Awesome Astronomy

     Perhaps one of my favorite sciences is Astronomy.  There is truly something magnificent about the heavens.  Their presence is always a constant reminder to me of the grandeur of God.  Truly, if He made these, how much more glorious must He be?  It also serves to remind me of my "smallness" leaving my value not in self but what He gives me.  My level of fascination with the heavens only grows the more I look at them and study them.  I am sure the same is true for many others.  Like many other things, the digital revolution can bring these brilliant lights into a direct interaction that in the classroom should be enveloping for any student, classroom or teacher.  I like interactivity in my classroom (as many may gather from these posts) and one of the best free programs is Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope.  Despite its clear commitment to a non-Biblical worldview --they try real hard to give "Nature" a lot of credit-- it can still be used for its content and for comparison.  It isn't like those from a Godless perspective should be allowed to hijack the glory of God's creation, right?    By the way, "Nature" doesn't seem to ask for credit very much.  I have never personally heard it say "thanks" for noticing --I have heard Nature's Call though!  Perhaps many of these scientist are just answering "the call".  I should be more understanding then.  I digress.

     From WorldWide Telescope:

WorldWide Telescope is created with the Microsoft® high performance Visual Experience Engine™ and allows seamless panning and zooming around the night sky, planets, and image environments. View the sky from multiple wavelengths: See the x-ray view of the sky and zoom into bright radiation clouds, and then crossfade into the visible light view and discover the cloud remnants of a supernova explosion from a thousand years ago. Switch to the Hydrogen Alpha view to see the distribution and illumination of massive primordial hydrogen cloud structures lit up by the high energy radiation coming from nearby stars in the Milky Way. These are just two of many different ways to reveal the hidden structures in the universe with the WorldWide Telescope. Seamlessly pan and zoom from aerial views of the Moon and selected planets, as well as see their precise positions in the sky from any location on Earth and any time in the past or future with the Microsoft Visual Experience Engine.

     This program is especially enveloping with SmartBoard presentations and can be applied to many different course subjects (depending on applications.)  There are lots of other programs out there that do similar things (some I will link and review later) but the image content within WorldWide is truly superior.  Install and marvel!  Just don't forget (with all deference to Bill Gates) that the program is marvelous but its subject is so because it wasn't made by Microsoft.  It was created by God and that is truly why it is so amazing!

Roy Gould: WorldWide Telescope

MIT Has Classes Online

Many schools are beginning to incorporate the internet into their course content and making it accessible online (good idea.)  The list of schools is quite numerous but the caliber of content and schools is really above the line of most expectations.  Massachusetts Institute of Technology has done something special.  Not only are many of their courses available (full lecture,notes,etc.) but MIT has gone out of their way to make it toned for High School Students and Teachers. 


(Taken from MIT)

This is commendable not to mention useful for any teacher looking for new or great ideas from some great minds!  Hitting the site up also provides a portal to all sorts of free other sites which makes it a gift that keeps giving!  I only wish more Christian Schools were doing the same thing!

StatPlanet Visualizes...Well A Lot!

Hosted by Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ) there is a great program worth a gander called StatPlanet. StatPlanet is a useful (and under heralded) program that visualizes various maps and graphs in a slick and dynamic Flash-based program.  Wait!  Don't fear!  It is amazingly intuitive and customizable.  You heard me right--customizable!  It can be run from the internet or as a standalone application.  This alone would make focused work with it useful.  Did I mention it was free?  To add to the temptation, peak at the possibilities:


  
(from Statplanet)

     I am also impressed that it is offered so openly for download as well.  It is small enough that it fits on a flash drive and can be run easily on any computer.  Since it is already customizable the only thing I would love to see would be plug-in or widget support for the platform.  Placing this in a window online within another website would only increase its coverage and usability.  This is a rather petty note of mine (admittedly) since the program is hosted online for free but it would still be neat.  For the not-as-petty-as-me it is at least worth a check for anyone in social sciences (and more) to go and give it a spin online.

