The Scout Report -- Volume 21, Number 47

The Why Files, created and based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with funding support from the National Science Foundation, will be a boon to any science teacher. Each week the site publishes a new story that digs into "the science behind the news," providing readers with an erudite overview of the scientific issues that shape our world. Recent topics have included information about possible breakthroughs in the quest for an effective male contraceptive, how warming seas are affecting the cod population, and an expose on "flying" plankton. Educators searching for ways to enrich their lesson plans will want to scout the Archives, which go all the way back to 1999 and cover such topic as Arts & Humanities, Biology, Earth & Space, Environment, Health, and others. Additionally, the Teaching tab is loaded with helpful material, including suggested Why Files that meet the National Science Education Standards and Classroom Activities (discussion questions, quizzes, etc.) on popular topics ranging from tsunamis to the flu vaccine. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

For educators who don't have access to giant university databases, paywalls can sometimes feel like a major impediment to the information and knowledge they'd like to share with their students. IssueLab can help overcome that difficulty. A service of the Foundation Center, the Lab "works to more effectively gather, index, and share the collective intelligence of the social sector." Here educators will find over 18,000 (and counting) resources related to the world's most pressing social quandaries. Readers may scout the site using the Explore function, which will sort resources by Authors, Issue Areas, and Geography, as well as by Special Collections related to topics such as Affordable Care Act, Arts Education, Gun Violence, Immigration Strategies, and many others. Readers may also conduct a keyword or advanced search if looking for more targeted material. In sum, this compendium of case studies, evaluations, white papers, and issue briefs is sure to inspire teachers of social studies, the humanities, earth science, and other subject areas.[CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

Today in Science provides an enlivening daily peek into the history of the scientific enterprise. Each day, ScienceNetLinks, a project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), publishes a two-paragraph gloss of an important event in the history of science. For instance, November 24th corresponds to the day that Charles Darwin published his earth-shaking treatise, On the Origin of Species, in 1859. After perusing the short description of this monumental event, users may then link to a host of resources from ScienceNetLinks, such as collections about Darwin, a section about what we can learn from fossils, a comparison of the competing evolutionary theories of Lamarck and Darwin, a page dedicated to the evolution of feathers, and a game based on the theory of natural selection. Rather than limiting users to a particular day in history, a handy calendar feature lets users select any date of interest. With 365 entries to choose from, educators are sure to find inspiring material for classroom discussions, daily trivia, or a variety of other educational activities. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

Youngzine seeks to "help parents and educators create a vibrant community of globally aware young citizens in an increasingly connected world." Using simple, direct language and engaging visuals, the site presents complex global events in a way that will engage elementary and middle school students. Readers may explore the site through categories such as World News, Science & Tech, Our Earth, and Society & Arts. In the Classrooms action of the site, Teachers may opt to sign up their classes for Youngzine, in which each class is assigned a unique "Classroom Code" and teachers are provided with a safe classroom blog where they may post assignments and garner student responses. The U Write section, which publishes the writing of students, is also engaging and relevant to students of all ages. Here, students may write and submit (with parent or teacher approval) their own creative material, such as articles, poems, or book reviews. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

Founded in 2010, Edudemic is focused on connecting educators, administrators, parents, and even students to technology resources and ideas. However, the site truly shines as a resource for Educators. Interested readers may like to start by scouting the attractive landing page, where they will find recently published articles on such topics as how to confront bullying, what drone technologies can teach students, fresh ways to engage students, and tips on everything from bringing YouTube into the classroom to the appropriate use of Wikipedia. From there, readers may like to scout the categories of Teacher's Guides and For Teachers. This first category contains excellent articles on how to leverage Twitter, Google Glass, and the Library of Congress in the classroom, while the second covers such topic as News, Online Learning, Social Media, Tools, Trends, and Videos. Educators looking for ways to integrate technologies into their classrooms will find many ideas on this continually updated site. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

Founded by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, iCivics aims to provide "students with the tools they need for active participation and democratic action, and teachers with the materials and support to achieve this." All the resources on this site are free with a one-step sign up that only requires an email address. Readers may like to begin with the 3-minute introductory video that can be located under the About tab. From there, explore the sundry resources housed in the Teach section, which include over a dozen Curriculum Units on important topics ranging from Foundations of Government to the Legislative Branch. Within each unit readers will discover detailed lesson plans. For instance, the International Affairs unit reveals lesson plans on Diplomacy, Conflict and Cooperation, International Influence, and International Organizations. For users unsure of the best approach for integrating these materials into the classroom, there is a convenient video entitled How to Use iCivics Lessons within the Lessons Plans section of the site. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

