Clif's Notes

Another Creative Video

I do not know anything about this song or the artist (Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie) but I do think this is a cool video. I love watching the evolution of digital video. We are coming up with creative ways to communicate as we explore the use of this medium.

• Another Creative Video
• Release Day
• More Video Favorites
• Video for Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

The Art of Possibility

Benjamin Zander is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and on the faculty of the New England Conservatory. “Zander is a prophet of human potential…Watch as he helps unlock the boundless potential of a 15 year old cellist and teaches the entire…audience what it means to live in a world of possibility” (Source: Pop! Tech). Zander’s presentation is high-octane and will challenge your thinking about teaching and learning.

Here are just a few of the things that I really like about the presentation.

• It’s low-tech (or no-tech) yet his message is clear and powerful.
• I appreciate the downward spiral analogy and his point that negative comments are not statements of circumstances but rather a reflection of one’s attitude.
• I’m a believer in goal setting and like the notion of learning contracts (as a means of students taking responsibility for their learning, setting their own goals and motivating students). I’ve approached this with a variety of strategies in my classes throughout the years, but I’ve never used the exact strategy that Zander shares. I’ve made a mental note of his idea, though, because I, as a learner, would really, really like his approach.
• “Michelangelo…said in each piece of marble there is a beautiful statue. All you need is a hammer and a chisel just to get rid of the stone that is in the way of that beautiful statue. That is a theory of education! It’s not the one we use.”
• I like his suggestion about how we should react to mistakes. What a change in attitude that would foster.
• I cracked-up about the whole one-buttock-playing aside. You’ll have to watch it to find out what I’m talking about.
• Kudos to his young participant, Nikolai, for his talent and bravery!
• “Time doesn’t matter in possibility.” This rings true with me in so many ways.
• A leader is one that can distinguish the downward spiral and has the capacity to refocus the nay-sayers on the possibilities and the vision.

• PBS Focuses on Digital Storytelling during May
• Rethinking Education
• Multiple Representations of Understanding with Technology
• Teaching and Learning up in the Air

Must See YouTube

Corey Vidal combines his love for Star Wars and appreciation for John Williams‘ music with his creative expression to produce this must see YouTube.

• Video for Selfish Jean
• Just for Fun
• Thinking outside the Box
• Another Creative Video

Has It Really Been Nine Years?!

This album was released in 1999. Enjoy the flashback and the then-cutting-edge video effects.

• Human Computation: Free Labor
• The Electric Company Returns to PBS
• Claymation Video by Sixth Grader
• Video for Selfish Jean

Expand Your Music by Using Simplify

By Trevor Acy

Since getting an iPhone 3G back in July I have not stopped downloading applications. I could go on and on about tons of useful apps from social networking to utilities to sports, but that’s for another post. Last week another iPhone addicted friend of mine tuned me in to Simplifymedia and I’m about to try and do the same for you.

I shouldn’t describe this as a iPhone application, since it isn’t only that, but that is how I was introduced to it. It is actually a computer application. It is a quick and simple download from the Simplifymedia website that works a lot like an instant messenger program. You choose a screen name and then can add friends that have also created an account (up to 30 people!). It should be noted that Simplifymedia works on PC, Mac, and Linux systems. Now when you set up your account you can choose to share music from your iTunes, Winamp, or Rhythmbox accounts with your friends (and only your friends). When you are on your computer, any of your friends on Simplify can see that you’re active and can choose any of the music you have decided to share to listen to. No longer do you have to rip endless amounts of music from CDs, or spend a fortune on iTunes to get albums your friends already have. They are all yours, and for free.

Back to the iPhone. With an iPhone or iPod Touch you can download the Simplifymedia application from the application store and it works just like it does on your computer. Not only when you are home can you listen to your friends’ music but on the go as well. When you listen to as much music as I do, being able to expand your music library this quickly and for free was fantastic. And because you can have up to thirty friends on your account, it behooves you to get more people to download Simplify. Because the more friends you have on the larger your music library becomes. Again, it’s free and shares your music with only people you accept to share with.

• The Not-So-Evil Box of Music
• Video for Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
• Internet Jukebox
• Tech Review: MyBlogLog

Release Day

Today marks the release of Downhere‘s latest album, Ending Is Beginning. I spent the morning listening to them as studio guests and performers on K-LOVE and was even able to chat with them in between songs. Thought I’d share my favorite Downhere song, The More, to celebrate the event.

What is your favorite Downhere song?