Magnifying God's Slide Rule Of Scale

     Looking at the World biblically isn't something that can be forced--that is, it is not a legalistic endeavor that you do and finish for the day, it will truly only come when one is in a right relationship with the Lord. Nevertheless, if one is to be a Christian, let alone a Christian teacher, one must! So, of course that must first be my first aim. That said, it is a discipline as well, like prayer, fasting, etc. Placing a Biblical perspective before our eyes, ears, all our senses, minds and hearts, is a decision that starts with the deliberate submission of ourselves to the mind of God revealed in Scripture. When I am "in the Word" I do not find myself wondering about my perspective on the World as much, floundering without answers. That happens when I am not. I am like a man, cast off at sea, wandering among waves I cannot see over, yet I remember the direction of the land and long for it. It is no "discipline" for me to yearn for that security, rather a decision to not wander far in my dingy from the shore of God's Word. And so, I try to take the time when I am considering the World around me to check the state of my dingy and its security in relationship to the shore of Christ. Consider Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:14 and the state of Peter himself when he took his eyes from Christ in Matthew 14:22-32! No, I will admit the weakness of my faith and I like to stay in reach of Christ. It is more than just a discipline that I consider God and his Word in light of this World on a regular basis, it is a lifeline.

     A past "lifeline" was a blog flurry I ran into concerning an applet created over at Nikon called "Universcale." If you haven't seen it yet, don't run off to it yet because you may never come back to finish here. For all the science teachers out there it is also an interesting and useful tool.  Nikon's sight offers a "scale" they have created that illustrates graphically the infinite nature of measurement. I find it ironic that they stumble (even on some of their other offerings) to address such an impossibility in light of the concept of the infinite. On the scale one can begin with the Universe and move themselves down to a proton with impressive examples of scale in between.

     I am sure there are other things one may come to in consideration but every time I run into almost visceral examples of my immense "smallness" in relationship to Creation I almost lose my breath. Truly. I want to find someone nearby and try to illicit the same response in them too. Normally, I just end up entertaining them for a while and they pat me on the head and throw a ball and tell me "fetch!" It never seems to sink in though. When I see such scales and examples of my size in comparison to the largess of Creation I cannot help but consider the Word of God, even the Psalms alone, and the many places the Lord describes himself or the Psalmists exclaim things like, "Lord you are greater than the highest mountains, higher than the highest heavens," etc. These exclamations are a scale of holiness. That is to say, God is so much, "that much more" that the only way we can fully extol his greatness is in comparison to some other "big" thing in light to his bigger-ness. He is that big!

     Anselm, the great theologian, would have pointed out just this understanding of the infinite begs the question that there is the infinite and, rather than disprove what cannot be measured, actually proves its imperative! Such a conception of something mankind cannot relate to in any other fashion and therefore has no experience with only proves its impossibility of being "made up." It must be otherwise such an alien conception would never have crept into such small and debase things such as us, such as I. Of course, one's presuppositions and loyalties to the foolishness of the World may cause one to ignore such evidence but by God's grace I stand amazed at such simple little computer programs that may my stomach sink when I see myself being raced past in both directions (now go and see if you want-Universcale- but, be sure to come back) with items so great and complex, microcosmic and fantastic, things that literally litter all of Creation with their grandness and fill it so there is no spot that does not scream God's glory...and there I am somewhere in the middle, the very small middle. Whether you are measuring by seeming importance or actual size, mankind, you, me, can come across incredibly small. Even Job laments of this in the midst of his anguish: "What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him?" Consider the words of David in Psalms 8:1-9

