Monthly eMagazine viewing figures from August 1st 2008

Note: A Learning provider will only appear as one viewer; in reality the identified IP Address may be one viewer or many!

The data below is cumulative, highlighting, from the initial tracking our viewers on 1st September 2007, their global distribution.

All the pictures and news shown on this eMagazine are the property of their respective owners.

• We don't hold any copyright about these pictures and news.
• These pictures have been collected from different public sources including different websites, considering to be in public domain.

If any one has any objection to displaying of any picture and news, it may be brought to our notice by sending an email to support@rsc-northwest.ac.uk & the same will be be removed immediately,after verification of the claim.

Links that have been included in previous eMagazines...

To visit the shared links go to http://www.only2clicks.com/pages/acljohn/ or use the live pages below...

Many eMagazine readers have said that it is 'difficult to find the time' to read one eMagazine before the next comes out.

My posterous Blog provides a 'drip-feed' of eMagazine items, throughout the month.

Either subscribe to the RSS feed or visit http://acljohn.posterous.com/ for your daily update.

Weekly Blog viewing figures from January 2009

Where are our readers from? (as of 28 February 2009)...

(Note: - names emboldened are new)

In the UK we have viewers from...

Arbroath, Ayr, Belmont, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bootle, Bury, Cannock, Cheadle Hulme, Crawley, Huyton-with-Roby, Folkestone, Glasgow, Halifax, Kearsley, Lancaster, Liverpool, London, Loughborough, Manchester, Norwich, Oldham, Plymouth, Poplar, Prescot, Rochdale, Sale, Salford, Skelmersdale, Southport, Stockport, Tonbridge, Wakefield, Walsall, Walton-le-Dale, Warrington, Wembley, Widnes, Winsford, Wombwell and Woodley

We also had viewers from...

• Sydney Australia,
• Bucaramanga Colombia,
• Givatayim and Ramat Gan Israel,
• Bucharest Romania,
• California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Utah USA,

 

Music and Inclusion...

In this blog entry Patrick Costello, says,

"A visually impaired banjo player in the Netherlands contacted me the other day asking for help. He wanted a way to use banjo tab with his Braille display."

Tab, or tablature, is different from music notation in that tab gives the user specific mechanical instructions -- literally, 'put your fingers here'. Access to tab is a big deal for beginners.

Read how Patrick has come up with a simple system that makes sense in Braille and how, after posting this blog musicians from all over have started to transpose frailing banjo songs and exercises into this new format.

Go to http://tangiersound.wordpress.com/braille-friendly-banjo-tab/ to find out more.

"As educators, it is our responsibility to provide our students with the tools necessary to be successful, not only in our classroom, but in life. As a technology integration specialist, I believe part of this responsibility we have is to teach our students how to be good cybercitizens."

Read the full blog at http://blogs.learnnc.org/instructify/2009/02/06/web-filters-from-a-students-perspective/.

Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations

An AbilityNet Workshop

Employers are required to have a process of workstation assessment for all employees who use computers. When this process identifies a problem, or the employee reports a difficulty, the employer must further assess the situation in order to recommend and implement any necessary changes. This course aims to help those involved in workstation assessments respond effectively to reports of a problem and develop suitable solutions.

"This course provided me with so many new ideas and also gave me more confidence in my ability to carry out assessments." Occupational Health Nurse

Dates coming up for this course are -

Friday 24^th April 2009 - AbilityNet Warwick

For more information about the content of this course download Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations course information (PDF 491KB).

Using ICT to support people with Dyslexia

As we become more aware of how widespread dyslexia and other reading and writing problems are and how limiting their effects can be, there is a need for earlier identification and more effective remedial action. Computers are an extremely effective tool in making this possible. This course will equip delegates with information on software & hardware that helps those who have a reading & writing difficulty. At the end of the course, you will have a greater awareness and practical knowledge of how the computer can be used to help address reading and writing difficulties, such as Dyslexia.

