Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Www.cookinglight.com/sweepstakes - Cooking Light Dine al Fresco Sweepstakes

Www.cookinglight.com/sweepstakes is the exclusive website for Cooking Light Dine al Fresco Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter: From April 16, 2010 to June 04, 2010, visit www.cookinglight.com/sweepstakes and vote for your favorite "al fresco® All Natural Chicken Sausage" Tested and Recommended Recipe featured in the 2010 May Issue of Cooking Light Magazine, and you will Read More..

Www.faithhillfragrances.com - Faith Hill Mother’s Day Contest

Www.faithhillfragrances.com is the exclusive website for Faith Hill Mother's Day Contest. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter: From 4/15/10 to 5/10/10, go to www.faithhillfragrances.com website, and click on the icon for the "Faith Hill Mother's Day Contest".   Sweepstakes Prizes: GRAND PRIZES (25 total winners): each winner will receive one Faith Hill signed fragrance (1.7 fl oz / Read More..

Pros and Cons as Web Based Research Tasks

I'm always looking for handy tools that students can use as follow up tasks to online research and Pro | Con Lists certainly looks like a good one.

The site enables students to collect together the advantages and disadvantages of a particular subject and create a list of each to see how they balance out.

Here's an example one on Solar Energy

As you can see, at the top of the page is the list of pros and cons,

and below it is the balance of the results.



When creating the list students can also add to or reduce the influence of some factors and balance emotional and rational factors of each too.

It sounds complicated, but these are very easy to produce. Just register and log in and go to 'Create a list'. Give the list a title, select the topic and add a description. You are then ready to start adding the pros and cons.

Each of the pros and cons added has a default weight of 3 in both the emotional and rational settings, but students can click on the numbers to increase or decrease the weight if they think the pro or con is more or less significant.

Once they have completed their lists they can publish them or share them through a range of social media platforms.

Visitors to the lists can then leave comments or agree or disagree with each of the individual pros and cons in the list, simply by clicking on them and voting.


To see how this works I've created a short Pro and Con list on the topic of Interactive Whiteboards. Feel free to comment and suggest more pros and cons.
I think Pro | Con Lists is a great way to follow up web based research activities and would work really well combined with something like Mashpedia.
  • Students could go to the Mashpedia site and search for information on something like wind power, solar power or even different political parties or sporting teams, then use the information they find to create their list of pros and cons.
  • Once the lists are created they could share them with other students and vote on whether they agree with the pros and cons.
  • Students could also use the site to brainstorm pros and cons before they do research. This would get them thinking about the subject first and they could then look back at their own lists and see how they could change or modify them.
What I really like about the site is that it gets students thinking and evaluating the power of their arguments too.

It would be nice if the lists could be added to by visitors, but that doesn't seem to be possible, but I still think this is a really useful tool and one that can be used to create research based reading and listening tasks.

I hope you like it and find it useful.

Related links:

Best

Nik Peachey Read More..

Www.polkrocks.com - Polk Audio Rock the House Giveaway Sweepstakes

Www.polkrocks.com is the exclusive website for Polk Audio Rock the House Giveaway Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter:From April 20, 2010 to June 20, 2010, go to www.polkrocks.com and complete and submit an on-line entry form.   Sweepstakes Prizes: Five prizes will be awarded. The Grand Prize consists of: one Mitsubishi 60" DLP Television (model WD60737), one Sanus Read More..

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Www.BertolliRistorante.com - Food Network Bertolli Ristorante Sweepstakes

Www.BertolliRistorante.com is the exclusive website for Food Network Bertolli Ristorante Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win the grand prizes, a trip to New York City!   How To Enter: From April 25, 2010 to June 30, 2010, visit www.BertolliRistorante.com the sweepstakes website, clicking on the promotion link, completing all required registration information or logging-in for one Read More..

Www.dogooderchallenge.com - Purina Yesterday’s News Do-Gooder Handbag Design Contest

Www.dogooderchallenge.com is the exclusive website for Purina Yesterday's News Do-Gooder Handbag Design Contest. Enter now for your chance to win! How To Enter: From March 16, 2010 to May 14, 2010, log on to www.dogooderchallenge.com  website and click on the link and follow the Bag Builder instructions to design a virtual handbag.   Sweepstakes Prizes: Three Grand Prizes: Each Grand Prize Read More..

Www.lorealparis.com - L’Oreal Paris Go Beyond Clean Online Sweepstakes

Www.lorealparis.com is the exclusive website for L'Oreal Paris Go Beyond Clean Online Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter: From March 15, 2010 to May 3, 2010,  visit www.lorealparis.com; then, follow the directions provided to complete and submit the electronic official entry form.   Sweepstakes Prizes: GRAND PRIZE: A trip for winner and one guest to Hobart, Tasmania, Read More..

www.Cashnetusa.com - CashNetUSA Payday Loans Online

Need some emergency money and have now way to get it? Why not try online payday loan. Just apply for payday loan from http://www.cashnetusa.com/, then you can get your money in the next business day!

CashNetUSA.com is one of the most popular online leaders in payday loan services. It will provide you with a hassle-free and quick payday loan for your immediate financial needs. You can apply your Read More..

Create Quick Video Task Sheets

Vidinotes is an interesting site that I spotted a few weeks back. It's a great way to produce instant (almost) video worksheets to go with YouTube videos.

Basically, what it does is to convert an flv video file into a number of screen shots with a space next to each screen shot for the students to take notes.

I picked this silent video with sound track by Micheal Galasso as it has a very visually rich digital narrative and made a worksheet for it.


To do this I first had to download the video as an flv file. I did this using the KeepVid site recommended by Vidinotes. Then you have to upload the flv clip to the Vidinotes site. This was pretty slow, but it will depend a lot on the length of your clip and you can do other things while you wait for it to upload.


Once the clip is uploaded start to play it and simply click the 'Capture' button when you see a frame you want in your worksheet.

As you capture images they will appear on the right of the video. And you can either give each image a title or leave it blank. You have to give the worksheet a name though.