     David's expression is one of scale, his vision of the God of the Universe is comparative. It cries out of the incomparably "small" that any man should feel in light of the vastness of the cosmos and its intricate design yet its conclusion in as equally overwhelming. It is not that David wonders if God considers us, so small. No it wonders that God cares for mankind and has set his attention upon him! And I must say with David, praise God! This condescension is one of magnanimity not of weakness. The great God of the Universe, whose scale is beyond compare has turned his eye to mankind, since his creation of Adam, has set out attention so great, so grand it would be perfectly and ultimately be exemplified in the greatest attention God could give, the pouring out of himself in Christ the Son. (Philippians 2:5-11) This condescension was not one of nature but scale, one in which Christ gave up of himself the independent attributes of his nature, submitted himself, out of love for God the Father and committed himself to the ultimate sacrifice, even death on a cross to satisfy His justice, redeem his image created in man and demonstrate his committed love of mankind. What blessing! What gratitude, I can not even begin to express to wonder I experience in light of this action. That, not if, God regarded one as small as I! It is so great to me! I am the eternal benefactor of this divine slide-rule , as I received the further attention, in the body of Christ, of God's favor and Christ received the curse I should have. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Looking at the comparison of man's relativity in relationship to scale of the Universe and the clarity that the Lord is more only causes me more shock. Shock, yes this is the right word, yet from it I cry out, as David: "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Consider Job 15) Perhaps, the passage that leaped to my mind first; consider the words of David in Psalms 8. Truly, blessed be the name of the Lord! His scale is greater than all not only in nature but in work for which I am in shocking awe and thankfulness.

The First Place I Go To Go Somewhere In Class

     While Google Earth and Maps is quickly adding functionality that allows the classroom to visit places virtually as never before.  This is not the first place I like to go for my class.  There are several sights on the internet that offer indispensable access to incredibly important historical places, many of which tend to be off the beaten path.  For Googlephiles this means the Google Van may not be getting to them any time soon to photograph with their cool 360° camera.  Sorry.  No, the first place I check out is World Heritage Tours.  They have a geographically diverse and organized collection of thousands (yup, thousands) of panophotographies.  These are 360° shots of significant historical spots all over the world--and they are really cool. 

     Without apology I admit to using these regularly in my class on a SmartBoard.  When students are that close to that immersive of an environment on such a large scale where their direct contact interacts with the environment it is visceral.  As a class an individuals we can inspect important historical locations, notice important features, apply significant historical facts, interpret data, and more.  I have actually had entire classes gasp and ooh and awe at the experience.  Sometimes, just placing them on the board as students enter is enough to get class juices flowing and rush students in the room before the bell rings.  It is an inviting and enveloping experience.  I have in a few cases had students fall over as they stood before the board as the kinesthetic sensation and interest overwhelms their sensations and they feel like they are moving through the location.  Two students have fallen as they turned to "go somewhere" on the screen.  Others stoop to go under features and look around the board as if they are turning a corner.  Such immersives can be used in virtually any history class, Biblical studies, Foreign Language Studies, Geography, and of course Tech classes.  The panos are geotagged as well, so points of interest can be linked inside of Google Earth to "take it to another level."  Not using this medium is losing out on a fantastic opportunity for everyone including teachers.  While the WH tours are not the only ones out there, they are some of the best.  Give it a shot and tell me what you think.

Do you know of a good spot for immerisives?  Post it in the comments!

Sweet Online Bible Mapping Software

     Over at BibleMap.org a quick and easy tool presents itself for use to both the student and teacher alike. Using some open mapping APIs from Google they have created a map that cross-links locations via geo-tagging to places found in the Biblical record.  A reader can open to a particular passage in either the ESV or KJV and link to places that appear on the map corresponding to the places referenced in the passages.  This tool is particularly impressive if used (as mentioned in a prior post) within a presentation inviting student participation within the immerse geography not just the passage--making the text applicable in the same fashion that used to take quite a few page flips in some Bibles and Atlases for most.  It is a tool worth laud (as a few other items on their pages as well!  Every Bible and History teacher should know about it.  And any Bible student looking to cut short some work will love it!

Presentation Preparation

     I am not a proponent of "edutainment," frankly I think the trends in education are away from the tried and true of the "old fuddy-duddies" of yesteryear. With that said, I believe (for practical reasons as well as pedagogical) that shortening the distance between what prep occurs and what is presented and manipulated in the classroom could be more direct as well as interactive. I use PowerPoint to present not only my lectures but many other interactive activities in class and I am always asking myself, can I prepare this before hand and will the students use it. Best of all, can I shove it all together so that I am able to manipulate the medium to be more useful.

