Integrative Thinking

Go Green Database

Go Green Database
http://www.edutopia.org/go-green

This is aimed at the K-12 educators but the materials may have wider applicability.

Students, teachers, administrators, and environmental activists have found ways to integrate knowledge and awareness of Earth's fragility into classwork and community service, carefully blending concern with action to help kids feel engaged and hopeful. We try to do the same
with this Go Green Database, a directory that can be searched by topic, grade level, cost, or location -- and supplemented with your contributions and comments.

Dictionaries & Thesauri Online

These dictionaries offer more than spelling and definitions!

ArtLex: Art dictionary http://www.artlex.com/

ASL Dictionary: Video dictionary of American Sign Language. http://commtechlab.msu.edu/SITES/ASLWEB/browser.htm

AskOxford: Online access to the Oxford English Dictionary. http://www.askoxford.com/

Biographical Dictionary:"This dictionary covers more than 28,000 notable men and women who have shaped our world from ancient times to the present day." http://www.s9.com/

Biology-Online editable dictionary: http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary.asp

Computer-User High Tech Dictionary: http://www.computeruser.com/resources/dictionary/

Dictionary.com: This site links to several dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopedias and other reference databases. http://thesaurus.reference.com/

Eric Database: The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education, produces the world's premier database of journal and non-journal education literature. http://www.eric.ed.gov/

Free Dictionary: English, Medical, Legal, Financial, and Computer Dictionaries, Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms Encyclopedia, a Literature Reference Library, http://www.thefreedictionary.com

Law.Com Legal Dictionary: Legal words and documents. http://dictionary.law.com/ and
NOLO Plain-English definitions of legal terms. http://www.nolo.com/glossary.cfm

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary and thesaurus: http://www.m-w.com/

Netdictionary, terms related to the Internet: http://www.netdictionary.com/  

Philosophy of Mind: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~philos/MindDict/ 

Spanish-English Dictionary: http://www.spanishdict.com/

Trinity College’s Writing Center: This site has links to many writing resource books: http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/writcent/writ.html 

Visual Thesaurus: Concept maps are generated for word searches. Subscription or CD Rom purchase after trial period. http://www.visualthesaurus.com/landing/

WordReference Dictionaries: Dictionary containing English to/from Spanish, French, German, and Italian, and a language forum. http://www.wordreference.com

Wordsmyth Dictionary-Thesaurus: With free registration, you can build custom glossaries or quizzes, in addition to searching for definitions.Children's version also available.

Free e-book! Hands-On Knowledge

Here is a great resource-- an amazing collection of work!

Hands-On Knowledge Co-Creation and Sharing: Practical Methods and Techniques is online for free download. It has three sections: Share and Connect, Measure and Analyse, Plan and Improve.

For a summary of the book including chapter listings and link to download etc.:
http://www.edmitchell.co.uk/blog/?p=71

Or for those who just want the direct download (9MB .zip file):
http://cic.vtt.fi/kazi/kb_ebook02_low_resolution.zip

More free tools for collaboration...

Want to connect with colleagues or friends who share an interest? Here are some tools:

Find a community, start a community on LearnHub: http://learnhub.com/communities

Find a social network, create a social network on Ning: http://www.ning.com/

Start a community, teach a class on edu2.0: http://www.edu20.org/

Add community features to your website with kick Apps: http://www.kickapps.com/

Encyclopedias & Reference Books Online

The Web offers a number of encyclopedias and reference books:

Center for History and New Media:
Tools: http://chnm.gmu.edu/tools/index.php and
Resources: http://chnm.gmu.edu/resources/index.php

Echo:History of Science, Technology and Industry
http://echo.gmu.edu/index.php

Encyclopedia of Educational Technology (EET) is a collection of short multimedia articles on a variety of topics related to the fields of instructional design and education and training. http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet

Hurricane Digital Memory Bank: http://hurricanearchive.org/

Internet Modern History Sourcebook: Primary sourcebook intended to serve the needs of teachers and students in college survey courses. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://www.iep.utm.edu/

Multidisciplinary Resources (including Encyclopaedias and Reference Titles http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=coll_subject_m

WWW Virtual Library: http://vlib.org/  

Blog and Wiki Software

Want to start a wiki, form or a blog? This matrix allows you to compare features for a variety of services: http://www.weblogmatrix.org/ (For blogs, I vote for TypePad!)

Wondering about what happens when you reveal aspects of your self online? See the Future of Reputation...then think before you post!  http://docs.law.gwu.edu/facweb/dsolove/Future-of-Reputation/text.htm

Learn Virtual Team Problem Solving with Case Studies

Wondering how to use case studies in e-learning, since materials on case methods talk about face-to-face classes? Registration is now online for a webcast through the Human Capital Institute E-Learning through Case Studies: The Problem-Solving is Real.

The webcast took place May 14th but will be re-broadcast on multiple dates in May and June. The handout, which includes sources for obtaining case studies as well as my 9-step case analysis approach, is now online.

Can-Do Teaching: Guest Editorial for Opening Stages

 The March 2009 - May 2009 issue of Opening Stages is focused on teaching artists. See my guest editorial, "Can-Do Artists."

Opening Stages is produced and copyrighted by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Access Office. Feel free to copy and distribute this newsletter and articles from it, just credit the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Email your request for a subscription to Opening Stages along with your name, e-mail address and snail mail address to access@kennedy-center.org

Join me: Virtual Worlds Libraries, Education, and Museums Conference

The technology of virtual worlds is opening up new possibilities for students and lifelong learners. Many experts say we are moving from the era of the two-dimensional page to the era of three-dimensional virtual worlds. The second annual Virtual Worlds: Libraries, Education and Museums Conference provides a gathering place for librarians, information professionals, educators, museologists, and others to learn about and discuss the educational, informational, and cultural opportunities of virtual worlds. The conference will be held on April 24-25, 2009.

Keynote speakers include Jeremy Kemp, San Jose State University; Anders Gronstedt of the Gronstedt Group; and Bryan Carter, University of Central Missouri.

 >> On Friday, April 24 I (that is, Opal!) am presenting a session with Jon Cabiria called: "Investigating the (Second) Lived Life: Interview Research in World."

Jon will draw from his SL interview research experience. His inworld study is described in these articles: "Benefits of Virtual World Engagement: Implications for Marginalized Gay and Lesbian People" and "Virtual World and Real World Permeability: Transference of Positive Benefits for Marginalized Gay and Lesbian Populations." I will draw from research conducted for my forthcoming book, Online Interviews in Real Time.

For more information and to register, go to the conference website. Registration is $49 and helps cover costs for the operation of Alliance Virtual Library in Second Life.

Conference sponsors are Alliance Library System, TAP Information Services, and Learning Times.

Show me the money! Measuring ROI in People

  Visit Organizational Perspectives to read my article about the ROI Institute's approach for assessing the value of investments in human capital-- including training. You'll also find book reviews, online resources and an archived webinar.