iNOCAL How to Start an Online Learning Program: A Practical Guide to Key Issues and Policies

This website was created as a public resource to meet a growing need for information on starting online education programs in the United States. The website is sponsored by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) and was developed by a project team of experts in the K-12 online education field.

iNOCAL How to Start an Online Learning Program: A Practical Guide to Key Issues and Policies

iNOCAL: International Association for K-12 Online Learning

iNOCAL: International Association for K-12 Online Learning

Inside Higher Ed: U.S. Official No 'Textbook Rebel'

Inside Higher Ed: U.S. Official No 'Textbook Rebel'

Echo360 Opens Grant Program

08/25/11
Echo360 is now accepting applications for its 2011-2012 blended learning grants program. Up to $10,000 will be awarded to a maximum of four successful applicants.

The theme for this year's program is "Breaking New Ground: Outcomes, Retention, and Recruitment," though "all blended learning and lecture capture research topics will be considered," according to information released by the company.

To be successful applications should:
Show a significant and original contribution to the field of blended learning and lecture capture research;
Build upon previous research into lecture capture and blended learning technologies;
Consider the effects of lecture capture and blended learning technologies across entire institutions;
Show an understanding of lecture capture and blended learning within the learning technology field; and
Seek to promote collaboration within and outside the individual institution.

The judging panel will consist of University of Kentucky Senior Associate Dean C. Darrell Jennings, University of Virginia President Emeritus John Casteen III, Murdoch University Associate Professor Rob Phillips, and one member of the Echo360 management team.

"Sponsoring research is critical to the advancement and innovation of the education market," said Echo360 CEO Fred Singer. "As blended learning platforms mature and the applications for the solutions evolve, measuring student and institutional results is essential to understanding the technology’s impact on teaching and learning."

Applications should be submitted in the form of Microsoft Word documents at echo360.com by September 16, 2011. Winners will be determined and notified no later than October 18, according to the company's Web site.

For more information, or to submit an application, visit http://www.echo360.com/

Echo360 Opens Grant Program

Distance Learning Enterprise Architecture Certification Program

The Enterprise Architecture Center Of Excellence (EACOE) is pleased to announce...

Our Distance Learning Enterprise Architecture Certification Program!

October 10-14, 2011

Live Distance Learning

Enterprise Architecture Certification
Designed to be as close to the same learning interaction and experience as face-to-face Certification.
Five-day session held live, begin on Monday and end on Friday.
Accessible anywhere with an internet connection.
Geared towards Live Online Certification, complete with instructor interactions, team "break-out" rooms, case studies, etc.
Same practitioner-led Certification Workshops you would experience at any of our public Workshop locations.
Each Workshop includes the same presentation materials as the face-to-face "standup" Workshops.
Provide feedback and receive Enterprise Architect Certification at the end of the Workshop - the same as our face-to-face Workshop.
NOT an online passive experience.
Certify your entire team Live - custom "private" Workshops can be scheduled as convenient.


For more information about our Distance Learning option and a list of

Frequently Asked Questions, please visit www.EACOE.org

The Enterprise Architecture Center of Excellence (EACOE) is the leading practitioner-based organization for Enterprise Architect Certification.  You come away from our Workshop with not only a practical understanding of Enterprise Architecture, but a full project plan, work breakdown task structure, and quick start tool templates.  Begin your Enterprise Architecture activities right after your leave the Workshop.

Distance Learning Enterprise Architecture Certification Program

**7 Secrets to Massive Traffic with YouTube**

**7 Secrets to Massive Traffic with YouTube**

15 of the First Female Professors in History

15 of the First Female Professors in History

Social Sciences E-Books for free online viewing and/or download

Subcategories

Anthropology (13)
Archaeology (7)
Communication (4)
Media Studies (6)
Political Science (33)
Psychology (19)
Sociology (7)

Social Sciences E-Books for free online viewing and/or download

Campus Technology: Prof: 'Engage Students Through Their Laptops'

By Tim Sohn08/24/11


This fall the University of Michigan will roll out an interactive presentation tool called LectureTools, created by one of its own professors, to more than 4,000 students. The software is designed to keep students engaged during presentations using laptops and smart phones, especially in large lectures.


