1
Promotions / GeoTube - video clips for geographers
« on: May 12, 2010, 01:13:13 PM »
GeoTube videos **Not currently available - apologies for any inconvenience
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2
General Discussion / GeoTube rises from the ashes...
« on: May 04, 2010, 05:54:46 PM »
I am about to re-launch GeoTube videos which some of you may remember. Having lost the original free website when the company (Fliggo) closed it down, I have thought long and hard about what to do. I decided to buy the necessary software, buy a domain name and buy a website/bandwidth to relaunch the website - total initial cost about £500. I have in addition, spent an indeterminate number of hours uploading hundreds of video clips- about 350 so far at 5-10 per hour. I have about another 350 still to go!
The video clips are the same ones that are currently available on YouTube and many other websites but they are collected together, sorted and labelled (titles, descriptions and tags) to make searching easier. You don't have to go and hunt for them. The website is not filtered by schools or local authorities and provides a safe environment for teachers to show video clips. There is also the option to download (one click) and save to show offline - no need to enter URLs into other websites or install downloading software.
Is it worth it? Only you can decide. The website isn't 100% ready (no Paypal active for a few more days) but you can take a look and register your username and password for a 7 day free trial. Click the Help button for more details of taking out a subscription or getting further information. Let me know what you think - I hope that your thoughts are mainly positive. The URL is:
www.geotubevideos.co.uk
The video clips are the same ones that are currently available on YouTube and many other websites but they are collected together, sorted and labelled (titles, descriptions and tags) to make searching easier. You don't have to go and hunt for them. The website is not filtered by schools or local authorities and provides a safe environment for teachers to show video clips. There is also the option to download (one click) and save to show offline - no need to enter URLs into other websites or install downloading software.
Is it worth it? Only you can decide. The website isn't 100% ready (no Paypal active for a few more days) but you can take a look and register your username and password for a 7 day free trial. Click the Help button for more details of taking out a subscription or getting further information. Let me know what you think - I hope that your thoughts are mainly positive. The URL is:
www.geotubevideos.co.uk
3
General Discussion / The End Of Nings Is Nigh!
« on: April 19, 2010, 11:32:50 PM »
In a memo sent to employees, new CEO Jason Rosenthal wrote:
We will phase out our free service. Existing free networks will have the opportunity to either convert to paying for premium services, or transition off of Ning. We will judge ourselves by our ability to enable and power Premium Ning Networks at huge scale. And all of our product development capability will be devoted to making paying Network Creators extremely happy. Rosenthal also announced a staff reduction of 69 of the current 167 Ning employees.
There are going to be a lot of unhappy educators out there.....not sure what will happen to all the info on the Nings. I suppose it will just disappear.
We will phase out our free service. Existing free networks will have the opportunity to either convert to paying for premium services, or transition off of Ning. We will judge ourselves by our ability to enable and power Premium Ning Networks at huge scale. And all of our product development capability will be devoted to making paying Network Creators extremely happy. Rosenthal also announced a staff reduction of 69 of the current 167 Ning employees.
There are going to be a lot of unhappy educators out there.....not sure what will happen to all the info on the Nings. I suppose it will just disappear.
4
General Discussion / Chocolate and Child Labour tonight...
« on: March 24, 2010, 05:28:53 PM »
Excellent BBC News article on cocoa growing and the smuggling of child labour from Burkina Faso to Ghana:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_8583000/8583499.stm
Program: (reminder)
Panorama - Chocolate: The Bitter Truth, BBC One, Wednesday, 24 March at 2100 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_8583000/8583499.stm
Program: (reminder)
Panorama - Chocolate: The Bitter Truth, BBC One, Wednesday, 24 March at 2100 GMT
5
General Discussion / My dream KS3 textbook?
« on: March 22, 2010, 07:33:37 PM »
You may be a fan of textbooks or you may currently shun them BUT given a totally free choice what would go in to your dream KS3 textbook?
I can barely remember life before Waugh but then there came Geog dot and Earthworks - a real breath of fresh air in the books marketplace. Since then publishers have held back, merely 'updating' the same old textbooks. Maybe it is now time for some next generation textbooks fit for education in the 21st century?