Once you have captured all the images you want from the video (you can select up to 30) you simply click on 'Print' and you have your worksheet.
You can use these worksheets for a range of activities and with a range of different video types.
  • You could use them as prediction tasks before students watch the clip. Students could predict the story or what the characters will say.
  • Students could try to write in what the characters are thinking at each stage of the clip.
  • Students could use the worksheet to make notes of lectures or how to videos.
  • Students could use them to summarise steps in a process being described.
  • Students could describe the images from the video and build their own narrative or sets of instructions.
Here are some example worksheets from the site. You can check these out and think about how you might use them with your students.
This is a great way to create simple and versatile video worksheets that won't take you too long. I hope you find it useful and create some great tasks and activities for your students.

You can find 25 more video related activities for EFL and ESL students here.

Related links:
Best

Nik Peachey Read More..

Monday, April 26, 2010

Www.nick.com/kfpworld - Kung Fu Kickoff Sweepstakes

Www.nick.com/kfpworld is the exclusive website for Kung Fu Kickoff Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter: From 4/15/10 to 5/12/10, visit website www.nick.com/kfpworld and complete a registration form.   Sweepstakes Prizes: Grand Prize (1): Grand Prize Winner will be awarded a Hewlett Packard laptop computer (Approximate Retail Value:  $1,500). First Prize (25):  First Read More..

Get Rid of Embarrassing Ads

There's nothing worse than sending your students to or showing your students a website only to discover it is covered in embarrassing or unsuitable advertisements.

Most of you who use any websites with students will probably have seen these IMVU ones which seem to appear even on very respectable websites.

Well here's a really easy way to get rid of them. Just go to http://adout.org/. Enter the URL of the site you want to remove the ads from and click on 'Go'.

Now you have the site without the ads.



If you want to make sure the ads don't appear next time you go there or when you send your students to the site, just copy the URL from the top of the page and use that as your link. That's what I've done here, so if you click the link now you should be able to see the page with or without ads.

This won't work with every ad from every sites, but it can get rid of quite a few on most innocent sites.
  • You should also check to see if you can navigate around the site and make sure it has blocked any legitimate features of the site.

Adout isn't perfect but it's a free and easy way to get rid a few potential embarrassments particularly if you work with younger learners or students from more sensitive cultures.
There's even a browser button that you can add to your browser.
Just click on it if anything unexpected appears and it should help you to get rid of it.

I hope you find this useful.

Related links:
Best

Nik Peachey Read More..

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Www.suzeorman.cnbc.com - Suze’s Instant $10k Emergency Fund Sweepstakes

Www.suzeorman.cnbc.com is the exclusive website for Suze's Instant $10k Emergency Fund Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter: From April 24, 2010 to May 2, 2010, visit www.suzeorman.cnbc.com the website, click on the Sweepstakes banner, and follow the provided instructions to complete and thereafter answer the trivia questions and submit the entry form. Sweepstakes Prizes Read More..

www.Chase.com/access - Access Your Chase Account Online

Are you a cardholder of Chase Credit Card? Would you like to pay your credit card bill at home? If yes, you need to go to www.Chase.com/access and create your Chase Online Access account.

Chase Online Access is a powerful online tool provided by JPMorgan Chase & Co. At here, you can manage your credit card account quickly, conveniently and securely. You don't need to worry about what time it is Read More..

Saturday, April 24, 2010

www.STLToday.com/twotickets - Win Two Free Cardinals Tickets

Now go to www.STLToday.com/twotickets, you could have a chance to win TWO Cardinals tickets for the 2010 season!

How to win:

Visit the above link, enter your information along with the seven-digit code found on the Cardinals Ticket Contest post-it note on the front page of the Sunday, April 18 St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

No purchase necessary. There are 20 prizes will be awarded. You'll Read More..

Www.fuse.tv/keystobarn - Fuse TV and Twix Keys to the Barn Sweepstakes

Www.fuse.tv/keystobarn is the exclusive website for Fuse TV and Twix Keys to the Barn Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter:From APRIL 21, 2010 to MAY 19, 2010, visit www.fuse.tv/keystobarn and follow the on-screen instructions to complete and submit entry form.   Sweepstakes Prizes:Grand Prize: A 3-day trip for 11 to Manchester, TN to attend the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Read More..

Www.espn.com/sonyworldcup - Sony Get Me To The World Cup Contest

Www.espn.com/sonyworldcup is the exclusive website for Sony Get Me To The World Cup Contest. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter: From 4/12/10 to 5/14/10, visit www.espn.com/sonyworldcup and follow the instructions.   Sweepstakes Prizes: One Grand Prize: A 7-day/6-night trip for winner and one guest to Johannesburg, South Africa to attend two games in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Read More..

Www.spotamom.com - 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Spotlight a Mom Contest

Www.spotamom.com is the exclusive website for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Spotlight a Mom Contest. Enter now for your chacne to win!   How to Enter:From April 16, 2010 to May 2, 2010,  visit www.spotamom.com website.   Sweepstakes Prizes: GRAND PRIZE (1 – Awarded to the mom depicted in winning entry):: A 6 Day/5 Night trip for a family of four (two adults and two children) to Waikiki, Hawaii and a Year of Read More..

Thursday, April 22, 2010

www.MyPyramidTracker.gov - USDA My Pyramid Tracker

Want to know the food intake you eat today? And want to track your food intake from 1 day to a year? If yes, you can try the USDA My Pyramid Tracker (http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/), an online dietary and physical activity assessment tool provided by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.

With USDA My Pyramid Tracker, you can learn the quality of your diet, the Read More..

Www.royalpains.usanetwork.com - USA Network Royal Pains Summer on the Set Sweepstakes

Www.royalpains.usanetwork.com is the exclusive website for USA Network Royal Pains Summer on the Set Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter:From April 01, 2010 to May 31, 2010, log on to http://royalpains.usanetwork.com the website and follow the onscreen instructions to complete and thereafter transmit the entry form.   Sweepstakes Prizes:Grand Prize: A 3-night trip for Read More..

