Talks Andrea Ghez: The hunt for a supermassive black hole

With new data from the Keck telescopes, Andrea Ghez shows how state-of-the-art adaptive optics are helping astronomers understand our universe's most mysterious objects: black holes. She shares evidence that a supermassive black hole may be lurking at the center of the Milky Way.

Google now has "BOOKS" as a category!

Google Books Settlement Agreement

Important Update: On November 19, 2009, the Court granted preliminary approval of the Amended Settlement. If you're an author, publisher, or copyright holder, please visit the settlement administration site for information.

The Future of Google Books

Our groundbreaking agreement with authors and publishers.

Three years ago, the Authors Guild, the Association of American Publishers and a handful of authors and publishers filed a class action lawsuit against Google Books.

Today we're delighted to announce that we've settled that lawsuit and will be working closely with these industry partners to bring even more of the world's books online. Together we'll accomplish far more than any of us could have individually, to the enduring benefit of authors, publishers, researchers and readers alike.

It will take some time for this agreement to be approved and finalized by the Court. For now, here's a peek at the changes we hope you'll soon see.

1. Book Search today
2. How Book Search will change
3. Three types of books
4. The Book Rights Registry
5. Libraries and universities
6. Looking forward

New! Read what people are saying about the Google Books settlement

The Muppets: Ringing of the Bells

Do you have to be over 35 to enjoy the Muppets? Who is your favourite Muppet character? Leave a comment and let us know. Have a Merry Christmas.

Our Legacy - Historical Info on Aboriginal Peoples of Saskatchewan

This is a great site where you can find historical information on Metis, First Nations, and Inuit people in Saskatchewan. When you go to the site you will see a list on the side of all the different regions that have material posted on the site.

Link to Main Site: Our Legacy

Northern Saskatchewan Archives has info from northern areas, but make sure you check out the other areas (Prince Albert Historical Society) as they also have items related to northern Sask.

The material on this site was made available to the public online by:
This site developed by the University of Saskatchewan Archives, University of Saskatchewan Library, and Pahkisimon Nuye?ah Library System

This is a must see site. Enjoy!

Connecting with change

Someone told me about TweetDeck a few months back and I filed it somewhere in the recess of my gray matter knowing that it would resurface when I needed it. What I remembered was that this was another way to leverage the "groupthink" of twitter for for my own purposes. We all have different reasons and applications for tools. My purpose in this was an effective a way to connect to professional learning network talk. This morning I selected a post from Alec Curous to one of his students. ( http://nwgnr.wordpress.com/2009/12/ ) It turned out to be an interesting glimpse of change. This is an e-portfolio of an undergraduate student at the University of Regina specializing in K-5 education. This person is an avid gamer with a learning philosophy that defines the teacher as "the most experienced student in the classroom".
I occasionally take the time to connect because I know that if I don't, I am .....disconnected and likely out of touch with the the daily changing digital world. I think that TweetDeck offers another way to quickly monitor the talk. The other side of this is being a part of change and being able to participate in the conversations.
The way we choose to use the tools around us defines our capabilities. If we expand our abilities to use new tools then we have one more way to interact with the world. Learning to use tools in a creative or innovative way is no different than a trapper in a remote area leveraging the materials at hand to get something done. Often circumstances suggest a new way to do something.

Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke of insight | Video on TED.com

Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke of insight | Video on TED.com

Shawn Atleo on The Hour

This 15 minute interview with Shawn Atleo, AFN Grand Chief, that George Strombolopolous did on The Hour, covers several areas. The intro is a quick overview of First Nations history. The item begins by talking about the meanings of Shawn's names, then touches on the issues and challenges he faces while in office and ends with him showing his impressive break dancing skills. Click here to watch it.

Searching this blog

We use this blog site to post a huge variety of interesting links to resources, ideas, offer inspiration, share accomplishments, and to occasionally rant at the moon. One of the results of these random postings is that it becomes difficult to find something we know was posted previously.
While we are busy posting new and fresh ideas, we still need the ability to find artifacts and re-visit posts from the past. Scrolling and searching through titles just doesn't cut it, but the new blog search tool (upper right top) is great for digging up previous topics.
Type a topic or keyword and see what you can find.
Cheers.

Working over Christmas Holidays

The great thing about online learning is its FLEXIBILITY. Although our office will be closed from Dec. 19-Jan. 3, 2010 you can still continue working on your classes. If you get stuck on a question, skip it and move on to the next section. You could also try researching your question on the internet or check it out using online tutor websites (ex. Math Tutor). Try asking a friend or family member to help you. If you have children you would be amazed how well they can work on computers. The key is to not give up and schedule time in to work on your classes. Pick a time and place that works for you. Remember if you are a "night owl" or an "early bird" work with it, don't fight your biological brain clock unless you want to work on changing it. For example, if you want to be an early bird train yourself by getting up 10-15 minutes earlier for a week, then 10-15 minutes earlier the next week, and so on. The body has a better chance of changing over time rather than shocking it with too much change, too soon.

Open Teaching and Learning

I was delighted to read about this worldwide system of providing open educational resources to everyone who has access to the Internet. Take a look by clicking on this link.

Youtube sensation from 2008!

Plato Web Learning Network

My name is Elizabeth Hill and I have been hired by Northlands College as the new PLATO Coordinator. PLATO is a web-based learning curriculum that delivers more than 5,000 hours of basic-to-advanced-level instruction in reading, writing, math, science, and life and work skills. Content can easily be adapted to meet individual needs, and learners can access the program 24/7 as along as they have access to the internet. Personalized instruction allows learners to work at their pace while improving skills and building knowledge. Anyone interested in learning more about PLATO Web Learning can contact Northlands College @ 1-888-311-1185

Being Appreciative

Feeling grateful to or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value in your life. - By Christian Northrup

It is interesting that you do not appreciate things until you no longer have them. For example when you are healthy you do not appreciate it until you are sick. We should always take the time out of our busy day to show our appreciation for others and be content with what we have.....

Equinox

just twice a year, day and night fall into perfect balance. Some claim that astronomical phenomenon, called equinox, inspires ancient structures to reveal hidden secrets.