Wired Educator

Another awesome gift from Google. http://images.google.com/hosted/life

Google has launched an online photo gallery that features millions of images from Life Magazine’s archives. Many of these photos have never been seen by the public before.  

The gallery already archives over two million photos, and all 10 million photos will eventually be scanned.  According to the Associated Press over 97 percent of LIFE’s photos have not been seen by the public.  

The archive alone is a treasure chest of unmeasurable educational value.  Students being able to view this content will enrich and impact their lives in a single visit.  

The possibilities for the LIFE Photo Archive in education are endless. I am excited to learn how teachers will incorporate this awesome content into their classrooms and lessons. The photos are allowed to be used for free, even printed out, as long as they are not being used in attempt to make money.

At the very least… no more excuses for lack of incredible imagery for PowerPoint and Keynote presentations.  Use this searchable database and access 10 million incredible photos.

I plan to start using the LIFE Photo Archive in my presentations, as journal starters for my students, enrich my podcasts and educational websites, incorporate into SmartBoard content, and a virtual field trips to discuss literary elements. History teaches will be delighted to learn that the photos span from the 1750s to today. The photos are excellent for all content and all ages.

A note from Google: Search tip

Add “source:life” to any Google image search and search only the LIFE photo archive. For example: computer source:life

FlashMath is an inexpensive application for the iPod Touch allowing students to be tested on Math facts.  This app allows for complete control over the types of questions and the level of difficulty.  The user has a lot of options to customize this fun Math game.   You can set the app to ask a certain number of questions and choose the numbers from which it will choose from, so you can set it for bigger numbers (up to 1000) and more questions for more advanced math learning.   Flash Math quizzes you on Addition, Subtraction, Division and Multiplication, and allows negative answers.  You can even add in a progressive timer to make it more challenging.

Wired Educator gives this Educational App a thumbs up for both classroom usability as well as price.  You can purchase it at the iTunes store.

FlashMath: .99 cents, customizable, engaging, works, buy it

This is one of many educational apps I will be reviewing here on Wired Educator.  I have submitted a proposal to present An iPod Touch in Every Classroom as a possible presentation at the eTech Conference in Columbus, Ohio in February 2009.  If accepted I will be demonstrating how I use an iPod Touch as a learning tool to reach students.  I will show how the iPod Touch combined with Flip Video for podcasting, educational apps like this one, and much, much more can impact student learning.