• Internet Jukebox
• Happy Mother’s Day
• More Video Favorites
• The Not-So-Evil Box of Music

Creed

Of his many awesome works this is my favorite Rich Mullins song.

• I Can’t Even Begin to Imagine
• More Video Favorites
• Release Day
• Zentation: Where Video and PowerPoint Meet on the Web — The Mom Song

Every Life Matters

There are a variety of interpretations to this song, but they all demonstrate that every single life is important. Be sure to help those that are in need. Be willing to ask for and receive help when you need it.

Hang in there!
Clif

• Newsletter on Educational Technology
• Internet Jukebox
• More Video Favorites
• 1 Thing

Internet Jukebox

Trevor’s Take: Songza
By: Trevor Acy

Since writing the post on the sleek online radio Pandora, Clif and I have decided to start a review series of online music applications. Next on the chopping block is the internet jukebox Songza. Again, I will provide my opinion on how the site operates and a quick tutorial of how to get your account up and running.

Songza is a free, flash based, internet jukebox. You decide exactly what songs you want to listen to and then stream the songs from other sites where they are embedded using a minimalist flash player. No costs, no ads, just the music you want to hear. At first you might be a bit discouraged that this is the only pseudo-FAQ that Songza has to offer. However, you will soon realize that it is so simple that it doesn’t really need one. Like many of the items featured on this site, Songza only does one thing, but does it extraordinarily well.

After creating an account (just your basic set-up with e-mail, password, etc) you will see the incredibly simple front page. Using the one outstanding feature, the large centrally located search bar, enter an artist or song and click search. Songza’s cute little loading square will flip around for just a moment and then an extensive list of songs will appear down the left hand side. One thing that I really like about Songza is this right here. You are not given one choice for the song you are trying to find; you are given a whole bunch. Aside from the album version, some may be live versions, acoustics sets, or remixes. In fact, I have already discovered a multitude of covers of songs I have searched for that I may otherwise never have been aware existed. So while you have to actively search out individual songs (that’s why it is a jukebox and not a radio) you still may find new songs.

The interface is one of the easiest imaginable to navigate. After searching for a song and selecting one from the list, clicking on the title will pop up a little compass inspired menu with four options: Play, Share, Rate, and Add to Playlist. Subsequently selecting one of these does exactly what you think they would do. The Share option allows you to link to the song, embed it on a site, send to Twitter, or email to a friend. Rating is used for rating the quality of the recording more so than if whether or not you like the song, like with Pandora. The better the quality rating, the higher that specific song appears in search lists. Rating effectively reduces the amount of time you spend trudging through versions that are of poor quality.

The Playlist is where you will find my only complaint with Songza. Right now, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but I can find no way of creating additional playlists. So while you can save every song you find, they are all lumped together under a single playlist. The small saving grace of this is that you can quickly and easily change the order or your playlist. So you can group your music as you would want to hear it in succession. Aside from sharing individual songs with friends, you can also navigate to someone’s Songza profile page and access their full playlist from there. You can check out my profile and playlist here.

One of the really nifty things about Songza is while a song is playing you have the ability to Watch the Video when it is available, Buy the Song via Google Products or Amazon, or check out the Discography. It should be said that the video sometimes seems like a randomly picked Youtube video, which isn’t always the artist’s actual music video. Viewer beware.

I’ve only just begun playing with Songza and haven’t delved too deeply into sharing and embedding songs. What I see so far I really like (aside from the Playlist issue which I am hoping I am incorrect about). So if recommendation music sites like Rhapsody and Pandora don’t line up with your tastes well enough or you’re just looking to hear “that song” right now, give Songza a try.

Be sure to leave a link to your Songza profile if you comment so we can all share the music. One Love.

• The Not-So-Evil Box of Music
• Release Day
• Happy Easter
• Video for Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Newsletter on Educational Technology

Throughout the years many of the preservice and in-service teachers in my classes, workshops, and presentations have requested that I start an email newsletter. They indicate that in addition to this blog they would like to receive occasional emails sharing rich resources related to technology integration. I’m excited to announce that I have answered these requests.

Clif’s Newsletter on Educational Technology focuses on the effective integration of technology with teaching and learning. Subscribers of this free service will receive occasional emails providing valuable resources and information about lesson plans, activities, technologies, research, etc., related to educational technology.

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• Notes from Clif
• What Is Effective Technology Integration?
• Assistance for Classrooms in Need
• Technology Integration Showcase