So, assuming for convenience sake, publishers stick to a 'double page spread' format, how would you ideally lay it out and what would it contain? What is missing from current textbooks that would make how you now teach easier and more effective?
Publishers have also tried to embrace CDs and the internet with varying success - is there a new formula that you think would tie together a traditional textbook and flexible learning resources using these or other media?
Actual content is tricky for publishers now with the flexibility and less prescribed content in the New Secondary Curriculum statutory documents - so again, what is missing from existing textbooks in terms of the content that you would like to see made available.
Any ideas that you put forward in terms of layout, content and linked resources, I will pass on - you never know, you might see your ideal textbook for sale this time next year.
Ideally, this is not a thread designed to give you an opportunity to 'put down' textbooks but to share ideas on how they might be 'improved'.....so positive suggestions welcomed please.
I can barely remember life before Waugh but then there came Geog dot and Earthworks - a real breath of fresh air in the books marketplace. Since then publishers have held back, merely 'updating' the same old textbooks. Maybe it is now time for some next generation textbooks fit for education in the 21st century?
So, assuming for convenience sake, publishers stick to a 'double page spread' format, how would you ideally lay it out and what would it contain? What is missing from current textbooks that would make how you now teach easier and more effective?
Publishers have also tried to embrace CDs and the internet with varying success - is there a new formula that you think would tie together a traditional textbook and flexible learning resources using these or other media?
Actual content is tricky for publishers now with the flexibility and less prescribed content in the New Secondary Curriculum statutory documents - so again, what is missing from existing textbooks in terms of the content that you would like to see made available.
Any ideas that you put forward in terms of layout, content and linked resources, I will pass on - you never know, you might see your ideal textbook for sale this time next year.
Ideally, this is not a thread designed to give you an opportunity to 'put down' textbooks but to share ideas on how they might be 'improved'.....so positive suggestions welcomed please.
6
General Discussion / Poverty and Inequality
« on: March 08, 2010, 08:00:59 AM »
Some of you may already use the articles from the 'Global Issues' website but for those that don't, there is a a comprehensive article on poverty and inequality with text, graphs, videos and further links - suitable for bright GCSE students or mainstream 'AS' and 'A2' students. Draws on resources from a range of organisations.
http://www.globalissues.org/article/4/poverty-around-the-world
The website also has articles on agriculture and food issues, trade, aid, population and various environmental issues - worth a look.
http://www.globalissues.org/article/4/poverty-around-the-world
The website also has articles on agriculture and food issues, trade, aid, population and various environmental issues - worth a look.
7
General Discussion / Metlink - new website
« on: March 01, 2010, 10:44:53 PM »
The Royal Meteorological Society has launched a new website:
http://www.metlink.org/home-mainmenu-1.html
"The Royal Meteorological Society has just launched on the 1st March 2010 ‘MetLink’ the flagship education portal of the Society, with weather and climate resources aimed at primary and secondary school teachers, students, teenagers, children and the general public. On the site you will find a whole range of materials including informative powerpoint presentations looking at cloud types, weather hazards and phobias, lesson plans for all key stages, an indicative guide of where meteorology can link with the curriculum for different key stages, how you can book a Meteorology Ambassador to come to your school, information regarding meteorology careers, courses, qualifications and employers, colouring sheets, puzzles, topical weather articles and more! A whole host of over 150 meteorology education and careers related links can also be found on the site. Material will be continually uploaded throughout 2010 and beyond. Plans for future projects include increasing the number of lesson plans and teaching aids and producing after-school club material. Any questions or comments on the website or suggestions for materials to be produced would be welcomed."
Contact: Rachael Fordham, Interim Head of Education, Royal Meteorological Society
Having spent a little while looking through the website, my first impression is that I am very disappointed. I could find little that I would actually use in the classroom and the website and resources are strangely old-fashioned e.g slide sets for sale and in the section for teenagers, a powerpoint on weather folklore! The set of videos on weather systems which could have been very useful are nothing if not dull....and I like meteorology.