Disney.com/princeofpersia - Disney Prince of Persia Movie & Sweepstakes

The new Disney Movie Prince of Persia: Sands of Time will be in theaters on May 28, 2010. Now go to the official webiste www.Disney.com/princeofpersia or www.Disney.com/persia, you can view the trailer video and take part in the PRINCE OF PERSIA REWIND AND WIN SWEEPSTAKES. You could have a chance to win a $2,500 Visa Gift Card or a $100 Visa Gift Card.

The Sweepstakes is open only to persons who Read More..

Lightandfit.com - Light & Fit Beach House Sweeps

If you found an under-the-lid code from a Light & Fit spring water beverage, you can go to www.Lightandfit.com to enter the code and win a week with three friends at the Light & Fit Beach House in Cape Code, MA! Plus, you can also have a chance to win one of over $20,000 worth of other prizes!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C., 18 or older. Void where Read More..

Www.MadStyleFashions.com - Mad Style by True Jackson Summer Wardrobe Giveaway Sweepstakes

Www.MadStyleFashions.com is the exclusive website for Mad Style by True Jackson Summer Wardrobe Giveaway Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chacne to win!   How To Enter: From April 5, 2010 to May 4, 2010, visit website www.MadStyleFashions.com and complete a registration form.   Sweepstakes Prizes: Grand Prize (30): Grand Prize Winners will each receive three pieces (at Sponsor's sole discretion) Read More..

www.Disney.com/disneygamecard - Activate Your Disney Game Card

If you has purchased a Disney Game Card (Toontown Card or Pirates of the Caribbean Card), you can go to www.Disney.com/disneygamecard to redeem your card online.

How to activate:

Go to the website, select the game you wish to play (Toontown Pirates of the Caribbean), click the "Redeem" button under the game.

Login with your Disney account ID and password. If you don't have an account. click Read More..

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Www.CWTV.com/gogreen - The CW Find Green Win Green Sweepstakes

Www.CWTV.com/gogreen is the exclusive website for The CW  Find Green Win Green Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!

How To Enter:
From April 19, 2010 to  April 26, 2010, visit http://www.cwtv.com/gogreen the website and follow the on-screen instructions on the Promotion page to navigate throughout the CWtv.com Web site to find the featured Earth Day Tout keyword of the day.
Sweepstakes Read More..

Www.esurance.com/roadtripsweeps - Esurance 2010 Roadtrip to Sasquatch Music Festival Sweepstakes

Www.esurance.com/roadtripsweeps is the exclusive website for Esurance 2010 Roadtrip to Sasquatch Music Festival Sweepstakes. Enter for your chance to win 4 VIP tickets for all 3 days of this year's sold-out Sasquatch! Music Festival.   How To Enter: From April 5, 2010 to May 2, 2010,  go to www.esurance.com/roadtripsweeps and follow the instructions.   Sweepstakes Prizes:Grand Prize shall Read More..

Www.mms.com/us/vote - Great M&M’S Brand Character Vote Online Instant Win Game & Sweepstakes

Www.mms.com/us/vote is the exclusive website for Great M&M'S Brand Character Vote Online Instant Win Game & Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter: From 4/1/10 to 7/15/10, Complete official registration form available on www.mms.com/us/vote and follow the on-screen instructions to vote and play the online instant win game.   Sweepstakes Prizes: One Sweepstakes Grand Prize Read More..

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

www.PSNCodeGenerator.com - Free Playstation Network Code Generator

www.PSNCodeGenerator.com is a website said to allow you to get free code by inviting friends. If you visit the website, you can get a link, such as http://www.psncodegenerator.com/?i=248631, then send link to your friends.

If you send 10 friends, you will get a $10 PSN Code. Send 20, get a $20 code. Send 30, get a $50 code. Send 40, get a $50 + $20 code.

I do not know whether it is legitimate. Read More..

www.Spongebob.com/laststand - NEW SpongeBob Movie: Last Stand

NEW SpongeBob Movie: Last Stand is coming. It premieres earth day thursday 4/22 at 8 PM/7C! If you're a fan of SpongeBob, you can go to www.Spongebob.com/laststand to learn the latest news and information on the Movie, play the Last Stand game and watch the exclusive videos.

Spongebob Squarepants Spongebobs Last Stand Plot: All chaos breaks loose in Bikini Bottom when SpongeBob and Patrick hear Read More..

www.BankofAmerica.com/checks - Bank of American Checking Account Online

Are your a customer of Bank of American Checking? Would you like to save time and reorder your checks online. If you can go to www.BankofAmerica.com/checks.

How to reorder your checks:

Visit www.BankofAmerica.com/checks, you will be redirected into a page that ask you select your state. Then it will lead you into the Checking & Saving Account Services page. You can see the "Reorder checks" Read More..

Www.spicnspan.com - Spic and Span Unleash the Clean Photo Contest

Www.spicnspan.com is the exclusive website for Spic and Span Unleash the Clean Photo Contest. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter:From March 15, 2010 to May 15, 2010, visit www.spicnspan.com the entry website, click on the Contest link and fill in all required information.   Sweepstakes Prizes:Grand Prize: A day of pampering for winner and winner's pet and a deep-cleaning of Read More..

Www.sweepstakes.nissanusa.com - 370Z Sports Car Enthusiast Challenge & Sweepstakes

Www.sweepstakes.nissanusa.com is the exclusive website for 370Z Sports Car Enthusiast Challenge & Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!   How To Enter: From March 31, 2010 to June 28, 2010, visit www.sweepstakes.nissanusa.com and follow the links and instructions to complete and submit the registration.   Sweepstakes Prizes: ONE GRAND PRIZE: A 2010 NISMO 370Z and a trip for two to the Read More..

5 Best Free People Finder Websites

Have forgotten the phone number of a long-lost friend or an old classmate, how to find it out? Maybe the people finder (or people search) website can help you. Just enter your friend's or your classmate's name, address, or nickname, then you may find out their phone number, famaly telephone number or email address.

Now there are many people finder websites. Some are paid, and some are free. Here Read More..

Monday, April 19, 2010

Cigna.com Health Provider Online

Are you a customer of CIGNA HealthCare? If yes, the Cigna.com Health Provider may be useful for you. You can use it to find a nearest provider location just by a few simple steps.

