The Cultured Web

A Smithsonian site -- Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg

2010-09-27T21:40:00.000-04:00

I am continually looking for museum websites with interesting content and the Smithsonian has achieved that again. It was a surprise to learn George Lucas has at least 36 works of Norman Rockwell and Steven Spielberg 21. Their passion of collecting these works comes from their youth and the Saturday Evening Post. There is a pattern of their own collection, maybe patterns, can you see them? If you have some time (30 minutes) take a look at this podcast, it is worth it. The art of story telling through visuals is ever present. You will definitely gain insight into Rockwell's creative process and wonderful delightful humor of daily living.

Steven Spielberg tells us why he likes this painting so much it is hanging in his office.
The site covers works spanning the years from 1917 to 1972 offering of a view of American life. Since Lucas and Spielberg enjoyed these works in their early teens perhaps some youngsters may enjoy hearing the stories too. It's fun to look at the pictures see what you think is going on, then hear Lucas and Spielberg relate the stories. Take some time and listen and enjoy, tell us what you think? What's happening in the picture here?

Mobile Sites and Regular Websites

2010-08-27T15:55:00.000-04:00

Before, during and after your outing you can look up websites using your mobile device such as an Iphone, IPad, Blackberry or Android Phone to prepare, complement, and review information of interest. Websites are being made to view on your smaller screens and give you the information in a format that is easier to see, yet offering the site in a compact viewing mode. Here is a screen shot of the the National Postal Service website in the "Normal" view:

Now here's a screen capture of the same site on a mobile device:

This option is just beginning as web developers program for mobile devices. Please note you will find if there is a mobile option on the regular site, or the mobile device will pick it up automatically.

Time to enjoy and catch up while in transit. Recently, I was at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC viewing the Matisse show. It was very crowded and I was tired. I looked at their podcast that I had downloaded and saw the text and highlights of the show were included, so I did not have to stand in front of a wall trying to read the descriptions as people passed by.

Fashion...shoes and the economy

2010-08-11T15:17:00.001-04:00


Shoe Museum - Toronto, Canada

The New York Times published an OP-Art...On the Heels of a Recession with photos of shoes from 1938, 1943, 1974, and 2010 respectively. Interesting to see how styles are effected by world financials. The credits on this article noted two museums, one in Toronto, Canada - The Bata Shoe Museum and the other in Florence, Italy - Museo Salvatore Ferragamo. Both museums websites have wonderful photos of shoes and a slice of life, styles and financial history that impacted the fashion of the times.

Take a look at these shoes, can you guess the country of origin and what they were used for? Use the comment space to tell up what you think!

James Taylor's Guitar Vault

2010-07-07T08:51:00.000-04:00

WolframAlpha

2010-04-19T16:09:00.003-04:00

I listed WolframAlpha back in July of 2009. Things have been moving along with this wonderful tool. I have an app on my iphone which recently they reduced from $50 to $1.99 which was an interesting marketing move. It can also be downloaded for the ipad. If you watch the introductory video you we get an excellent idea what can be done. I just wish educators in Elementary and Secondary schools were taught how to integrate this into their curricula. Here is a link to the video, enjoy! What do you think?

What do you think of these sites?

2010-04-05T20:55:00.008-04:00

When reviewing new websites, I think what age and subject most appropriate for the site. I usually come to the conclusion that many sites have a versatility and depends on the viewer. A creative person may use the site for various subjects and ages. I would appreciate your input of what YOU think. Vogel 50x50 is a site about a couple who were art collectors amassing a collection of more than 4,000 pieces during their marriage. Both were civil servants they lived on one salary and the other salary was used for their art collecting. There is also a film on the Vogels that would be a nice complement to this site. It is one of the Netflix films, Herb & Dorothy and worthwhile seeing.

