Japan's Tragedy: How Technology Can Help

Reports from Japan continue to show the unbelievable devastation from Friday's earthquake and tsunami. Rescue efforts are underway, and it will be some time before this country can pick up the pieces and move on.

There are ways that technology can help. It's easy to send money online to the Red Cross, either by visiting their website, or through various vendors, such as Apple's iTunes, Amazon.com, and American Airlines (where AAdvantage members can earn miles for donating $50 or more), and Unicef, just to name a few.

Google's Crisis Response page provides a "person finder" tool to help locate lost loved ones:

ICE Conference Wrap Up

The 25th Annual ICE Conference (Feb. 22-25, 2011) may be history, but the learning continues. Wednesday's keynote speaker, Rushton Hurley provided a great resource to attendees, and I am now a subscriber to his Next Vista for Learning newsletter.  (Sign up here.)

The following is reprinted from the March issue:

Google Goodies 

Did you know there is a tool for recipes in Google search, allowing you to filter dishes by how many calories, how long they take to make, and which ingredients commonly go with whatever you searched on?  Neither did I!  Do a search on "lentils," look on the left, and click "recipes" to make your way to as calorie- and time-sensitive culinary delights as you choose.  Or just click here.  Culinary arts teachers, you are loved.

For the home economics teachers, give the Google wedding planner a look (I'm serious).  Someone is apparently going to win a dream wedding on that page.  Who'd have guessed?

You whose teaching includes coverage of current events, there's a YouTube tool you'll want to start following: CitizenTube.  At the moment this includes loads of videos from countries across the Middle East - a rather amazing lesson on democracy may only be a click away.

Finally, if you're wanting really creative takes on how to use Google tools, turn off the TV and take in the Google Demo Slam.  Be warned, though; this is one of those things that's hard to stop watching.  It's been going on for a while, and Monday (today, probably, as you read this), you can find out who the "Slampion" is.  I voted for the Japanese freefall skydiving-ish folks.

I echo Ruston's recommendation for the slam videos. They are great entertainment!
Spring, here we come!