How to use Cigna.com Health Provider:

1. Visit the provider directory http://cigna.benefitnation.net/cigna/docdir.aspx.

2. Choose what type of provider you are looking for, and enter your address, your city or zip, Read More..

www.Rxordersurvey.com - Walgreens Mail Service Survey

Were you satisfied with Walgreens Mail Service? What do you think they should improve? To leave your feedback, just go to http://www.rxordersurvey.com/ and enter your invoice number, then you will be entered into a customer satisfaction survey. At the end of the survey, you would have a chance to win their customer sweepstakes.

You should complete the survey within 72 hours upon receipt of the Read More..

Thursday, April 15, 2010

www.Target.com/redcard - Manage Your Target REDcard Online

If you're a card holder of Target REDcard including Target Visa Credit Card, Target Credit Card and Target Check Card, you can go to www.Target.com/redcard to manage your card account online.

How to login & manage:

Visit www.Target.com/redcard, and click "Manage My Card" at the left section. Then choose which card you have and click login. Upon logging into your account, you can view your Read More..

Create Authentic Web Based Research Tasks With Mashpedia

I've just discovered Mashpedia and I have to say I really like it. It's a combination of a search engine and an encyclopedia. It's very simple to use, you just type in a search query and hit search.

The site will then generate a page of information links about your search topic. It collects information from multiple media and different sources from books, blogs , text images to video and even Twitter references.


Here's a couple of example pages I created, just click the titles to see the pages compile themselves.

This is a great tool for creating reading and research tasks for students, based around authentic materials. It creates genuine web based reading tasks that demand that students assess clues to text content from multiple sources before exploring the links, then read or watch for gist to check relevance before reading / listening more deeply for specific information.

The pages will always create similar though not identical content so don't create very specific reading and research tasks, make sure the tasks are general and more generic.

Here are some possible reading / research tasks you could use which would work for most topics:

  • Get students to look at the information and use it to create a quiz on the topic. They find information that interests them and write questions to quiz the rest of the class.
  • Set students to find 5 - 10 facts about a topic. You could stipulate some of these need to be negative aspects and some positive to make it more challenging.
  • Get students to search the page and decide which of the sources it links to is the single most informative or interesting.
  • Get students to research a topic and create a multimedia poster about it using text, images and video embedded. You could use something like Glogster for them to show their results.
  • Get students to research a topic and create a short documentary or news report about it. If you have access to a video camera you could video their presentations.
Of course you still have to be careful with younger students as you can't control what comes in to the page, and also expect much less of lower level students and set them quite simple tasks, perhaps as simple as pulling out some images and describing them etc.

This is a great way to generate web based reading tasks from authentic materials that students can access in an authentic way. I hope you find Mashpedia and these suggestions useful.

Related links:
Best

Nik Peachey Read More..

www.Starbucksathome.com - Coffee at Home with Starbucks

Now enter http://www.starbucksathome.com/, you could have a chance to win a $40,000 Prize Package for a Kitchen Makeover, which includes a $39,000 budget for kitchen renovations of your existing kitchen through a major home improvement center—plus, $1,000 worth of Starbucks® Coffee and coffee-making equipment.

How to Win:

From 3/19/2010 to 11/30/2010, visit http://www.starbucksathome.com/ and Read More..

www.Questdiagnostics.com/appointment - Quest Diagnostics Online Appointment Center

If you're a customer of Quest Diagnostics, you can go to www.Questdiagnostics.com/appointment make an appointment, view future appointments, and reschedule or cancel an appointment online with ease. Thanks to online network, you can do these jobs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To make an appointment, you'd better login your QuestDiagnostics.com first. It can let you manage your appointment Read More..

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

www.DisneyChannel.com/magiconthemove - Disney Channel Magic on the Move

Disney Parks and Verizon Wireless bring you a magic app at DisneyChannel.com/magiconthemove. This amazing app enables you to see attraction wait times and Fastpass return times for the park you're in, maps out the locations of your favorite Disney Characters and much more!

Go to this site, you can learn the features of the app, and take part in the Disney Wizards of Waverly Place Magic on the Read More..

Future of Educational Technology 1: The Digital Divide

This will be the first in a series of articles I’m planning to post over the next few weeks on the topic of the future of learning technologies.

In this series I’m going to look at some trends and developments in a range of technologies and try to see how they relate to each other and how they might impact on education over the the next few years.


One of the first things I would like to focus on is the digital divide and what I believe is the ‘myth’ that technology is expensive.

Firstly, I would like to state that the digital divide hasn’t been created by technology, but by economics. It’s a financial divide that has been around for thousands of years and one that thousands of years of paper education hasn’t been able to bridge.

Here is some thing that I feel puts this in perspective though.

Past
I first bought a computer in 1997. It cost almost £2,500. It was one of the first computers with an MMX chip which meant that, as well as connecting to the Internet (by unplugging my phone and connecting the cable to my computer) at a staggering 32k, if I waited long enough I could actually download and play extremely tiny and blurry video clips. When I paid extra (quite a lot extra) for some software I was able to create text and spread sheets and if I bought some more software I could edit images and make some pictures. This computer had the same storage capacity on the hard drive as that of all the computers in the UK in 1975 put together.

Present
Ten years later in 2007 I bought an iPod Touch. It had ten times the capacity of the computer I had paid £2,500 for so that’s ten times the capacity of all the computers in the UK in 1975 combined. It fits in my pocket, connects to the Internet through wireless broadband, I can stream and watch high quality video, audio, read and create text, download literally thousands of small applications to modify the tasks it can do for me from using it as a recording studio to drum machine to games console and it cost me well below 10% of what I paid for the computer ten years earlier.


Future
If this rate of development remains consistent that means that by 2017 for around £20 I will be able to by some form of portable device that will have 100 times the capacity of all the computers in the UK in 1975 put together, carry it in my pocket, if I need to carry it at all, be able to access the biggest library of books, audio and video ever assembled in the history of humankind and create who knows what on it.
Photo credit: Scott Beale - Laughing Squid
The educational potential of such a device at that price is truly astounding, especially when you put that in perspective against the price of books. That’s approximately the same price as just one students’ text book at today’s prices.