The Global Museum on Communism is a virtual museum, a project of the non-project, non-partisan Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, established on December 17, 1993. This site is packed full of information, I question why the site is not rendered in various languages? Perhaps one day is will be. What enables these tyrannical leaders to come into power and carry out their heinous acts of terror, murder, torture, repression of people and their rights? I find their childhoods reveal a lot, thus my interest and strong desire to address our youth especially those who are troubled.

The third site is an interactive site produced by the Museum of Natural History in New York, Traveling the Silk Road, has lots of interactive parts to it. Just frustrated because either my connection is problematic or the site is too busy or has issues. So I will try it again when I am where connectivity is better! Let me know if you have issues viewing the site.

Do Shoe Styles Reflect the Economic Times?

2010-03-24T08:40:00.003-04:00

Fashion Institute of New York has an exhibit: Scandal Sandals and Lady Slippers: A History of Delman Shoes. Beautifully crafted shoes appear in the news constantly, but of late the heels are so thin and long, 3 to 4 inches. How do women walk in them? I did a search on expensive women's shoes and found websites that are a few years old. Developing websites on expensive shoes in this economy (2009-2010) is not happening, but there are references to earlier sites, take a look at some of these extraordinary shoes (2008)....and note their price tag!
Many of the Delman shoes are viable for wearing today, but what would they cost? Walking around we see most people wearing shoes that are not made of leather, appear to be more durable and sporty as many other clothing items.

To Facebook or Not to Facebook

2010-02-19T08:12:00.001-05:00

I used this to show how to change some of the privacy settings to make it safer for your teens and yourself. People like the various apps available and the linking to other accounts such as Twitter, WordPress, Blogger, etc.
Hope this helps you too..

To Facebook or Not to Facebook

View more presentations from Marcia Mayper.

Babies from Around the World

2009-12-05T08:42:00.015-05:00

This documentary will be released in April 2010. Here's a testimony that babies are babies all around the world. I love the end of this small preview and look forward to seeing this documentary!

This visually stunning new movie simultaneously follows four babies around the world - from first breath to first steps. From Mongolia to Namibia to San Francisco to Tokyo, Babies joyfully captures on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all.

The Science of 350 - Global Warming

2009-12-04T18:20:00.005-05:00

Scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity. Now we are at 387. Learn more about 350 - what it means, where it came from, and how to get there. Get involved, see the local cities and what they are doing...
I have wanted to put this post up for a while. I really admire the founders of this website and do hope parents and teachers will share it with their children. Next weekend Dec. 11-13 2009 during the Copenhagen climate conference there be many activities and discussions around the world to share our efforts to reduce the global warming. Several weeks ago I was in a local high school science class where they were learning about CO2. The bulletin boards had no mention - especially of this website.
Our school children can brainstorm how they may make an effort to effect a positive change to lower CO2.
Here are a few suggestions, please let us hear from you too!

Turn off unnecessary lights
Wash your clothes with a full wash
Walk to school if you live within a mile
Eat seasonal foods
Eat LOCAL when possible

Please visit the website see what's happening around the world and locally...

Teach to the Child NOT to the Test - The Cultured Web Makes the Top 20

2009-12-03T17:25:00.003-05:00

Thank YOU for support! We will continue to post outstanding sites.

Love,
The Cultured Web

YOUtopia - The Free Range Youtopia Grant

2009-11-20T19:07:00.008-05:00

Free Range Studios in celebration of their 10th Anniversary is offering two grants of $15,000. One grant to a non profit and another for profit or hybrid. The grant will offer the winners services from Free Range Studios to design a web site, marketing campaign or their services to help further the mission and help the cause of the applicant.

Take a look at Free Range Studios to see the wonderful work they do! We have been admiring their work for a long time....mooooo!

Here are the steps to vote for our project - Teach to the Child, not to the TEST!
Click on this link
You will be taken to this page and click on the Signup at the top right of the page
After you click Signup you will get to another page that looks like this:

Now click on Signup

You will get the next page to fill in your information, it should look something like this:

After you fill in this info you can sign-in, FINALLY, and click on the Education tab on the right.

