The Illinois Mathematics and Science
Academy (IMSA)
recently launched
the beta version of
CoolHub.IMSA,
a global online
network created to develop projects in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Members collaborate
on a variety of projects worldwide, including game design
for information fluency, robot building for team competition, wetland improvement, and continuous-flow biodiesel
production. Benefits of membership include connections
to innovators, experts, researchers, developers, and peers;
opportunities to join and collaborate on projects; centralized
access to tools such as videoconferencing, wikis, blogs, and
forums; and the ability to create personal webpages and
learning networks.
MORE INFO: http://coolhub.imsa.edu
Wolfram•Alpha has released beta versions of
Wolfram•Alpha Widgets and
Widget Builder, which give
users the ability to create shareable interactive modules using
its computational knowledge
engine. Users can deliver results
from Wolfram•Alpha’s data repository and share their knowledge using simple and customizable applications. Creators can
build a free Wolfram•Alpha widget in a few steps using the
drag-and-drop Widget Builder. They can also customize the
look and feel of their widgets and display the results.
MORE INFO: http://developer.wolframalpha.com/widgets
WHAT’Snew
After-school instructors
and directors can now use
social media to share their
opinions about the science resources they use. The Science
After School Consumers Guide allows after-school prac-
titioners to review activities and curricula the same way they
review products or restaurants on sites such as Amazon or
Yelp. The Consumers Guide contains nearly 100 reviews of
high-quality, hands-on science content for after-school pro-
grams. The resources are aimed at K– 12 students, and they
range in price from free to more than $100. Each resource
has two expert reviews—one by a science content expert
and another by an after-school professional. Site visitors can
assign a rating of 1–5 stars to the resources for categories
such as student engagement, clarity of instructions, ease of
use and clean-up, and cost. They can also describe great
features and components that need improvement.
MORE INFO: www.sedl.org/afterschool/guide/science
SmartFish Technologies has released the ErgoMotion Mouse,
a laser mouse that features a
patented swivel mechanism. The ErgoMotion Mouse promotes fluid movement to allow the
device to intuitively adapt to each user’s hand position. The
technology enables forward, backward, and lateral wave-like
movements for the wrist, which relieves discomfort from
repetitive stress injuries related to extended computer use.
The ErgoMotion Mouse features left- and right-click buttons,
a four-way scroll wheel, and a discreet wireless USB plug-in.
It is compatible with Mac and PC.
MORE INFO: www.getsmartfish.com
L&L Senior Editor Diana Fingal compiled this information from press releases sent to the L&L editorial office. The L&L staff does not
review the products and resources, and they are offered here without recommendation. Send press releases to products@iste.org.