As the site notes, Project I'm Ready has two primary goals. First, the organization seeks to "educate 21st century school librarians to serve in culturally diverse, high poverty rural areas of Oklahoma, serving Native American students." Second, the project hopes "to develop and disseminate culturally sensitive, digital curriculum and learning resources to improve K-12 pedagogy in the targeted areas." While many readers will not be working with populations in Oklahoma, the site is an excellent example of culturally relevant pedagogy. After perusing the About Project I'm Ready section, readers may like to select ENTER to see excellent videos of Cherokee artisans, as well as librarians speaking about their dedication to making information relevant to diverse populations. In addition, readers will find presentations, activities, and handouts dedicated to serving the Cherokee population of Oklahoma, in particular, and diverse populations in general. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

The C. Roland Christensen Center for Teaching and Learning endeavors to make classes at the Harvard Business School dynamic and engaging. However, educators everywhere can benefit from the teaching and learning resources the center provides; the Case Method in Practice section is no exception. For instance, Chris Christensen described case method teaching as "the art of managing uncertainty," in which an instructor acts as "planner, host, moderator, devil's advocate, fellow-student, and judge," making for an interactive, open-ended, and collaborative learning process. Here readers will find subsections devoted to a variety of case method "dimensions," such as Core Principles, Sample Class, Preparing to Teach, Leading in the Classroom, and Providing Assessment and Feedback. Each of these subsections offers up tidbits of wisdom and suggestions for making classrooms work. Though the resources here are aimed at Harvard Business School teachers, readers everywhere will find much to ponder in the free videos, downloadable PDFs, and other resources available here. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

Kurzgesagt (German for "in a nutshell") is a Munich-based YouTube channel and design studio that beautifully blends animation, illustration, interactives, and well-themed music to help explain a variety of educational and popular topics. The results are exciting, approachable, and delivered with unprecedented artistic panache. Since its founding in 2013, the team has tackled many projects, a number of which are offered directly from the homepage via engaging icons - a house replete with solar panels, a bright yellow piece of construction equipment, a suitcase full of money. Selecting any of these reveals further information, which may include a short video or a series of images that present a visual narrative of the topic. For instance, selecting Measles Explained pulls up a 5-minute animated video about the current vaccine controversy, as well as colorful graphs, charts, and a short explanation. Readers should also take advantage of the social media links offered on the left-hand side of the page. Preferring quality over quantity, Kurzgesagt uploads one new video each month to its popular YouTube channel. For anyone who loves great design, this educational site will provide good returns. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

The mission of the Sentencing Project is clear. The non-profit, which was founded in 1986, "works for a fair and effective U.S. criminal justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing policy, addressing unjust racial disparities and practices, and advocating for alternatives to incarceration." On the site, readers will find a wealth of information about the current criminal justice system, as well as suggestions for reform. Readers may like to scout the the page by the categories of Sentencing Policy, Incarceration, Racial Disparity, Drug Policy, Juvenile Justice, Felony Disenfranchisement, Women, and Collateral Consequences. Each category features a continually updated wellspring of articles and resources. For instance, in the Collateral Consequences section, readers will find articles outlining politicians' actions (or inactions) on such topics as budget remedies for mass incarceration and the reclassification of some felony offenses to misdemeanors. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

Piktochart Infographics is dedicated to helping people around the globe tell visual stories, whether in the classroom, at work, or at home. In addition to providing users with a web-based infographic software and an easy-to-use design app, Piktochart maintains an informative blog full of marketing and design articles on a variety of topics. This resource is one example of the oodles of interesting and helpful material housed within the blog's archive. Here readers will find a compilation of staff member Natalija Snapkauskaite's five favorite infographics about languages. From the "10 most popular languages in the world" to "11 untranslatable words from other cultures," readers will find beautifully presented tidbits and facts that are sure to inspire. Each infographic can be read on the site as is, expanded for further detail, or easily shared across social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. [CBD]