"This is one of the most helpful courses of its type that I have ever attended. I would recommend it to colleagues!" Senior Lecturer, FE College

Tuesday 21^st April 2009 - Manchester

For more information about this course download Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia course information (PDF 477KB).

Introducing Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007

This course investigates how accessibility has been integrated within the new generation Operating system and Office Applications and is essential for anyone planning to purchase or rollout implementations of these products on 2008. This course will ensure that your planning will comply fully with the requirements of the DDA and health and safety legislation and well as maximising the free features of the system to reduce costs.

Friday 6^th March 2009 - AbilityNet, Warwick

For more information about this course download Introducing Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 course information (PDF 479KB).

To book a place on these courses please email courses@abilitynet.org.uk or call 01926 464095

 

East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham
Thursday 26 March 2009

The event is aimed at both practitioners and leaders from across the post-16 sector with an interest in e-learning, and is part of the E-Guides training programme. It is delivered by NIACE on behalf of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) as part of the Teaching and Learning Programme.

The event will feature an extensive range of workshops and speakers, providing an environment to network with other practitioners and professionals from all sectors of adult learning.

• Key speakers include Lord Tony Young and Jane Williams, Becta
• The workshop programme includes a choice of over 40 different workshops
• Breakfast chat - an exclusive networking opportunity
• Exhibition area
• ‘Tony Burgess E-Guide' Award
• Certificate of attendance - recording your learning during the event may provide evidence towards Continuing Professional Development

Participants can also choose to attend the evening before, which will commence with a three-course dinner, followed by ‘Dr Alan Clarke, NIACE in conversation with Prof. Gilly Salmon, University of Leicester' and includes accommodation with breakfast.

Registration is at 9:00am for a 10:00am start. The event will end at 4:45pm.

For further information, a full programme and to either download the application brochure or book online, see http://www.niace.org.uk/eguidesnatevent

Any enquiries or to receive the application brochure by post please email: e-guides@niace.org.uk or call Raksha on Tel: 0116 204 2811

The NIACE Conferences and Courses team is taking bookings for the courses listed below. For more information about each course and to book your place, please visit the NIACE Website at:

http://www.niace.org.uk

NEW COURSE:

Improving Formative Assessment - a one- day course on developing strategies for building learner autonomy

Monday 2^nd March 2009, Manchester

Thursday 12^th March 2009, Bristol

Screens and Pages: Technology and Reading for pleasure

Saturday 7th March 2009, Manchester

Tuesday 10^th March 2009, London

MORE DATES:

Readability: How to write so that everyone can read

Thursday 2 April 2009, Bristol (AM or PM Workshop)

Wednesday 22 April 2009, Manchester (AM or PM Workshop)

Goal Setting and Action Planning with Individuals and Groups

Wednesday 11 March 2009, Manchester

Thursday 19 March 2009, London

Improving Teaching and Learning for Success using RARPA

Thursday 5 March 2009, Birmingham

Mental Health and Adult Learning and Skills: Policy and Practice

Tuesday 3 March 2009, Birmingham

Tuesday 10 March 2009, Manchester

Tuesday 17 March 2009, Derby

Getting on Brilliantly 1 - Getting the best out of groups and Teams

Wednesday 11 March 2009, Sheffield

Getting on Brilliantly 2 - Getting the best out of Line Management

Thursday 12 March 2009, Sheffield

Demonstrating Impact for Quality using RARPA

Friday 13 March 2009, Manchester

Monday 16 March 2009, Birmingham

Friday 3 April 2009, London

Booking forms to be available on website shortly for:

Enhancing success and achievement for learners with mental health difficulties - training to support you and your organisation to work effectively with soft outcomes in learning for mental health and well-being

Wednesday 18 March 2009, London

Tuesday 7 April 09, Birmingham

Up-skilling Frontline Staff: training to identify and meet the needs of customers through effective interviewing techniques.

Thursday 2 April 2009, Birmingham

Tuesday 28 April 2009, London

NIACE hope their training courses will be of interest and they look forward to hearing from you.