Am I being a little harsh in my review?
http://www.metlink.org/home-mainmenu-1.html
"The Royal Meteorological Society has just launched on the 1st March 2010 ‘MetLink’ the flagship education portal of the Society, with weather and climate resources aimed at primary and secondary school teachers, students, teenagers, children and the general public. On the site you will find a whole range of materials including informative powerpoint presentations looking at cloud types, weather hazards and phobias, lesson plans for all key stages, an indicative guide of where meteorology can link with the curriculum for different key stages, how you can book a Meteorology Ambassador to come to your school, information regarding meteorology careers, courses, qualifications and employers, colouring sheets, puzzles, topical weather articles and more! A whole host of over 150 meteorology education and careers related links can also be found on the site. Material will be continually uploaded throughout 2010 and beyond. Plans for future projects include increasing the number of lesson plans and teaching aids and producing after-school club material. Any questions or comments on the website or suggestions for materials to be produced would be welcomed."
Contact: Rachael Fordham, Interim Head of Education, Royal Meteorological Society
Having spent a little while looking through the website, my first impression is that I am very disappointed. I could find little that I would actually use in the classroom and the website and resources are strangely old-fashioned e.g slide sets for sale and in the section for teenagers, a powerpoint on weather folklore! The set of videos on weather systems which could have been very useful are nothing if not dull....and I like meteorology.
Am I being a little harsh in my review?
8
General Discussion / Reminder - Haiti Earthquake Prog - TONIGHT
« on: February 02, 2010, 05:57:29 PM »
Reminder to set whatever technology you use - Channel 4 9.00 pm Haiti Earthquake
"A look at the huge earthquake that devastated Haiti on 12 January 2010, examining what happened and why, using 3D graphics and location footage to pick apart the mechanics of the quake"
"A look at the huge earthquake that devastated Haiti on 12 January 2010, examining what happened and why, using 3D graphics and location footage to pick apart the mechanics of the quake"
9
General Discussion / Thematic Maps - free download
« on: January 19, 2010, 04:13:55 PM »
This UN website has some stunning maps/graphics on a wide variety of topics, all of which can be downloaded - look great in a ppt or just up on the IWB:
http://maps.grida.no/theme
[You may have problems with some of the links but there are alternative ways to navigate around that seem to work OK]
http://maps.grida.no/theme
[You may have problems with some of the links but there are alternative ways to navigate around that seem to work OK]
10
General Discussion / Google Wonder Wheel
« on: January 18, 2010, 06:57:37 PM »
Sounds very 1970's but is in fact very 2010's - I hadn't come across it before. When you do a Google search try typing in geography, click +show options on the left. Scroll down and in amongst the many options , you will see Wonder Wheel - click and the Wonder Wheel appears. Click on geography ks3 and so on......I liked it.
Note: to prevent comments about bias, please note that there are other search options available on the internet e.g. er.....er....
Does anyone actually now use anything other than G**G** ?
Note: to prevent comments about bias, please note that there are other search options available on the internet e.g. er.....er....
Does anyone actually now use anything other than G**G** ?
11
General Discussion / Ultrasonic Distance Meter
« on: January 18, 2010, 03:30:56 PM »
As a gadget geek (and a registered fan of all things Lidl), I see that they are offering 'Ultrasonic Distance Meters' for sale w/b 25th Jan. Having seen these things in action when the estate agent whizzed around my house doing a survey, I have to say that I can see some real benefits from having this kit in the fieldwork bag - measuring widths of streams/rivers without dragging a tape across, measuring distance between ranging poles, measuring heights of buildings and cliffs (safely). Will measure accurately up to 12 metres which seems very reasonable - only £12.99 (bargain).
12
General Discussion / River Flow Data
« on: January 18, 2010, 08:34:50 AM »
I was having a clear-out of bookmarks and came across this link which I hadn't used for a while - might be of use to GCSE/AS/A2 students doing fieldwork or wanting to work with some raw data:
http://www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/nrfa/webdata/index.html#EAS
http://www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/nrfa/webdata/index.html#EAS
13
General Discussion / Major Earthquake Haiti - Wednesday evening
« on: January 12, 2010, 11:26:46 PM »
Reports just coming through...
