Learning and Leading

Noodle Education has launched

Noodle.org, a lifelong education search engine that provides users with free access to education information and interactive learning tools. Noodle.org’s personalized recommendation engine helps users—from parents and other adults to high schoolers—find schools and programs to fit their needs. Users can search Noodle.org for colleges, graduate programs, and K– 12 schools; find study-abroad programs; identify the best local tutors and test prep programs; search for a guidance counselor or education consultant; and access hundreds of thousands of free learning materials. Noodle.org offers content from sources such as federal and state education departments and agencies, LinkedIn, Forbes, Newsweek, You Tube Education, and US News & World Report. Users can select from more than 350,000 interactive learning materials covering an expansive range of subjects compiled from noteworthy sources, such as National Geographic,The Smithsonian, Khan Academy, and Big Think.

MORE INFO: www.noodle.org
SparkFun Electronics has launched MaKey MaKey, an
invention kit that encourages people to discover creative
new ways to interact with computers. Users can create
inventions with everyday objects, such as a keyboard key
or mouse. For example, you could replace your space key
with a banana, use Play-Doh to move and click your mouse,
or high-five your best friend to advance PowerPoint slides.
MaKey MaKey uses very high-resistance switching to detect
when any of its 18 inputs are activated, even through ma-
terials that aren’t very conductive (such as leaves, pasta, or
people). MaKey MaKey communicates with your computer
using the USB Human Interface Device (HID) specification,
which means that it can act just like a USB keyboard or
mouse. In addition, MaKey MaKey is also an Arduino-
compatible platform, so users can easily re-map any
of the keys or further customize it.

MORE INFO: www.makeymakey.com

A Parent's Guide to Online Safety by Doug Fodeman and Marje Monroe will be available this month at the ISTE Store. A Parent’s Guide to Online Safety covers the digital citizenship topics that all parents should be aware of, including online bullying, children’s privacy, gaming, social networks, and cell phones, among others. This book will give you a solid grasp of the issues and timely advice for using your own family values to set limits for your child.

MORE INFO: iste.org/store/product?ID=2600

The Future of Professional Learning What will teacher professional development look like in the near future? Teacher training curriculum designer Mary Burns presents the Education Development Center’s top five picks for emerging technologies in professional learning across the globe as well as the four trends driving their imminent adoption.

Building Creativity with Minecraft Question: How do you respond when your students just want to play Minecraft on their school computers? Answer: Let them! Technology Director Peter Tromba from Eugene, Oregon, USA, explains how educators can use this immersive world to tap into creativity and meet social studies standards. Just don't tell the kids they’re learning!

ISTE Australian Study Tour What can educators do to re-create schools and reach students in a rapidly changing world? Ann Davis, one of 17 educators who traveled to Australia on an ISTE-sponsored study tour, shares what tour participants learned about creating new teaching and learning environments where curriculum and instructional tools reflect the digital age.