Week+2


 * Wikipedia** **4/12-** I am originally from Ft. Loramie so I searched for the town on wikipedia and found it. Under the education heading it discussed the new elementary building that was recently built. Since it didn't show a picture of it I created a link to a webpage that had an updated picture of the school. I like wikipedia but I don't think students should be using the information from it in their research projects. Since anyone can edit pages on wikipedia I am still leary of the information not always being accurate.


 * Google Reader 4/12 -** I have never checked out Google Reader before. I enjoyed learning how to use it and it would be a good tool to have if you wanted to stay up to date on various topics. If you have time and enjoy reading it would definitely keep you busy.

I also liked the quote in the article that stated that the next Nobel Prize winner might not be an oncology researcher from a distinguised university. It could be a group of people on a blogging community who collaborate with eachother to find a cure for cancer. However, I do not think that all educational institutions should move completely online. I think it would be easier for higher education institutions, but I don't think it would work for elementary or middle schools. I also think moving everything to online communities could put a lot of jobs in jeopardy. Though, there would be new jobs available as well.
 * Future of Learning** **4/17 -** I think having the Internet definitely encourages life long learning. I use Google all of the time. When I get into arguments with someone I always use Google to see who is right or wrong. This is kind of weird to say, but I think Google even saved my life. I never go to the doctor and one morning I woke up and was experiencing some odd symptoms. As the day went on the symptoms kept getting worse. The next day I decided to Google the symptoms. I diagnosed myself as having lymphagnitis and went to urgent care. The doctor informed me that I was suffering from lymphagnitis and if I had waited too much longer to get treated it could have been fatal.

**Edusim** **4/17 -** This seems like a pretty cool application. It is a 3D multi-user virtual world platform and authoring toolkit intended for your classroom interactive whiteboard (but equally powerful on the students laptop or desktop computers !). Cobalt - Edusim has been tested and works on the Smartboard, Activeboard, Interwriter, Polyvision, Mimio, eBeam, and even the Wiimote Whiteboard. Edusim is extendable allowing multiple classrooms to connect their interactive whiteboards for collaborative learning session. Edusim as a concept seeks to model a new way to engage student through "[|immersive touch]" by leveraging 3D virtual environments on the interactive surface or classroom interactive whiteboard. Our school district has quite a bit of SMARTboards so I would be very interested in trying this out on one of them. [|http://edusim3d.com]
 * Google Earth ** **4/17** - I like Google Earth because it can be used to take virtual field trips or you can build Google Literature Trips with it. Google lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings from galaxies in outer space to the canyons. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share them with others.