Raksha Kanani
Events Administrator
NIACE, Conferences, Seminars and Training Course

Tel: 0116 285 9661
Fax: 0116 285 9670
mailto:courses@niace.org.uk

 

To be held at...

The John Rylands University Library, University of Manchester
Wednesday, 1st April 2009,
9.30 - 16.30

Some comments from delegates attending this meeting in 2008:

"Fascinating insight into the world beyond Google " "One of the best workshops I've ever attended".. "A revelation! - enjoyed every minute"

Course Outline

With the major search engines claiming coverage of over 20 billion web pages in their databases, it is becoming increasingly difficult to locate relevant information. Most of us head straight for Google when we want to search the Internet but Google is not the only search tool. This workshop looks at recent developments at Google and the alternatives, especially the new kids on the block and Web 2.0 'stuff'. Karen Blakeman will take you through the best of the search engine world and highlight how they can be used to significantly improve your results.

By the end of the day, participants will have a vital toolkit to help them search more effectively, including key search tools, comparisons, top tips and essential search techniques.

Topics to be covered include:

• different types of search tools and how they work
• making the most of Google and new features
• alternatives to Google
• advanced search techniques to help you track down the so-called "hidden web"
• image, audio, video and news
• blogs, RSS, wikis and Web 2.0 resources
• setting up your customised search engine
• tracking down pages that have disappeared

Delegates will have ample opportunity to test out advanced search techniques and to compare different search engines. A significant part of the day will be taken up with practical sessions; exercises will be provided but delegates are free to try out searches of their own. This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience. The techniques and approaches covered can be applied to all subject areas.

N.B. Places on this course are strictly limited because of access to PCs so please book early to avoid disappointment

Course Presenter: Karen Blakeman

Karen Blakeman has worked in the information profession for over twenty years and has been a freelance consultant since 1989. Her company (RBA Information Services) provides training and consultancy on the use of the Internet, and on accessing and managing information resources. Karen writes for "Business Information Searcher". She also publishes a monthly, electronic newsletter called "Tales from the Terminal Room". Her publications include "Search Strategies for the Internet". She is a Fellow of CILIP and in 2002 received the Information World Review Information Professional of the Year award.

For more information or to book a place on this course, please visit www.ukeig.org.uk or email meetings@ukeig.org.uk

Costs (including lunch and refreshments):

• UKeiG members £160 + VAT (£188.00);
• others £190 + VAT (£223.25)

 

Please complete and return a booking form by 25th March 2009, to...

Christine Baker, Piglet Cottage, Redmire, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 4EH.

Tel & Fax 01969 625751. Email: cabaker@ukeig.org.uk

 

 

Don't forget the UKeiG Conference 2009

UKeiG will be holding a residential forum that will provide opportunities for information and IT professionals to network, wine and dine in excellent social surroundings while catching up on the very latest developments in e-information.

Book now at www.ukeig.org.uk or by emailing conference@ukeig.org.uk to get your early bird discount!

UKeiG has the CILIP Seal of Recognition, which recognises high standards in the content and relevance of training courses. See http://www.cilip.org.uk/qualificationschartership/seal/ for details

UKeiG is a Special Interest Group of CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. 7 Ridgmount Street, London, WC1E 7AE. Registered Charity No. 313014

To be held at...

The Foresight Centre, University of Liverpool,
1 Brownlow Street, Liverpool
Tuesday, 21st April 2009,
09.30 - 16.30

Course Outline

Find out how 2.0 applications are being used in libraries and information centres, and what actually works. Blogs, wikis, RSS? YouTube, podcasts, Slideshare? Flickr, Connotea, LibraryThing? Facebook, Second Life, Twitter? This workshop will look at the reality of 2.0: what is useful and what is destined for Gartner's 'Trough of Disillusionment', never to be seen again.

The workshop will start with a brief overview of Web 2.0 and what it means. It will then look in more detail at how 'stuff' can be used as sources of information, as a means of enhancing services to users, and raising the profile of information services.