Comment on or rate this resource

The Center for Global Development (CGD) conducts research on a "wide range of topics related to how policies and actions of the rich and powerful affect poor people in the developing world," from aid effectiveness to climate change to education. This blog, which focuses its attention, in particular, on global health, features updates from a number of CGD experts on complicated topics like family planning, health financing, drug resistance, vaccine development, and health-related foreign assistance. For instance, Lawrence H. Summers, former president of Harvard University among other honors, has written an excellent post (September 29, 2015) on The Importance of Global Health Investment, in which he argues that, in fact, "the benefits of the right health investments far exceed the costs." [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

Seriously Amazing, the Smithsonian's erudite and engaging Q&A website, will provide trivia-minded readers with hours of entertainment. Are you curious about how to entertain an otter? Do you ever wonder how many cables it takes to hang a 5-ton airplane? Would you like to know what ancient work inspired Shakespeare's famous star crossed lovers? Click on any of these questions to explore an online Smithsonian exhibit or article. The site can be scouted by the categories of Art, Culture, History, Science, Most Popular, and Most Recent. In all, the site is an entertaining entry into the Smithsonian's vast online holdings. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

For readers fascinated by the complex history of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the CIA Museum will pay intellectual dividends. Located on the CIA compound and not physically open to the public, this online collection offers interested readers the next best thing. After selecting the Experience the Collection link, readers may browse the Collection, read and hear Stories, and explore an interactive Timeline. The Collection itself contains many fascinating objects such as a radio receiver concealed in a pipe, a pressure suit designed for use in a U-2 bomber, and a machete manufactured for use in the Burmese jungle. Next up, the Stories section reveals topics related to the The Berlin Tunnel and The Final Chapter in the Hunt for Bin Laden, while the Timeline traces important events back to the 1940s, when the CIA was first commissioned to collect intelligence from the newly powerful Soviet Union. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

"A good engineer both does things right, and does the right thing." So writes Karl Stephan on his excellent Engineering Ethics Blog. As Stephen explains, engineering schools do a phenomenal job teaching the nuts and bolts of engineering, but they sometimes fall short when it comes to questions of who will buy the product, what they will do with it, whether or not products can do harm, and how people were treated during the manufacturing process. On this blog, which dates back to 2006, readers will find ethical quandaries related to mass surveillance, climate change, arms control, smart phones, a technological response to mass shootings, and many other topics - all from an engineer's perspective. The treatment of VW's recent EPA troubles, especially, will come as a welcome voice of reason for those who are following the company's possible recall of 11 million cars worldwide. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

Book mobiles, cute kids at summer reading programs, even a librarian on horseback - this exhibition from DPLA has it all. In addition to the warm fuzzies, however, the show also delves into some of the stickier issues in the history of US libraries, such as how librarianship came to be a woman-dominated profession, but with more men in management positions, or segregation in some libraries. In the "Profession for Women" theme, it's pointed out that the American Library Association, founded in 1876, did not elect its first woman president, Theresa Elmendorf, until 1911. Another section of the exhibition documents the Tougaloo Nine, who attempted to use the white-only Jackson, Mississippi, public library on March 27, 1961, and were arrested for disorderly conduct. The Conclusion section briefly covers some 21st century trends in libraries, such as the impact of the Internet or the transformation of physical spaces in libraries to become "Third Spaces" - places that are neither work nor home, where people can gather, interact, and create, including computer workstations arranged to permit collaboration, maker spaces, and cafes. [DS]

Comment on or rate this resource

Most search engines suffer from "search leakage." In other words, when you search and then click a link, the search terms that you entered are shared with that site, along with your IP Address and other identifying information. The DuckDuckGo search engine, by contrast, redirects your request so that sites do not have access to your search terms. In addition, DuckDuckGo does not save IP address, user agent, or browser cookies during your searches, which means that your private information is better protected. For a more complete description of everything that DuckDuckGo offers, select the About section under the drop down tab on the right hand side of the screen. Meanwhile, searching with the engine is as easy as typing into the text box. All the increased privacy is built into the service. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource

For readers who use multiple task, project, and issue trackers like Asana, Todoist, Wunderlist, Evernote, Basecamp, or Gmail (among many others), there can come a time when confusion sets in. Enter Taco. The app strikes an excellent balance between bringing tasks from various programs together into a single interface, and simultaneously keeping them distinct on the clean and crisp interface. To get started, create a free account. Then select from the 35+ platforms that Taco supports in order to build your personal Taco page. From there, use the incredibly simple drag-and-drop functionality to organize your tasks across platforms. [CNH]

Comment on or rate this resource