Teachnology+Tips+2

Nings | Internet Databases | File Formats
Nings - Classroom 2.0 By now you have probably heard of Web 2.0 - also known as the Read-Write Web. Web 2.0 technologies include just about anything where people can not only read what's online, but contribute to it: blogs, wikis, social networking sites like MySpace, Flickr and YouTube are some examples. Now we have NINGS - a sort of grown-up version of MySpace. I shudder to think where the name comes from, but the word Neanderthal keeps popping into mind ... One of the more interesting Nings for teachers is Classroom 2.0, a collaborative space for educators. http://classroom20.ning.com/

Blogger's Choice Awards Blogger's Choice Awards is a great site to find thousands of blogs grouped by content. You have to be a (free) subscriber to vote - but you can browse blogs by category for free: e.g. there are over 150 Education blogs sorted by popularity (hopefully that aligns somehow to quality!) and 70 Charity blogs. http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com

Changing File Formats You've just received an email attachment - but it won't open because it was created in a program you don't have. This is becoming an increasing problem with audio and video files because some manufacturers of portable devices won't adopt common file formats, but insist on their own proprietary formats. We are lucky as Mac users because we have free programs like Preview, iWeb and iTunes which will handle many unusual files types, and convert them into more standardised formats. However, for those times you can't open an attachment, there is ZamZar - a website that offers free file conversion for Documents, Images, Video and Music formats. There is a 100Mb size limit. http://www.zamzar.com/

File Types This site has a list of all the standard file type endings (aka "extensions"). Click a file type to discover more about it, and how you can open this type of file on a Mac or PC. http://www.fileinfo.net/common.php

Research ... with a warning! The following websites are superb for research, or for trivia buffs, and several have become the standard reference in their field. BUT be warned: some of these sites are highly addictive!

Internet Movie Database Every movie, every actor, every director, composer, cinematograhper ... well almost. IMDB is likely to be your first point of call if you want to know more about just about any movie on commercial release. Stay away from the sections on TRIVIA, GOOFS, CRAZY CREDITS and LOCATIONS - serious time-wasting danger here! http://www.imdb.com

Internet Book List Not quite as extensive as the Movie database, but growing rapidly thanks to the contributions of members who can sign up for free accounts to add and review books. There are currently over 55,000 titles with synopsis, author and publication info. About 4,000 of these titles have been reviewed. http://www.iblist.com

Internet Broadway Database Just what the name implies - a searchable database of every show that has opened on Broadway. It includes opening night credits for most shows, loads of statistics, plus other interesting treats like Born on this Date and Opening Nights in History. http://www.ibdb.com/

Internet Thatre Database Subtitled: By the Fans, For the Fans An unofficial history of theatre - not quite as extensive as the