Often when I do talks or training on technology I get at least one teacher saying something about the digital divide, as if that were a good reason for not using technology in education (We’ll be making the digital divide bigger if we do!).

This has the same logic as refusing to give your students food because some people in the world are starving! Surely what we really want is to feed everyone and to educate everyone and perhaps for the first time technology is taking us to a place where that might just be possible. Personally, I’m looking forward to 2017.

In the next post in this series I'll be looking at the humble web cam and its possible role in the future of technology.

Related links
Best

Nik Peachey Read More..

OG&E Online Bill Pay Website

Are you a customer of OG&E Energy? Maybe it's time to pay for your energy payments now. If you do not have too much time to go to an authorized business location, you can choose OG&E Online Billing & Payment System. This is https://ccs.oge.com/.

To use the system, you should register for their Online Services. Click here to register now! (You will need the activation code that is printed on the Read More..

CCS.CoAir.com - Continental Airlines Crew Communication System

If you're a worker of Continental Airlines, the Crew Communication System (http://ccs.coair.com/) should be one of the websites you often use. It is designed to make all the crew members can communicate when they are using laptop or mobile phone.

To login the system, you should need to enter your Employee ID, CO Password, and CCS Password. CO Password is The Password Used To Log into InsideCoair Read More..

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

www.JCP.com/survey - JCPenney Customer Survey Online

Did you purchase something at JCPenney stores recently? Did you have some comments about their products or services? If yes, just enter www.JCP.com/survey, then you can leave your feedback by taking a simple online customer satisfaction survey.

To start the survey, you should enter the 22-digit Access Code printed on the front of your receipt. So keep your receipt in your hand.

Click here to Read More..

www.Mandtbanksurvey.com - M&T Bank's Customer Survey

Do you think M&T Bank is a good bank? Now you can leave your feedback about your recent M&T Bank experience by taking part in their online customer satisfaction survey at www.mandtbanksurvey.com. If you complete the survey, you will have a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize from M&T Bank.

To enter the survey & sweepstakes, you should have a recent transaction receipt from an M&T Bank or get a Read More..

www.Zoosociety.org/camps - Register for Zoological Society Summer Camps 2010

Do your children like animals? Maybe you can let your children to join a zoo camp. Go to www.Zoosociety.org/camps, you can register online for Zoological Society Summer Camps 2010, which are fun-filled, educational programs for children ages 2-14 featuring some of the most amazing creatures.


If you're already a member of Zoological Society, just enter your last name and member number, then you Read More..

Monday, April 12, 2010

www.KungFuPandaWorld.com - Kung Fu Panda World Online Game



www.KungFuPandaWorld.com is the exclusive place to play Kung Fu Panda World, a brand new online game produced by DreamWorks Animation. If you're a fan of Chinese Kung Fu or Kunf Fu Panda, you should go to this site to play, create and explore for a fantastic Kung Fu adventure.

Now the game is in beta version. You can play this game one month for free by entering the code sneakpeek. It's Read More..

Let us Now Praise Famous Women

This is a post that I have been trying to find time to write for over a year now and the urge and urgency to write it has grown every time I go to conference and every time I hear a few irritating comments.

The comments usually fit into one or more of these categories
  • Where is all the new talent?
  • Why aren’t there more women speakers around?
  • Well technology that’s for the guys.
I think that more than anything, after this years' IATEFL conference these kinds of comments should stop once and for all.

So I’ve chosen focus this post on just a few of the many great tech savvy speakers, teachers, tweeters and of course women from this years conference.

Shelly Turrell & Ozge Karaoglu
One of the great presentations that everyone was talking about this year was by Shelly and Ozge.
Ozge based in Turkey and Shelly based in Germany were reporting on a project they created between their classes of young learners. They shared the results of their work and information about the kinds of tools and the issues involved in running a project of this kind with young students.
Shelly publishes her own blog ‘Teacher Reboot Camp’ which focuses not on technology, but on the pedagogical exploitation of technology with students. So be sure to check that out.


Ozge also has her own blog 'Ozge Karaoglu’s Blog' where she writes about and reviews Web 2.0 type tools for learning with a particular focus on using these tools with young learners.



Marisa Constantinides
Marisa was just one of the stars of this years’ Pecha Kucha presentations (20 slides in 6.40 minutes). You can watch the Pecha Kuchas here: IATEFL 2010 Pecha Kucha
  • Marisa also has her own blog ' TEFL Matters' where she publishes information on language teaching, teacher education and new technologies. Marisa is a teacher trainer and also runs a busy teacher training school in Athens. Among the things you can find on her blog are links to her recent presentation on animating course books with digital materials and some of her reflections on being an online teacher in a virtual world.
  • You can also add Marisa to your PLN and start following her on Twitter at:
    http://twitter.com/Marisa_C


Burcu Akyol
Burcu was also one of the star presenters at this years’ Pecha Kucha event and she opened the event with 20 slides of 20 seconds about how Twitter had effected her professional life and its impact on conference events such as IATEFL and the recent ISTEK International ELT Conference (27-28 March 2010 ) which she helped to organise in Turkey.
  • Burcu also publishes her own blog 'Burcu Akyol's Blog' on a range of teaching and ELT related topics and I can highly recommend it particularly if you are looking for somewhere to find information about building your PLN.
  • Yes you’ve already guessed that she too is prolific producer of tweets, so be sure to add her to your network.
    http://twitter.com/burcuakyol




Petra Pointner

Among Petra’s striking contributions to this years’ IATEFL conference was her presentation 'What students can get out of Twitter' on her use of Twitter with her students. Petra talks in this interview about how she became interested in Twitter and how it has impacted on her professional life. Interview with Petra Pointner
Karenne Joy Sylvester
Last but by no means least is Karenne Sylvester. Karenne’s presentation was on working in educational online communities and she explored some of the issues involved in being an e-moderator and working online with learners.
  • You can also see Karenne doing, what for me was one of the highlights of the entire conference, her Pecha Kucha presentation on the history of the English language.
  • Karenne also writes her own blog 'Kalingo English' which explores many of the pedagogical issues surrounding the use of educational technology with a particular focus towards business English. It’s a great read so do check that out.
  • You can also follow her on Twitter at:
    http://twitter.com/kalinagoenglish

So here are just six of the many great women who were presenting at IATEFL this year. I have picked these six, not just because they are women, not because they blog or tweet and not because they use technology, but because all six are primarily great teachers and educators with great ideas that they want to share and because they critically apply their knowledge of education to the way they exploit technology with their students.

