school
Latest
Brain training in schools
A grammar school in Melbourne, Australia is testing a program that involves encouraging children to play Nintendo. Where was that when we were in school, huh? Shenanigans! Teacher James Penson thought some of the 5th and 6th grade children could benefit from a fun way to practice math and memory skills, and so he cooked up the idea of using the ubiquitous Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training in the classroom. He contacted Nintendo and they sent 40 DS units to the school for the test program, which has been a resounding success. Penson said that the students were once reluctant to practice their time tables, but now they are beginning to see math as fun. And we have to admit, racing against your scores (and those of others) is way more fun than sitting in one of those hard plastic chairs picking at the years of snot stuck underneath the desk.[Via Go Nintendo]
Kids schooled in Second Life
Kids these days with their online avatars ... Why, when we went to school, we we had to put on clothing and shuffle off to a real classroom. Today's kids are apparently taking classes within Second Life, phoning netting it in from their rooms.CNN says that more than 60 colleges and other educational institutions hold classes inside Second Life. The article also describes a real sense of community between remote students in the virtual world, almost as if they were sharing an actual classroom.This might make us sound old, but we don't quite believe that the quality of the virtual meeting space can approach the real world. But we old-school curmudgeons have never taken a class within Second Life and might be underestimating its power; maybe we'll be telling our grandkids what a real-world school-bell sounded like.
iWriter - easily create study tools for the iPod, .Mac and the web
Yea that's right: I said 'study tools' and 'iPod' in the same sentence. iWriter is an interesting little app from Talking Panda that allows you to quickly build projects and study tools for easy viewing on an iPod or the internets. Projects can be uploaded to a .Mac account, and iWriter offers 8 project templates to help students and teachers alike hit the ground running. This handy little app can even record lectures, and a preview pane allows you to see exactly what your project will look like on an iPod while you build it.All this isn't bad for a $12 piece ofUniversal Binary shareware. While a demo is available, Talking Panda receives a ding for requiring an email address to download it (though I can understand a small software outfit's need to reach out to their potential customers). Still, check iWriter out if you're in the market for more better studying with the help of your iPod.[via the intrepid Nik Fletcher]
Angered parents considering lawsuit over unconsented fingerprinting
Although it still seems a bit dodgy, we can understand the need for biometric identification in governmental positions and (to a lesser extent) the chaotic lines of Walt Disney World. But when a school system starts swiping fingerprints from students without so much as prior notification to the guardians, thoughts of a lawsuit are imminent. Janine Fletcher, a "solicitor and concerned parent who instigated the legal response," found the actions of 70 schools in Cumbia County downright disturbing, and has apparently rounded up a group of sue-happy supporters to back the cause. Institutions in the area reportedly acquired the unsuspecting students' fingerprints without so much as asking the parents for their consent, and once the prints are on file, local police have a "huge database" of potential crime lords to sift through without the need to arrest them first. While the schools did muster the courage to drop each parent a note in the mail regarding their recent deeds, alerting the cautious mums after invading their kids' privacy indeed seems a bit backwards. Anyways, if you've got nothing to hide (at the moment, of course), then there's no need to fret -- the classic argument -- but having the biometrics already on tap should make prosecuting those students-turned-thieves a much easier process should it become necessary.
Alex Kidd shows off on Sega Genesis Collection
If you enjoyed Alex Kidd on the Sega Genesis, you're sure to be salivating by now after just watching the above video. Alex Kidd, which was Sega's first answer to Mario, is one of nearly 30 old-school Genesis games making their way onto the PSP in the form of Sega Genesis Collection. The game comes packed with extras like exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and wireless multiplayer modes. What more can a Sega Fanboy ask for? Yeah, I said it.
Soft Skin English School Little Sexy Girl
It's late at night, so the more risque Fanboy stuff starts getting posted. This amazing video shows you footage from Soft Skin English School Little Sexy Girl, a program that teaches you English. Or tries to. By showing you near-naked girls. There's a hilarious mini-game, where you play rock paper scissors, and every time you win, the girl takes an article of clothing off. You won't see naughty bits, but this is absolutely not safe for work. So, the video is after the cut.*Picture completely unrelated. Well, it shows you yet another inappropriate English program for a portable device.
Apple drops new educational iMac, kills off eMac
CRTs are so early 90's, don't you know? After threatening the death of cathode ray for years, Apple has finally managed the chutzpah to kill off their eMac, and have released a $900 Intel iMac to fill the educational void. The specs aren't bad for a $900 Mac, including a 17-inch LCD, 80GB SATA HDD, 512MB of DDR2 SDRAM (though they skimp with dual 256MB chips), a DVD-ROM/CD-RW disc drive, AirPort Extreme, a 1.83GHz Core Duo processor and Intel GMA 950 graphics. An Apple Remote will cost you $26 extra, but otherwise it doesn't look like Apple cut many corners, which students might enjoy, but that $900 pricetag might be unrealistic for most school budgets. That, and we're just jealous of those dang kids who get to mess around with an iSight cam and Front Row. We think we'll just stick with Math Blaster on our 6100 while we wait for that rumored LCD eMac. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
iPod has new role as educational tool
Children will soon have a compelling new argument when begging their parents for an iPod, as the music, movie, and audio book player is about to take on a new role: educational tool. Pearson Education has just announced plans to release downloadable study guides (for use with Pearson texts, naturally) and audible review notes for exam preparation that may convince even the strictest parents to acquiesce and let the little white trojan horse into their homes. Not content with just the youth market, Pearson also revealed that it has purchased Apple's PowerSchool student information system, which is used by teachers and administrators to track student progress. No word yet on when kids can start using the "I'm studying!" excuse when told to take off their headphones in class.
New York parents not so hot about school phone ban?
With the recent crackdown and enforcement of the school cellphone ban in NY, parents are fighting back with a measure to lift the ban, much to the chagrin of Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. A parents group has collected 1200 signatures and a city councilwoman plans to introduce a resolution next week to end the ban. Joel Klein is staunchly opposed, saying kids are text messaging, going on the Internet, cheating on tests and generally having way more fun than they should be having in school (we added that last bit). He's looking into solutions to block phone signals, remove batteries, or check phones in upon arrival to school, but everything proposed so far is too cost prohibitive. Parents would like their kids to have phones so they can track them on the way to and from school, as usual. Sounds like a good time is being had by all, and we're sure all differences will soon be put aside in order to do what's best for the kids.[Via The Wireless Report]
Pangea offers free games to schools
Here's a nice story. Pangea Software, creators of Bugdom, Nanosaur, Cro-Mag Rally and more, have offered free licenses to any school that makes a request. All you need to do is send a request on the school's official letterhead, signed by the principal, and the contact listed must use a ".k12" email address. Get the full scoop here. As a system administrator for a school, let me say, "Nice work, Pangea!"[Via MacMinute]
