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Build Wind Farms and Create Profitable, Clean Energy
On Teachers First I found a new game that is timely given that in Oregon wind power exceeded Hydro power for a day only a few weeks ago for the first time.
Play Windfall by Persuasive Games
Try this strategy activity for building wind farms and creating profitable, clean energy. Learn about clean energy while having fun. Research locations for great wind conditions and find suitable places near residential areas by looking at land values and political consequences. As turbines are built, they are connected to the energy grid where energy can be sold for renewable energy credits. There are three levels to the game. (Each level uses a different region.) See the tutorial for extra help.
This site includes advertising.In the Classroom
Try this challenge through the link on the site or embed the game in a class wiki. As part of a unit on the environment or energy, use this activity to discuss what needs to be considered for any energy creation and specifically for wind energy. Discuss what was learned by the game and whether these facts are also true for other energy sources. Then, compare and contrast the costs and issues with each of these different energy sources. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here) to visualize the comparisons.
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Infographic–Tracking American Poverty
These are interactive infographics to explore the information set.
Tracking American Poverty & Policy is an interactive infographic visualization site that breaks down the data about…you guessed it…poverty in America.
The site provides a sequence of interactive pages that start with the overall poverty numbers, and then break them down in more detail by race, gender, education, age and family type. In addition to the initial pie charts for the official poverty rate, the visualizations change to show details for Near Poverty, In Poverty and Deep Poverty numbers when you hover your pointer over each chart.
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Fostering Tech Talent in Schools
I have included a reprint from the NYTimes this morning. While the effort is absolutely laudable and worthy, I wonder, in the time I move from the washroom to my classroom, if there is a lack of clarity as to why this might occur, the need to have extra assistance.
I vacuumed my room this morning, responded as best I could to parent emails, have setup my Moodle course agendas with Learning Goals for the day, and grading, always grading, despite being over 300 marks behind. I updated my servers over the weekend, and still can’t figure out a few technical glitches from last week.
I will, in the time allowed, work to the best of my capability to inspire and challenge students, keeping in mind all of the things a guest instructor may be able to push aside. And in my spare time I will continue to attempt to get my high school to approved a computer science course and to let me teach even the basic courses in my department to engage students.
Luck.
Stuart Isett for The New York Times
“We are taking the kids farther than I could do,” said Michael Braun, a teacher who is working with the Microsoft volunteers.
By NICK WINGFIELD
Published: September 30, 2012 41 Comments
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More education opens the gateway to better, higher-paying jobs
This recent article from The Atlantic summarizes a paper from the Hamilton Project.
An individual with only a high school diploma is twice as likely to make less than $40,000 per year than someone with a college degree.
An individual with a college degree is nearly nine times more likely to make over $100,000 than someone with only a high school diploma and 13 times more likely to make more than $200,000 per year.
Take at look at the actual article for much more information; howver, the graphs really spoke to me, especially the second one.
A Lifelong Learner Shares Thoughts About Education