For me this is of key importance and significance. Technology was a huge feature of this years’ IATEFL conference and it’s very easy to be blinded or pulled along by the technology, but in the work of these six women there is for me some sign of the beginnings of a state of normalisation of technology in language teaching. A state when we can move past talking about technology and get back to talking about teaching of which technology is just a normal part and an enabler in that process of learning. I'm sure that time of normalisation will still be a long time coming, but it's great to see that at least it's beginning.

Related links:
Best

Nik Peachey Read More..

www.Marcustheatres.com/giftcard - Marcus Theatre gift cards

Want to have a Marcus Theatre Entertainment gift card? You can go to Marcustheatres.com/giftcard to purchase this card and check your card balance.

Marcus Theatre gift cards can be redeemed at Marcus locations, including theatres, hotels, restaurants and spas. The most enticing part is that the cards never expire. You can add more value to your card by visiting any participating Marcus Theatres Read More..

Sunday, April 11, 2010

www.HallmarkFeedback.com - Hallmark Gold Crown Customer Feedback

Go to www.HallmarkFeedback.com, you can leave your feedback about your recent experience at Hallmark Gold Crown stores.

To start the survey, you should enter the account number, the date and the time that are printed on your survey invitation.

Click here to start the survey

Hallmark Gold Crown store is a great place to pick up party decorations, inclduing cards, picture frames, and other Read More..

Saturday, April 10, 2010

HealthView.dukehealth.org - Duke Medicine Health View Online

Are you a customer of Duke Medicine? If yes, go to www.healthview.dukehealth.org and register, you can connect with your health care online with Duke Medicine.

With HealthView.dukehealth.org, you can use the online form to request an appointment, and manage your accounts and pay bills online.

How to  request an appointment online:

Click here to login your HealthView account. After login, click Read More..

www.Bobevans.com/feedback - Bob Evans Guest Satisfaction Survey

Did you enjoy your meals at Bob Evans Restaurants recently? If yes, you may have something that want to tell Bob Evans. Just enter www.Bobevans.com/feedback, you can leave your feedback about your recent experience. And at the end of the survey, you will be automatically entered into their customer survey sweepstakes. You could have a chance to win a Bob Evans gift certificate.

To start the Read More..

Friday, April 9, 2010

Get Your FICO Credit Score

What is Credit Score?
Credit score, sometimes called FICO score, is a number used to measure your credit risk level. It's calculated from a lot of different credit data in your credit report, such as your payment history, the length of your credit history, the types of credit you have and amounts owed. 
Usually, your credit score is generated by the software created by Fair Isaac Corporation-- Read More..

www.PetsmartPetsHotelSurvey.com - PetSmart PetsHotel Customer Survey

Would you like to shop at Petsmart for cat & dog products? They have a wide selection of pet foods, beds, toys, etc., plus their prices are very reasonable. If you have purchased the PetSmart PetsHotel/Doggie Day Camp recently, keep your receipt, then you can go to www.PetsmartPetsHotelSurvey.com to take an online customer survey.

If you complete the survey, you will be given a validation code Read More..

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

www.AGFGiveaway.com - AGF You Deserve It Giveaway

www.AGFGiveaway.com is the exclusive website to enter American General Finance (AGF) "You Deserve It" Giveaway. Go to the website before April 30, 2010, follow the on-screen directions to properly complete an online entry form to be entered into the prize drawing. Then you will have a chance to a check in the amount of $5,000 US, $3,000 US, or $2,000 US.

The sweepstakes open only to legal Read More..

www.Tellthepig.net - Piggly Wiggly Guest Satisfaction Survey

Go shopping at Piggly Wiggly stores recently? Do you have any comments about their products or customer services? Now you can go to www.Tellthepig.net to leave your feedback by taking an online survey. At the end of the survey, you will be automatically entered into their monthly customer sweepstakes.

To start the survey, enter the 10-digit number that appears next to the words “Enter Code” on Read More..

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Www.hersheysbliss.com - HERSHEY’S BLISS More Time More Bliss Sweepstakes

www.hersheysbliss.com is the official website of HERSHEY'S BLISS More Time More Bliss Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win your choice of up to $20,000 in personal services or $20,000 cash!

How To Enter:
Visit http://www.hersheysbliss.com/ from April 2, 2010  to June 30, 2010. Enter the 12-digit UPC from any HERSHEY'S BLISS Chocolates package; click on the icon, banner or text link to Read More..

www.Health.state.pa.us/vitalrecords - PA Department of Health Vital Records

www.Health.state.pa.us/vitalrecords is the official website of The Division of Vital Records - Pennsylvania Department of Health, which maintains birth and death records that occur in Pennsylvania from 1906 to the present. Go to the website, you can learn the information on ordering certified copies of birth and death certificates, amending these certificates and other available services.


How Read More..

Www.kelloggs.com/earthday - Kellogg’s Earth Day 2010 Sweepstakes

Www.kelloggs.com/earthday is the official website of Kellogg's Earth Day 2010 Sweepstakes. Enter now for a chance to win a 2011 Ford Fiesta 5-door Hatchback SES Series!
How To Enter:
From 4/1/10 to 6/30/10, go online to www.kelloggs.com/earthday and follow the online instructions to register and complete your entry.
Prize (s): One Grand Prize: A 2011 Ford Fiesta 5-door Hatchback SES Series with Read More..

Www.hybridgiveawaysweeps.com - Purina & Pet Supplies Plus Hybrid Giveaway Sweepstakes

Www.hybridgiveawaysweeps.com is the official website of Purina & Pet Supplies Plus Hybrid Giveaway Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid ! 
How To Enter:
From April 1, 2010 to May 31, 2010, go to www.hybridgiveawaysweeps.com and follow the instructions. Prize (s): Grand Prize: A 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid Base Model with Standard Features.  Approximate retail value Read More..

