts and photos, and device location.
The site says that if you can’t find your phone you can make it “scream” (not quite sure what that means) or wipe it out.
If you’re really worried about your data being stolen, you can look into F-Secure Anti-Theft (directory). Supported by Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, and Android, this application provides the ability to track your lost phone, remotely lock it, and even remotely wipe out all the data.
If your phone is stolen, you can text message a key to your phone to find its geo-location. Send the phone different keys to perform the activities mentioned above.
We’ve covered similar software in WaveSecure and BuddyWay.
If you own an Android phone, you need an app like iTag. Once installed this app will allow you to view your cell phone’s location, make it ring from the website even if it is set to silent or vibrate, lock the keys, back up your contacts, delete the information on the phone, and more. There’s not much this app can’t do in the way of finding your cell phone.
Even the best of us have a grammatical issue from time to time. Where should we turn to to resolve those timeless questions about when to use “lay” and when to use “lie”? There are a ton of great free grammar resources on the web to answer these questions and just about any other grammatical question you have.
If you’re already improving your writing qualityand expanding your vocabulary, why not also get your grammar down pat? Know where to go when you have a bothersome grammar issue and need to do a quick online grammar check.
Some of the best free grammar resources come from colleges that make their grammar guides available to the public online. Purdue University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Ottawaall offer great free grammar guides that can help you brush up on your grammar rules. If you try your best to not be bothered by the page layouts straight from the ’90s, the grammar guides offered by theCollege of DuPage and Capital Community College can be really helpful.
Two of the best college grammar guides to use as regular references to perform a quick online grammar check are the Guide to Grammar and Style by Jack Lynch, a professor at Rutgers University, and Common Errors in English Usage by Paul Brians, a professor at Washington State University.
Unlike the other college guides that only give a general overview of grammar rules, these are alphabetical guides that provide answers to specific grammar problems. You should have no problem finding out whether “lay” or “lie” is the way to go with these guides.
You probably wouldn’t think to look for print resources online, but there are a couple good ones available. A major advantage to using these resources online—besides that you don’t have to pay for them—is that you can search through them with ease. Just type in the specific issue you’re looking for guidance on and it will pop right up.
Bartleby.com offers the classic grammar guide The Elements of Style in full. Keep in mind that it’s only able to be offered online because it’s an outdated edition, so you might find its rules particularly stingy and old-fashioned.
Google Books offers the complete Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage. This is one of the best free grammar resources available online.
It’s huge—it really is a whole dictionary dedicated just to grammar—so it’s nice to have it in an easily searchable online format. The only thing you might not like about it is that it’s possibly toocomprehensive: it often goes into the history of the usage of words and phrases before concluding on the most correct usage. But it has answers to just about any grammar issue you can think of.
Grammar Girl is a podcast and website dedicated to grammar.
Although less comprehensive than some of the other resources I’ve listed above, Grammar Girl gives clear explanations that will help you resolve common grammar problems. And if you’re a grammar nut like me, you might want to load up some of Grammar Girl’s podcasts onto your iPod so that you can listen to them on the go.
Whether you’re looking to get in tune with your heritage, traveling to an exotic locale or looking for a simple way to keep your mind sharp, learning a foreign language is skill that will always come in handy (or at least look impressive). With online resources for nearly every language under the sun, with time and effort, you can learn a new language while sitting in front of your computer screen.
Many sites offer lessons for download, which means you can put a foreign language on your MP3 player and implement the new language between computer sessions. As is always the case with learning something new, consistency is key when mastering a new language. Though the resources are free, you want to make the most of your time by keeping up with lessons and utilizing the language anytime you can such as in a restaurant or while traveling
Free Foreign Language Resources for Mastering a New Language
These sites provide help for beginners looking to master a new language. While learning a new language online is not impossible, keep in mind it will take time especially if you are busy with school and work. The great thing about free online foreign language resources is you can keep up with them as much or as little as you’d like, but it’s best you visit the language and practice at least three times a week to truly master it for the long haul.
2. World English : The ideal site for those looking to learn English. English is one of the most difficult languages to master as an adult, and this site is jam packed with vocabulary tests, thoroughly explains things like synonyms and antonyms and gives a timeline to explain tenses. Check out the English assessment test to find out where you are in the language and the next step should be to master the language. There’s also a helpful reference section for the top 100 misspelt words and top 100 verbs.
3. 200 Words a Day : If you are a visual learner who quickly picks up things they see, consider this site for learning a new language. Humorous drawings create a mental image of what a word or phrase means. The site offers Spanish, French, German and Welsh. This is also a great resource for students who are currently taking a class, but need a quick, fun tutorial to keep words fresh on their mind before an oral exam.
4. Word 2 Word : This site sorts free online foreign language resources by language, so you can sort through what’s available in the language you’re looking to master. While the heavy hitters like Spanish and French are available, there’s also less common languages such as Somali and Yiddish.
5. 123 Teach Me : 123 Teach Me offers free Spanish language resources. Going beyond the basics of a language, this site also shows you grammatical lessons and has foreign language lessons for kids. There’s also a handy text translator where you can enter a word and have it automatically translated. There’s also a separate area for medical terms in Spanish.
6. Web German : The title may have you thinking this site is only fit for German, but it’s actually holds links to free online learning resources for languages like Hebrew, Thai and yes, German. One of the most interesting features is links to foreign radio stations that can be accessed at any time to see just how much you’ve learned. Practicing your new language by watching foreign television shows and listening to the radio are great tools for speaking.
7. ILUSS : Simple Italian for beginners, this site allows users to learn the basic of the language for free before committing to (and by that, we mean paying for) intermediate and advanced classes online. The good thing is, there’s plenty to learn if you know nothing of the Italian language and it will be a simple language to pick up if you are already fluent in Spanish or French. One plus about this site is there’s nothing to download. Simply click the lesson and you’re on your way to learning basic Italian.