The areas covered will include:

• Blogs, wikis, RSS feeds
• Shared authoring tools
• Start pages e.g. iGoogle, PageFlakes, NetVibes
• Social bookmarking services
• Using YouTube and Flickr as information resources and to promote your group or organisation
• "Presentation" sites such as Slideshare and Authorstream
• Social networking sites e.g. Facebook
• To Twitter or not to Twitter

There will be a heavy practical element to the workshop so that participants can explore Web 2 and try out the technologies for themselves. There will be extensive notes and exercise sheets to guide participants through the day, and all the information and presentations will be available electronically.

Costs (including lunch and refreshments):

UKeiG members £160 + VAT (£188.00);
others £190 + VAT (£223.25)

Please complete and return a booking form by 15th April 2009, to...

Christine Baker, Piglet Cottage, Redmire, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 4EH.
Tel & Fax 01969 625751. Email: cabaker@ukeig.org.uk

N.B. Places on this course are strictly limited because of access to PCs so please book early to avoid disappointment

Course Presenter: Karen Blakeman

Karen Blakeman has worked in the information profession for over twenty years and has been a freelance consultant since 1989. Her company (RBA Information Services) provides training and consultancy on the use of the Internet, and on accessing and managing information resources. Karen writes for "Business Information Searcher". She also publishes a monthly, electronic newsletter called "Tales from the Terminal Room". Her publications include "Search Strategies for the Internet". She was recently made an Honorary Fellow of CILIP and in 2002 she received the Information World Review Information Professional of the Year award

• No resources this month
  

I've been assured that knitting is making a come back so here is a downloadable pattern for knitting your own "Smittens" -- mittens for holding hands in...

Download it, for FREE, at http://cocoknits.com/knit/garments/accessories/smitten.html.

I'd like one! (Move mouse over T-Shirt if you don't understand)

Take a look at 25 such T-shirts at http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2009/02/04/25-incredibly-geeky-t-shirts/. 

A 10 year old girl recites her essay on the future to her teacher. Then to a principle, then a doctor and finally a psychiatrist. Her parents are very concerned...

• Ghost Blasters
• Quiz Area
• Why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,

in our Over2U section

Another maths game that works great on Interactive White Boards and reviews/reinforces multiplication skills, Ghost Blasters.

• Users can set the number (2-20) that needs reviewing by clicking either arrow on the sides of the number.
• Once users pick the number they have to touch the numbers, as they appear on the screen, that are multiples of that main number.

It can be quite challenging, and it can be a fun way for reinforcement.

Note it can be used on a PC with a mouse

Try it out at http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/Ghostblasters1/gbcd.html.

An online resource providing Multiple Choice - Pictures - Anagrams - Ordered Lists - Word Searches for a wide range of categories including...

Try them out at http://www.onlinequizarea.com/.

 

 

• Ghotit
  
• Why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section
• see also ARTNATOMY in the Art section.
  • and Braille-Friendly Banjo TAB in the Blog section.
    

Ghotit advertises itself as “Your Personal Super Spell Checker” and it aims to let any user overcome any writing shortcomings they might have.

Geared towards users with dyslexia, it aims to let these individuals convert the texts they produce into mainstream English.

Average spell checkers address the needs of the general population, whose spelling mistakes actually have a resemblance to the word they intended to convey in the first place. When it comes to those with dyslexia it is a completely different matter; the words they write quite often stray a long way from the correct spelling.  

If you and/or your learners live with dyslexia and want to avoid making any grammatical blunder, obtaining a solution like Ghotit is a good bet.

In their own words...

“Spelling is an integral part of the writing process. Confidence in spelling often has a profound effect on a writer's self-image. With Ghotit, you can write confidently, continuing to misspell as you always have, but with the confidence that Ghotit is there with you to review your writing and offer the right corrections.”

Take a look first at "How to Use the Ghotit Spell Checker" at http://www.ghotit.com/howtouse.shtml then try it out at http://www.ghotit.com/demo.shtml.