Www.nerfcountdowntosummer.com - Countdown to Summer Sweepstakes

Www.nerfcountdowntosummer.com is the official website of Countdown to Summer Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chacne to win!
How To Enter:
From March 22, 2010 to May 31, 2010, visit www.nerfcountdowntosummer.com on your computer or cell phone or our mobile site at www.wap.nick.com and complete a registration form. Prize (s):
Grand Prize (10): Grand Prize Winners will each be awarded an Awesome Read More..

Www.CheezItFlipforCarl.com - Cheez-It Flip for Carl Text-to-Win Game

Www.cheezitflipforcarl.com/Sweepstakes/Default.asp is the official website of Cheez-It Flip for Carl Text-to-Win Game. Enter for a chance to win one of 25 "Carl's Signature" Flip™ video cameras INSTANTLY! 
How To Enter :
From 3/15/10 to 8/15/10, go to www.CheezItFlipforCarl.com , complete the online registration form and click where indicated to reveal if you are a Game prize winner, subject to Read More..

Taste the Town Dallas Getaway Sweepstakes

Www.allrecipes.promo.eprize.com/dallas is the official website of Taste the Town Dallas Getaway Sweepstakes. Enter now for the chacne to win a trip for two to Dallas, TX!
How To Enter:
From April 1, 2010 to May 31, 2010, visit http://allrecipes.promo.eprize.com/dallas and follow the links and instructions to complete and submit the registrationPrize (s):ONE GRAND PRIZE: A trip for two to Dallas, Read More..

Monday, April 5, 2010

Www.campingworld.com/racingcontest - Camping World Destination Recreation Sweepstakes

Www.campingworld.com/racingcontest is the official website of Camping World Destination Recreation Sweepstakes. Enter now for a chance to win a 2010 Four Winds Hurricane Class A Motorhome and a lot more !  
How To Enter :
From March 22, 2010 to September 25, 2010, go to www.campingworld.com/racingcontest and follow the instructions. Prize (s):Drawing #1: Four Winners will each receive one Read More..

Www.generationo.tv - Oxygen’s Generation O Sweepstakes

Www.generationo.tv/sweepstakes.html is the official website of Oxygen's Generation O Sweepstakes. Enter now for a chance to win a 2010 Mini Cooper convertible! 
How To Enter :
From March 22, 2010 to May 24, 2010, visit www.generationo.tv, click on the sweepstakes banner, and follow the provided instructions to complete and thereafter submit the entry form. Prize (s): One prize will be awarded to Read More..

Www.fxnetworks.com/cadillacdamages - The Damages Family Fortune Sweepstakes

Www.fxnetworks.com/cadillacdamages is the official website of The Damages Family Fortune Sweepstakes. Enter now for a chance to win a trip to Antigua! 
How To Enter : From March 29, 2010 to April 25, 2010, go to www.fxnetworks.com/cadillacdamages and follow the instructions. Prize (s): One Grand Prize : a trip for two to Antigua including aifare, 4-days/3-nights hotel and a $500 gift card (ARV Read More..

Www.grandinroad.com/sunset - Grandin Road/Sunset Magazine Sweepstakes

Www.grandinroad.com/sunset is the official website of Grandin Road/Sunset Magazine Sweepstakes. Enter now for a chance to win $25,000 worth of Grandin Road product!  
How To Enter :
From March 1, 2010 to May 31, 2010, visit the Website at www.grandinroad.com/sunset and follow the directions on the screen. Prize (s): One Grand Prize winner will receive twenty-five thousand dollars worth of Read More..

Www.comcast.com/rewards - Thank You Times 3 Sweepstakes

Www.comcast.com/rewards is the official website of Thank You Times 3 Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win! Promotion Period : The sweepstakes begins on January 1, 2010 at 12:01:01 a.m. EST and ends on June 30, 2010 at 11:59:59 p.m. EST. Prize (s): One Grand Prize Winner will receive one Panasonic Plasma TV Model# TC-P42X1, one Panasonic Cordless Telephone Model #KX-TG9332T and one Read More..

Www.aroundtheworldin5.com - Near East Around The World In 5 Sweepstakes

Www.aroundtheworldin5.com is the official website of Near East Around The World In 5 Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win! 
How To Enter :
From April 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010, visit www.aroundtheworldin5.com website to enter. Prize (s): One Grand Prize:  A 7-day Mediterranean cruise aboard the Seabourn Spirit for winner and one guest. Prize consists of round-trip, coach-class, air Read More..

Www.taste23.com - Dr Pepper QuikTrip Iron Man 2 Sweepstakes

Www.taste23.com is the official website of Dr Pepper QuikTrip Iron Man 2 Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win a home theater system a 40" LCD TV and more! 
How To Enter:
From April 5, 2010 to May 5, 2010, visit www.taste23.com and follow the instructions. Prize (s):Tier 1 Prizes: Two Tickets to the Movie Screening and an entry in a random drawing to be conducted at the Movie Screening Read More..

Get Your Silver Prepaid MasterCard Card

If you're poor credit to apply for a MasterCard credit card, a Prepaid MasterCard Card may be your best choice. Prepaid MasterCard is a card that works exactly like a MasterCard credit card, except that money must be deposited in it first for it has any credit in the account. Once you have money in your account, you're issued a card that can be used anywhere like a regular MasterCard credit card. Read More..

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Www.bbyfan.com - Best Buy 2010 FIFA World Cup Video Contest

Www.bbyfan.com is the official website of Best Buy 2010 FIFA World Cup Video Contest. Enter now for your chance to win 1 of 2 trips to Johannesburg, South Africa!
How To Enter: From March 22, 2010 to April 15, 2010, visit www.bbyfan.com , and follow instructions. Prize (s):Two Grand Prizes: A 5-day/4-night trip for two to Johannesburg, South Africa, from June 19, 2010, to June 24, 2010, and Read More..

