Second Life ™

Last night the DEN in SL had the pleasure of hosting Emanna Romano (Lisa Thumann – RL) as she presented on ‘Searching Google in a Snap’.  For those who want to view her presentation, it is hosted on her blog.  And if you want to check out her resources, please visit Thumann’s Resources.  

As a GCTer (Google Certified Teacher), Emanna is well versed in all things Google, and she has a wonderful SL presence for presenting.  Her tone conveys her passion of the topic, her interaction with the audience is relaxed, and you can sense that she is enjoying what she is doing.

When people say ‘let me Google that for you’, they may actually be referring to http://lmgtfy.com

If you’re interested in finding out more about Google’s Search features go here.  You will find search essentials, reference tools, local searches, and trip planning to name a few.

Teachers can find classroom posters to use here.

If you’re teaching a particular topic or just current events, you can find out more about trends here.  Spend a little time exploring this feature.  In fact, try this – enter your state’s name in the advanced search area to see what top trends are of interest to the population in your state.

Have a non-native speaker in your class?  Check out Language Tools here.  Go to the advanced search & preferences, search for a specific topic and choose a language.  You can also take a block of text and translate it.

Power up your Google Search by going to the Advanced Search feature.  Check out ‘File type:’  which shows results in documents, powerpoints, etc.  Check out the ability to search for Google Earth kml and kmz files, as well as, shockwave flash.  If you check out ‘Search within a site or domain:’  you can narrow your search to educational institutions by specifying .edu.

Explore the Book Search feature here.  If a book is in the public domain, Google can put the entire book online.  You can also create your own library – you can import books by ISBN number or title; click on ‘add this book to my library’, and you can view the libraries of other people. The ‘About this book’ will provide you with the table of contents, search the book, popular passages, book reviews, references from other books, and references from scholarly works.

Want to kick up your or your students’ research capabilities?  Then try Google Scholar.

Google Scholar will only searches reputable articles, journals, books, it does not search newspapers, magazines, blogs, or popular websites.  If you’re working on a major research paper and need to do a literature review, this just might be the tool for you!

For the latest, go to Google News here.  You can customize the page to suit your particular needs.  There is also an advanced search option where you can specify date, news source, news source location or location in general.  You can stay up-to-date and connected to results by choosing to: create an email alert; add a custom section to your Google News, add a news gadget to your Google homepage, or subscribe to a news feed in Google Reader.

Want to be notified up certain topics?  Then check out Google Alerts here. You might want to enter your name (and derivatives thereof) to see mentions of yourself in cyberspace.

If you want students to search only specific websites (excellent for elementary students to use, once a teacher has set it up), then try Google Custom Search here.  You (or a group of you) enter the websites that will be searched for a specific term.  I can see this being used by elementary teachers in creating a repertoire of resources that are at students’ readability levels. 

And finally – this JUST in, so check it out!

Thanks again Emanna, your information was fabulous!

Don’t have a Google Account?  What are you waiting for?  Not only is it easy to acquire, but it’s also *FREE*! 

You’ll want access to a Google account as Emmana Romano (Lisa Thumann - RL) will be presenting on ‘Searching Google in a Snap’.  Come and explore strategies for finding information you may not have even known were accessible with Google.  Learn about ‘Insights for Search’ and how to create your own Custom Search Engine (a MUST HAVE, IMHO, for all teachers).  Join this Google Certified Teacher as she takes you on a Search — Google style.

Yesterday was about anything but business as Demb Oh (Steve Dembo - RL) spoke about the inception of DEN in SL and its amazing growth in under two years (that’s right folks!  The DEN in SL is still in its infancy) then proceeded to cut the ribbon.  As avatars new and not so new alike roamed the spaces I overheard (’overchatted’???) many ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ and ‘waaay cool’. 

We then teleported up to the roof where the DJ, Zeppo Zapatero was waiting with music and soon everyone was on the dance floor.

All in all, a VERY successful opening ceremony and the DEN in SL looks forward to continuing to bring you workshops and events at 2DP.

