Online Respect and Responsibility
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/respect.html
Thank you to Superintendent Lynn for letting me know about this. Last year, the Minister of Education met with students through the province talking about respect for themselves and others online. It's a good report and well worth the read and viewing the accompanying video.
Read and listen to the message. It's more than just an attack on online bullying. It's an affirmation of the skills and access to technology that students have at school and importantly at home. Are we up to the challenge of teaching them to use it appropriately?
Online Computer Scanning
http://mashable.com/2008/01/05/10-online-virus-malware-scanners/
Over the holidays, I actually had to use one of these.
A friend's computer was acting a little unusual. So, the first thing that anyone does these day is scan it for viruses and malware. But, what do you do when the computer that you're working on doesn't have an updated one installed?
Head over to some of the free resources on the web. At this site, you'll find links to some professional virus scanners who have made their resources available for free via the web. You'll have to wait for a bit but the scanner will have the latest code and updates.
Then, it's time to remind everyone that you can't live without one installed these days. Even if your CPU takes a hit in performance, you need to protect yourself and your computer.
All of the links at this site have commercial versions that you may buy and some even have a free version. There really are no more excuses.
End of Support for Netscape
http://blog.netscape.com/
It was with great sadness that I read about the end of support for the Netscape Browser. There were so many firsts and breakthroughs that originated with the innovative approach to web processing that Netscape was noted for.
It was Netscape that gave us the notion that there are actually options for web browsing, web page design, or even email and mailing lists than the products that commonly come to mind. With Netscape products (and later their derivatives), you had a more comfortable sense of security.
More details about Netscape's contribution
to what we take for granted in web use appears at eWeek. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2242788,00.asp and
an online slideshow at: http://www.eweek.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=&s=25942&
a=222626&po=1,00.asp?p=y
Google Guide
http://www.googleguide.com/
Are you frustrated with "I'm Feeling Lucky"?
Do you want to have more control over your web searching through Google?
Want to be an expert?
Think you know it all?
Check out the tips in the "Google Guide". There are lessons and techniques to be learned here whether you're a novice or an expert.
OTF/FEO Professional Development
http://www.iriseducation.org/b2b/otffeo/
The OTF has a spectacular collection of Professional Development resources
that they deliver for free to educators.
The programs went online in November 2007 and the promise is that they will be there unitl November 2008. Video is added to their on demand service on a regular basis.
So, if you're looking for an online resource that's easily available, fire up your computer and check out what's available here.
