Concept Mapping Software helps students plan out their ideas for written assignments in a visual format. Bubbl Us—www.bubbl.us is a free web based program.
Free Typing GamesThis website has a collection of games which focus on building keyboarding skills. It also in-cludes lessons and tests. Please note this website is more appropriate for students who have some keyboarding experience.
Free Typing GameProvides visual supports for typing lessons. Students type the letters on the screen. They will receive a visual prompt to let them know they made an error. More appropriate for older students (7-12).
Power Typing
BBC Schools Typing
A four level typing program that has auditory instructions. Starts with the very basics. Excel-lent for younger children (Grades 1 -6). Very engaging. Suitable for reluctant keyboarders.
BBC Schools TypingUnique Do-It-Yourself ideas for your classroom in comic form ...
HOWTOONSThis is an on-line typing program that requires you to sign up, however, there are some activities that are free to use without signing up. It also gives some great tips on how to improve your keyboarding. Lots of visuals as well.
Nimble FingersLast Week’s Puzzle…
T H E T E C H N O L O G Y T I M E S — T H E B A C K P A G E
This Week’s Puzzle
A man picked up a plastic water bottle and filled it to the rim with water. He put a ketchup sachet in it and closed it
up.
The man approached a woman and said, "If you can solve how this works,
I'll give you a dollar."
The man said "down" and the sachet of ketchup suddenly went down.
Then he said "up" and it went up. Then he said "down", and when it was
halfway down, he said "stay" and it stayed.
Answer
He did it by adding pressure to the bottom. When there is less pressure, it rises. When there is more pressure,
it lowers. If you add just the right pressure, it will stay.
You can perform this with lots of practice in front of a mirror. It will shock your friends, most likely.
You can find a ketchup sachet at your local fast food restaurant
A line of 100 airline passengers is waiting to board a plane. They each hold a
ticket to one of the 100 seats on that flight. (For convenience, let's say that the
nth passenger in line has a ticket for the seat number n.)
Unfortunately, the first person in line is crazy, and will ignore the seat number
on their ticket, picking a random seat to occupy. All of the other passengers are
quite normal, and will go to their proper seat unless it is already occupied. If it
is occupied, they will then find a free seat to sit in, at random.
What is the probability that the last (100th) person to board their proper seat (#100)?