Hmmmmm, wonder what will be next on the agenda for the DEN in SL and 2DP?  Guess you’ll have to stay tuned to find out!

First off I’d like to congratulate Lor for being the FIRST to present in the new auditorium at 2DP — that would be the NEW DEN in SL HQs (don’t forget! The official grand opening, ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held tomorrow, Friday, April 24th at 5 p.m. SLT (7 p.m. CST, 8 p.m. EST).

Lor did an amazing job sharing lots and lots and lots of resources on the topic of ‘Digizenship(tm) - Keeping them Safe and Legal’.  I know that many in the audience were able to gather new resources on the topic of internet safety.  Rather than blocking or filtering, Lor explored a myriad of resources that will help our students understand how to stay safe and legal while using the internet.  And Lor is kind enough to share those resources with us on her wiki.  And in the spirit of ‘paying it forward’, I’m sure that she would appreciate any additional links that you might have for her to add to her growing collection.

The DEN would like you help in finding out more about how the DEN is impacting student learning and professional growth.

So if you have a minute (and I’m sure we can all find a minute in our busy lives), please fill out the survey.  You can read the full blog post here.

No, it’s not a tech toy! LOL  It’s the revised link to the New DEN in SL HQs.  You can also find it along the top tab of this blog.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eduisland%20II/132/131/22

Make sure to save this as a Landmark once you’re inworld!

Hope to see all of you tonight at *NOTE: NEW TIME CHANGE* at 6 p.m. SLT (8 p.m. CST, 9 p.m EST) for Lor’s presentation digital citizenship.

And don’t forget!  The official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be this Friday at 5 p.m. SLT (7 p.m. CST, 8 p.m. EST).

That’s right folks.  DEN in SL has finally joined the social networking craze.  It’s official:  DEN in SL is on Twitter.

The idea was actually ‘borrowed’ from Neene on the New York LC.  She started with @NYDENLC.  Hey, if it’s good enough for the Big Apple, it’s good enough for SL!  No sooner had I read about NY DEN’s Twitter plunge I had a message to the SL LC, and the rest is, well, ‘Tw’istory! LOL

So if you haven’t yet been bombarded with RT (re-tweets), let me share with you that you can follow the antics of the DEN in SL by following SLDENLC.  If you want to get our attention you can always add at the beginning of your Tweet ‘@SLDENLC’.  Yes, folks, that would be @SLDENLC.  And as Daniel Pink was heard saying in his Keynote at PETE&C — the key to an effective presentation is repetition, repetition, repetition.  So one last time — if you’re on Twitter, please consider following @SLDENLC.

Thank you.

Brought to you by @SLDENLC

Please join us this Wednesday as Lor Fredriksson presents, ‘Digizenship - Keeping them Safe and Legal’.  Our students have the tools at their fingertips.  We can’t just block or filter them.  Learn about various internet safety resources that will help our students understand how to stay safe and legal when using the internet.  We need them to learn how to make good choices.

NOTE NOTE NOTE!!! TIME:  6 p.m. SLT ( 8 p.m. CST, 9 p.m. EST)

You know, I don’t care what others say — Twitter is great!  How else would I have found out (literally just seconds ago!) about a Quick Start Guide to Second Life ™?  Thanks to @torley’s  (BTW, if you are on Twitter and in Second Life you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY ought to consider following @torley!) tweet, here’s the link to the seven page pdf file.

Enjoy!  (and thanks again @torley!)

Are you in for a treat!  Emmana Romano (Lisa Thumann - RL) will be presenting on ‘Searching Google in a Snap’.  Come and explore strategies for finding information you may not have even known were accessible with Google.  Learn about ‘Insights for Search’ and how to create your own Custom Search Engine (a MUST HAVE, IMHO, for all teachers).  Join this Google Certified Teacher as she takes you on a Search — Google style.

NOTE:  Don’t forget to bring your Google Account and password with you.  If you do not have a Google Account yet, please sign up for one prior to the workshop — not only is it easy, but it’s *FREE*!