Go to Teach to the Child NOT to the TEST! and cast your vote for three which is the maximum for this category.

You may vote for any category and you get 3 votes for each one...yes, a bit confusing...I appreciate you helping me out...and if you need more help, let me know and I will walk you through...THANKS!!!! This means a lot to me!!!

The deadline is December 1st. Please tell your friends, families, whomever!!!

Thanksgiving....already?

2009-10-19T09:21:00.007-04:00

The Plimoth Plantation Museum in Plymouth, Mass., created this awarding winning site in 2003 and it still ROCKS! I have used it with very young children - kindergarten and 12 year old +(PLUS). There is a comprehensive teacher guide on the site. The site gets busy as the holiday approaches November 26th (2009), so if you need there is the capability to download the entire site (an external hard disk will be need - ask your technology person for assistance) so you don't need to be connected to the Internet and it still may be viewed.
The History Channel has more information that adds to the interesting information such as a menu of what may have been offered for their celebration. Perhaps a discussion may ensue as to why ham may not have been put on the menu. Were they smoking and preserving hams for the winter? The early settlers had to learn to adapt to their new surroundings and the native Americans were helpful to them. Do you know how?

Beginnings...the Canadian, SFU Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology created a website, A Journey into Time Immemorial, both cultures-Canadians and Americans lived near the shore, compare the lifestyles of the two, how are they similar? Or different? How was a woolly dog integrated into their lives and how was it useful? These and other parallels of the evolution of cultures may be found on this website.

Please take the time to review these sites, use the whole site or parts that work for your students and you. Let us know what you think.

New Season, Energies, and Mind Stimulation

2009-08-31T10:58:00.008-04:00

(CLICK ON TITLE TO SEE THIS SITE)
I am very fond of The Visual Thesaurus. I saw it several years ago at a Museum and Web conference. This site made me sit up and take notice of what was happening on the Web and an idea of what was coming with interactives. I use the Visual Thesaurus to look up synonyms or to stimulate ideas of other words that may help express my thoughts better. Learning and seeing go hand in hand for me, I am definitely a visual learner. I subscribe to the Visual Thesaurus and have given it as a gift. There are special annual rates for schools. Vocabgrabber added in May 2009 is a wonderful new add-on feature. You can cut and paste text and it pulls out words and gives you their part of speech and a definition. Words are classified into several groups: Geography, People, Social Studies, Arts and Literature, Math, Science and Vocabulary. Please try it for yourself, let me know what you think.

Did you have a Piggy Bank as a kid? - Museum of American Finance

2009-08-25T09:47:00.008-04:00

I had a cash register savings bank that when I put money into it a bell rang, it was fun, but I was more concerned how to get the money OUT! As a kid I had a bank account, but was not watching how it grew, and it grew so slow! Learning about how to manage your finances that are controlled by you, for you is a skilled not taught in our schools nor many families. This museum offers some interesting insights and may spur thoughts of how to manage finances and possible options available to you.
The current exhibit focuses on Women and Money.

In a Digital Future - or not so future - Textbooks Are History

2009-08-12T09:57:00.003-04:00

This article appeared in the New York Times on August 9, 2009

Recently, I weighed a textbook belonging to a high school student and it confirmed what I thought, "....it's so heavy, expensive, old, and one dimensional...". This article confirms what I have been thinking and talking about for several years.
I have been entering international museum and cultural web sites into a database, The Cultured Web. Ultimately The Cultured Web search tool will generate a relational visual result. Serving as a complement and supplement to the on-line textbooks and because of its content will be safe and not compromised by filters placed on searches and sites by IT administrators. Some of the noteworthy sites have been included in this blog, please take a look and tell me what you think!