• Acas and CIPD launch practical guidance for employers on managing in recession to help answer a rapid rise in helpline call queries

 

As calls on redundancy to the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) helplines continue to climb, the two organisations have launched joint guidance on managing the workforce in a recession.

Over a third (35%) of calls to the Acas helpline in January this year were related to redundancies, lay offs and business transfers. Figures just released by the CIPD's HR helpline show that calls on redundancy in the same month have doubled since a year ago and now make up 18% of the total.

However the guidance 'Managing in Recession', (http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/emplaw/redundancy/_hwmngwrfrcs.htm) launched today by the chief executives of the CIPD and Acas, emphasises the importance of organisations managing for the long-term and being innovative in their approach to avoid job cuts wherever possible.

Read the full article at http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2147.

• No articles this month

• Bill creates apprenticeship 'tsar'

• No articles this month
  

• Open Source 'Could save Taxpayer £600m Per Year' Says Cambridge Academic

Dr Mark Thompson, lecturer in Information Systems at the Judge Business School at Cambridge University, has written a report which claims that there are savings on up to £600m to be made from properly considering open source software and open standards.

Although the report, which was commissioned by the Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, has yet to be published, Dr Thompson summarises his findings in a blog post at http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2009/01/dr-mark-thompso.html.

• No articles this month
  

FiTES - I'm inviting you to Find, Try, Evaluate and Share.
You are the experts in your field of work, management, administration, practitioners etc., and you know what works for you! By sharing not only will you raise the awareness of your colleagues but you should also benefit from their submissions.

Share your resources by completing the form available at http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p6ZzsRcFe4Rh71c9ArHs2OQ&email=true. or use the embedded form below...

 

• No Suggestions this month - Editor (John Dalziel)
  

If you are a member of the Microblogging service Twitter, you can now receive updates from the JISC RSC-Northwest by following us at http://twitter.com/JISCRSCNW

The February issue of the Spotlight science magazine is now available. Written for Intute by science writer David Bradley, Spotlight contains topical science articles and news features.

This issue has articles on burying crop residues at sea to help reduce global warming, chemical testing of a carcinogenic chromium salt, and supermassive black holes.

Go to http://www.intute.ac.uk/sciences/spotlight/.

Providing employers and employees with the tools to get through the recession; practical advice and professional training.

The current global financial crisis has many local impacts for both employers and employees. With hundreds of headlines threatening uncertainty you may be finding it difficult to know what to do.

If you are an employer and your business is struggling, you may be considering cutting back on your workforce. But coping in a recession is as much about taking stock as it is about taking action.

If you are an employee, you may be worried about how your employer will react to the economic downturn and how that will affect you.

Read the full article and/or download the pdf document at http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2143.

• smARThistory
• The Forward Thinking Museum - Virtual Museum
  

The folks at smARThistory have produced a free multimedia webBook that offers an interactive survey of art history.

The online resource combines traditional images with audio and videos.

Users can sort through content by...

• time period,
• style and
• artist

...and find the information that they want. 

Take a look at http://smarthistory.org/.

The Forward Thinking Museum is a virtual art museum containing more than 100 exhibitions and videos.

Visitors/users can...

• view image exhibitions or
• watch video exhibitions.

The content ranges from subjects such as wildlife to architecture to people at work.

Note: The Forward Thinking Museum kept me occupied for a long time as I explored the exhibits.

A great resource for art teachers and art students.

Take a look yourself http://forwardthinkingmuseum.com/.

Overview of Resources, in this month's eMagazine, that could be use in Art...

• ARTNATOMY
• MyFolio
  
• Sketch & Paint!
• Also take a look at smARThistory in the Research Section
  
• Why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,

in our Over2U section

Artnatomia is a perfect resource for budding artists and anyone who has an interest in understanding the anatomy of the human face.

The developer boasts that the application has uses in the worlds of psychology, (it can help to understand emotions more accurately). They also note that it can also be valuable for anyone else from dermatologists to actors.

The tool is an in-depth exploration into every muscle in the human face. Users are able to see how many muscles move to create any given facial expression.

