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Wanna Learn Javascript? And Have Fun?

Hey all! I stumbled across this really cool website that uses a game-like interface to teach you Javascript! It's really easy and fun! I'm already about 50% through the Introduction section, but there's several other lessons as well.  Time will tell to see if what I learn here can actually transition to using Javascript in my sites, but for now I feel like I'm learning quickly and having fun.  Check it out!

http://www.codecademy.com/languages/javascript/topics/introduction

Game-based Learning

I am taking a Digital Game-Based Learning course this semester, and so far it has been really interesting.  We look at the ways that games can provide great learning opportunities. For a project, I had to create my own game.  I had previously created a non-educational game in another class, so I built off of that one for my educational game.  Play both games at the links below.

Non educational game, "When Hippos Fly" : http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/FuzzyTurtles/2094222'

Educational game, "Hippos in Outer Space: A Math Adventure" : http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/FuzzyTurtles/2311162

Wanna Learn Some Cool Stuff?

I was looking through some Wired Campus articles from The Chronicle of Higher Education, and I found this one about some resources where you can learn computer programming. I have always wanted to learn more about computers, programming, web design, etc. Last Christmas break I learned HTML and CSS, so this year I think I'm going to delve into Python. I just signed up for the free Stanford University online course on Computer Science, and also the one for Cryptography. I'm pretty excited to start learning about these topics. Anyone wanna join me?

Great Little Passage

I wanted to share this passage that I saw on the internet. Do not be put off by the beginning; just keep reading and you'll see what it's getting at.


Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It's time we put thing in perspective and pay them for what they do - babysit! We can get that for minimum wage. That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 AM to 3:00 PM with 45 minutes off for lunch and plan - that equals 6.5 hours). Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day? Maybe 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations. LET'S SEE. That's $585 X 180= $105,300 per year.What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6.5 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year. Wait a minute - there's something wrong here! There sure is! The average teacher's salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student - a very inexpensive baby-sitter (and they even EDUCATE your kids!) WHAT A DEAL!!!! Make a teacher smile; re-post this to show appreciation. :)

Metaphor for Learning

In my Theories of Learning course (EDP610), we had to come up with our metaphor for learning in 250 words or less. I thought I would share mine and see what you all thought. Do you agree? What would you change in my metaphor? What metaphor comes to mind for you?
 
 
Learning is like building a house.  The student is the builder, while the teacher is the foreman.  The builders are in charge of constructing their house, while the foreman can facilitate and oversee, helping along the way.  The foreman may provide the bulk of the material, but the builders may find some along the way that they decide to add in to their own house.  The house starts with a foundation, which is pretty simple, solid, and straightforward, much like the basic skills we have in school (reading, basic math, basic science, etc.).  Then many complex things can be built on top, in any way that the builders may choose.  The builders might find that some ways of structuring material are more conducive to retention, while others might fall away.  The foreman might show the builders some tools for how to create the house, but the builders might also imitate others or use their own ideas for construction. 
Every house also needs to feel like a home.  There may be decorations or certain styles, as well emotions, feelings, tendencies, etc., and these can be considered the soul or personality of the learner.  The builder constantly remodels the home, adding on more rooms as necessary.  This symbolizes the life-long learning that occurs, as students are continuously building up new knowledge. Sometimes new rooms can be added on (assimilation), while other times whole walls need to knocked down to make room for something new (accommodation).