Lego Millyard Project

2009-08-11T16:24:00.011-04:00

I subscribe to a blog ExhibiTricks written by the "chief instigator" Paul Orselli. I get an email informing me of a new listing on his blog from time to time. I really like what Paul talks about and shows. Even though this online reference to the Lego Millyard Project is focused on visiting the museum, the concept can be a valuable educational resource. For students studying CAD this adds value and a lot of other attributes: planning, collaboration, and history etc. I enjoyed seeing the collaboration of Lego working with: SEE Science Center in Manchester N.H., FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), CLD Consulting Engineers, and NELUG (the New England LEGO® Users Group) to make this a reality. The City of Manchester also sponsored this project. The Manchester Historic Association provided research materials, and awarded SEE with an Historic Preservation Award for the project in 2006.
You can get the details of this project on their site.
Flickr has many photos here is a link for one, ENJOY! and thanks to Paul for instigating!

I would like to see a project like in my town, and yes it can be scaled down quite a bit, for students studying CAD (computer aided design), historic structures, architecture, etc. Every town has a historic or noteworthy structure to be replicated.

LOUVRE - Click here to enter

2009-08-04T14:51:00.017-04:00

Before you enter the LOUVRE by clicking on the title, let me give you a bit of background and some insights.
Here is the main page of their site, they know you are in an English speaking country. Take a moment to look around....
Please take note that this website has material for Young People (under 26) but rather disappointing sparse and no interactivity.

Another interesting find on their site were offerings for classes for Social Workers.

The parts of the museum where virtual tours were created, and seeing the collection that has been included in this site, with brief cartoon type stories are delightful and makes you want to remain on the site for a while, or fly out to Paris...

Are you a Birder?? Or interested in Birds...

2009-07-31T13:22:00.003-04:00

I must admit I am not a birder, but I enjoy watching nature and birds are a vital part of our universe. Recently I obtained several guinea fowl. People say they are noisy, but for me that is their communication talking and each sound means something, though I must admit I don't understand them all yet, but I am learning. The warning of a predator is obvious and they do make a racket! They have been characterized as dumb, and I feel that term is a bit harsh. Perhaps if you observe their behavior we, humans, can reconnect with our earthly life sources. It takes time, so be patient.

This is an excellent database of Birds. The Cornell site of Ornithology is worth a view as well and there are materials for teachers.

WolframAlpha - computational knowledge engine...

2009-07-31T12:14:00.003-04:00

First watch the Overview Video, try entering your birthday, your city etc. This is a new venture and will take some time for it to evolve. You will need to play with the correct wording, but the results generated are quite interesting.

Can you KENKEN?

2009-03-20T08:56:00.003-04:00

Will Shortz has moved to another numerical brainteaser, KenKen, which is somewhat like Sodoku, but this is Math...don't get put off by this, it is a lot of fun. The game was invented by a teacher in Tokyo to help kids learn math; kenken means "cleverness squared" in Japanese. Time Magazine, the New York Times have write ups of this new wonderful teaching/learning tool, can you KenKen?

We Tell Stories - Penguin Press

2009-03-16T13:43:00.003-04:00

Billed as an Internet-Age Storytelling, We Tell Stories, has won the best in show at the 2009 Southwest Interactive Conference. This site can be used for a wide age range, fill in the blanks, travel with the story, let me know which of the six is your favorite. Why, any comments? Please!!

The Opera and Puppetry

2009-03-11T11:33:00.007-04:00

Last Saturday at a local theatre in Great Barrington, MA, Madama Butterfly was broadcasted from the MET in New York City. I thought the puppet was wonderful and it stimulated thoughts to use with children. Reading stories with the children and creating puppets with them, planning them out, and then have the students perform using their puppets. On Blind Summit's web site look at some of their other wonderful puppets. I note here that when I say children we can use this with students of all ages.
The puppet was manipulated by three puppeteers, one controlled the hands, another the feet and another the head, they also looked like they truly enjoyed their roles.