"A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Haiti, rocking the capital and sparking a tsunami alert for neighbouring states. The tremor hit at 1653 (2153 GMT), about 15km (10m) south-west of Port-au-Prince, the US Geological Survey said. Haiti's envoy to the US said it was a "catastrophe of major proportions" as reports from the capital spoke of casualties and damage."
"A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Haiti, rocking the capital and sparking a tsunami alert for neighbouring states. The tremor hit at 1653 (2153 GMT), about 15km (10m) south-west of Port-au-Prince, the US Geological Survey said. Haiti's envoy to the US said it was a "catastrophe of major proportions" as reports from the capital spoke of casualties and damage."
14
Coming up / Mumbai on Channel 4
« on: January 07, 2010, 07:19:15 PM »
Kevin McCloud: Slumming It
Thursday 14 January 9:00pm - 10:00pm Channel 4
Kevin McCloud experiences first-hand life in one of the most densely populated places on Earth - the Indian slum of Dharavi. Home to a million people, the square-mile region is one of the biggest slums in Asia. Kevin immerses himself in the environment, living and working with the locals and discovering that the area is a highly organised place with thousands of tiny, often thriving, industries.
Slumdog Millionaire
Wednesday 13 January 9:00pm - 11:30pm Channel 4
Shot almost entirely on the streets of Mumbai, British director Danny Boyle's hyper-energetic rags-to-riches tale aims to dazzle and delight from the start, and for the most part it succeeds. Dev Patel plays the titular "slumdog" Jamal, a poverty-stricken orphan who's enjoying a triumphant run on India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. He's now just one correct answer away from the jackpot of 20 million rupees, but the show's host becomes suspicious and the police are brought in. During Jamal's interrogation, episodes from his extraordinary life unfold, revealing that each quiz question relates to a different experience - ranging from the tragic to the rumbustiously comical. Patel is an appealing lead and he is ably supported by Freida Pinto as his lifelong love interest Latika and Madhur Mittal as his cynical, morally compromised brother Salim. But the movie's real star is the city itself, which is brought to hectic, exuberant life by Boyle and ace cinematographer Anthony Mantle.
Thursday 14 January 9:00pm - 10:00pm Channel 4
Kevin McCloud experiences first-hand life in one of the most densely populated places on Earth - the Indian slum of Dharavi. Home to a million people, the square-mile region is one of the biggest slums in Asia. Kevin immerses himself in the environment, living and working with the locals and discovering that the area is a highly organised place with thousands of tiny, often thriving, industries.
Slumdog Millionaire
Wednesday 13 January 9:00pm - 11:30pm Channel 4
Shot almost entirely on the streets of Mumbai, British director Danny Boyle's hyper-energetic rags-to-riches tale aims to dazzle and delight from the start, and for the most part it succeeds. Dev Patel plays the titular "slumdog" Jamal, a poverty-stricken orphan who's enjoying a triumphant run on India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. He's now just one correct answer away from the jackpot of 20 million rupees, but the show's host becomes suspicious and the police are brought in. During Jamal's interrogation, episodes from his extraordinary life unfold, revealing that each quiz question relates to a different experience - ranging from the tragic to the rumbustiously comical. Patel is an appealing lead and he is ably supported by Freida Pinto as his lifelong love interest Latika and Madhur Mittal as his cynical, morally compromised brother Salim. But the movie's real star is the city itself, which is brought to hectic, exuberant life by Boyle and ace cinematographer Anthony Mantle.
15
General Discussion / TV Alert
« on: January 07, 2010, 06:46:40 PM »
Bit late to put on the 'Coming Up' section of the forum but if you're quick you might get the recorder set for this:
Jimmy's Global Harvest
Thursday 07 January
8:00pm - 9:00pm BBC2
1/4 - Brazil
Jimmy Doherty wants to find out more about how farming works in other countries, so he's made this - an appetisingly doom-lite series about agriculture abroad. In the first programme, farmer Jim heads to Brazil, where he makes a heroic effort to get his head around using chemicals on crops, farming on wild savannah and giving growing space over to biofuel rather than food production. In the next 40 years we'll need to double food output to support the population, so siphoning off land for fuel seems frivolous. But, after wrestling with preconceptions and reality-check science lessons, Jimmy is mostly won over by the pragmatism of Brazil's beefed-up farming methods. We need to eat after all. And Brazil is a factory farming hub that could help stave off starvation in the coming decades. But fear not: no one manages to convince Jimmy that chopping down rainforests for beef and soy is a good thing.
