The Scout Report -- Volume 23, Number 35

Launched in 2010 by the Wyoming State Historical Society, WyoHistory.org, offers a rich collection of materials and educational resources dedicated to the history of Wyoming. At the heart of this collection is an extensive encyclopedia of the state's history, which features over 400 articles about a range of events and individuals from Wyoming state history, accompanied by images and a full reference list for those interested in further reading. These entries, penned by professional scholars and writers, provide nuanced insight and analysis of Wyoming history. For example, in an entry about an 1889 lynching in central Wyoming, Tom Rea (who serves as editor of the site) provides a lengthy and revealing explanation about how journalists-- and, subsequently, historians-- got the events of the day wrong for many years. Visitors are invited to explore by title or by location (via an interactive pin map). Another highlight of this collection is the Oral Histories collection of Wyoming residents involved in historic events. Finally, educators will find materials to use in the classroom via the Education tab. [MMB]

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Born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica in 1889, poet Claude McKay was one of the individuals who defined the Harlem Renaissance. This digital humanities project, created by Lehigh University English professor Amardeep Singh, allows visitors to explore McKay's early poetry. Visitors can browse McKay's early poems via a Table of Contents (available as a drop down menu at the top left side of the browser) to explore seven collections of McKay's poetry published between 1912 and 1922 along with one collection published posthumously in 1953. Each of these compilations is accompanied by a short essay that provides context to this compilation. In addition, many of these poems are tagged by subject and include in-text annotations to facilitate analysis and exploration. As Singh explains in his introduction, he decided to launch this site while co-teaching an Introduction to Digital Humanities class at Lehigh and uses the open-sourced web publishing platform Scalar to highlight the thematic connections in McKay's early poetry. As a result, this website may appeal to literature teachers and students as well as those interested in the growing field of digital humanities. [MMB]

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From Randolph College's Science Education Group comes The New Science Teacher, a website that serves "as a reference source for pre-service teachers, current educators, and parents." These resources are designed for K-8 educators and can be easily browsed by a number of categories. In Curriculum Resources, educators will find a number of lesson plans organized by scientific subfields. Many lesson plans are accompanied by short videos of teachers using these lessons in their own classrooms. Meanwhile, visitors will find a number of helpful outside reference resources in Subject References. This section, along with the site's helpful glossary of science terms, may appeal to teachers and students alike and offer a useful resource for completing assignments both inside and outside the classroom. Visitors will find additional outside resources in the Hot Science section, including resources related to leading interactive activities, such as labs, in the science classroom. [MMB]

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As mathematics teacher and learning coach Andrew Stadel explains, problems can help mathematicians develop their number sense and problem solving skills. Stadel has created Estimation 180, a compilation of classroom activities and lesson plans that center on the skill of estimation. The name of the site comes from the 180 short estimation problems (one for each day of the school year) that are at the center of this project. Each of these problems include a picture accompanied by an estimation problem (e.g. How many sheets of paper are in this box?). Students or classrooms are invited to fill out a Google Form with their estimate and reasoning and explore other responses (along with the correct answer.) These problems offer a useful series of anticipatory sets for elementary school classrooms. In addition, mathematics teachers may want to check out the Clothesline Activities and the Lessons sections for some more ready-to-use classroom materials. [MMB]

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The Association for Psychological Science (featured in the 10-24-2014 Scout Report) consists of "[m]ore than 30,000 leading psychological scientists, academics, clinicians, researchers, educators, administrators, and students from more than 80 countries" who aim to share research, create global connections and foster more awareness and knowledge of psychological science. The APS offers a collection of teaching resources related to teaching psychological science, which may be appealing to high school and college level instructors, in addition to psychology students. One such resource includes a Teaching "Top 40" Playlist, which compiles a variety of materials (such as articles and APS convention speeches) relating to 40 major topics in psychology, including Aging, Learning in Young Children, and Visual Perception. Another resource, The New Statistics: Estimation and Research Integrity, offers a video recording of a multi-part workshop, led by Geoff Cumming of Australia's La Trobe University, about "new statistics." [MMB]

