Monday, August 30, 2010

Definitive Study: Heavy Drinkers Outlive Non-Drinkers…

"What does the research tell us?" I hear this question asked repeatedly by educators. Usually my answer is: "I'm not sure, I just know it works!" Research can be valuable if held in proper perspective. As this story indicates, you can justify just about anything with research if you are so inclined!

Amplify’d from www.dvorak.org

Definitive Study: Heavy Drinkers Outlive Non-Drinkers…

But a new paper in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that – for reasons that aren’t entirely clear – abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one’s risk of dying even when you exclude former drinkers. The most shocking part? Abstainers’ mortality rates are higher than those of heavy drinkers. But why would abstaining from alcohol lead to a shorter life? It’s true that those who abstain from alcohol tend to be from lower socioeconomic classes, since drinking can be expensive. And people of lower socioeconomic status have more life stressors – job and child-care worries that might not only keep them from the bottle but also cause stress-related illnesses over long periods. (They also don’t get the stress-reducing benefits of a drink or two after work.)

But even after controlling for nearly all imaginable variables – socioeconomic status, level of physical activity, number of close friends, quality of social support and so on – the researchers (a six-member team led by psychologist Charles Holahan of the University of Texas at Austin) found that over a 20-year period, mortality rates were highest for those who had never been drinkers, second-highest for heavy drinkers and lowest for moderate drinkers. The sample of those who were studied included individuals between ages 55 and 65 who had had any kind of outpatient care in the previous three years. The 1,824 participants were followed for 20 years. One drawback of the sample: a disproportionate number, 63%, were men. Just over 69% of the never-drinkers died during the 20 years, 60% of the heavy drinkers died and only 41% of moderate drinkers died.

These are remarkable statistics. Even though heavy drinking is associated with higher risk for cirrhosis and several types of cancer (particularly cancers in the mouth and esophagus), heavy drinkers are less likely to die than people who have never drunk.

Read more at www.dvorak.org
 

Twitter Myths

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Sunday, August 29, 2010

10 Incredibly Inspirational Moments on YouTube [VIDEOS]

This post by Mashable could be the number 1 reason why YouTube should not be blocked in schools. At least unblock it for teachers! Yet, I know of many schools/districts that continue to block the site. Here is what they are missing.

Amplify’d from mashable.com

10 Incredibly Inspirational Moments on YouTube [VIDEOS]

Here, we’ve selected 10 videos highlighting some of the most amazing scenes that can be witnessed on-demand through the world’s most popular online video platform.

1. The Fall of the Berlin Wall

2. The Moon Landing

3. Tiananmen Square Protests

4. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech

5. Professor Stephen Hawking's Zero-Gravity Flight

6. Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics

7. Wright Brothers

8. President-Elect Barack Obama's Victory Speech

9. Roger Bannister Breaks the Four-Minute Mile

10. Gandhi's Dandi Salt March

See more at mashable.com
 

Friday, August 27, 2010

Gmail Call Gives Every Teacher a Classroom Phone–Or Does It?

Check out my new blog post on http://TechthePlunge.com

Amplify’d from jeffthomastech.com

Gmail Call Gives Every Teacher a Classroom Phone–Or Does It?

by Jeffrey Thomas on August 27, 2010

I then began to think about classroom applications.  I’ve worked mostly in private schools and it seems like it is very difficult to make a call to a parent because either someone else is on the phone or you would rather not make the call when the room is filled with other teachers.  How great is it that now you’ve got your own phone in your own classroom.  Or do you?  Here are some problems that should never happen but do:

  • Is Gmail blocked in your school/district?
Does your computer have a webcam/microphone so that you can actually talk?

Eight Clever Ways to Take Advantage of Free Calling in Gmail

Read more at jeffthomastech.com
 

Eight Clever Ways to Take Advantage of Free Calling in Gmail

I made my first Google Gmail call yesterday to test it out. I have had a Google Voice account for some time now. Yesterday's call worked just fine. From an educational point of view it puts a phone in every classroom. But after thinking about this further, I wonder how many teacher computers even have a microphone let alone a webcam! Here are more ways to take advantage of free calling in gmail.

Amplify’d from lifehacker.com

Eight Clever Ways to Take Advantage of Free Calling in Gmail

gmail-with-voice-bp.jpg

Get Caller ID from Your Computer

caller-id.jpg

Transfer Calls to (and from) Your Computer to Save Cellphone Minutes

enable-google-chat-2.jpg

Find Your Misplaced Phone

Use It for a Quick-and-Dirty Speakerphone for Group Calls

Make a Quick Followup Call in Response to an Email

Secretly Record Calls

Prank Time

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Make Free Calls Anywhere You've Got Free Wi-Fi

Read more at lifehacker.com
 

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Phone Blogging-Video

The next step is to test out video blogging from the phone. In addition I have attached a photo of Slicky. The ability to master this type of blogging with your cellphone can be a quick and effective way for teachers to communicate with parents and takes little effort or technological skill--not to mention the complete mobility of this solution.