Also, whilst I'm perusing the TV channels...
Kevin McCloud: Slumming It
Thursday 14 January 9:00pm - 10:00pm Channel 4
Kevin McCloud experiences first-hand life in one of the most densely populated places on Earth - the Indian slum of Dharavi. Home to a million people, the square-mile region is one of the biggest slums in Asia. Kevin immerses himself in the environment, living and working with the locals and discovering that the area is a highly organised place with thousands of tiny, often thriving, industries.
Also, for those without a copy:
Slumdog Millionaire
Wednesday 13 January 9:00pm - 11:30pm Channel 4
Shot almost entirely on the streets of Mumbai, British director Danny Boyle's hyper-energetic rags-to-riches tale aims to dazzle and delight from the start, and for the most part it succeeds. Dev Patel plays the titular "slumdog" Jamal, a poverty-stricken orphan who's enjoying a triumphant run on India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. He's now just one correct answer away from the jackpot of 20 million rupees, but the show's host becomes suspicious and the police are brought in. During Jamal's interrogation, episodes from his extraordinary life unfold, revealing that each quiz question relates to a different experience - ranging from the tragic to the rumbustiously comical. Patel is an appealing lead and he is ably supported by Freida Pinto as his lifelong love interest Latika and Madhur Mittal as his cynical, morally compromised brother Salim. But the movie's real star is the city itself, which is brought to hectic, exuberant life by Boyle and ace cinematographer Anthony Mantle.
Jimmy's Global Harvest
Thursday 07 January
8:00pm - 9:00pm BBC2
1/4 - Brazil
Jimmy Doherty wants to find out more about how farming works in other countries, so he's made this - an appetisingly doom-lite series about agriculture abroad. In the first programme, farmer Jim heads to Brazil, where he makes a heroic effort to get his head around using chemicals on crops, farming on wild savannah and giving growing space over to biofuel rather than food production. In the next 40 years we'll need to double food output to support the population, so siphoning off land for fuel seems frivolous. But, after wrestling with preconceptions and reality-check science lessons, Jimmy is mostly won over by the pragmatism of Brazil's beefed-up farming methods. We need to eat after all. And Brazil is a factory farming hub that could help stave off starvation in the coming decades. But fear not: no one manages to convince Jimmy that chopping down rainforests for beef and soy is a good thing.
Also, whilst I'm perusing the TV channels...
Kevin McCloud: Slumming It
Thursday 14 January 9:00pm - 10:00pm Channel 4
Kevin McCloud experiences first-hand life in one of the most densely populated places on Earth - the Indian slum of Dharavi. Home to a million people, the square-mile region is one of the biggest slums in Asia. Kevin immerses himself in the environment, living and working with the locals and discovering that the area is a highly organised place with thousands of tiny, often thriving, industries.
Also, for those without a copy:
Slumdog Millionaire
Wednesday 13 January 9:00pm - 11:30pm Channel 4
Shot almost entirely on the streets of Mumbai, British director Danny Boyle's hyper-energetic rags-to-riches tale aims to dazzle and delight from the start, and for the most part it succeeds. Dev Patel plays the titular "slumdog" Jamal, a poverty-stricken orphan who's enjoying a triumphant run on India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. He's now just one correct answer away from the jackpot of 20 million rupees, but the show's host becomes suspicious and the police are brought in. During Jamal's interrogation, episodes from his extraordinary life unfold, revealing that each quiz question relates to a different experience - ranging from the tragic to the rumbustiously comical. Patel is an appealing lead and he is ably supported by Freida Pinto as his lifelong love interest Latika and Madhur Mittal as his cynical, morally compromised brother Salim. But the movie's real star is the city itself, which is brought to hectic, exuberant life by Boyle and ace cinematographer Anthony Mantle.