October 4, 2017
by Larry Ferlazzo
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Today, Google announced their new wireless ear buds that automatically translate in more-or-less real time.
Here are some articles about it, along with a video.
I’m adding this info to The Best Sites For Learning About Google Translate & Other Forms Of Machine Translation.
Google’s New Earbuds Can Translate 40 Languages Instantly in Your Ear is from Futurism.
Google’s Pixel Buds translation will change the world is from EnGadget.
October 1, 2017
by Larry Ferlazzo
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As I shared a few months ago (see Beginning A New “Best” Series Of Interest To ELL Teachers), I’m beginning to create an updated series of “Best” lists for Beginning English Language Learners. They will ultimately replace the resources I have on my outdated website.
I’ve done quite a few so far, and you can find them all at All My Thematic “Best” Lists For Beginning ELLs – In One Place!
I’ve got several more to go, however, and here’s the latest one – on computers. This one is a little different from others, however. Several of my ELL students are very motivated to learn more about technology. And, though I have several other related “Best” lists, it’s been difficult for me to find sites that have computer-related tutorials in English that would be accessible to Beginning ELLs.
These are what I have found so far, but I would love to get additional recommendations from readers:
The audio support that the BBC’s Dance Mat Typing provides makes it the best way for ELLs to learn keyboarding.
Computer Literacy Lessons from MacMillan are dated, but are still useful and very accessible. You can also access them here.
ESOL Courses has some good basic resources.
Digital Learn has great resources, though they may be beyond the language reach of Beginning ELLs.
GCFLearnFree.org has wonderful videos but, again, they may not be accessible to Beginners.
In Pictures may be in the same boat.
August 13, 2017
by Larry Ferlazzo
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I’m adding this new NBC News video to The Best Sites For Learning About The History Of Technology:
July 30, 2017
by Larry Ferlazzo
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I’ve previously had some “learn-to-type” sites on The Best Websites For Students To Learn About Computers, but I thought it would be useful to expand and update that collection to its own “Best” list.
Here are my choices – let me know what you think I’m missing (there are a lot of these kinds of sites out there – I focused on ones that didn’t seem to have a lot of distracting ads and ones that were free):
The audio support that the BBC’s Dance Mat Typing provides makes it the best site for English Language Learners – by far. It doesn’t let you create virtual classrooms to monitor student progress, but I guess you can’t have everything!
Typing.com lets you create virtual classrooms to monitor student progress, and it’s free.
Turtle Diary also lets you create virtual classrooms and is free for teachers.
Ditto for Alpha Typing, which is similar to the last two sites.
Typing Club is similar, but is only free for up to three classes.
July 10, 2017
by Larry Ferlazzo
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Bloomberg has just published an intriguing interactive chart showing the risks of different jobs being automated in the coming decades.
It can’t get much lower-risk than for high school teachers – you can see their report on the screenshot at the top of this post.
However, elementary teachers are even less at risk:
So even though a few extreme ed tech enthusiasts might be thinking that we can be replaced by robots, it looks like they should be betting on it happening….
June 24, 2017
by Larry Ferlazzo
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Thousands of educators attend the annual ISTE conference to learn and talk about ed tech, and it’s taking place this year from June 25th through the 28th in San Antonio.
Lots of us are not attending it in person, but there are about a gazillion ways to participate in – and learn from – it virtually.
And Sue Waters has you covered with #NOTATISTE? HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN ISTE 2017 REMOTELY.
Check it out!
June 6, 2017
by Larry Ferlazzo
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Be Internet Awesome is the name of a new online safety program created by Google and announced today.
It includes a downloadable curriculum and an online game. The game, “Interland,” seems to need a fairly high-speed internet connection to play.
I’m adding this info to The Best Sites For Learning Online Safety, which I’ve just revised and updated.
Here are a couple of videos about the new program:
May 18, 2017
by Larry Ferlazzo
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I’ve written a lot about using virtual reality in education, including the Google Expeditions program. In addition, I’ve shared about the differences between virtual and augmented reality. You can find all those resources at A Beginning List Of The Best Resources On Virtual Reality In Education.
Yesterday, Google Expeditions announced they’ll be starting an augmented reality program for schools in the fall.
You can read more about it here, and watch this video about it:
