Geometry Video Project

This video was made as a Geometry project:

Click here: Shapes in Our World

Rap’n the Bill of Rights

What is it like to be an Educator?

Just a little something with a twist added to it!  Enjoy!

Smartboars…an Introduction

Here is a good video about starting with SmartBoards.  They are called SmartBoards and WhiteBoards.

Interactive Whiteboads are a phenomenal tool. Have you ever heard about them before? Yes we know you have…they have now been installed in the Education classrooms at ASU.  But we all know we need a class on them, but none has been offered as of yet.  Did you know that most  school in the Us have one in their classroom?

There are many different brand names:
SMART Board,Promethean, eBeam, Mimio, and Webster are some of the most widely used.

They replace the traditional blackboard or dry-erase board.

There is a wiki you can go to and join to learn more also.   Please join the conversation by joining the wiki.

Why do teachers love Smartboard? Check this wall wisher.

Listen to this inspiring podcast on how different teachers discuss the advantages and disadvantages of IWB. SmartBoard Debate

Just In Case You Missed It!

If you missed the “WebQuests, Wikis, & Blogs…OH MY!” presentation

Here is the PowerPoint we had during the conference and the video of the presentation.

ASU ISL PowerPoint Presentation

Video of Presentation

Lee’s New Granddaughter

Okay…it isn’t school related, but here are pictures of Lee’s new granddaughter Ellie!

A Couple of Places to Go!

A couple of new websites (blogs actually) have been created that might help you out a little.

Give them a preview and let us know what you think!!!

The first one is…. I Paid It Forward!

The second one is….ASU ISL Seminar on WebQuests, Wikis, and Blogs!

Just for Sunni! :)

Well I don’t think this is too much of an inside joke.

Remove Stubborn Stickers with a Hair Dyer

Some companies are really annoying about putting hard-to-remove stickers on things. Some children are even worse. Next time you encounter a stubborn sticker (regretted bumper sticker, perhaps?), leave the chemicals in the drawer and try some simple heat from a hair dryer.

Home improvement weblog Apartment Therapy has some easy instructions for removing stuck stickers, and it works for any surfaces that aren’t too heat sensitive (so this probably isn’t a great idea on easily-melting plastic, for example). All it requires is a hair dryer and a little patience: just aim the hair dryer at the sticker’s corner and blast it with heat. After about 45 seconds or so, the sticker should start to peel away easily—if not, go for another 45 seconds and try again. This method should minimize leftover sticker residue, as well, but if you do find some left over, a small dose of soapy water, lighter fluid, or the magnificent previously mentioned Goo-Gone should take care of it easily.

How To Remove Unwanted Stickers Uinsg a Hairdryer [Apartment Therapy]

Send an email to Whitson Gordon, the author of this post, at whitson@lifehacker.com.

ASU Proposed Budget Cuts

Not sure what happened with the video on this one….but at least you can hear the press conference about the budget cuts.

Finally…MY FAVORITE WEEK!!!

It’s National Procrastination Week; Let’s Celebrate by Not Honoring It

Our ears perked up when we heard it’s National Procrastination Week, since one of our missions is to find ways to work efficiently and avoid putting off important tasks. To celebrate, here’s a look at some of our favorite anti-procrastination methods.

Photo by mikeporcenaluk.

Before we dive in, let’s take a look at why we procrastinate so we have a better chance of overcoming it. There are several schools of thought on procrastination, including that it’s hard-wired into our brains. According to Psychology Today, there are five main reasons we delay doing things we know we have to get done.

The brain is built to firstly minimize danger, before maximizing rewards. Any threat to self is minimized, any handy reward is tempting. This alone accounts for a great deal of our procrastination as we avoid tasks that threaten the self, and we discount future rewards in favor of immediate gratification. A little more focus on emotional intelligence can help here. Too often, feelings trump reasons, and we give in to feel good.

Check out the full article to learn more about why some people naturally lean toward procrastination instead of action. If you’re just looking for tips to help you overcome procrastination, here you go:

• Beat Procrastination with the 10-Minute Rule – Operates on the theory that once you’ve invested 10 minutes working on something, you’re more likely to see it through than stop midway.
• The Art of Productive Procrastination – If you’re going to procrastinate, at least be smart about it.
• Quit Coffee to Reduce Procrastination – Anecdotal evidence suggests that morning cup of java (or five) might be holding you back instead of revving you up.
• Use Relatives/Spouses to Give Yourself Firmer Deadlines – Nail those deadlines by asking the people around you to hold you accountable.
• Top 10 Smart and Lazy Ways to Save Your Workday – Gina comes up with ten ways to avoid procrastination without breaking a sweat.
• Focus Faster by Preparing Next Tasks Before Breaks – Stop putting off tasks by prepping ahead of time so you can jump right in when it’s time to do them.
• Ze Frank on Procrastination – A hilarious—but on target—assessment of why we procrastinate.

What’s your go-to method for taming the procrastination beast?

Quirks of the brain: Procrastination’s perfect storm [via Bnet]

Written by Lisa Hoover, From Lifehacker.com.