"The key is to engage students through their laptops or cellphones, so they don't drift off onto social networking sites," said Perry Samson, an atmospheric science professor. "We've shown we can do that."


Samson began LectureTools as a research project at the university with funding from the National Science Foundation in 2005 with the goal of increasing student engagement and participation. LectureTools, the Ann Arbor, MI-based company, was founded in 2010, and the software's new version was developed that year.


Feature of the software include:
The ability to import PowerPoint slide shows;
Interactive questions, which lets students answer inquiries by the teacher via laptop or mobile device;
A variety of question types;
Teacher previews of interactive activity results in real time;
Bookmarking of slides to be reviewed later;
Recording and archiving of student activity during class;
Showing results using graphics to reveal trends; and
Note-taking capabilities for students.


It also offers a student inquiry tool, so students can ask the instructor questions electronically. Answers are shown alongside the presentation anonymously. Through a presentation dashboard, which allows the teacher to keep track of student comprehension, the instructor can also see and respond to incoming questions and interactive activities.


LectureTools is free for instructors, but there is a $14.99 per term cost for students. Other pricing options include $24.99 for two terms or $59.99 for five years.


University of Michigan has three campuses, in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint. Enrollment is about 60,000. LectureTools will be used in about 20 classes to start.


For further information, visit the LectureTools site.


About the Author
Tim Sohn is a 10-year veteran of the news business, having served in capacities from reporter to editor-in-chief, of a variety of publications, including Web sites, daily and weekly newspapers, and consumer and trade magazines. He can be reached at twcsu@aol.com  

Campus Technology: Prof: 'Engage Students Through Their Laptops'

The Chronicle of Higher Education: Major Libraries Join Controversial Project to Publish ‘Orphan’ Books Online

August 24, 2011
Several libraries today pledged to follow the University of Michigan’s lead in making available on their campuses digital copies of books whose copyright holders cannot be found to ask for permission. The libraries jumping in today are the University of California Libraries, and libraries at Cornell, Duke, Emory, and the Johns Hopkins Universities. The Universities of Florida and Wisconsin recently did the same. The libraries are all part of the HathiTrust consortium that places digital copies of books into a shared online repository. At least one publishing official has called the orphan works plan illegal, but the libraries clearly feel they are operating within copyright law.

The Chronicle of Higher Education: Major Libraries Join Controversial Project to Publish ‘Orphan’ Books Online

EdTechDev: Developing Educational Technology: New Books on Teaching, HTML5

EdTechDev: Developing Educational Technology: New Books on Teaching, HTML5

HBCU Digest: Editorial: Prairie View President Tests Out on Teachable Moment for HBCU Funding

August 17, 2011
Last week, Prairie View A&M University president George C. Wright penned an editorial for the Washington Post’s higher ed blog < http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/hbcu-president-vows-to-teach-the-largest-class-on-campus/2011/08/08/gIQAW4hk2I_blog.html#pagebreak > on his return to the classroom this fall, along with select members of his executive cabinet. Citing budget cuts and the need for shared sacrifice, Dr. Wright says that he is “nervous and excited” to return as an instructor for an American History lecture course. Boasting 300 students, it will be the largest class on the PVAMU academic slate.


Dr. Wright’s sacrifice is genuine, and strong PR for the movement of institutions facing the reality of more desire and creativity than financial resources. A president returning to his academic roots is a hearty slice of American resolve.


But while his sacrifice may be well-intentioned, it may be among the most counterproductive acts of HBCU leadership seen among the growing tide of discontent and opposition of these institutions.


While PVAMU students will welcome Wright back to the classroom this fall, opposing legislators and pundits of historically black colleges and universities will have one more weapon with which to aim at the veracity of these institutions. For those who say HBCUs are irrelevant within today’s access and opportunity in American higher education, they’ll be able to cite Prairie View as one example of HBCUs no longer making good on the benefit of smaller class sizes and attentive faculty, a critical commodity in the argument for HBCU recruitment and retention.


