Cool Conference

I would love to go to this conference, it’s NAME alone is inspiring!

clipped from ubi-learn.com The Ubiquitous Learning Conference investigates the uses of technologies in learning, including devices with sophisticated computing and networking capacities which are now pervasively part of our everyday lives’ from laptops to mobile phones, games, digital music players, personal digital assistants and cameras. The Conference explores the possibilities of new forms of learning using these devices not only in the classroom, but in a wider range of places and times than was conventionally the case for education. Ubiquitous Learning is made possible in part by the affordances of the new, digital media. What’s new about it? What’s not-so-new? What are the main challenges of access to these new learning opportunities? These are the key themes and scope and concerns of the Conference and its companion Journal.

Really Bad Powerpoint–make it better!

Ok, so I am not quite the ppt nazi that this guy is, but he makes a lot of good suggestions. I’m planning to present my work in Amman pretty soon, and I’ll be using these tips to do a better job.

Consider reading the whole article.

clipped from sethgodin.typepad.com Really Bad Powerpoint Powerpoint could be the most powerful tool on your computer. But it’s not. Countless innovations fail because their champions use PowerPoint the way Microsoft wants them to, instead of the right way. Don’t hand out print-outs of your slides. They don’t work without you there. Sound effects can be used a few times per presentation, but never use the sound effects that are built in to the program. Instead, rip sounds and music from CDs and leverage the Proustian effect this can have. If people start bouncing up and down to the Grateful Dead, you’ve kept them from falling asleep, and you’ve reminded them that this isn’t a typical meeting you’re running. No dissolves, spins or other transitions. No cheesy images. Use professional stock photo images. Bullets Are For the NRA Here are the five rules you need to remember to create amazing Powerpoint presentations: No more than six words on a slide. EVER. There is no presentation so complex that this rule needs to be broken.

Great Peace Corps News

Check it out–Peace Corps is an Ideal Employer–and learn more at the new YouTube Peace Corps Channel.

clipped from www.peacecorps.gov Peace Corps Ranked as a Top Ideal Employer by College Students in 2009 Universum Survey WASHINGTON, D.C., July 10, 2009 – The Peace Corps has been formally recognized by undergraduate college students as the #7 Most Ideal Employer to meet their career goals. The 2009 results are based upon a survey conducted by UNIVERSUM Communications, which gathered student’s perceptions of companies and expectations. More than 60,000 undergraduates and 6,000 MBAs participated in the Universum Student Survey 2009, representing more than 400 universities. clipped from www.peacecorps.gov Peace Corps Launches YouTube Channel Visuals provide inside view of Peace Corps Volunteer projects, history Washington, D.C., July 13, 2009 – Peace Corps acting Director Jody K. Olsen announced the launch of the new Peace Corps channel on YouTube: www.youtube.com/peacecorps.

Off to the Valley

I’m traveling to the village again, hope to be back Thursday and online Friday.  BTW, the forcast is sunny and over 100 degrees every day this week.  Yeesh…

Khhhhhhaaaaaannnnn

I need to name my project(s) too….

clipped from www.phdcomics.com

Working off-grid

I’m off to another site visit.  Will likely return Thursday to Internet land.  Enjoy life and happy (late) independence day!

I’m off

Heading out to the village, back online in a day or two or maybe more…

Iraqi Peacemaker Teams Visit Minnesota

I just heard about an interesting collaboration happening in my hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  A group of people hoping to make Najaf, Iraq a sister city of our fair Minne Apple are hosting an impressive cohort of Iraqis in September.  I received this News Blast:

The Iraqi’s are coming!

The Iraqi’s are coming!

As you know, the Iraqi & American Reconciliation Project, in conjunction with the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Peace Campaign: Focus on Iraq, WAMM, Friends for a Non-Violent World, and others are hosting a delegation of 12-15 Iraqis visiting the Twin Cities in the second half of September of this year.  They will be traveling here with Sami Rasouli, Iraqi-American and Muslim Peacemaker Teams director when he returns for an extended stay.

The delegate planning committee invites your support and participation. We are scheduling visits to the big sites, such as City Hall, the State Capital and Museums, but we also hope to provide some personal unexpected experiences.  We invite you to help provide these personal experiences.

For example: Could you provide a 15-20 minute explanation of the Peace Garden at Lake Harriet then join the group for lunch?  How about a favorite restaurant that would be welcoming hosts to 13 visitors from Iraq for lunch?  We plan to bring them to the bridge on a Wednesday evening and offer the Alliant morning vigil particularly to Professor  Askouri whose research is in depleted uranium consequences and who now works in cancer treatment.

Coming as peacemakers and visitors, these professors, city council members, NGO directors and Muslim Peacemaker Team (MPT) members are like us, curious, smart and interested in making friends.

If you think of a way you would like to join us please email info@mpt-iraq.org, call 952-545-9981

Of course, I hope to find a way to be involved.  I’ll try to update their actions here and tweet them as possible.  BTW, Muslim Peacemaker Teams also seems very interesting.  Check it out!