Resources

Etherpad.com is a great, simple collaboration tool for teachers. No user accounts or log in necessary... just a crazy URL as "security".

Steps:

1. Go to etherpad.com
2. Click "Create New Pad"
3. Record and bookmark URL of the created document to send to others and be able to return to your document to edit.

Mmmmm-mmmm.

When I was a kid, there was a big water buffalo living in the vacant lot
at the end of our street, the one with the grass no one ever mowed. He
slept most of the time, and ignored everybody who walked past, unless we
happened to stop and ask him for advice. Then he would come up to us
slowly, raise his left hoof and literally point us in the right direction. But
he never said what he was pointing at, or how far we had to go, or what
we were supposed to do once we got there. In fact, he never said anything
because water buffalos are like that; they hate talking.

This was too frustrating for most of us. By the time anyone thought
to consult the buffalo, our problem was usually urgent and required
a straightforward and immediate solution. Eventually, we stopped visiting
him altogether, and I think he went away some time after that: all we could see was long grass.
It's a shame, really, because whenever we had followed his pointy hoof
we'd always been surprised, relieved and delighted at what we found.

And every time we'd said exactly the same thing - "How did he know?"

- "The Water Buffalo", from "Tales from Outer Suburbia" by Shaun Tan

If you don't own this book, buy it.

Now.

(I'm waiting.)

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The chart is taken from the November issue of Macworld which offers a good article explaining most of the audio formats out there, and how to play them on your Mac.

My preferred apps for converting audio files are AudialHub (sadly, a great product that is no longer supported), and EasyWMA.

Happy listening.

An article in the December 2008 issue of Men's Health offers a half-dozen good tips for shooting pictures. It may be a useful resource when doing units with iPhoto and Aperture with the students.

Fair warning: the other articles in issue are about building abs of steel, how to be better in bed, and advice on picking up women... which may not be quite as applicable to educational practice.

A great, inspirational Bunsen and Beaker introduction to any class activity that encourages students to take risks. The Muppets are timeless.

The video ends with the tag, "You never know until you try."

There seems to be a great divide between those who live in Mac's Dashboard, and those who prefer the traditional Finder launched application. It's a surprise all-war isn't underway.

For any music teachers out there, or six-string enabled educators, Tuna Pitch is a very useful little Widget for those without perfect pitch. Saddle up to your Mac, launch Dashboard, and tune your guitar without having to find your pitch pipe or electronic tuner.

With or without talent, at least your guitar will be in tune. After all, not every teacher can be Sting.