I am guest blogging over at Arrica Lee’s blog RandomToxic.  The topic is PageRankToday.com.  I give a short post on the features and fun aspects of learning about your Google Page Rank (and other things).  Stop over and give her website a look.  RandomToxic is an eclectic collection of fun posts.

I provide some more "geeky" content about Computer and Technology to this fun site.

See you over at RandomToxic!

-Loren

With the rollout of my latest project (PageRankToday.com) I have needed to learn some Php Scripting.  Nothing like going back to school, but necessity is the mother of invention.  I have been hitting the books, both digital and paper with much success.  (Php and MySQL for Dummies is great) Surfing the net I stumbled across this great site: W3 Schools.com This site is full of information in actual online learning format including tests.  They push their certification program, but it is not necessary to access their entire website of tutorials. Here is some information from the homepage:

Web Building

TUTORIALS

Web Building

REFERENCES

Stop by the site and take a look, you will NOT be disappointed.

-Loren http://www.theteachingbox.com

More Guest Blogging – New Site

Arrica over at MochaQuest is shutting down her site, and has moved over to RandomToXic.  (so change your bookmarks)

I have a guest post up titled Carry your Digital Life with you on your Flashdrive.  Stop over to thier site and take a look.  She is just getting started, so drive some traffic.

She is updating and posting to her site so quickly that I have fallen back a couple pages, so I have the direct link to the post above.  Thanks for stopping by.

Let me know about what apps you use on your flash-drive.
What are your Favorites?
Any new cool suggestions?

-Loren

The Future of Education – What does it look like?

My readers and friends know that I am a part time educator as well as a technology geek.  I came upon this online tool and found it interesting because it satisfies both of my passions, education and technology.

While I was doing Graduate work in the area of Post Secondary Education I participated in many discussions about how to teach.  A large part of the challenge of teaching is connecting with the students and building the relationships.  As a Post Secondary Educator I am teaching young people who are NOT part of my generation.  I need to understand their worldview in order to make my teaching style and methods effective.

The people at KnowledgeWorks Foundation have put together a wonderful interactive tool they have called the Map of Future Forces Affecting Education.  If you are at all interested in the challenges facing the future of educating the next generation you MUST check this out.

In some ways this tool is relevant to everyone.  We are all educators.  One does not need to be standing in front of a classroom, or leading an online discussion group to be considered a teacher.  Yes, we have trained professionals among us to do the heavy lifting, but in this digital age we are all helping to educate.

The Map of Future Forces Affecting Education is an intuitive tool the foundation put together to help people understand what components will shape the future of education looking forward from 2006 to 2016.  I will state up front that I do not agree with all of the Trends, Dilemmas and Hotspots that are presented.  Nevertheless I do find them all interesting.

The basic concept behind the Future Forces Affecting Education and how to navigate the online tool can be explored through this short video presentation.

I challenge you to take a look at this tool and the concepts provided.  I realize that predicting the future is just that “a prediction“.  If we could see clearly into the future life would be pretty boring.  This project by the Knowledge Works Foundation is a collaborative work that helps us think and prepare for the future.

Now Go Forth and explore!  Leave me some comments about your thoughts on the interactive tool and how effective you think the technology is.  I am also interested in your thoughts about the content.  What forces would you add to this list?

-Loren
http://www.theteachingbox.com