See what is noted about this creative use of puppetry:

The new Madama Butterfly made by the English National Opera, Lithuanian National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, Madam Butterfly's child, known sometimes as "Sorrow" and sometimes as "Trouble" is played by a puppet. Blind Summit created the puppets and made the puppetry happen.

"The production really felt like a pivotal moment for UK Puppetry"
D. Max Pryor, British Council On Tour Magazine

Love him or hate him, this little guy certainly caused a fuss:

“In the aisles and lobbies during the second intermission of the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” which opened the season on Monday night before a star-studded audience, patrons could be overheard heatedly debating the puppet used to portray Butterfly’s little boy.

This nonspeaking minor character is typically played by a cute child in a sailor suit. In this production the director Anthony Minghella has introduced a small puppet boy manipulated by three puppeteers cloaked in black who stand behind him. The child moves with eerily human gestures, and his baldish head has a wizened, hopeful yet anxious look.

Some people thought it was “more real than any real child they could have had,” as one patron put it. Others thought it was intriguing but very strange. Somewhere in the house, Peter Gelb, the new general manager of the Met, must have been beaming.
New York Times, 29.9.06

Say it Plain - A Century of Great African American Speeches

2009-02-20T21:25:00.004-05:00

During this Black History month listen to the great African American Orators.

TED - Technology, Education, Design

2009-02-19T09:09:00.003-05:00

I am listening and watching a performance at TED by the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra. Wondering how long it took to get these young musicians to get to this point. What were their lives before? How has this experience and skill impacted them and their families? Yes, ART and CULTURE is the CORE of education - and is too often the first to face budget cuts. Let's wake up and develop the inner talents and interests of our youth.

The Tenement Museum

2009-02-18T17:31:00.004-05:00

The Tenement Museum located on New York's Lower Eastside has made a substantial improvement to reach out to viewers and get them to interact. This part of the site is so appropriate to middle aged school children.

I recently asked some 8 graders if they knew what countries their families came from before living in the United States. Many did not know, they did not realize their names indicated where their families emigrated from. Take a tour of what life was like coming from various corners of the world and settling on New York's Lower Eastside.

Jazz at Lincoln Center - Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame

2009-01-27T19:40:00.003-05:00

This part of the web site for Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York possesses an excellent database of famous jazz musicians from the 1890's. The site gives a history timeline and a jukebox. Try it, enjoy the music, try the Trivia Quiz!

New York Antiques Show

2009-01-27T19:20:00.003-05:00

I have always loved this show, it's in a great location the Armory on Park Avenue and 67th Street near Hunter College. The entry fee is $20 which includes the catalogue and is good buy these days. Proceeds go to a good cause, East Side Settlement House in the Bronx http://www.eastsidehouse.org/.

Bibliotheque Nationale de France

2008-12-11T18:49:00.006-05:00

This site may be viewed in French or English. The contents of the site spans photography, calligraphy, Rembrandt, Medieval Bestiary and other subjects. The visuals on this site may be used with various ages and subjects. Some of the areas of study that may benefit from this site include Writing, Social Sciences, History, and Art.

Take a Break - Robins Williams in London

2008-12-04T21:19:00.014-05:00

One of favorite comedians, the Brits get a great laugh as we Americans.

Why the Cultured Web?

2008-11-29T07:58:00.008-05:00

I suppose I should have done this first, but better late than never..

I taught elementary school right out of college. The school was across the street from my home. I relieved teachers during their 45 minute break. It became apparent very quickly the children needed to move. That concept was not always accepted in an environment where young children were expected to sit quietly for long periods of time. I taught first grade the following year, just to think some of these children didn't know how to hold a pencil! I integrated many new techniques, sometimes "exotic" activities, such as who could create the biggest bubble with their bubble gum, yes, we discuss size, how to....get it off your face after it burst. Every child's art work was displayed, much to the dismay of the administration, "...it was messy...".