Simple Blogging with Amplify via Email

The last post was sent via MMS which does not require a data plan. This post is being sent via regular email which should allow the text here to show up! More details to follow.



Simple Blogging with Amplify




Friday, August 20, 2010

20 Back to School Apps and Tools for Students

Here is a comprehensive list of apps and tools for students returning to school. It is a fairly decent list and of course there is no way they could have included everything. One particular app/tool that was included was FileDestructor. For the life of me I'm not quite sure why they included it since its purpose is deception. Oh well, obviously not put together by an educator!

Amplify’d from web.appstorm.net

20 Back to School Apps and Tools for Students

20 Back to School Apps and Tools for Students

A lot of you may be dreading school, but it doesn’t have to be all bad, especially if you’re prepared. For all our student subscribers out there, we at Web.AppStorm have compiled a list of websites and tools that are guaranteed to help you get the most out of your education this semester. Go back to school with confidence!

Shmoop

Shmoop
Shmoop is an online study guide and resource for literature that provides summaries, analysis, quotes, themes, and follow up questions for lots of popular literature.

LectureFox

LectureFox
Use the LectureFox website to sift through all the different lectures from different universities. Learn chemistry, physics, computer science and more from some of the best universities in the US.

Snapter

Snapter
Instead, you can use the tool Snapter to get your documents online. You just need to take a picture of your document and Snapter will clean and fix the image for you and make it look as if you scanned it. Scan stuff without a scanner

BookFinder

BookFinder
BookFinder is the best way to find textbooks online

EasyBib

EasyBib
EasyBib automatically creates citations for you based on the book, website, and newspaper information you provide

Zotero

Zotero
Zotero is a must-have Firefox extension for all students, especially if you do a lot of research online
Zotero helps you save websites, links, images, and will cite all the sources for you.

FlashCardExchange

FlashCardExchange
But with a tool like FlashCardExchange, you can use online flashcards to quiz yourself and memorize anything with a little bit of practice.

Printable Paper

Printable Paper
With PrintablePaper, you can access hundreds of types of paper for you to download. Get binder paper, graph paper, isometric graph paper, music sheets, printable games, and more. All for free. Let’s just hope there’s still paper in the printer!

Spreeder

Spreeder
Spreeder is a tool for slow readers or those of you who get distracted by all the pretty little words on a page.

FBPurity

FBPurity
FBPurity is a Greasemonkey script that hides those annoying game invitations and other distractions.

Dropbox

Dropbox
Dropbox, a tool that the Appstorm staff absolutely loves, can keep your precious files safe from exploding computers, your vicious roommate, and theft.

MyNoteIt

MyNoteIt
Using MyNoteIt, you can create groups and invite your classmates so you can all share notes, edit notes, and manage tasks

Amazon Student

Amazon Student
As of right now, US college students can get a year’s worth of Amazon Prime membership for free.

PocketMod

PocketMod
Meet PocketMod, a nifty tool that helps you customize your own little pocket notebook.

WePapers

WePapers
WePapers wants to create “the world’s biggest study group”, and they’re doing pretty well.

FileDestructor 2.0

FileDestructor
With FileDestructor, you can make a “fake file” that looks exactly like the real thing in terms of size and extension but conveniently gives an error when your professor attempts to open it up. By the time your professor figures out what happened, you’ve got the real thing done and turned in.

WriteCheck

WriteCheck
If you’re paranoid and afraid that parts of your paper was plagiarized, use the WriteCheck tool to find out for sure

Software For Starving Students

Software for Starving Students
See more at web.appstorm.net
 

Creating a Personal Learning Network

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Glogster EDU Education 2.0

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Glogsteredu Webinar

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Saturday, August 14, 2010

If Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare were a Part of Soap Operas!

These videos are great for a good laugh! They've got the soap opera acting down perfectly!

Amplify’d from techcrunch.com

It’s hard to imagine anything more vapid than a daytime soap opera. They’re seriously the worst things in the world. But they’re also great for parody as LG is obviously aware. Sure, their The Young and the Connected YouTube series is one big ad, but it’s also pretty damn hilarious.

See more at techcrunch.com
 

Thursday, August 12, 2010

12 Beginner Tutorials for Getting Started With Photoshop

Even though these tutorials are labeled "Beginner" I'm sure most of us could learn a thing or two. As far as Photoshop is concerned, you can never have too many tips or resources!

Amplify’d from mashable.com

12 Beginner Tutorials for Getting Started With Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop, the ubiquitous and industry standard graphics software for photographers, designers, digital artists, as well as casual enthusiasts, can be a baffling application to understand the first time you fire it up. Luckily, littered across the vast space of the web are tutorials in all shapes and sizes that will help you get up and running in no time.

