Site moved

I’ve now moved the site to http://nhowie.co.uk so that I can have more control over the layout and features.

Educational games

Whilst I do not play the games that are on games consoles I do occasionally play games via my laptop. A couple types that I have been playing recently are Color Infection 2, and then both Adobe Air Flip and/or Bejeweled Blitz (the latter 2 being of the same ilk).

Color Infection 2 is based upon the Box2D Physics engine, ported to add ActionScript 3 through to be Box2DFlashAS3. The game has 25 levels, each with a simple puzzle to solve, can one turn the yellow balls turn brown by coming into contact with another brown ball, whilst at the same time making sure the green balls stay green. Each level is a logic problem with a stepped procedure to ensure success. Working out the steps though can take many iterations, but then that’s the fun of the game; how long will it take to solve it!

Adobe Air Flip and Bejeweled Blitz (as played within Facebook) are games that require one to move tiles around a board to create lines of 3 or more of the same type of tile. Both are against the clock so there is the element of pressure involved, and it’s possible to compete against one’s friends.

Of course if one wants an ICT-style zap them game, then my favourite is Identity Hero from Sun Microsystems. Here one has 10 levels to complete, related to a topic of network identity management. Great for an end of term lesson with students. I did this with my lot and ended up getting some free mugs from Sun with the best monthly score which I can use as prizes.

These games are addictive, but in way that makes one think about problem-solving. I also find them fun as well, and much better value than paying for the games-console style games, given these three are all free online.

And my enjoyment is enhanced by listening to last.fm via g.ho.st.

Creating blogs in other programmes

 Adobe Contribute CS4,Word 2007

This blog is typed using Adobe Contribute 4 as the blog editor. As I haven’t used this for a few releases I didn’t realise that one could use it as a blog writer programme. I tried Microsoft Word 2007 as well, using their system (Office Button –> New –> New blog post), however found that one could not see the final real result. With Adobe Contribute CS4 one can see the blog page as it is layed out, even if one is offline, which is great as the correct font/colours/layout make it far easier to visualize how it will look.

xtranormal communication

New way to communicate today. If the message isnt really, really urgent don’t telephone or send an e-mail, send an xtranormal movie instead!

I sent one to a couple of staff last night asking them for a topic that I could try out with thier classes. And one of them sent me a movie back! The link to my movie request is (my xtranormal movie). It’s a cool programme, and whilst I do have a Premium account, for my students the basic free one allows them to produce ace movies.

Also enjoyed listening to last.fm again via my g.ho.st Virtual Computer account. Keep finding new uses that keep me wanting g.ho.st to be a success – definitely the way forward for the next generation.

ESA and edu2.0

Received two things to be thankful for today; one material, one a message.

The first was a large package from the European Space Agency Education department. In the package was their Primary and Secondary education kits, as well as a set of several DVDs. This will be brilliant to show students as the materials are professionally made and educationally appropriate, and free to European schools. Thanks.

The second was a message from Graham Glass about using his edu2.0 system to create a VLE for BIS in Belgrade. It is both unusual and nice to have the owner of such an organisation go out of his way and make a comment about something that you are trying to do. Thanks number 2.

Miami Crush to Sketchup

Yesterday evening I had the fortune of attending the opening by the Australian First Secretary to Vienna, Mrs Oram-Miles, of “Miami Crush” at the basement . Whilst I would never profess any understaning of abstract art, I was taken by Claudia Chaseling’s wall painting. It reminded me of the superb course I have just completed at lynda.com by George Maestri about Google SketchUp.

Next school year I have planned one unit with Year 9s taking digital photos of the school, then creating the school building in Google SketchUp. If there are any students of the same talent as those I took to Romania in 2007 for the infomatrix competition then the ultimate aim will be to upload the completed file to Google Earth for all to see.

Well here we go…

Given I’ve been thinking about how to teach next year and have been designing a VLE using edu2.0 for BIS which given the simplicity of the weblink (bis.edu20.org) I’m hoping users will remember; so I thought I’d better have a go at blogging too.

I had forgotten when creating something like lessons in a VLE how long it takes to transfer the material in, sort it out, put it back in again when you realise you’ve either deleted it or put it in the wrong place. This as well as create user guides for students on how to use the system. I’m creating video guides using Adobe Captivate 4 and Adobe Soundbooth CS4 as well as a traditional pdf version. With each actual student lesson that I am/will create I’ll put into the edu2.0 site an episode created using xtranormal which I think is excellent – and in the version I’ll get the students to use it’s free!

In the world of web2.0 I’ve also got around to transferring our family photographs onto flickr so far only done 1,200 but then that’s only six weeks worth. I like the fact that you can create sets and then use mapping to place them. This will be great when we look back on places that we were. With their privacy settings I have enabled access for friends and family only. I’ve also been using animoto to create videos from a batch of photographs – the results are great.

Well I’m sure that I’ll work out the ins and outs of WordPress as I use it.