Tech 4 Classrooms Active Voice Versus Passive Voice Today's topic is active voice versus passive voice. Here's a question from Brian in Iowa. He writes, “It drives me crazy when people write in passive voice. Well, Brian is right, the first step is to help people understand the difference between active and passive voice, because many people believe they should avoid the passive voice, but fewer people can define it or recognize it. What Is Active Voice? I'll start with active voice because it's simpler. Another example is the title of the Marvin Gaye song “I Heard It through the Grapevine.” What Is Passive Voice? In passive voice, the target of the action gets promoted to the subject position. If you wanted to make the title of the Marvin Gaye song passive, you would say “It was heard by me through the grapevine,” not such a catchy title anymore. Next: Is "To Be" a Sign of Passive Voice? Is "To Be" a Sign of a Passive Sentence? Notice that the subject, the pen, isn't doing anything in that sentence. Is Passive Voice Always Wrong? Announcements
How A Flipped Classroom Actually Works [Interview] What happens when the students have more control in the classroom? Flipped classrooms are being tested out around the world and we’ve featured a few examples in case you wanted to see who is flippin’ out. Until now, we didn’t have an in-depth look at the effects of a flipped classroom or answers to the big questions it raises. Thanks to Susan Murphy of Algonquin College (check out her awesome blog suzemuse.com !), we have our answers. She was kind enough to answer some of my questions about her experiences flipping her classroom. She used the flipped classroom model for her First Year Video and Audio Production class which is part of the Interactive Multimedia Developer program. What inspired you to use the flipped classroom model? One of the big challenges I was having in my video production class was teaching the required software (Adobe Premiere Pro). I wasn’t sure if it was going to work – but I had to give it a shot! I have had a lot of great feedback on the class.
Jamestown - Why There? Jamestown - Why There? (click on images for larger versions) International rivalries with Spain and France shaped the location of Jamestown and the settlement of Virginia. The shape of the channel in the James River was also a factor. The English were not the first people to arrive in Virginia, just as Columbus was not the first person to realize the earth was round. In 1565 the Spanish established the first permanent European settlement in North America, St. Jamestown was intended to become the core of a long-term settlement effort, creating new wealth for the London investors and recreating English society in North America. Factors to consider include: The English settled at Jamestown, a place chosen in accord with the original instructions to the colony (and in reaction to the Spanish killing 350 Frenchmen in 1565, when they blocked the effort of the French to establish Fort Caroline on the coast of Florida):1 It was built about 100 yards downstream. Roanoke Colony: Prelude to Jamestown?
8 Excellent Free Timeline Creation Tools for Teachers 1-TikiToki TikiToki is a great application for multimedia timelines making . It allows its users to create stunning animated timelines. TikiToKi is very easy to use and above all its basic version is completely free . 2- Time Glider This is a web tool that lets you create, collaborate on, and publish zooming/planning interactive timelines for free.It is like Google Maps but for time. 3- OurStory Ourstory enables you to write stories, tag friends, and add media to collaborative timelines either privately or in public. 4- Capzles Capzles is a web tool I have reviewed here a couple of times. 5- Read Write Think Read Write Think has a beautiful timeline tool that allows users to add project labels and easily create timelines. 6- Xtimeline Xtimeline is a free web-based timeline that you can use to easily create and share timelines with pictures and videos. 7- TimeToast TimeToast is another great tool that allows you to create timelines and share them on the web. 8- Dipity
Mark Anderson's Blog | education, learning & technology Published on September 1st, 2013 | by Mark Anderson 19inShare E-learning or using technology to support learning comes in many different shapes and sizes. I’m always being asked to give advice and ideas on different online tools or iPad apps that can help with learning in the classroom. 1. Socrative is one of my favourite tools in the classroom. There are other AfL tools that you can leverage in the classroom such as www.testmoz.com, and the more complex element of Google Forms ‘Flubaroo’. 2. YouTube is of course a great tool to support learning in the classroom. Many schools worry (quite rightly) about some of the profanities that can be present on YouTube in the comments and some of the inappropriate linked videos. On the topic of playlists earlier I’d also like to recommend use of the site MentorMob – with their easy to use interface you can create learning playlists with links to resources, documents, worksheets, websites and much more; very simply. 3. 4. 5. And finally…