Because this is specifically for beginners — and because Photoshop’s robust set of features is near-bottomless — I’ve skipped intermediate and advanced topics such as drawing with the Pen tool and working with 3D effects.

1. Getting Started with Photoshop

2. Photoshop’s Toolbox

3. Photoshop For Beginners: The Power of Layers

4. Photoshop’s Filters

5. Layer Styles in Photoshop

6. Photoshop 101 – Adjustment Layers

7. Retouch and Healing Tools

8. A Comprehensive Introduction to the Type Tool

9. Photoshop 101: How To Use The Free Transform Tool

10. Master Photoshops Selection Tools in Under 30 Minutes

11. Installing And Managing Brushes And Other Presets

12. Photoshop Actions

See more at mashable.com
 

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Top 25 Android Apps for Education #edtech

I don't have an Android, iPhone, iPad, etc but I am growing envious with all the apps out there for these phones. OnLineDegrees has another Top list with these 25 apps for education on the Android.

Amplify’d from www.onlinedegrees.org

Top 25 Android apps for education

The iPhone and iPad don’t get to have all the fun. Android is among the leading smart-phone technology, and there are over 70,000 apps available for it. Though we can’t claim to have reviewed all 70,000 of them, here are our suggestions for some of the top apps available for education — for use in or out of the classroom:

Memory Trainer

Capital Quiz

Fact Book

Google Sky Map

Formulas Lite

This app gathers together some of the most important and often used formulas for math, physics and chemistry. It also includes a scientific calculator and basic translator. Don’t expect to be able to pass yourself off as a quantum physicist with the help of this app, but it might help get you through some intense study sessions.

Plink Art

The same way that Google Sky Map helps you identify the stars, Plink Art helps you identify works of art. Take a picture of what you’re looking at, and Plink will match it to its database and give you the identifying details. You can also browse art according to era, art movement, or gallery, or simply hit “random” for an unexpected — though maybe not unknown — masterpiece. This app is great for brushing up on your art history knowledge or for discovering new favorites!

Wattpad

Over 100,000 novels, short stories, poetry collections and more are available for download on this app, which is composed of entirely user-submitted content.

Sixty Four

Document Scanner

If you need a document in a pinch, or you just don’t feel like taking it to have it scanned or faxed, you can use this app to do it on your phone. You can scan any number of pages and convert them into a single .pdf file.

USA Quiz

Deluxe Moon Lite

This app lets you learn more about the moon and its influence on your everyday activities. Features include names and pictures of the moon phases, current zodiac sign for the moon’s phase, information about the moon’s cycle, moonrise and moonset times, and more.

Kids Numbers and Math

Preschoolers can get help learning their numbers and developing basic math skills with the help of this app. Addition, subtraction, and learning numbers are the primary features, but there are also optional advanced exercises. Language options include English, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Russian.

Urban Dictionary

When your kids want to know the 411, do you know what they mean? Do you find it hard to follow when they end every other word in “izzle?” Perhaps this app can help. You can look up the meaning of modern slang words in the user-generated database. You can also browse random words or check out the word of the day.

LSAT Assassin

Kidroid

This game for kids ages 3 to 5 aims to help improve recognition skills by matching images with a written or spoken word.

GeoQuiz

Here’s another trivia game to enhance learning. The app covers topics from capitol cities and flags to natural extremes.

PhotoMix

My Pocket Prof

Organize your classroom notes and assignments with this handy app! You can synchronize your notes then share them with your friends. You can even sell your notes, or create online courses and quizzes that you can sell. And, of course, what you can sell, you can also buy.

Nook for Android

Pocket Knowledge

Have a question? This app has the answer. Ask it whatever you want, and it will generate an answer that you can then store for later use. Topics include math, culture, sports, weather, physics, chemistry, socioeconomic data, nutrition and more.

Electricity Calculator

Music Dictionary

Guitar Solo Lite

StatDist

This handy app “calculates densities, probabilities, and quantiles of common useful continuous and discrete distributions.” If you don’t know what that means, you might need an app to help you figure out this app. Categories include uniform, normal, gamma, exponential, chi, discrete uniform, binomial, geometric, and poisson. This is a handy app for the statistics classroom.

Math Wizard

Kids can use this app to learn basic math skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Flash cards and study questions are used to guide students through the material. In addition, the app offer stats on the student’s trouble areas, and the difficulty level can be adjusted for individual needs.

Read more at www.onlinedegrees.org
 

Top 25 Helpful YouTube Videos for Teachers #edchat

OnLineDegrees lists their Top 25 Helpful YouTube Videos for Teachers. I'm not sure it would be my top 25 but there are definitely some good ones here. Take a look and see if you would add/replace any on this list!