http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ A search of MERLOT materials Copyright 1997-2013 MERLOT. All rights reserved. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:53:42 PDT Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:53:42 PDT http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/images/merlot.gif http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ 44 34 http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=335105 A teaching resource for digital literacy, stimulus for story telling and creativity that is FREE to download. It has been developed in partnership between BradField and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and its schools.Inanimate Alice the multi award-winning interactive audio-visual narrative from new-media production house the BradField Company (BradField) has been identified by Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) as delivering compelling new media suitable for an education audience. Seen by over 1 million viewers (estimate), it is an aid to creativity in the classroom, assisting in story telling and literacy and can be a free and major contribution to the creative curriculum that has been welcomed by teachers accessing it. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=248368 Online Educational Comics Helping Students Write, Read, Tell StoriesI am an author whose books are used in many school programs to encourage children to express themselves through writing. I have just launched a free new web site -- http://www.makebeliefscomix.com -- where students can create their own comic strips. The site offers fun animal and human characters with different moods, thought and talk balloons to fill in with words, and story prompts. It's a wonderful resource to spur children and adults to write, read and communicate their ideas and to practice English and other languages. It is also being used as a tool by educational therapists who work with deaf and autistic people to help them understand concepts and communicate. I would be very appreciative if you would share with your members and colleagues, or tell me whom I should contact to share this information. I need your help because it takes a community to build a community resource like this.With thanks,Bill ZimmermanOnline Educational Comics Launched to Encourage Writing, Reading and CommunicationBy Author/Journalist Bill Zimmerman - http://www.makebeliefscomix.comDear reader,I want to share with you news of my newest educational project and also ask for your help to make it succeed. Ive just launched a new web site -- http:// www.makebeliefscomix.com -- where children and adults can create their own comic strips. They can select from 10 fun characters with different moods -- happy, sad, angry, worried and write words for blank talk and thought balloons to make their characters talk and think. There also are story ideas and prompts to help users create graphic stories. This site can be used by educators to teach language, reading and writing skills, and also for students in English-as-a-Second-Language programs to facilitate self-expression and storytelling. Some educational therapists use it with deaf and autistic people to help them understand concepts and communicate. Parents and children can create stories together, print them to create comic books or email them to friends and family. Others will find the site a resource to be creative, calm down and have fun.I am hoping that you will share http://www.makebeliefscomix.com with your colleagues, teachers, students or readers of your publications and resource lists. The site is free with no advertising. Any help you might offer in getting word out about this project is very appreciated. If you can suggest other people or groups whom I might contact to make them aware of the site please send me their names, email addresses or phone numbers. Relevant Internet resource sharing groups would be helpful, too. It takes a community to build a useful resource like this one. As one who learned to read with comic books, I know that creating comic strips can help people tap into their creativity and practice their language and storytelling skills. The site is free and stems from my lifelong mission to create resources that help people find their voice and express themselves. The concept for makebeliefscomix.com is derived from my earlier books, Make Beliefs and Make Beliefs for Kids of All Ages (which can be found on my other web site: http://www.billztreasurechest.com). A Make Beliefs interactive feature appeared for 13 years on my syndicated Student Briefing Page for Newsday, and in National Geographics World Magazine.I hope you like http://www.makebeliefscomix.com and will use it in your work and personal life. Your feedback is welcome and very helpful. With thanks and every good wish,Bill Zimmerman(wmz@aol.com) http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=699046 “Instructional Ideas and Technology Tools for Online Success” will be led by Dr. Curtis Bonk, with the assistance of the CourseSites team, and will focus on empowering you to increase student achievement and success in blended and online learning environments. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=699048 This course, “Designing an Exemplary Course” will be led by Blackboard's Exemplary Course Directors and Catalyst Award winning course designers with the assistance of the CourseSites team. Our goal is to empower you to design courses that reflect best practices for designing, engaging, assessing, and supporting learners in blended and online learning environments. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=246003 Narrated 5 minute workshop that includes slides, speaker notes, attachments to relevant resources. Topics covered include:  (1) what and how we collaborate and why those strategies don't work well, (2) what students want in collaborative projects, (3) programs that facilitate virtual collaboration, and (4) an introduction to Google Docs & Spreadsheets and how it addresses needs in collaborative projects. Prepared in Articulate Presenter. 4:59 in length.  http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=731728 'Is taking an online class a good fit for you? Learning through an online class requires different skills than learning in a face-to-face class. It's important to know what you're getting into and to understand the kind of commitment that's necessary for success in online learning. You can get a good idea of your readiness for online learning by filling out the following assessment.' http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=673574 Demonstration of basic surgical instruments by Dr Sanjoy Sanyal, Professor of Neuroscience and Faculty Adviser of SSA, at the Students Surgical Association (SSA) meeting in July 2012 in Medical University of the Americas (MUA), Caribbean. Camera credit goes to Danielle Bayoro, Med 4 student and President of SSASurgery, Surgical instruments, Sanjoy Sanyal, Professor, Neuroscience, Thumb forceps, Needle holder, Surgical scissors, Surgical needle, Bard Parker handle, Surgical blade, Nylon, suture, suturing, skin, MUA http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=673580 Demonstration of how to make a skin incision and then close it with continuous nylon sutures. By Dr Sanjoy Sanyal, Professor of Neuroscience and Faculty Adviser of SSA, at the Students Surgical Association (SSA) meeting in July 2012 in Medical University of the Americas (MUA), Caribbean. Camera credit goes to Danielle Bayoro, Med 4 student and President of SSA.Surgery, Surgical instruments, Sanjoy Sanyal, Professor, Neuroscience, Thumb forceps, Needle holder, Surgical scissors, Surgical needle, Bard Parker handle, Surgical blade, Nylon, suture, suturing, skin, MUA http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=318654 In this workshop you will study principles of pedagogy and instructional design and apply these theories to one of your lessons. There are seven Topics in this course. Each Topic is made up of four parts: Warm-up, Class Notes, Assignment, and Discussion. There are many teaching tips, examples, and resources. Although a bit dated & containing some broken links, still very valuable. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=242731 Engage your students in experiential (hands on) learning activities that promote social skills via teamwork, higher order critical thinking skills via inquiry and problem-based learning, and technological skills via the Internet and Microsoft applications. Motivate your students to become lifelong learners by using WebQuests. Learn how to create WebQuests in a few easy steps.