Edtechkat

LET link of the week Journal of Visualised Experiments A “peer reviewed, open access, online journal devoted to the publication of biological research in a video format. ” If the researcher does not know how to create video, the journal sends out a videographer.
Next LET session at South Street: *this Friday*
What’s in a Ning? (Jean McKay)
• Friday 1 August 2-3pm Room 1.015
• Tuesday 12 August 1:30 - 2:30 Room 2.007

Next LET session at Rockingham
o Making mini movies with Windows Movies Maker
Wednesday 30 July 2pm - 3pm

Today Educause released the latest in its “7Things you should know about X” series, about the Wii interface. http://connect.educause.edu/Library/ELI/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAbout/47105

Their summary of why it is important:

The Wii is a video game system that uses a wireless controller capable of sensing position and motion, allowing users to interact with the game applications through physical movements. The controller has captured the interest of academic researchers and hackers, who have used the technology to create applications such as a collaborative choreography tool and an inexpensive, interactive whiteboard. Wii technology is used as an input device in virtual worlds and as a training tool that allows learners to perform physical tasks in a digital, risk-free environment.

I have run two sessions about this for library staff and will again be bringing in my console from home for an Academic Work Matters session about input devices in October. If anyone wants a hands-on demo before then, I’m happy to give one.

I like this list of the different terms used by uni libraries to refer to their catalogue, federated search, virtual reference etc…

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p8kTawTxfuMk3AFyxwaEaXw

Bibliocommons has just gone live at Oakville Public Library in Canada, as reported in the latest Library Journal -“>BiblioCommons Emerges: “Revolutionary” Social Discovery System for Libraries

It is a discovery layer (like Encore or Primo or VuFind) that sits over the top of a library management system.

This is definitely one to watch – the vendors claim to have thought more about the “architecture of participantion” (what will make people *want* to tag, review etc) and have worked with major LMS vendors like SirsiDynix.

It seems to be funded privately and by subscription, but to have arisen out of library consortia. I will be interested to see what their pricing/support/source code policy will be.

LET link of the week Creating Learning Structure: open or closed? Library student Lee Leblanc writes about why a closed Course Management System doesn’t work for him.

Next LET session at South Street: *tomorrow*

Nintendo Wii gaming console. Why this interface matters to education and hands-on experimentation.

· Tuesday 22 July 1:30 – 3:30pm Flexible Teaching and Learning Room

Next LET session at Rockingham

o Making mini movies with Windows Movies Maker
Wednesday 30 July 2pm – 3pm

LET wiki

Timetable for LET 2008

Suggest a topic or reading for a LET session

LET link of the week

YouTube - Johnny Lee on Wii Remote hacks at TED 2008. Johnny Lee from Carnegie Mellon University demonstrates how to create an interactive whiteboard for $50 using a wii-mote, then how to add a $10 component to a Nintendo wii system to create a 3D computer display. Also interesting because in the last two minutes he describes how YouTube has changed the way he communicates his university research.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H1zrLZwPjQ]

Next LET session at South Street:

Nintendo Wii gaming console. Why this interface matters to education and hands-on experimentation.

• Friday 11 July 2-3pm Flexible Teaching and Learning Room
• Tuesday 22 July 1:30 - 3:30pm Flexible Teaching and Learning Room

Next LET session at Rockingham

o   Making mini movies with Windows Movies Maker

You may also be interested in:

I will be talking about the Murdoch University trial blogging project at 12:30pm on Wednesday 16 July as part of the Academic Work Matters series. Enrolments are here: http://tlcwebapps.murdoch.edu.au/events/academic/general/events/?id=1020

After a general discussion about using blogs in education and why you might want to blog, I’ll be demonstrating how our system will work and all the different things you can switch on and off to personalise a blog.

LET wiki

Timetable for LET 2008

Suggest a topic or reading for a LET session