I left teaching to live in Europe, where I taught English to executives for a couple of years. Upon my return, I got a position teaching on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, in a Junior High school, I taught English. Books and supplies were always lacking, the neighborhood was being incinerated (1970's) and drugs were rampant. I knew I had to bring in things to expand their worlds. I believed (and still do) I had to introduce them to the best literature, even if I had to read to them, which I did often . I wanted to get them out of the school and past their neighborhood boundary of 14th street, where most rarely ventured. The city's museums served us well, the Donnell Film Library offered relevant films such as the Miracle Worker with Ann Bancroft, MOMA, Guggenheim, Museum of Natural History just to site a few. After 10 years, I left for a better school, a new school, a new neighborhood.

IS 226 in Queens, NY was deemed a Chancellor school, the principal introduced the school as innovative, it had a longer day....yes, parents could pick their children up after work. Sadly, I lasted one year, and ultimately left the NYC Public School system. I have fond memories as a 5th grade English teacher/mentor during the year. I trained a group of children to run the mini-marathon in Central Park, running around the school for training, much to the chagrin of the Principal. We read, watched, and acted out some of the great classics, The Red Pony, The Telltale Heart, Of Mice and Men and Nosferatu (first Dracula film). My desires of what I wanted to be as teacher/mentor, and how to educate were being challenged too often.

I marketed word processors for Philips. Then worked for Data General, one of my accounts was Carnegie Hall. Training was sorely needed, "...ah, back to teaching..", what I enjoy doing most. I left DG, and started Innovative Computing, teaching the entire staff at Carnegie Hall. A perfect milieu, challenging applications to develop, intelligent people, the arts, and freedom to develop classes as needed. I stayed for 3.5 years. WordPerfect offered a certification which I achieved giving me a phenomenal foundation into the guts of computing. I then moved on to Goldman Sachs for one year. At that time the buzz of the Internet was heard, the graphical interface had evolved. I was asked by BBN - Bolt, Bernanek, Newman to find a space to demonstrate the Internet using Mosaic in NYC. In return I was able to attend a 3 day seminar. I remember being unable to sit still, I knew what was coming. NY Magazine featured Innovative Computing twice: MAC Daddy and Webbed Feat....my passion for the web grew, I see it as the library of the world.

In 1998 I attended my first Museums and Web conference and decided these website have to be introduced to the teaching and learning community as a major resource, with potential of replacing many heavy, expensive, old, boring textbooks. The Internet afforded safe, interactive, edutaining, prime source materials to anyone with connectivity and a computer. I search many resources for museum and cultural web sites with educational components. I am always seeking new sites, so if you know of any please let me know and I will enter them into the database: theculturedweb.com.

Magnum Photos

2008-11-09T13:14:00.007-05:00

This site is owned and operated by the photographers shown on this site. Their chronicles of the world events and happenings is truly the best I have seen. Take a look, what do you think?

BABBEL - Having Fun Learning a Foreign Language

2008-11-06T09:47:00.010-05:00

Bravo, Brava, Bravi...a well done site to learn a language. Begin with basics, and expand your vocabulary to various timely conversations. Try it, see if it works for you. We think this is a great complement to textbook learning, what do you think? We'd like to hear what you think.

The Renaissance Begins - Barack Obama

2008-11-05T11:56:00.005-05:00

The 44th President of the United States with his beautiful, loving, and intelligent family will grace our Whitehouse. Rumor has it that as promised the girls will get their puppy, a poodle! Tell us what you think....

Film: The Duchess

2008-10-31T17:44:00.005-04:00

Impressed with the web site, and the historical data and how it is shown on the site. Gives a real taste of the styles, politics and history of the times and people. The politics of the times with the Whigs and Tories may have some insight into the fashions, socio-politics of the times. Much to learn from the movies or to entice you know more.

