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Digital learning tools drive student success
Across the country, colleges and universities are embracing innovative, digital technologies and customized learning platforms to drive academic achievement. While print textbooks remain the foundation of higher education course materials, publishers are creating new digital applications that enable institutions and faculty to become more effective, and engage digital learners to enhance their academic achievement and succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy.
Educational publishers recognize the power of today’s technology and devices like the iPod and Amazon Kindle to adapt to how students learn. They’re studying how students interact with these tools and process information, and how instructors teach, to design new ways to make learning a more effective, efficient, and personalized experience for students. Read the rest of this entry »
Laptop security: Think beyond the dorm room
(ARA) – There are more laptops on college campuses today than ever before, which has caused increased temptation for laptop theft.
College students should follow these tips to help prevent laptop theft:
1 When working in a public place, like a coffee shop or library, do not leave your laptop unattended.
2 Leaving your laptop out on your dorm room desk is an invitation to thieves. Many dorm rooms have a constant flow of traffic going in and out, without anyone really paying attention to their belongings.
3 Do not use the telltale laptop bag or sleeve.
4 Even if you are discreet and constantly aware of your laptop’s location, use a tracking and recovery program in case of theft.
Ancestry.com now available to researchers at the Johnson County Museum Library
The Johnson County Museum of History Genealogy Library, located at 135 North Main St. in Franklin, is now providing researchers access to the library edition of Ancestry.com.
Ancestry.com is an online tool that offers genealogy researchers access to national census records, marriage and death certificates and military records. The site charges an annual fee to individuals wishing to use the site from home; however, thanks to a generous donation, the Johnson County Genealogy Library can now offer access to Ancestry.com to visitors.
Access to Ancestry.com and admission to the Johnson County Museum Genealogy library are free to the public.
Counting your laps
It’s the Pool-Mate automatic lap and stroke counter watch from Swimovate. The watch has accurate motion sensors that can recognize each swim stroke and change of lap so you won’t need to count anymore. It displays Lap count, Time, Average Strokes per lap, Speed, Distance, Calories and Efficiency and stores the details in a large memory for later recall. Pair this with the Finis SwiMP3, and you have an amphibious gadgeteer.
METAL DETECTORS WITH SOLE
Carrying around a metal detector while wearing a big set of headphones isn’t exactly the coolest look for the beach this summer, but neither are these metal detecting sandals which presumably are meant to be a more subtle approach to finding buried treasure. There’s a copper coil embedded in the sole of the right sandal which connects to a removable battery pack you’re supposed to wear strapped to your calf. The detector can find metal objects buried as ‘deep’ as 2 feet underfoot, and it will alert you to their presence via a flashing red light, a gentle vibration and an audible buzz. It’s powered by a single 9V battery which is good for about 6 hours of use, and you can find it at Hammacher Schlemmer for $59.95.
- www.ohgizmo.com
ADDING PURPOSE TO SHUFFLE
We appreciate Apple’s efforts to make the iPod shuffle into something that no one’s ever done before, but seriously, the no-buttons approach is sort of, um, annoying. Thankfully, the good guys and gals over at Scosche are totally in agreement, and thus, they’ve taken the time to develop the remarkable tapSTICK. Put simply, this 3rd-gen iPod shuffle case protects one’s player from the elements while adding hard buttons that simulate the commands on Apple’s own VoiceOver-friendly earbuds. The result? An MP3 player that’s not partial to lackluster white ‘buds, not to mention one that you can actually control with relative ease. Too bad it’ll cost you $29.99, but we suppose that’s the going rate these days to extinguish frustration.
- www.engadget.com