Colleague's blog

An educator colleague of mine set up a blog this morning.

grateful students

the adult education students i teach in my job often bring me food they made as a way of saying thanks. it's very touching.

Flashpoint software looks good

i've been on the lookout for software that creates multimedia storytelling flash files and that is affordable and easy to use. flashpoint from sausage software (for windows) looks like it does the trick.


the publisher describes it in this way: "Flashpoint is a low cost yet versatile tool to create eye-catching presentations with streaming audio for playback over the web or directly from your PC, laptop or handheld. The output format is standard HTML and Flash."

this software lets you scan in images or drag and drop them in. you can import mp3 audio files. you can add links to any object or picture. you can add gradients to your presentations. the download includes a program named "flashpoint audio" that converts wav files to mp3 audio files.

flashpoint reminds me of hyperstudio in its ease of use. here's a sample flashpoint file i made in just a few minutes. the navigation arrows were added by flashpoint without my evening having to ask for them.

i intentionally created mp3 audio files with a very high sound quality, as most of the web multimedia i make is intended for viewing/hearing with broadband. when i have enough free time, i make the same multimedia geared for dial-up users.

"Just Be Who You Are" documentary screenings

If you live in the DC-area, check out the screenings of the documentary Just Be Who You Are, co-produced by a friend of mine, Harry Hanbury. The screenings are free, but a donation to the Sexual Minority Assistance League can be made. Thanks for helping spread the word.

Social Edge

Social Edge is a lively and provocative online community for the social sector. It's a place for an empowered community of socially minded individuals committed to changing the world to convene.

those who are victorious

"Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisvely. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow...they have form but are formless. They are skilled in both planning and adapting and need not fear the result of a thousand battles; for they win in advance, defeating those who have already lost."

-Sun Tzu Chinese Warrior, Philosopher 100 B.C.

new article - "injecting playfulness into computer trainings"

over the weekend i wrote a new article, "injecting playfulness into computer trainings. this article may be freely distributed and reprinted for nonprofit purposes.

Netomat looks interesting

When I get a little free time, I'm going to enjoy exploring Netomat, a new web multimedia publishing tool.

Skype Internet phone software installed

I've got Skype Internet phone software installed on my Dell laptop at work. I also installed MP3-Recorder, which ought to let me record high quality audio from Internet phone conversations. As I understand, this combination of software programs could let anyone interview anyone else and produce a high quality wav (uncompressed) audio file. You could then take that audio file and merge it with a jpeg photo to create an audio annonated jpeg along the lines of this interview with David Welsh back in 1997. 1997? My how the years go by. If you'd like to merge jpeg photos (or any graphics) with an audio file, QuickTime Pro ($30 for Macintosh or Windows), is one of the best tools for doing so. (Note - QuickTime Pro is just a password enhanced version of standard QuickTime.)

You can find out the steps you need to make an audio annotated jpeg in a QuickTime I made over here. Steve Ronan, if you have a moment, let's try out Skype sometime.

Bare fact

Students living in financially stressed families are exposed to fewer educational opportunities in their homes and have less access to educational technology at home, resulting in lower academic performance at school. This impacts everything in their current and future life.

Recipe for success

"Anytime you see someone more successful than you are, they are doing somthing that you aren't."
Malcolm X

Subscribing to this blog

If you'd like to subscribe to this blog, the subscription address is


http://teachme.blogspot.com/rss/teachme.xml

My favorite syndication
aggregator software (for reading blogs) is AmphetaDesk available free for Windows, Macintosh and Linux. If you choose to use AmphetaDesk, thanks for sending the talented creator a small donation. Kevin Hemenway is so talented he likely has other very interesting software up his sleeve that will also astound folks and change the world.

Colleague - Jacqueline DeCarlo

Jacqueline DeCarlo is a colleague in Washington DC who refuses to stop working until there is more dignity in this world. She teaches me and others things we need to know. When she sets up a blog, I'll be the first to subscribe to it.

If good things are just around the corner

"If good things are just around the corner, turn many corners."

News from my new job

Work is progressing well as a "literacy leader/lifelong learning coach," one of 20 people helping to implement Mayor Anthony Williams' new literacy initiative for adult learners in the District of Columbia.

Dan Gillmor's blog

To stay informed about important matters, I regularly read Dan Gillmor's blog.

Community Technology Leaders

The results of the first annual Community Technology Leaders have been posted. Kudos to all the pioneering winners of this award.

Youth civic participation web site

Since 2001, CIRCLE has conducted, collected, and funded research on the civic and political participation of young Americans. CIRCLE is based in the University of Maryland's School of Public Affairs and is funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and Carnegie Corporation of New York.

to everything, turn, turn, turn

"To everything, turn, turn, turn.

There is a season, turn, turn, turn.

And a time for
every moment under heaven.

Community Development Tool - Bulk Chocolate Bars

As a community development tool, nothing quite beatsBulk Chocolate Bars