Bedazzled - 5000 Years of Jewelry

2008-10-26T17:07:00.002-04:00

The Walters Art Museum is one of few museums in the world that can provide an array of exquisite jewelry from over 5,000 years of world history and from a vast spectrum of cultures. This exhibition of more than 200 highlights from the Walters’ collection-- many of them never displayed before-- presents the evolution of techniques and materials throughout the ages, and demonstrates the importance of jewelry as an expression of creativity, and often wealth and position. A special focus will be placed on finger rings throughout history, with important examples on loan from the distinguished collection of the New York gemologist Benjamin Zucker.

Newseum - Washington D.C.

2008-10-22T06:44:00.005-04:00

You will need the Flash player to enjoy this page of their web site. This museum claims to be the...World's Most Interactive Museum....take a look. I was amused to see they are housed in a building offering apartments.

Picasso at the Grand Palais

2008-10-16T16:25:00.003-04:00

The Grand Palais in Paris has an exhibit of paintings by many famous artists with Picasso's interpretation...this is a slide show made available by the Herald Tribune.
"The curators have pulled out all the stops for this impressive display which reads like a who's who of art, past and present. Using the paintings of Picasso as a guide, the exhibition takes in, among others, Greco, Vélasquez, Goya, Zurbarán, Ribera, Le Nain, Dubois, Chardin, David, Ingres, Delacroix, Manet, Courbet, Lautrec, Degas, Cézanne, Renoir, Gauguin, Titian, Rembrandt and Van Gogh"

TED - Technology, Education, Design

2008-10-16T13:29:00.005-04:00

TED offers a great array of speakers about important topics that relate to our living on this earth, inspirational talks, achievements, and talks of understanding things, people and answers to the WHYs....one of my favorites is Sir Ken Robinson - Do Schools Kill Creativity - if you are interested in Education this is a must!

Quilts, geometry, collaboration, history....

2008-09-24T14:05:00.011-04:00

Here is a fairly new web site from the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, an affiliate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. What can we learn and teach from this collection of quilts? The collection reflect a piece of American History as noted by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, "Much of the Social History of early America has been lost to us precisely because women were expected to use needles rather than pens. Yet if textiles are in one sense an emblem of women's oppression, they have also been an almost universal medium of female expression."

Free Rice

2008-09-12T10:28:00.005-04:00

Free Rice has added additional challenges take a look, wonderful for students!

Caroline Kaars Sypersteyn

2008-09-07T21:16:00.004-04:00

The Atrium Gallery - Simon's Rock College
August 23rd - October 3rd 2008

Welcome to Shaker Country!

2008-09-04T09:59:00.003-04:00

I created this video to upload to YouTube. I decided to take photos I have and scan them then using IMovie I created this brief video. The music was from Verdant Groves...lovely.

Flickr - Creative Commons

2008-08-14T13:28:00.003-04:00

This photo was taken in Brooklyn, New York, I wonder where in Brooklyn? - Vintage 1910

National Museum of American Indian - Smithsonian

2008-08-14T12:41:00.003-04:00

The Smithsonian-National Museum of American Indian just sent out announcement for this site and virtual tour. Bravo, really nicely done, sparks a desire to go and see the exhibit!

Robin Williams

2008-08-07T14:17:00.003-04:00

Time for some good laughs....especially before the election

Alltop

2008-08-03T06:47:00.005-04:00

Alltop is culling information into categories, this is their description:

We help you explore your passions by collecting stories from “all the top” sites on the web. We’ve grouped these collections — “aggregations” — into individual Alltop sites based on topics such as environment, photography, science, Muslim, celebrity gossip, military, fashion, gaming, sports, politics, automobiles, and Macintosh. At each Alltop site, we display the headlines of the latest stories from dozens of sites and blogs.

You can think of an Alltop site as a “digital magazine rack” of the Internet. To be clear, Alltop sites are starting points—they are not destinations per se. The bottom line is that we are trying to enhance your online reading by both displaying stories from the sites that you’re already visiting and helping you discover sites that you didn’t know existed. In other words, our goal is the “cessation of Internet stagnation” by providing “aggregation without aggravation.”
Dan Roam, author of Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems with Pictures, used these two pictures to explain Alltop vis-à-vis Google. Second, here is a review by Sarah Perez in ReadWriteWeb.