     Something I have found that helps to "shorten" this process and integrate online access in my classroom is plugging live web pages into my PowerPoint presentations (instead of links.) Links made in a PowerPoint presentation add an extra minute or so if opening a new window and, at the least, a new window shifts attention from the pallet of the presentation or activity. There is a neat little tool that fixes this problem and allows full interactivity in PowerPoint presentations without needing to be a programming geek. (Not that there is anythign wrong with gettin' your geek on!) Head over to Office Tips to find the add in "Live Web Add-in" to make this work for you. Once you insert this functionality, you won't go back! The live presentation abilities are especially useful if you use a SmartBoard for class interaction but it isn't necessary. Best of all, it is free! Taken from Office Tips:

Use LiveWeb to insert web pages into a PowerPoint slide and refresh the pages real-time during slide show. Display web pages without ever leaving the confines of your PowerPoint slide show. No coding required. LiveWeb works with documents off your local drive too. You can specify relative paths. LiveWeb will also look for files in the presentation folder if the files have local drive information and cannot be located at the location specified by the user during slideshow. LiveWeb encapsulates the need to insert a web browser control manually and write code to update the web pages within the control during the slide show.

     Know of a good tool that helps you? Share it in the comments!

Explaining Economics is Why I didn't Choose to Teach it.

     My Economics class in High School was difficult for me.  The teacher actually offered--tongue in cheek--to send me to the senior lounge with a "C" since it would guarantee peace and quite from this confused and bored (read under-motivated, re-read "lazy") student.  Of course, I made it out and have come to a greater appreciation for economics as a metanarative of much of what happens in history.  (Not all though--Thank you Marx for unleashing such a stupid idea.)

     Despite this, the nitty-gritty of economics still escapes me.  I think it is often confusing because students in a social science class are desperately trying to marry the knowledge that Humanities courses are way more important than Math and Science courses, so why does Math keep intruding in a Humanities course?  That's just one theory any way.  Many a course may appear to "cunfuse in such a fashion and others have probably faced it too!  But, the advent of the internet gives more neat little tools to solve this dilemma than ever before.  Seek and you will find, so very easily, on many video hosting sites, decent, if not great, little vignettes that help.   Don't just look at YouTube as well, there are many more!  (I know it is shocking.)  Also, a little tip, try to find links that actually let you download the video and keep it.  This eliminates the need to stream the video and slow down your internet, and better yet, makes it yours to use whenever, even if they take it down from YouTube, etc.

     For example:  Looking for a great (but short--short is almost always good) video to explain the current credit crisis?  Head over to Jonathan Jarvis' site and watch this great little flick in HD!  Watch it in its entirety below as well!  (Obviously, this demonstrates a great way to put it on your website too.)

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

Inserting Google Maps onto Webpages

     I blogged in my prior post about how to add a plug in to PowerPoint that allows for live web page interaction from within PowerPoint slides.  I am sure the instant possibilities that were considered by anyone to see that post were legion.  However, I thought a quick example of this that would be cross-subject would be adding the URL address for Google Maps to your slide.  This would make 3D tours and 3D motion more possible for the students to interact with.  For History and Geography students this is indispensable but many different subjects may use it, especially for integration.  (Set the maps settings to "street view" and visit the Colosseum in Rome for one good example.)  If you are a Google Earth user in the class much of this functionality will replace what you might have done in Google Earth without even needing to open it!  And it is faster! 
     With that said, there is another neat tool for those who might be looking for the same ability on their own websites.  Over at Blogger Buster they have a neat article walking through some good options here.  For the easier of the two (no nerds necessary) you can choose the second of the two recommendations.  (Correction: Nerds needed for both dependent on your prior web page experience.) You can plug in the same functionality on a web page of your own liking.  As usual, going to the actual item I want to use always seems better than a link to another item that then takes me to what I wanted to get to in the first place.  Links stink, destinations rule.  Just follow the directions.  (Please be sure to note that these require your own web page!) Like PraxVsPed!