Each set of muscles listed has information available for the...

• etymology,
• situation (area of the face),
• shape,
• actions, and
• expression.

It is a tool learners will find useful when it comes to drawing and sketching, as it also allows you to choose the transparency of the muscular and skeletal structures.

A great way for students to learn about the anatomy of the face, while learning which muscles are necessary to make certain facial expressions.

This could also be a helpful tool in understanding emotions in expression in order to find better ways to teach learners with special needs, such as those who struggle with autism.

Try it out at http://www.artnatomia.net/. 

 

MyFolio is a new online community for artists and creatives.

The website allows users to upload and share their...

• videos,
• images,
• audios,
• files

...and to also build a personalized portfolio.

Find out more at http://myfolio.com/.

One rapidly growing group of Web 2.0 applications are paint applications.

These applications allow users to...

• draw,
• sketch, and
• paint

...using various paint tools.

Most of these work great on an Interactive White Board but not all of them allow you to save your work to a computer's hard drive.

A program well worth a visit is Sketch & Paint written by Tom Eriksson which is available from his site called OneMotion.com.

Tom has created a very intuitive method of selecting...

• colours,
• tools, and
• tool options

...that make it very easy for learners (and practitioners) to use the application. Best of all, users can save their work to a hard drive as a JPG image.

Try it out at http://www.onemotion.com/flash/sketch-paint/.

Overview of Resources, in this month's eMagazine, that could be use in Business Courses...

• No Resources this month but why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

Overview of Resources, in this month's eMagazine, that could be use in Catering...

• Recipe Roots
• Why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section
  

“Preserve, share and enjoy your family and friends classic home recipes.” (and/or recipes used/developed on a catering course)

On this website, users are able to find recipes that allow them to cater for a wide range of tastes.

The site’s database is impressive, users will find basically anything they want to 'cook'.

If users know a recipe that’s not on the website, then they can sign up and add it.

Find out more at http://www.reciperoots.com/.

All in all, Reciperoots.com should allow learners to greatly increase their kitchen-related knowledge.

Overview of Resources, in this month's eMagazine, that could be use in Design...

• 50 Free Photoshop Brush Sets
• Fashion: Clothes Vocabulary
• Text Fun
• Web 2.0 Write
  
• Why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section
  
  

Photoshop Brushes. Brushes are designers best friend.

"Adobe Photoshop does comes with a basic package of brushes but it has not been updated by folks at Adobe for quite some time. Thanks to the great community of designers out there who constantly distributing and sharing their brushes, you can almost find brushes of any patterns these days. Whether you are working on a nature-related artwork looking for floral and wood graphics, or merely adding some torn, burned and cracked effects to your artwork - there’s a free brush pack out there."

In this post, Hongkiat attempts to present some of the high quality and good Photoshop Brushes, those they thought would be generally useful on many occasions and definitely worth checking out and bookmarking. Here’s their hand-picked of 50 Free and High Quality Photoshop Brush Sets That You Should Bookmark.

Go to http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/50-free-photoshop-brushes-you-should-bookmark/ to read the full article and find out more.

Polyvore is a great site for exploring clothes and fashion vocabulary at different levels and with varying degrees of complexity.

Learners can...

• visit the site at: http://www.polyvore.com
• Click on 'Create a look'.

They then create a 'look' by dragging in various articles of clothing from the tabs at the sides.

They can then...

• add text and l
• abel the articles they have added,
• add different backgrounds and
• match their 'look' to a style of music by dragging in album covers.

If users register they can save the various 'looks' you create.

Note: The website does have a commercial side to it as it is a showcase for different products; make sure learners don't start getting out their credit cards.

I know Valentine’s Day has gone but I thought I would share this text tool that I've just come across.

It transforms typed text into a heart shape! It’s found on Festisite Tools.

There are six tools...

• Banner
• Maze
• Rebus
• Spiral
• Valentine and
• Waves

To achieve the heart shape learners...