8. Ask Oxford : Ask Oxford offers Spanish, French, German and Italian learning resources. There are interactive lessons and sections devoted to utilizing your new language in the work place with CV and email examples. The site also focuses on writing, which means you’ll be fluent in your desired language and able to communicate in many ways. Download the lessons and you’ll begin your journey to learning a new language in just minutes.
9. BBC Languages : This is one of the best places to learn a myriad of languages, ranging from Portuguese to Greek. For those looking for some of the most commonly used languages on the planet such as Spanish and French, there are 12 week courses that help users master the beginner level of the respective languages. The video and audio courses will be beneficial to those learning a new language, and the site also links to BBC affiliates around the world to see the channel in action in the language you’re looking to conquer.
Free Online Resources for Quick Conversations and Travel
Need to know the surface ins-and-outs of a language before you travel? Check out these sites for go-to phrases that are needed in different languages and videos to help you master the pronunciation of words. There’s also useful information on gestures, which are just as important as the language when visiting a foreign land.
11. Single Serving : If you’re hitting the road to visit multiple foreign countries, consider this site your best friend. Single Serving allows you to print a four page booklet with that contains over 100 key words and phrases. From there, select languages have accompanying audio that users can listen to after downloading for free.
12. Open Culture : This site is perfect for those with a busy lifestyle who want to get a taste of a new language and gradually learn words and phrases. The site has lessons you can download to your MP3 player so the commute to work or cleaning up around the house suddenly become an educational experience from another culture.
13. About French : Headed to Paris for a week? This site has videos for simple phrases that will get you around France without looking like a total newbie, but removes the hectic guesswork of attempting to learn a new language before your big trip. There’s also a guide on gestures, which is helpful when traveling to a foreign country. For those looking to get a solid feel for the language, there’s a nifty lesson that tells you the best ways to learn French depending on your age and location.
14. Phonetiks.org : The “instant sound” feature on this site gives you access to the correct pronunciation of words in nine languages, which will prove to be incredibly useful the next time you’re stuck in a taxi abroad. What is neat about is site, is it offers the sounds in American English first (helpful, if this is your native tongue) and then proceeds with a foreign language word that utilizes that same sound. This simple learning style makes picking up new words a snap.
Free Online Resources for Companion Learning with a Language Class
Aimed at educators or those currently taking or looking to enroll in a foreign language class. These sites serve as companion tools and can also be utilized for those looking to brush up on a certain language before traveling. These sites have resources like quizzes and flashcards, which will make picking up a new language a snap.
16. Internet Polyglot : Learn everything from Spanish to Croatian on this free language website. This site prides itself on a system that allows users to learn a new language in a fun, playful way. To do this, Internet Polyglot has implemented a system of games familiar to those who play computer games. The site allows users to customize their foreign language lessons by selecting the word language and translation language, which will make it easier to learn a new language quickly.
17. Vista Wide : This site includes resources for studying abroad to be immersed in a language and discusses career opportunities for those who are multi-lingual. Functions like the free online verb conjugators make this site a standout for those looking to learn a new language while feeling confident in accessible tools that will help them along the way.
18. Vocabulix : If you’re looking to brush up on a language or an extra tool to help you as you learn a new language, look to Vocabulix for a quick site that boasts features like conjugation tables and verbal drills. Grammar tips revolving around English are helpful for those still getting comfortable with the language and a networking feature allows users to interact as they learn new words and phrases.
19. Elf Worksheets : For those looking for at-home worksheets and online lessons while learning the English language, this site offers a bevy of resources that will help you master the language quickly. With all languages, practice makes perfect, but this is especially true of English. Elf Worksheets divides the starter stages into beginner and elementary, ensuring users thoroughly comprehend the language before moving on to the next level.
20. My Language Exchange : If you’re learning a new language, what better way to enhance your skills than by practicing with a native speaker? My Language Exchange allows users around the world to interact with a partner who is learning their native tongue, while they verbally practice their new language with the partner. It’s a simple concept that will help you take your foreign language skills to the next level and is the closest thing to visiting the native land of your desired language.
From Free Technology for Teachers: Slide Six is a slide show hosting service that offers you the ability to add your voice narrations without having to create, upload, and sync a separate audio file. Slide Six does this by allowing you to record your narration directly through the Slide Six site. To use the feature just upload your slide show and then record your voice as you go through your slide deck. Slide Six also allows you to upload attachments to complement your presentations. YouTube and Vimeo videos are supported within Slide Six.
Slide Six supports all Power Point formats, Open Office, PDF, and MOV presentations. You can try Slide Sixwithout creating an account through the trial uploader.
Applications for Education
If you have students creating slide shows that are going to end up in a wiki or on a blog consider having them add audio narration to their presentations before embedding them into a blog or wiki.
Also, if you need to miss a class, someone can present the slide show with your audio comments for you, or you can embed it on your website or on WebCT or another LMS.
Looking for some royalty free music to use in your classroom or broadcast? Look no further.
This site is a royalty free music library which meets all the licensing and technology requirements needed for education! Soundzabound Music Library offers a wide variety of music, audio themes and sound effects for grades K -12 and universities that ensures your copyright safety. Perfect for podcasts, PowerPoint™, videos, news shows, video yearbooks, digital storytelling, presentations, TV broadcasts, web design and more! soundsabound.com
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/free-downloads.html
Richard Byrne’s blog, Free Technology for Teachers, has some really important resources every teacher should know about. Here’s a link (above) to one of the blog pages containing some great teacher handbooks you don’t want to miss. And, these are free for you to use in workshops, classes, etc. Yes, really!
http://etc.usf.edu/maps/index.htm
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