Www.theback-upplan.com/babymoon - Destination Maternity Back Up Plan Sweepstakes

Www.theback-upplan.com/babymoon is the official website of Destination Maternity Back Up Plan Sweepstakes. Enter now for a chance to win a trip to the Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort Aruba! 
How To Enter: From March 26, 2010 to April 30, 2010, go to www.theback-upplan.com/babymoon and follow the instructions.
Prizes:Grand Prize : A six day and five night trip for two to the Amsterdam Manor Beach Read More..

Www.hersheys.com/movietheater - HERSHEY’S Iron Man 2 Trip Around the World Instant Win Game

Www.hersheys.com/movietheater is the official website of HERSHEY'S Iron Man 2 Trip Around the World Instant Win Game. Enter now for a chance to win your choice of a trip around the world or $20,000 cash ! 
How To Enter:
Before June 30, 2010, go to www.hersheys.com/movietheater and follow the instructions. Prizes:One Grand Prize. The Grand Prize winner will have the option to receive either: (a) Read More..

Www.win.travelchannel.com - Travel Bug Sweepstakes 2010

Www.win.travelchannel.com is the official website of Travel Bug Sweepstakes 2010. Enter now for a chance to win a trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica; a $1,000 American Express gift card or instantly win 1 of 30 prize packages consisting of a Dhani Jones t-shirt, a football, and a sports bag!
How To Enter:
From April 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010, visit www.win.travelchannel.com and complete and submit the Read More..

Www.RadioDisney.com/Win - Radio Disney’s In School Concert Sweepstakes

Www.RadioDisney.com/Win is the official website of Radio Disney's In School Concert Sweepstakes. Enter now for a chance to win a concert for your school featuring Demi Lovato! 
How To Enter:
From March 27, 2010 to April 29, 2010, go to www.RadioDisney.com/Win and follow the instructions. Prize (s):ONE GRAND PRIZE: The winner of the Sweepstakes will receive a concert for their school featuring Read More..

Www.rightguardnbafinals.com - Right Guard Win a Trip to The Finals 2010 Sweepstakes

Www.rightguardnbafinals.com is the official website of Right Guard "Win a Trip to The Finals 2010" Sweepstakes. Enter now for your chance to win!   Promotion Period : The Right Guard Win a Trip to The Finals 2010 Sweepstakes will begin at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on March 28, 2010 and end at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on April 24, 2010.   How To Enter : Go to www.rightguardnbafinals.com and follow the Read More..

Www.hsn.com/giveaway - $70,000 Customer Appreciation Giveaway

Www.hsn.com/giveaway is the official website of $70,000 Customer Appreciation Giveaway. Enter now for your chance to win! How To Enter :
From April 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010, go to www.hsn.com/giveaway and fill out the online entry form. Prize (s):Sweepstakes Prizes:
TWELVE GRAND PRIZES: An HSN gift card valued between $100 and $500 (depending on which square on the game board each potential Read More..

Www.Dinnerin5.com - Dinner in 5 Sweepstakes

Www.Dinnerin5.com is the official website of  Dinner in 5 Sweepstakes. Enter now for a chance to win a $2,500 kitchen package. How To Enter:
From March 4, 2010 to August 31, 2010, go to www.Dinnerin5.com and follow the online entry instructions. Prizes: One grand prize consisting of $2,500 worth of kitchen supplies will be awarded. The Total Approximate Retail Value of the Grand Prize is $2,500. Read More..

Www.elevatetheeverydaysweeps.com - Martha Stewart Living GE Monogram Elevate the Everyday Sweepstakes

Www.elevatetheeverydaysweeps.com is the official website of Martha Stewart Living GE Monogram Elevate the Everyday Sweepstakes. Enter for a chance to win a GE Monogram Pro Range.   Promotion Period : Between 12:00:00 AM ET on April 1, 2010 and 11:59:59 PM ET on May 24, 2010   How To Enter : Go to elevatetheeverydaysweeps.com , electronically follow the instructions found on the Official Entry Read More..

Www.sports.sho.com/500sweeps - Showtime Southern 500 Sweepstakes

Www.sports.sho.com/500sweeps is the official website of Showtime Southern 500 Sweepstakes. Enter for a chance to win the ultimate NASCAR experience - No one gets you closer than Showtime with the ultimate Showtime Southern 500 Experience Sweepstakes. How To Enter:
From 3/30/10 to 4/23/10, visit www.sports.sho.com/500sweeps to complete the online official entry form and submit your entry by Read More..

www.CBS.com/7up - CBS & 7UP Sweepstakes

Enter www.CBS.com/7up now and play the amazing race trivia challenge game, you will have 7 chances to win $7,000!

How to play: Login your cbs.com account with username and password. (If you don't have one, click here to register!) Then follow the instructions to complete the Sweepstakes entry form and and click the "Play Now" button. You will receive one entry into the applicable Weekly Read More..

Www.earthdayphotocontest.com - Microsoft Bing Earth Day Photo Contest

Www.earthdayphotocontest.com is the official website of Microsoft Bing Earth Day Photo Contest. Enter now for your chance to win! 
How To Enter:
From March 29, 2010 to April 19, 2010, if you are a minor, ask for your parent or guardian's permission, and then visit www.earthdayphotocontest.com and follow the instructions, complete the registration form and upload your photograph into the Read More..

Www.espnoutdoors.com/gearup - ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series Gear Up Giveaway

Www.espnoutdoors.com/gearup is the website of ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series Gear Up Giveaway. Register every day to win a prize package to be given away each Friday during the month of April.  
How To Enter:
From 4/1/2010 to 4/30/2010, log on to www.espnoutdoors.com/gearup or www.espnoutdoors.com and follow the instructions for registering in order to enter. Sweepstakes Prizes:
ESPN Outdoors is Read More..

Saturday, April 3, 2010

www.NBA.com/believe - NBA "Do You Believe?" DiGiorno Sweepstakes

From now to April 30, 2010, enter www.NBA.com/believe and join the "Do You Believe?" Sweepstakes, you would have a chance to win a two day/one night trip for two to Los Angeles, California (ARV $3,500). There are also five First Prize Winners will each receive one DiGiorno Pizza Prize Pack, at an ARV of One-hundred Dollars per First Prize Winner.

How to enter:

Visit www.NBA.com/believe, login Read More..