Critics, perhaps illegitimately, will be able to question the ability for a university president and provost to effectively serve in executive roles while handling course loads, which in Dr. Wright’s case, will be six classes. What lobbying, development opportunities or partnerships with community will be delayed or missed as a result of their teaching obligations? How many individual circumstances requiring upper-level approval or oversight, which at most HBCUs is already stretched thin, will be affected as a result of the transition?


Most of all, the executive-academic hybrid model will give further justification for the HBCU fallacy of doing ‘more with less.’ While its has proven a reality in the matriculation and success for generations of HBCU students and graduates, it is a fast expiring adage in lean economic times. As an advocate for all HBCUs and the struggle for appropriate financing from state and federal partners, it is Dr. Wright’s duty to fight loudly and consistently fight against budget cuts, and not to acquiesce under the quiet guise of shared sacrifice.


Particularly in Texas, with its legislative powers largely seeking to phase out black college merit and value through inequitable funding and support.


It’s not to say that administrators teaching is altogether a bad idea. We can believe that students in the courses will have the immense benefit of tenured faculty experience, and will treasure the opportunity to couch instruction and advocacy for campus culture in the same class period. In theory, PVAMU student stakeholders will be among the only group in the nation to hold regular audience with the campus CEO.


Certainly, it is laudable that Dr. Wright preserved the livelihood of faculty and staff through his return to the classroom. He is not the first or last president to return to the classroom out of preference or necessity, and his ability to effectively serve in both capacities should not be questioned until time reveals all success and failures of the experiment.


But reality demands much more of Dr. Wright, even in the face of staff reductions and diminished academic offerings. He sacrifice, however well-meaning, could contribute to a larger, unintended sacrifice from the entirety of HBCU culture.

HBCU Digest: Editorial: Prairie View President Tests Out on Teachable Moment for HBCU Funding

EduComm 2012 Call for Presentations

Technology changes everything.

EduComm 2012 is now accepting presentation proposals. We will select the best sessions about how technology is changing higher education in the following areas:

-Facilities Planning and Design (New Learning Spaces)

-Teaching and Learning (Content and Course Delivery)

-Marketing Your Institution (Enrollment, Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement)

-Financial Services (eCommerce and eProcurement)

-Campus Network and Infrastructure (Security, Enterprise, and Data Management)


Please note: Sessions must be no more than 45 minutes in length, including Q&A.


Deadline for Entry is Friday, December 9, 2011. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by January 13, 2012.

EduComm 2012 Call for Presentations

Washington State University Critical Thinking Rubrics Documents

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9_KwJdDOiGrMDYwZDAyMGQtYTI5Yi00ZGQxLTlmZTktNzM0OGVlZmVmZTA5&hl=en_US

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9_KwJdDOiGrZWZkM2ViMjctNWQ3MC00OGU3LWIyZTMtZDhmOGRhZGEyYjI2&hl=en_US

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9_KwJdDOiGrMGQzNzEyYTgtOWIxZi00NmE5LWEzZjItYzY2NDcwYmJlYjI1&hl=en_US 

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9_KwJdDOiGrOWRmYmFlNGYtNTIxYi00NDQ0LWFiMGUtODM4ZjAwZWJmMjhk&hl=en_US

Washington State University Critical Thinking Rubrics Documents

How to Get Started With Google+, Your Complete Guide

How to Get Started With Google+, Your Complete Guide

30 Google+ Tips to Enhance Your Google Plus Experience

30 Google+ Tips to Enhance Your Google Plus Experience

100 Essential Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers

There are new web 2.0 tools appearing every day. Although some of these tools were not originally meant for use in the classroom, they can be extremely effective learning tools for today’s technology geared students and their venturesome teachers. Many of these teachers are searching for the latest products and technologies to help them find easier and efficient ways to create productive learning in their students. More and more teachers are using blogs, podcasts and wikis, as another approach to teaching. We have created a list of 100 tools we think will encourage interactivity and engagement, motivate and empower your students, and create differentiation in their learning process.



Interactivity


Use these tools to actively involve students in the classroom.


1. WordPress.org A free and open source software that makes personal publishing as easy as word processing. Make your life and your students’ life easier by keeping a classroom or subject blog.