• write type their text in a Word Document,
• copy the text,
• click on “Valentine”,
• click the text button & remove any text that may appear in the text box,
• paste the text in the text box,
• click effect and pick the font options,
• click print and their one of a kind design is ready to be printedin a pdf document!

Learners can be motivated to complete a writing assignment if they know at the end they can create a special text effect! ENJOY!

Just as a side note- don’t forget to check out some of the other tools this site offers.

Try it out for yourself at http://www.festisite.com/text-layout/.

Here is one I made earlier...

Web2.0Write is simple web application that can turn any submitted text into a nice looking text images made of icons of popular Web 2.0 services.

To convert text to image simply...

• type into provided field and
• click  “Web2.0!” button.

In return you will get an image that can be saved on to your computer or embed on your blog or personal webpage like this...

Note: my name is compiled from the logos for...

jaiku - orkut -  helipad - gonutshell - disqus -alexa - lively - zitgist - ilike - evernote - and librarything

Try it out for yourself at http://web2.0write.com/. 

Overview of Resources, in this month's eMagazine, that could be use in Economics...

• No Resources this month but why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

Overview of Resources, in this month's eMagazine, that could be use in Engineering...

• No Resources this month but why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

Overview of Resources, in this month's eMagazine, that could be use in English Language - Literature Teaching & Learning...

• No Resources this month but why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

• However take a look at Quick Online Rhyming Tool in the Creative Writing Section
  

Overview of Resources, in this month's eMagazine, that could be use in Family Learning...

• No Resources this month but why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

• See Recipe Roots in the Catering Section

Overview of Resources, in this month's eMagazine, that could be use in Creative Writing...

• Quick Online Rhyming Tool
  
• Why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

If you are interested in...

• songwriting,
  
• poetry or
  
• simply need to do a composition for coursework,
  

...check out this Online Rhyming Dictionary; it is an online rhyming tool that lets users get rhymes for any English word they want. The application derives data from Rhymer’s massive 93,000-word dictionary. 

Rhymer offers six types of rhymes:

1. End Rhymes (blue/shoe)
2. Last Syllable Rhymes (timber/harbor)
3. Double Rhymes (conviction/prediction)
4. Triple Rhymes (frightening/brightening)
5. Beginning Rhymes (physics/fizzle)
6. First Syllable Rhymes (carrot/caring)

Try it out for yourself at http://www.rhymer.com/.

Overview of Resources, in this month's eMagazine, that could be used in a number of curriculum areas...

• Looking for Classroom Materials?
  
• Why don't you suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

NASA's Education Materials Finder will help practitioners locate resources that can be used in teaching & learning.

Users may search by...

• keywords,
• grade level,
• product type and
• subject.

With hundreds of publications and Web sites indexed, the finder is the best way to locate NASA educational resources.

Try it out at http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/diypodcast/ss-video-index.html.

The downloadable  video clips at http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/diypodcast/ss-video-index.html could provide valuable resources for media and science practitioners and learners.

Overview of Geography Resources included in this eMagazine...

• Spin Cloud
• Why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

“World wide weather.”

Weather conditions all over the world can be easily accessed through SpinCloud.

SpinCloud...

• is a mashup that aims to provide people the world over with updated weather reports,
• can be readily put into practice without the need to pay any fees nor incurring into registration processes of any kind.

A menu that showcases the...

• hottest
• coldest
• rainiest
• snowiest

...regions anywhere.

Just visit http://spincloud.com/ in order to start gathering information.

Overview of Genealogy - History Resources included in this eMagazine...

• Public Profiler

If you’ re interested to know where in the world all the other people with your surname live then check out surname map World Names Profiler.

This site was created by researchers at University College London (UCL) and aims to help you find the origins of surname and show common it is throughout the world.

The site database holds data on about 300 million people in 26 countries covering major part of...

• Europe,
• North America,
• Australia,
• New Zealand,
• Japan and
• India.

You can run a search on...

• a whole database or
• a particular geographical area or
• an ethnic group (nationality).

Try it out for yourself at http://www.publicprofiler.org/worldnames/Main.aspx.

