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Persuasive Games

Think games are just for fun?  Think again.  That’s the slogan for Persuasive Games, designers of electronic games that influence players to take action through gameplay.  With games like Fatworld, which explores the politics of nutrition, Points of Entry which covers immigration issues, or Elemental, which teaches kids about chemistry, the focus is on learning through hands-on participation.  The idea is by actually “doing something” instead of just “watching it” people are more likely to see how they can make a difference in real life. 

-JH

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MIT Researchers Make Big Discovery In Solar Power

Click To Play

Scientists have long known that solar power provided a potential solution to the world’s energy issues. The only problem is that storing it for later use has proven to be expensive and inefficient. Until now, that is. A group of MIT researchers recently discovered a simple cost-effective way to store solar energy in fuel cells which can be used as needed. Members of the scientific community are calling this a “giant leap” for clean energy, and say it has “enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind.” The video above explains some of the details and you can find out more in this article from the MIT site

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DS Makes Its Way Into The Classroom

As a teacher, I’ve had to confiscate several Nintendo DS’s from students who try to play them during class. At Tokyo’s Joshi Gakuen Middle School, they actually encourage it.  Over the last year the all-girls school has been testing a new English teaching software that uses various interactive games, drills, and videos played, on the DS, to help improve students conversational skills; something they can’t get from an ordinary textbook.  So far so good, the students are having fun and the making great strides in learning the new language.  Some teachers are still worried about the games being a distraction, but overall the feedback has been positive. 

On a similar note, Nokia handhelds loaded with special programs to help teach math are being tested in several high schools in South Africa as well.  If you ask me, this sounds like a great way to incorporate learning core subjects and new technology at the same time and I hope to see more of it.  So to any of my students out there…sorry.  As soon as they come out with some History software, I’ll give you your DS’s back!

-JH

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i’m Talkathon

OMG!!! The i’m Talkathon officially started today.  The talkathon is part of the i’m Initiative, a program where Microsoft donates a portion of their ad revenue to 10 organizations that support important social causes everytime you use Windows Live Messenger or Windows Live Hotmail.

For the next 30 days they are encouraging as many people as possible to send messages through these programs so they can raise a huge amount of money (and awareness) for the participating organizations.  In order for your messages to count you have to be a member of the i’m Initiative, so if you’re not, sign up today and then get to messaging….TTYL

-JH 

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E-Cars for San Francisco?

San Francisco has long been recognized for its historic cable cars, but in the near future they may also be known for their electric cars.  According to the Project Better Place website, the company has been in negotiations with Mayor Gavin Newsom about creating a city-wide infrastructure that would support a large number of electric vehicles including features such as battery replacement stations and parking meter charging stations. 

If the city really goes through with the plan it would be the first in the U.S. with an electric infrastucture, but hopefully not the last.  Project Better Place recently launched similar programs in Israel and Denmark that have been very successful so far.  This could be a major boost for the future of electric cars and good solution to the ever-rising costs (financially and environmentally) of gasoline.

                                      via earth2tech

-JH

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Wii Would Like To Excercise

The folks over at Nintendo got gamers off the couch a couple years ago with the Wii, but now they are stepping up the intensity with the Wii Fit.  The Fit is a ‘balance board’ attachment with several ‘games’ that lead users in doing push ups, sit ups and even yoga.  In addition, it tracks weight, body mass index and center of gravity.

The system allows users to set weight loss goals and track their progress everytime they get on the board, and there are a variety of activities for men, women, and children of all ages and fitness levels (see video).  How much of a cardio workout you can actually get from the Fit remains to be seen, but getting people to be active is definitely a step in the right direction.

-JH

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One Laptop Per Child

Life, Liberty, and your very own laptop…your basic human rights. At least thats what  the folks at OLPC believe.  In case you didn’t already figure it out, OLPC stands for One Laptop Per Child and their goal is to make their name a reality. The group has created a laptop called the XO that is specifically desinged for 6-12 year old students in developing countries.  The PC is packed with special features like a durable frame with rounded rubber corners, no hard drive (so crashes can be avoided), fully open-source software, multiple viewing positions, and a solar or crank powered battery for areas where electricity is not readily available.  In addition every laptop is linked to all the other OLPC machines around the globe so children can interact with each other through email, videoconferencing, and a variety of other formats.  Not to mention the price is only $100.

Even more important than the ins and outs of the technology is the educational opportunities the machines provide for the children.  Raising these students up with an understanding of computers and a connectivity to the rest of the world is key to helping raise developing nations out of poverty. 

Many of the leaders of these nations have jumped on board with this idea of building for the future by purchasing millions of XO’s for their students and signing on for OLPC’s training and integration programs.  The first priority of OLPC is to fulfill their commitments to these countries, but at the same time they are working to carry out grass-roots movements with individuals who would like to donate PC’s or provide training for students in nations that have not signed on to the program.  Click here to find out more about how you can get involved.

-JH

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