Similarities and Differences...

Analogies

Analogies are the final component of the Identifying Similarities and Differences strategy. This is the most complex because students have to identify two pairs of items that have the same relationship and must explain the relationship.

Teachers may begin by providing the word pairs and asking students to explain the common connection. Eventually students will be able to provide the second pairing as well as identify the relationship or independently create an analogy to highlight key points.

How can technology support and promote student mastery of analogies? Relating images rather than words may be especially helpful for young or non-English speaking students. Teachers can create graphic organizers to provide structure for the exercise in Word, Kidspiration or Inspiration. Word lists can help students practice creating relationships by simply pairing the terms. The opportunity to work in an interactive environment makes manipulating the word choices even easier and may improve participation.

What other options come to mind?

Let's rethink the possibilities.

GOOG-411 Free Information For Your Phone

Do you need information about a business? Are you looking for food, sports equipment or a good pub (did I say that)? Call 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-4664-411). It's a free service. Say which city and state you are calling about or type in the zip code. Say the business name or category you want. They will provide you with a list of businesses meeting your criteria. Choose the place you want. GOOG-411 will connect you with that business. You can also say "text message" and they will send you information about the business you selected. If your phone has internet, you can say "map it" and you will receive a map of the surrounding area. All this for free, awesome!

Google Maps and More

I know that sometimes its the little things that make us smile, but I had an "Geek moment" when I saw this feature in Google Maps, and I may be behind the times on this one but oh well.

I went to google maps to get directions just like anyone else would and ended up seeing a new feature that I had not before.

Google maps offers a Street View of the location that you are looking for. This street view is only available when the street you are looking at is outlined with a "Blue" line. Once you do this you have a pop up window that will allow you to see your destination from the ground as if you were walking or driving in a car.

If you enter an address that is not outlined with blue there is an Icon of a person that will say to see the Street View, drag me to a blue lined street.

Have fun with this feature, oh and I guess it could be kind of creepy too, but still fun.

Similarities and Differences...

Metaphors

Metaphors require students to make connections at an abstract level. Teachers can introduce this method for identifying similarities by helping students identify a pattern of behavior or steps in a process. Students are then challenged to find a comparison item with a similar pattern or process.

With enough practice, students can eventually create metaphors on their own. How can we support mastery of this learning technique?

A table or chart that encourages students to move from literal characteristics to more abstract properties could be helpful. Adding structure to the process of developing metaphors can provide the scaffolding students need to build confidence in a new strategy. Adding images can be helpful for students with limited language proficiency and/or visual learners.

What other technology tools can be employeed to support the use of metaphors as an instructional tool?

Let's rethink the possibilities.

Google Earth Users Can Now Explore The Walt Disney Resort In 3D

Google Earth and Walt Disney have collaborated to create a 3D tour of the 4 theme parks and 22 hotels in Walt Disney. Download Google Earth 4.3 and search for Disney World or go to www.disneyworld.com/3dparks. Photographers took 100,000 pictures which were then used to create the 1,500 3D models for the virtual tour. The virtual world offers attraction descriptions, videos and images, event calendars, tickets and reservations. Users can enable the gallery folder in Google Earth or click on any of the 3D buildings inside the virtual tour. Disney World Resort is the most in depth, detailed rendering Google Earth has done to date.

"7 Things You Should Know About…"

What are the seven things I should know about a product? According to an Educause website, there are at least "7 Things You Should Know About"..... They state on their website that they provide "quick, no-jargon overviews of emerging technologies and related practices that have demonstrated or may demonstrate positive learning impacts." Any time you need to explain a new learning technology and you aren't completely sure about how to explain it, then look to the "7 Things you should know about." website, http://www.educause.edu/ELI7Things/7495." to assist in explaining it or even learning more about it. What a great idea, this website is.