2. Flickr A nice tool to get a stream of images on any topic. Make content available to your students only.


3. Yapa Capa! A free blackboard for teachers & students. Teachers can create assignments and tests, which are scored and analyzed and share other teachers tests as well.


4. Quizlet More than just flashcards and very easy to use. Get students started on good study habits.


5. Tizmos It's a place to put thumbnails of sites. Very useful to construct if you want students to go to certain places only. It can also cut down on random searches.


6. Joomla A podcast site by Kyle Mawer & Graham Stanley on using digital games in teaching & language learning.


7. Today’s Meet Encourages the students to use the live stream in the classroom to make comments, ask questions, and use that feedback to make presentations and lets teachers sharpen their points and address student needs.


8. Simple Solver Very easy to use tool for collaborative projects, brainstorming and problem solving. Students will enjoy using this for group discussions.


9. One True Media A blast for doing presentations. Use your photos you can download directly from Flickr and you can even use sound too.


10. Ediscio Another collaborative flashcard tool. This one gives you learning statistics.


11. Xtra Normal For creating text to speech animated movies. A useful tool for social development.


12. Cmap Tools Build interactive, collaborative mind maps with text, video, and weblinks. Used by many high school teachers and college professors advanced for advanced project work and EAP writing.


13. Photo Peach Have students create themed stories and leave comments for each other. Used by teachers for some time now.


14. WordSift Used for vocabulary and English, you and your students can analyze text and get information about the vocabulary in it.


15. 1Overstream A free tool that allows you to add subtitles to online videos. Gives teachers the URL and the embed code.


16. Phasr 1You can visually illustrate a sentence with this tool. Students type a sentence and then look for a Flickr image to go with each word.


17. Shidonni A virtual world for young children. They can create imaginary worlds and animals, play games and interact with each other.


18. Sliderocket Create a stunning-looking PowerPoint-style multimedia presentation which can then be viewed and shared online. A great way to introduce topics in the classroom.


19. eyePlorer Use this tool to develop digital literacy. Used by a number of teachers from preschool to high school seniors.


20. The Speech Accent Archive This tool can be used for any linguistics project. You will see sets of speech samples from all around the world.


Engagement


Students using these tools will engage in gaining knowledge of the subjects they are studying instead of being passive listeners.


21. Go!Animate Takes story telling using online cartoon strip makers a little bit further by allowing students to spark life into characters and create short animations. A super tool to foster creativity and engage students.


22. English Cafe Many teachers recommended this for adult ESOL learners. A fun site for facilitators to explore and contribute too.


23. Animoto Teachers and their students can upload pictures and sounds and create professional looking videos which can then be downloaded and shared online. Promote enthusiasm to less exciting tasks such as extended writing and practicing oral pronunciation.


24. Box.net You can easily share files using this tool. It is very easy for students to use as well.


25. Google Video Allows users to search, upload, and share videos online for free. There is even an educational category providing hour long videos.


26. Penzu Keep an online journal using this site. This can be useful for both students and teachers.


27. Kinder Site Projects A great resource for Kindergarten teachers. Find educational games, songs & stories made especially for kindergarteners.


28. Smilebox Especially good for class blogs, this tool has some nice templates. Classmates can share photos or save them for their own projects.


29. MakeBeliefsComix Encourage writing, reading , and storytelling. With this tool, students can create online comics.


30. SimplyBox Research can help students learn more about the subjects they're studying. Teachers can help them to think "outside the box" with this tool.


31. Hot Potato An easy tool that’s free to educators. Build your own crosswords, matching exercises, short answer multiple-choice, and jumbled sentences. Makes homework prep a breeze.


32. Tweet Scan More and more teachers have been experimenting with this tool in real time agreement to support vocabulary development.


33. Shwup With way cool effects, students can build video slideshows with their photos. They can then be embedded into a blog or downloaded as a MP4 video.


34. Diigo Education Any annotations you make on a web page can be saved and sent to students or colleagues. This tool is popular among teachers because it offers the ability to create accounts for a whole class and it protects the students’ privacy.


35. Jamendo A good way to add some music to a class blog. It can also be helpful to introduce music while working with lyrics in the classroom.