9 Great Historically Accurate Medieval Movies Movies and TV I am particularly fond of Medieval movies so I was very keen to do this list. As I progressed through my research I was shocked to realize how few of them are accurate historically. Henry V 1989, Kenneth Branagh King Henry V of England (Kenneth Branagh) is insulted by the King of France. Buy this DVD at Amazon The Name of the Rose 1986, Jean-Jacques Annaud 1327: after a mysterious death in a Benedictine Abbey, the monks are convinced that the apocalypse is coming. Buy this DVD at Amazon The Message 1976, Moustapha Akkad This is a historical epic concerning the birth of the Islamic religion and the story of Mohammed, who, in accordance with the tenants of Islam, is never seen or heard (any physical depiction of Mohammed is considered a sin within Islam). Buy this DVD at Amazon El Cid 1961, Anthony Mann Buy this DVD at Amazon Andrei Rublev 1969, Andrei Tarkovsky Buy this DVD at Amazon A Man for All Seasons 1966, Fred Zinnemann The story takes place in 16th century England. 1982, Daniel Vigne
10 Strange Fates Of People Connected To Abraham Lincoln's Assassination History Regarded by many as the best president in American history, Abraham Lincoln’s story contains as much darkness as light. Lincoln’s life was a study in tragedy; his namesake grandfather was killed in a raid by Native Americans, and his mother died of milk sickness when he was just nine years old. He had a difficult relationship with his father. His first love interest, Ann Rutledge, died of suspected typhoid fever at 22. All of these events, along with the burden of the presidency, doubtlessly contributed to Lincoln’s crippling “melancholy,” which would likely be recognized today as clinical depression. 10Mary Todd Lincoln Many historians argue that Mary Lincoln suffered from bipolar disorder, or possibly narcissistic personality disorder, and a head injury sustained in a carriage accident caused her to suffer frequent migraines. In 1875, Robert had his mother committed to an asylum. 9Tad Lincoln In February of 1862, Tad and Willie both contracted typhoid fever. 8Lewis Powell
Lies Across America by James W. Loewen High school students hate history. When they list their favorite subjects, history always comes in last. They consider it the most irrelevant of twenty-one school subjects; bo-o-o-oring is the adjective most often applied. James Loewen spent two years at the Smithsonian Institute surveying twelve leading high school textbooks of American History. What he found was an embarrassing amalgam of bland optimism, blind patriotism, and misinformation pure and simple, weighing in at an average of four-and-a-half pounds and 888 pages. In response, he has written Lies My Teacher Told Me, in part a telling critique of existing books but, more importantly, a wonderful retelling of American history as it should - and could - be taught to American students. A treat to read and a serious critique of American education, Lies My Teacher Told Me is for anyone who has ever fallen asleep in history class.
Five myths about why the South seceded By James W. Loewen February 26, 2011 One hundred fifty years after the Civil War began, we’re still fighting it — or at least fighting over its history. I’ve polled thousands of high school history teachers and spoken about the war to audiences across the country, and there is little agreement even about why the South seceded. As the nation begins to commemorate the anniversaries of the war’s various battles — from Fort Sumter to Appomattox — let’s first dispense with some of the more prevalent myths about why it all began. 1. Confederate states did claim the right to secede, but no state claimed to be seceding for that right. On Dec. 24, 1860, delegates at South Carolina’s secession convention adopted a “Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union.” South Carolina was further upset that New York no longer allowed “slavery transit.” Other seceding states echoed South Carolina. 2. These explanations are flatly wrong.
Iconic Black and White Photographs, Colorized More than just a sad picture made 'pretty'. SExpand [Thich Quang Duc (tich kwong duuk) 1897 – 11 June 1963] A Buddhist Monk and teacher for 46 years. He held leadership positions throughout North and South Vietnam and oversaw the building of 31 Buddhist Temples throughout Vietnam. On 10 June 1963, U.S. correspondents were informed that "something important" would happen the following morning on the road outside the Cambodian embassy in Saigon. David Halberstam wrote: "I was to see that sight again, but once was enough. Quang Duc's last words before his self-immolation were documented in a letter he had left: "Before closing my eyes and moving towards the vision of the Buddha, I respectfully plead to President Ngo Dinh Diem to take a mind of compassion towards the people of the nation and implement religious equality to maintain the strength of the homeland eternally.
The Hunt for William Wallace The Trial of William Wallace at Westminster, by Daniel MacliseOn the morning of August 23rd, 1305, there was something of a carnival atmosphere in London. Since the early hours of what promised to be a fine day for Edward I’s capital city, crowds had been gathering to watch that most appealing of spectacles, a public execution. Such an event was not, of course, unusual when the law was often capricious and brutal; thieves, coiners, servants who had struck their masters, the simple-minded and the irreligious, these were some of the subjects on which the hangmen could rely for employment. But today’s proceedings promised to be special. Through the abusive and threatening crowds, Wallace was brought to Westminster Hall, where a plaque marks the spot on which he stood to hear his fate from a commission headed by Peter Mallore, Edward’s justiciar. The farce over, he was led from Westminster Hall to face the first part of his protracted and horrific ordeal. But his greatest task lay ahead.