Overview of Hair - Beauty Resources included in this eMagazine...

• No Resources this month but why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

Overview of Key Skills Resources included in this eMagazine...

• No Resources this month but why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

• Also take a look at Quick Online Rhyming Tool in the Creative Writing Section

Overview of Language Resources included in this eMagazine...

• No Resources this month but why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

Overview of Mathematics Resources included in this eMagazine...

• No Resources this month but why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section
• See also xxx in the xxx Section
  

Overview of Media Resources included in this eMagazine...

• Vocaroo
• Why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section
• Also take a look at xxx in the xxx Section
  

Vocaroo is a voice recording service. With a very straightforward interface, users can...

• record his or her voice.
  
• share the recording via email,
  
• embed the recording on a web page/in an ePortfolio etc., or
  
• download to a QuickTime player on a PC.

As there is no limit to the length of a recording, the potential uses of Vocaroo are also unlimited. It can be used to...

• answer questions on a test,
• to tell a digital story,
• to describe how something works,
• to communicate via email,
• to recite poetry, or
• to sing a song...

Find out more at http://vocaroo.com/.

Use the embedded sample below or use this link http://vocaroo.com/?media=vum52z4E0ObrJjLjS.

Overview of Music Resources included in this eMagazine...

• Button Beats
• Drum Machine
  
• Also take a look at Quick Online Rhyming Tool in the Creative Writing Section
  • and Braille-Friendly Banjo TAB in the Blog section.
• Why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

Online and Downloadable resources

And as you can see below, note: - it may take a little time to download, you can also embed in eXe...

ButtonBeats.com

Try clicking the (righthand side above the Keyboard) and then type on your PC keyboard...

This Help Screen capture may help...

WOW! I must try it out on a Smartboard or other interactive whiteboard!

Button Beats offers a variety of music making options–for embedding within eXe or other XHTML editors, a blog or website, for downloading to a computer, or even for playing as portable applications from a USB flash drive.

Find out more at http://www.buttonbeats.com/.

This Basic Drum Machine was written by Tom Eriksson and available from his site called OneMotion.com.

Some nice rhythms can be both produced and downloaded as Shockwave Flash (swf) files.

Try it out at http://www.onemotion.com/flash/drum-machine/.

Overview of Science Resources included in this eMagazine...

• Darwin and Evolution
• The Honey Bee Crisis
  
• Why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section
• Also see - Looking for Classroom Materials? in the General Resources section of this eMagazine
  • and ARTNATOMY in the Art section
  • Intute: Spotlight Science Magazine in the Publications section.

I've just been having a little play with a great feature on one of the Open University's websites Devolve Me.

The site is dedicated to Darwin and as well as having some useful information and resources about him, has a wonderful little tool to take yourself backwards through the evolutionary process.

Here is a CamStudio Clip I've captured...

Try it out for yourself at http://www.open.ac.uk/darwin/devolve-me.php.

A nice site, and a good example of social responsibility - raising awareness of visitors. It is also another example of the myriad of resources and influences we encounter - often quite accidently - in our learning journeys on the Web. I love the interactive click-n-drag journey.

Find out more at http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/.

Overview of Thoughts-Beliefs Resources included in this eMagazine...

• No Resources this month but why not suggest a resource, that you use or feel has potential,
  in our Over2U section

This site provides a free web application that lets users make their own, in their words, "emoticons, avatars and other custom icons from your own photos and pictures". 

Be aware that the end products are either png or gif format NOT ico as you may expect from the website's name.

Users can select from the following...

1.  
   This produces a 96 x 96 px png - image
   
    .
2. 
   This produces a 50 x 50 px gif - image
   
   .
3. 
   This produces a 19 x 19 px png - image
   
   .
4. 
   This produces a 48 x 48 px gif - image
   

Try it out for yourself at http://www.sherv.net/icon-maker/.

August 1st - Feb 28th 2009

The data below is cumulative, highlighting, from the initial tracking our TV viewers on 1st September 2007, their global distribution.