DIY.org Features Kids’ Digital Projects

A new website allows kids to store and share photos of home and school projects online. The site, DIY.org, allows kids -- who are identified only by an animal character and nickname -- to upload a digital portfolio, which can be viewed by friends and relatives, who can comment on the work by giving it one of four stickers: Awesome, Beautiful, Favorite, and Genius. You have to read the blog entry that introduces the concept – what a refreshing and encouraging take on kids and their creativity. You can also download the app on iTunes.

So What Are They Using Those Smartphones For?

As smartphone usage proliferates among high school and university students, new data indicates that students who use their mobile devices as study tools study more often and more efficiently. An infographic developed by StudyBlue, a free mobile and online study service for students, demonstrates several benefits for students who power-up their smartphones for study sessions. Kids do lead a mobile life and it just may be that a smartphone may be a good study investment after all.

Romance, Weight Loss, Intrigue—Science Books?

Looking for a way to engage a teen who is struggling with a science or math course? It may be time to go Manga. These illustrated comic books teach by creating a story where science is needed to solve problems. In Biochemistry, for example, the problem is a high school girl’s weight loss. Topics covered include:  what happens inside the body, photosynthesis and respiration, biochemistry in everyday lives, enzymes as key to chemical reaction, and molecular biology and nucleic acids. In addition to biochemistry, Manga offers guides to calculus, electricity, relativity, the universe, molecular biology, databases, linear algebra, physics, and statistics. Prices range from $19.95-$24.95. Digital downloads are available if printed copies are purchased. It’s worth taking a look at these books because they are unique and interesting. Although I’m not a teenager, I thought I would like to spend some time learning from them as well. Scientific Computing, calls the Manga Guides, “Stimulus for the next generation of scientists” and an article in the American Journal of Physics recommends the physics guide for all teachers of introductory physics.

Free Art & Photo Apps—Fun!

Corel® has released three free apps for the iPhone®, iPad®, Mac®, and Windows®. The apps include Corel Beep Beep, which turns an iPad into a coloring book; Corel Postcard, which lets you make your own postcards with photos and messages; and Corel QuickSort, the way to sort and share your photos. At the App Store, you can find these and other apps such as Corel Slingshot, Corel Draw Fans, and Corel Paint it! On the Corel site, you can watch videos of how some of the apps work.

Opening Web Access at School

Organized by the American Association of School Librarians as an offshoot of Banned Books Week, the first Banned Websites Awareness Day recently took place. The biggest concern? As more and more schools embrace online technologies, there are schools that block much of the Internet. Some librarians complain that entire categories of Web sites have been blocked, including those that involve games, violence, weapons, even swimsuits making it hard to conduct research. Others comment that it is their job to teach students the safe use of the Internet, which is impossible to do if they can’t get to those sites. What do you as a parent think? How do you handle web access at home? Should it be the same at school?

Slang Writing Creeps into the Classroom

Teachers are complaining that social networking abbreviations and slang are creeping into student writing in school and on assignments. Some analysts see this as an evolution of the language, but others worry it is a dumbing down of communication. Either way, this is some kind of transition period and kids are going to have to learn to adapt to what is expected of them. College essays for example, are one place that texting lingo is seen as a real no-no. How to help kids to figure out what is appropriate where seems to remain an issue, however.

Stars, Birds, Chords, Puzzles

Netted by the Webbies has announced its six favorite iPad apps, three of which may be useful in getting your kids interested in music and science.  Star Walk ($4.99) is called “awesome” and “fantastic”—a perfect way to learning about the night sky. It is available in English, Chinese, Russian and several other languages.  Karajan®Pro-Music & Ear Trainer ($9.99) helps train ears to ”recognize intervals, chords, scales, pitch, tempo (bmp) and key signatures with detailed statistics.” Audubon Guides – A Field Guide to Birds, Mammals, Wildflowers, and Trees ($29.99) helps with identification and with keeping bird and nature lists.

More on Quick Response Codes

Perhaps you caught the recent column in the Parenting with Technology space on The Invasion of the QR Codes. QR codes are gaining momentum and if you are looking for more sites where you can create your own codes take a look here for some more ideas.

Project and Assignment Help on Power to Learn

As spring school project season rolls around, don’t forget to check the Computers & Homework area on Power to Learn. The articles, divided into elementary, middle school, and high school categories focus upon helpful hints that include online resources, guidelines for working with tech at home, creating unique projects, and much more. Some recent  titles include: Making Friends with Your Printer, Finding What You Want Online, And Your Survey Says, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Geography, Homework Predicaments Revealed and Resolved, State & Country Reports, What Cheating? What’s Your Responsibility, PowerPoint to Podcasts, and Make a QR (Quick Response) Code Poster. Look for upcoming articles packed with resources for helping your kids with mathematics.

Learn More About Google’s Offerings

Everyone’s talking about Google Docs and how they are useful and economical for schools as well as at home. Google’s place to start you off right provides you with information about creating documents, spreadsheets and presentations online; sharing and collaborating; safely storing and organizing work, and controlling who can see documents. You might want to take some time to experiment with Google collaboration in action by watching the collaboration demo for documents, spreadsheets and drawing. Google also offers videos that may be helpful in learning how to use Google sites and Docs, understanding Google Chrome (web browser), etc. There are Google Webinars as well that you may want to take advantage of.  Check them out at the Google Resource Center.