Rich
Performance Tasks
http://www.ldcsb.on.ca/schools/cfe/rpt/
Rodd Lucier from the London District Catholic School
Board wrote to share the results of an ongoing project with their district.
Their definition
of Rich Performance Tasks (RPTs) is "Rich Performance Tasks are
authentic activities, exercises, problems or challenges that
require students to show what they know and what they can do. Performance
tasks lead students to demonstrate their understanding by applying
their knowledge and skills to real life situations or scenarios."
Rodd indicates that he has been using our Webquest
Locator for some time now to find webquest activities that are tied to
the curriculum. Thanks, Rodd.
The activities are based upon the Webquest model
so if you're a fan of using webquests, you should be able to use these
resources quite easily.
Converting
Files
http://media-convert.com/
This may well be a sign of things to come. Suppose
that you don't have a graphic program on your computer but you absolutely
have to convert the file from one format to another immediately. Or,
the movie making program that you're using won't accept the format of
the footage that you've just shot?
Check
out Media-convert. The concept is simple. Send them a file, they convert
it to a different format, and then send it back.
Someday
you may get a file in a format other than what you have on your computer.
Perhaps
this website will save the day.
Podcasting at Berkeley
http://snipurl.com/16ugj
This was
just too cool not to check out. Not only is it cool now, but it may
well be a sign of things to come. Remember going to university and
missing a class. You'd do your best to catch up by finding a fellow
student and photocopying the notes that you missed.
How about
this as an alternative?
UC Berkeley
has put over 50 of its courses online complete as podcasts. They're
available for free through iTunes and the Apple Store. There's Arts
courses, Chemistry courses, Physics courses, and of course, Computer
Courses. All for free!
I listened
to a few interesting lessons from the Data Structures course and have
my eye on Digital Image Processing.
Inflation Calculation
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/inflation_calc.html
The Bank
of Canada has this terrific utility calculator on their website. Rather
than working your way through historical inflation data, it's available
right here. From 1914 on, you can convert dollars from one year to
another to see the effects of dollar fluctuations.
This would
be a great way to generate data to discuss inflation, recession, etc.
On the
same page, look for the link to an online investment calculator.
Chemicals Around the House
http://www.epa.gov/kidshometour/
From the United States Evironmental Protection Agency, this site lets
you take a walk through your house discovering all kinds of objects in
the various rooms.
Identify and learn all about objects that aren't healthy for you.
