Feb

27

A really easy dictionary

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There’s probably no simpler dictionary on the web than WordSource. Simply type www.word.sc into your browser, add the word you want (such as kohlrabi) and, ba-da-boom, you have a link to your word (www.word.sc/kohlrabi). It’s that simple to find a word.

There are also thesaurus functions that are almost as simple. Just type in www.world.sc/thes/kohlrabli and you’ll get the synonyms for you word.

Tres simple.

Feb

26

Immigration and Pier 21

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As anyone who studies Canadian history knows, Pier 21 is Canada’s Ellis Island, the place where most of the 2oth century immigrants landed and were processed before entering the country. If you’re looking at immigration for a social studies or history topic, this little exhibit on Pier 21 at Canada’s Virtual Museum might be a nice aid.

For this activity you pick the European country you’re starting from. You’re then given a suitable profile depending on whether you’re male or female. You answer a question about your job, health, etc, and then you find out whether you’ve been admitted to Canada and why or why not.

It’s a neat little activity that helps bring the immigration tales to life.

Feb

23

On this day

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If you’re like me, you like Canadian historical trivia. I like to throw in a few neat “on this day” items and create a small contest for my students every day. The two best sites for this that I’ve found are at Candawiki (check the left sidebar for “Canaday”) and Sympatico/MSN. I’ve been using the Sympatico site for my class for several years, but, predictably, someone discovered it and they’ve been cheating on my trivia game.

Both sites are great, and if you like Canadian daily trivia, you’ll love ‘em.

Feb

22

When technology doesn’t work

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I came across a neat little piece where Apple Computers’ Steve Jobs blasted teacher unions for keeping incompetent teachers in jobs. This article from the Star Telegram reported on Jobs’ ideas that if technology is to make a difference in the class, you need inventive, and curious teachers who are going to use it. The kind of teacher who sits back and does what he’s always done just because it’s familiar is not the kind of teacher who’s ever going to make computers, projectors, and all kinds of cool multimedia work in the classroom.

The kind of teacher who doesn’t even try to make technology work probably isn’t preparing students for the future. You don’t necessarily need to understand computers, etc, yourself, but a teacher needs to give students the opportunity to use them, to explore, and to make mistakes.

That takes a teacher full of wonder and curiosity, and one who is continually learning. Whoever’s fault it may be that school’s don’t have many of those teachers, we need to do something about it.

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