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Established in 1895, the Higher Learning Commission accredits college and university institutions in nineteen states. The Commission hosts an annual conference that invites participating institutions to speak on the accreditation process, as well as best practices for institutional administration, curriculum, and pedagogy. A collection of papers is published from each annual conference - the link above takes visitors to an organized collection of papers from 2016, which can be browsed by category. Individual paper topics include: developing meaningful assessments with limited resources, using social media to engage institutional stakeholders, and developing a "graduate experience" in two-year master's programs. These papers are authored by professionals at public universities, private four-year colleges, and two-year colleges. Additionally, visitors can explore archived collections of papers dating back to 2013 in the Archives tab. [MMB]

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The Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion publishes a peer reviewed journal, Teaching Theology and Religion, that seeks to foster "an international discourse among faculty members about teaching and learning in the various sub-disciplines in the study of religion in higher education." While the journal requires a subscription, Teaching Tactics, feature special topics freely available to anyone. These tactics are authored by religion and theology instructors around the world and can be browsed by categories including Critical Reading Skills, Online Assignments, Teaching Writing, and Using Technology. Each tactic is just a page long, and includes four components: a summary of the author's teaching context (e.g. institution type, class name, class size); the pedagogical purpose of the strategy; a succinct summary of the the teaching tactic, and an explanation of why, in the author's view, it is a successful strategy. Whiled aimed specifically at instructors of religion, some of these tactics can be adapted for other college- level teaching settings. [MMB]

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The Library of Congress's bimonthly magazine offers librarians, educators, archivists, and members of the general public a way to keep abreast of new exhibits, collections and projects at the LOC. Each issue of this twenty-eight page magazine, which was launched in 2012, can be downloaded for free in PDF format on this website. Most issues highlight LOC collections and materials that center on a shared theme. Recent themes include Power of Photography, Making of the Modern Map, Saving the Sounds of Radio, and Design for Living (which highlighted architectural sketches in the LOC collection). Each issue also includes a number of regular columns, including How Do I? (short tutorials about how to do everything from preserving photographs online to participating in the Veteran's History Project); Curator's Picks; and My Job at the Library. This last feature may especially appeal to current Library and Information Science students and instructors. [MMB]

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The UK's Royal College of Midwives (RCM) dates back to 1881, and continues to work "to enhance the confidence, professional practice and influence of midwives for the benefit of child-bearing women and their families, nationally and internationally." The RCM also authors the Midwives Chronicle and Nursing Notes, a blog dedicated to the history of midwifery, featuring archival items from its extensive library. Several recent posts allows visitors to read select interviews from the the Midwife's Tale Oral History project, which centered on stories of midwives and women who gave birth during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. These interviews provide insight into an evolving profession and address a range of issues, including relationships between midwives and doctors, the experience of giving birth as a trained midwife, and postpartum depression. (Interested visitors can check out the full transcripts of all of these interviews via a link included in these posts). Another recent post allows visitors to read the very first issue of Nursing Notes: A Practical Journal, published in 1888. [MMB]

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As early technology enthusiasts may recall, Computer Chronicles was a half-hour long television series that reported on new developments and trends in the emerging world of personal computers. The show was hosted by Stewart Cheifet and broadcasted on PBS between 1983 and 2002. For folks looking to discover-- or reminisce about-- early conversations regarding computers and their social impact, a number of Computer Chronicles episodes are available on YouTube. Visitors can can watch a 1983 explanation of word processing programs and how these programs have changed a number of professions, a 1993 investigation of digital journalism (featuring a CNN CD-ROM), a 1997 exploration of the growing trend of cyber dating, and much more. Visitors can browse episodes by year or by a number of themed playlists, such as Computer Chronicles Buyer's Guides, Computer Chronicles Episodes on Software, and Regional Computer Chronicle Episodes, which highlighted technology developments from around the world. [MMB]

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From Europeana Collections and Amsterdam's Jewish Historical Museum comes this striking collection dedicated to an innovative group of Jewish artists from Romania who were pioneers in worlds of avant garde, surrealist, and dadaist art. These artists include Tristan Tzara, Victor Brauner, Marcel Janco, M.H. Maxy, Arthur Siegel, Jules Perahim, and Paul Paun. This online exhibit, created to accompany a 2011 exhibit at the Jewish Historical Museum, features art, photographs, sketches, and short essays that provide insight into the biographies and creative legacies of these artists. These materials are drawn from a variety of museums including the National Museum of Art of Romania in Bucharest and the Israel Museum, Jerusalem; they are organized into four sections, and each section highlights an important city and era for the the artists (Zurich, Bucharest, 1930s, and Younger Generation). In addition, visitors can download select images from this collection in the Credits section. [MMB]