TECHNORATI

2008-07-28T15:25:00.001-04:00

Technorati Profile

Randy Pausch

2008-07-27T09:19:00.007-04:00

Randy Pausch is an inspiration to many. His talk: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams may be seen on various venues, the link here takes you to YouTube source. There are several reasons I have included Randy on my blog. His dedication and creativity as an educator, inspirational speaker, husband and father, the Alice Project, encouragement for women to study computer science.

Buckminster Fuller Exhibit @ the Whitney - NYC

2008-07-24T08:39:00.002-04:00

Well done, Bravo - worth a visit, as an 11 year old noted "....this museum requires more time...."

The New Museum - New York City

2008-07-21T19:07:00.004-04:00

An 11 year old visiting from Sydney Australia and I went to see this museum recommended by a friend. The corrugated walled elevator was fun. The museum was not our favorite, the building is quite interesting, space in NYC is lovely...Decided to move on to the Whitney Museum

BLOGS

2008-07-16T07:29:00.011-04:00

BLOGS - instead of "having to have" a web site a blog is a fantastic solution and a great start. Easy to set up, modify and very flexible. This morning I found a blog called the Heirloom Gardener that explained how to dry Annabelle Hydrangea blossoms, I am trying to see if drying by this method works!

Flickr

2008-06-11T12:19:00.003-04:00

I am linking my Flickr accounttake a look....

Free Rice and Visual Thesaurus

2008-06-10T18:07:00.002-04:00

Last nite my friends were over for dinner. I mentioned the many web sites that are so intriguing and well worth some time. I opened Free Rice without knowing my friend is a wordsmith. He really was buzzing along, and getting most of the correct answers. I must admit, cheat a bit, using the Visual Thesaurus. I love it's visual representation of words, and related synonyms and antonyms are so helpful. My preferences are set to also give me the French words. Finally I was able to get him away from the computer so we may have dinner. I must admit, I get such pleasure in introducing the gems of the web to folks he enjoy and can learn from the sites.

Searchme - Beta

2008-05-08T08:23:00.004-04:00

Searchme.com - A new visual search tool that is currently in beta testing. Makes searching the web easier, especially for the visual learner. You see what the site looks like, similar to a book jacket. A brief description of the site is located at the bottom of the screen. Your search words are noted in the search screen with a rectangle in a primary color. More to come as I gain familiarity with this tool and using it. It currently has many sites, but as a beta it is still in development.

PodCamps

2008-04-24T19:57:00.003-04:00

Just learned today about the PodCamp Community Unconference. They are for new media enthusiasts interested in but not limited to blogging, podcasting, YouTube, and social networking. Here's the link: http://podcamp.pbwiki.com/ I am considering attending the one in Boston, July 19-20.

Gaming as an educational tool?

2008-04-17T06:15:00.001-04:00

Launchball (http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/launchpad/launchball/) offers a wonderful challenge to get the ball to the goal using the tools offered to overcome the obstacles. Not for science only! This is life situations to use some basic solutions to reach a goal. Collaboration is possible. WARNING this site may be addictive ;). Try it, you'll like it. Do you have other sites with great games? Please let us know.

This game may be used to track your ability to solve the puzzle, perhaps with a chart, or spreadsheet. Groups of students may want to work on these together and then create one of their own! If they do let the Science Museum know what you have developed, share your creativity.

What is The Cultured Web?

2008-04-14T18:19:00.004-04:00

The Cultured Web will note outstanding museums, cultural web sites and Web2.0 tools possessing an educational component. We search for the best award winning sites to be used by students, educators, and lifelong learners.

We value your input as well, so we look forward to hearing from you.