Issue 1: November, 2006

SOE Tech Info Newsletter 

 

Mac Browser Woes...

Safari Users: The Registrar’s office has recently announced that an upgrade to Cougar Trail has rendered it unusable to Apple’s (Mac’s) Safari internet browser.

Internet Explorer Users: Microsoft has also recently announced that it will NO LONGER produce Internet Explorer for the Mac.  As your Mac OS X is updated your Internet Explorer will begin to lock up then will eventually cease to work.

How the Heck Do I Surf the Web if I’m a Mac User?: the answer...Firefox.  Firefox is a browser based on the old Mozilla code and I love it.  It’s the only browser I use.  It’s easy to download and install and is available for Mac and Windows platforms.  You can download Firefox from: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

Firefox is loaded in all classrooms and labs and the icon looks like the Earth surrounded by fire (see above).  Using Firefox should eliminate many problems that Mac users are facing now with incompatibility.  As I said, I use Firefox as my default browser and I haven’t had any problems.  It also has the quick Google search window in the upper-right corner just like Safari.�

Tech in K-12

Math

Gaming in education is a hot new trend.  In this vein, Tabula Digita has created a new game called Dimenxian.  The tag linke is "Learn Math or Die Trying".  It combines the excitement of a regular adventure game with algebra and, after playing, I can say...it's hard.  The graphics are not X-box quality but they are good and the game is challenging.  There is a free demo available from their website.

Google Earth

If you haven't tried Google Earth you really should.  It's a blast and you can't help but learn something.  At first glance you think, "Oh, what a great tool for geography".  but on further exploration you'll realize it can be used for so much more.  You can load existing information files or easily create you own.  Students can create a file that maps the progression of a historical battle for social studies, use it to calculate distances in math, and follw the progress of gorillas being tracked by the Jane Goodall Institute.  The list goes on and on.