Bits and Bytes

The original project:

• http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/projects/wii/

Since the Wiimote can track sources of infrared (IR) light, you can track pens that have an IR led in the tip. By pointing a wiimote at a projection screen or LCD display, you can create very low-cost interactive whiteboards or tablet displays. Since the Wiimote can track upto 4 points, up to 4 pens can be used. It also works great with rear-projected displays.

• Johnny Lee’s TED Talks Presentation

Presentation Software - (Windows)

University of Washington - Classroom Presenter

• http://classroompresenter.cs.washington.edu/

Classroom Presenter is a Tablet PC-based interaction system that supports the sharing of digital ink on slides between instructors and students. As a tool, Classroom Presenter enables the flexible delivery of lecture content and can increase student engagement and understanding of material. It allows the integration of digital ink and electronic slides, making it possible to combine the advantages of whiteboard style and slide-based presentation. The ability to link the instructor and student devices, and to send information back and forth, provides a mechanism for introducing active learning into the classroom.

Although this software was written to take advantage of Tablet-PCs, it works very well with an interactive surface based on the Wiimote and Smoothboard software (see below).

Interactive White Board Software for the Wiimote - (Windows)

Wiimote Smoothboard - from what I’ve seen this is one of the best!

• http://www.boonjin.com/wp/

Features

Multiple Wiimotes Support - allows the usage of a secondary Wiimote for redundancy

• Primary and Secondary Wiimotes can be switched
• Primary Wiimote can be used to focus a specific screen area
• Activate Whiteboard Mode and Presenter Mode simultaneously

Configurable Screen Area Tracking - calibrate a selected screen area and/or select another display to be used as an interactive whiteboard.

Outside Screen Area Toggles

• Simulate Mouse Click - right click and double click
• Simulate Key Press - allows multiple key combinations
• Launch or execute any application/file which has a default viewer
• Notification Balloon - displays triggered events

Cursor Control Toolbar - resizable toolbar that allows quick toggles between left click, right click, double click and motion only cursor.

IR Calibration

• Viewable calibration setup to allow easier adjustments for greater tracking utilization
• Configurable infrared (IR) sensitivity to allow greater range or improved accuracy

Integrated Wiimote Presenter 0.2 - allows the control of the computer even when away from the screen

• Cursor Control - with a stationary IR source
• Key Press - using mapped Wiimote buttons
• Timers - tool to keep track of timings
• Compatible with pre-existing Wiimote Presenter files
• Laser Pointer Cursor

Easy switching between settings files - for Whiteboard Mode and Presenter Mode

Cursor Smoothing - reduces jagged lines when drawing in Whiteboard Mode and Presenter Mode

• http://www.uweschmidt.org/wiimote-whiteboard

Icon by: Francisco Cardoso Lima (Link to a very graphic rich introduction to using Wiimote Whiteboard.)

This program allows you to use the Wii Remote (Wiimote) to turn any surface into a Low-Cost Interactive Whiteboard. It is based on Johnny Lee’s original Wiimote Whiteboard program which was written in C# and available for Windows only. This program uses Java to allow for (some) platform-independence.  Although it is written to be platform independent, my experience with this application would suggest that it works much better on the Mac.

Features in a nutshell

• Runs on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux
• Simple User Interface available in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish
• Auto-connects up to 2 Wiimotes
• Camera Monitor and Calibration Details for better Wiimote placement
• Right-click support, double-click assistance
• Mouse cursor smoothing
• Screen selection
• Touchpad Mode
• Update notification
• TUIO/OSC support for multitouch applications

More details in the Wiki.

• Forum - http://www.wiimoteproject.com/index.php
• Wiki - http://wiki.wiimoteproject.com/Main_Page

social-networking-cards

Young Canadians in a Wired World

Initiated in 2000 by the Media Awareness Network (MNet), Young Canadians in a Wired World (YCWW) is the most comprehensive and wide-ranging study of its kind in Canada. The research project tracks and investigates the behaviours, attitudes, and opinions of Canadian children and youth with respect to their use of the Internet.

From focus group discussions, interviews with parents and national student surveys, MNet has harvested a wealth of information and insights about how Canadian youth, who are among the most connected in the world, are using the Internet. The research raises a number of issues that demand society’s attention and, more importantly, highlights the importance of adult involvement and education as key responses in helping young people make wise online decisions.

Both of the videos in this post are available for viewing on the Teachers.tv web site.

School Matters - Online Social Networks - Friend or Foe?

Synopsis

The rise of online social networking has brought a new dimension to social interaction. In this programme, we look at the technology behind sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Bebo, exploring the issues that they raise for teachers.

This is the first generation that has the technical means to offer a running commentary on every aspect of their lives. This fact has sparked a debate on whether this technology, an ever increasing part of children’s lives, is a force for good, or an opportunity for cyber-bullying to proliferate.

If negative aspects can be dealt with, these technological advances could potentially alter the dynamics of future schooling; transforming the traditional lecture model into increasing group interaction and dialogue, into learning that’s “caught rather than taught”.

Experts and users explain how social networking is affecting the way this generation relates to each other in and out of cyberspace, and how the technology can be harnessed to benefit learning.

Published: 4 February 2008

KS3/4 ICT - Online Safety

Synopsis

This programme outlines simple classroom activities to help teachers to take practical steps to keep pupils safe online and to increase awareness of the potential dangers of internet usage.

E-safety consultant Dr Alan Beecham visits Rhodesway Secondary School in Bradford to work with a group of Year 9 students. Humanities teacher Haroon Gardee and Year 7 inclusion manager Max Crowther join Dr Beecham to gauge pupils’ reaction to a fictitious profile they created on a social networking site.

Another activity highlights the dangers of sharing too much information, while a further task focuses on security and privacy settings.

At Stocksbridge High School in Sheffield, e-safety officers apply an internet safety policy, run parental awareness evenings, and act as a point of contact for pupils.

Published: 12 May 2008

This centre contains a 48″ SMART Board.   It is available for short term loan from Educational Technology Support Services.

Please contact ETSS by email to request the learning centre and specify some possible dates.

This centre contains a Casio Electronic Keyboard.  It is available for short term loan from Educational Technology Support Services.

Please contact ETSS by email to request the learning centre and specify some possible dates.

This centre contains an H4 recorder, up to 10 computer microphones and a digital voice recorder.  It is available for short term loan from Educational Technology Support Services.

Please contact ETSS by email to request the learning centre and specify some possible dates.

This centre contains Eight (8) Lego Mindstorms kits and  is available for short term loan from Educational Technology Support Services.

Please contact ETSS by email to request the learning centre and specify some possible dates.

For those teachers interested in the PD offerings from the Educational Technology Team download the following PDF.

Educational Technology PD postings