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Smoky Mountains National Park has released this helpful, interactive map that predicts when foliage lovers can expect to see fall colors this upcoming September and October. By selecting a date, visitors can view where trees are expected to be at "peak" color across the county. Predictions are organized by week (from the week of August 13th through the week of October 29th) and expressed via a scale of seven descriptions, from "No Change" to "Past Peak." In addition to this interactive map, visitors can find a helpful scientific explanation of why leaves turn color in the autumn, and what unique chemical compounds can be found in orange, red, and yellow leaves. These explanations are designed to be accessible to learners of all ages and provide a way for caretakers and educators to engage young nature enthusiasts with the science and beauty of autumn. [MMB]

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For readers of all ages, literacy levels, and tastes, the New York Public Library offers a number of helpful book recommendation lists. New lists are regularly added to this collection, keeping this collection of recommendations up-to-date and diverse. These lists, authored by NYPL staff, will appeal to anyone looking for a new book to check out as well as to parents, caregivers, and youth workers looking for a new book to recommend to a young reader. Visitors can filter this collection of lists by subject/genre (including history, nonfiction, performing arts, banned books, and comics and graphic novels, to name just a few) and audience (adults, children, teachers, and teens/young adults 13-18 years). Recent biblio files include Oddballs, Screwballs, and Other Eccentrics: A Reading List from Open Book Night, 14 New Poetry Picks for World Poetry Day, The Ultimate Thriller Guide, and Game Changers (a collection of both non-fiction and fiction books about "anything and everything that made readers think differently about the book they read or books they may read in the future." [MMB]

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Released since 2004, the Pew Research Center's annual State of the News Media report provides data on a number of issues, including news media funding structures and the news consumption habits of U.S. residents. In 2017, the Pew Research Center is releasing its annual report via a series of fact sheets in lieu of a traditional report. Each of these fact sheets, which are being released individually throughout the year, address a different aspect of the increasingly diverse world of news media. These topics include Digital News, Audio and Podcasting, Cable News, Newspapers, and much more. Each of these fact sheets includes data related to both audience as well as issues of economic revenue and funding, and when applicable, issues of ownership. In addition, visitors can explore all previous State of the News media reports through an embedded link, included in the introduction to this series of fact sheets. In addition, visitors can check out recent PEW reports also related to the news media, which are listed below the fact sheets. More fact sheets will be released throughout 2017, so stay tuned. [MMB]

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For North American stargazing fans, the Clear Sky Chart offers a helpful series of charts that provide up-to-date forecasts of over 1,400 observatories in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas. These charts are based on data released by the Canadian Meteorological Center (CMC) and a model originally designed by CMC meteorologist Allan Rahill. The site is currently maintained by software guru and self-described "amateuar astronomer" Atilla Danko. To access these charts, visitors are invited to browse by region or search by position by entering latitude/ longitude information. Each chart includes information about cloud cover, transparency, wind, and humidity. The chart is color-coded to reveal the time of day best for viewing the sky at each observatory. In addition, when visitors explore these observatories by region, they can also view information about light pollution at each observatory. [MMB]

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Bloomz is a unified platform for teachers to connect, coordinate, and communicate with the parents of their students. It can send class updates to all parents, optionally including photos and videos. It includes a class calendar, complete with reminders, conference scheduling, and volunteer and item signups. And it provides real-time communication features including one-on-one messaging, student timelines, and student behavior tracking. Bloomz is free for teachers and invitation-only for parents. It can be accessed on the web or using smartphone apps for Android or iOS. Parents may also opt to receive notifications from Bloomz via text message. [CRH]

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Bluefish is a lightweight yet powerful text editor written for programmers and web developers. It seeks to fill the niche between simple text editors (Notepad, Text Edit) and full-fledged integrated development environments (Eclipse, IntelliJ). Because of its small resource footprint, Bluefish can simultaneously work across many dozens of files even on very modest hardware like netbooks. It has integrated support for editing remote files using a number of protocols (FTP, SFTP, WebDav, and others). Bluefish includes syntax highlighting and in-line language reference information for HTML, CSS, Javascript, and many common (and not so common) programming languages. Additionally, Bluefish allows users to define 'snippets' -- frequently repeated stanzas of text -- and connect them to keyboard shortcuts. Bluefish is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. [CRH]

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