WatchKnow.org is a directory of free educational
videos for students ages
3–18. The site features more
than 11,000 videos on such
subjects as math, science, and history. It allows wiki-style
collaboration among its users, and it offers tips for video
searching. Students, parents, and teachers have designated
pages, and the site offers a guide for contributors. Featured
videos originate from National Geographic, You Tube, and
Google Videos, among others, and have been endorsed by
educators from universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and
Brigham Young University.
iMinds has developed a catalog of
eight-minute audio files that deliver
information on various topics to MP3
players. iMinds covers 12 main cat-
egories: Ideas and Concepts; Politics;
Law and Business; the Arts; History;
People and Places; Medicine and In-
ventions; Sports and Action; Crime, War, and Conflict; Pop
Culture, Science, and Nature; Culture and Religion; and
Mystery and Conspiracy. It also covers more specific topics
such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, Evolution, and the Seven
Wonders of the World. iMinds is available through Learn-
OutLoud.com, Audible.com, and Apple’s i Tunes store (under
audiobooks). Individual downloads cost 99 cents, a set of
six tracks sells for $3.99, 12 tracks are $9.99, and 36
tracks costs $14.99. iMinds also has a version for children
ages 7–14 called iMindsJNR.
MORE INFO: www.iminds.com
Pearson has launched Prevent, a software program that ag-
gregates the most relevant and predictive student data to pin-
point which students are most likely to drop out of school. By
pulling together available data contained on current student
information systems, including grade point averages, disci-
pline history, attendance, and grade level, Prevent helps edu-
cators determine where to spend their time most effectively to
prevent students from leaving school without a diploma.
MORE INFO: http://education.pearsonassessments.com/prevent
Zotero, the free Firefox
extension for collecting,
managing, and citing research sources, has been
upgraded to allow students
and teachers to create groups to collaboratively gather, edit,
and annotate webpages, books, reports, videos, photos, and
other sources. Zotero 2.0 is a production of the Center for
History and New Media at George Mason University. Users can share their work or sources with others working in
related areas or discover other people with similar interests
and learn about the sources they are citing.
MORE INFO: www.zotero.org
15desks is a free Web-based application that allows educators, students, parents, administrators, and community
members to manage academic matters from one secure
place online. Users can share resources, keep track of deadlines, and submit assignments. Other features include out-of-class communication and grading. 15desks is designed
to be suitable for all curricula, grades, assignments, and student communications, and it’s accessible from any computer
with Web access. No software, hardware, or maintenance is
required.
MORE INFO: www.15desks.com
Coming Next Issue in
What is Web 3.0?
You may have heard rumors about the next
generation of Internet-enabled technological
advancement, but few seem to know what Web
3.0 is and what it can do. Ed tech profes-
sor emeritus Jason Ohler explains the theory
behind the Semantic Web and how it can help
educators manage the ever-expanding informa-
tion overload by putting the onus of organization
back where it belongs—on the computers.
Make the Most of Student Data
The latest iterations of learning management
systems (LMS) come with data collection
features to help you aggregate and interpret all
kinds of data about students so you can tailor
curriciula to individual learners’ needs. Rob
Kadel from ed tech research firm Techinnoval
writes about the key issues your school or
district should consider when choosing an LMS
with data collection and analyzation capabilities.
The Way to Implement Whiteboards
Everyone knows that whiteboards are cool.
But there’s a lot more to consider when
implementing technology to enhance learning
and increase student success. Technology
facilitator Alissa Parrish explains how the
Kirkwood (Missouri) School District successfully
selected and installed whiteboards throughout
its high school, then trained the staff to use
them appropriately and planned for ongoing
technical support.