36. Bookr Students and teachers can create their own photo book using this fun tool. Search for images, add text, and get it published.


37. Chalksite A system built for teachers, students, and parents providing teachers with an easy to use central point where they can communicate with students and parents, post assignments and grades, send messages, and manage a website for their courses.


38. Wizlite Allows you to highlight text just like on real paper. Find a page on the Internet and share it with students or classmates.


39. Eyespot: Neat site where users can actually create video mixes online and share them with others. You can add up to 100 clips or photos to a movie as well as add transition and video effects.


40. Tag Galaxy A nice way to search through Flickr images. Just type in your tag and watch as numerous images appear.


Motivation


These tools will highly motivate students to participate in assignments.


41. Voki Allows students to create wacky avatars then record themselves speaking. Some teachers have found it to be a fantastic way to assess speaking in the target language.


42. Glogster Students can create multimedia online posters or “glogs which can then be shared on the internet. This tool can be used to assess both writing and speaking.


43. Delicious Social bookmarking site where users can save bookmarks and organize them with tags. Add friends to your account and keep track of bookmarks left by each friend.


44. Tokbox A fun way to get students talking via video-mail. You can also use it for creating class presentations and you can even talk live.


45. Mayomi A free flash-based mind mapping tool that lets you map out ideas, projects, research topics, or anything else that can be dug into. Great for students when it comes to writing essays.


46. Mashface Upload a photo of a famous individual, then uses a webcam to add your voice and lips to that person. This could be perfect for getting into the mind of a famous person being studied in history or other subjects.


47. Advanced Survey Teachers can create customized subject survey introduction and conclusion pages. Post to your blog and even put the logo on every page.


48. Mind 42 A free mind map maker with an emphasis on the collaboration. Google instant messenger is built in and if you are a Wikipedia fan there is also an option to attach an article.


49. Slidestory This tool allows you to record a narration with your slide show. Post on the web for students or classmates to see.


50. Comiclife A very intuitive comic creator with a free trial and a modest purchase price. It’s lots of fun and great for those reluctant writers.


51. Ted.com A series of talks by a variety of striking people. The goal is to bring people from the worlds of technology, entertainment, and design together.


52. Writeboard A place to create shareable, web-based text documents. Write solo or collaborate with others.


53. Vimeo this video-hosting site has a clean interface, includes HD video uploads, and videos can be kept private. A respectful atmosphere lets you & your students’ creativity thrive.


54. Yugma A free web collaboration device that lets you instantly connect to students and colleagues all over the internet. A way to communicate and share content and ideas using any type of application or software.


56. Ning.com This site allows you to create your own social network; consider using this as a private social network with your students.


57. Podcasting Tools A well-done overview about the process of making a podcast. Learn from the beginning to the end and everything in between.


58. CAST UDL Book Builder This wonderful and free online tool allows you to create your own interactive "books" to help young readers learn reading strategies to build comprehension. Enter your own text, images, and hints.


59. VoiceThread Online presentation site that lets you attach audio and video. Other users can leave audio and video comments.


60. Citebite Useful for reading comprehension, reading a specific portion of text, or even for highlighting a literary device within a text or poem. Students will no longer waste time, announcing, "I can't find it!" or return to school saying they couldn't do the homework!


Empowerment


Using these tools will empower you to teach students to take ownership of their own projects.


61. Wikispaces Create a public, online wiki for free. This is great for group assignments and class collaborations.


62. Twitter We all are pretty familiar with Twitter. Teachers are trying this out more and more with their students to instantly post and receive short messages.


63. Bloglines A good aggregator tool for skimming the titles of blog posts from many different blogs.


64. Wordia Get video word definitions from here or upload them on your own. Find out how everyday people use the English language.


65. ToonDoo A web application that allows students to create their own comic strips. Highly motivational, it allows students to express themselves in a more creative way.


66. JayCut This is not just a video-hosting site. You can actually edit your uploaded video and store it online.


67. Issuu Lets you upload office or pdf documents and turn them into a collage type album with pages that turn. Students will love this for their special assignments.


68. Apture Makes learning and finding information easier since it is in linear form. Your information’s deeper meaning occurs with richer context in a shorter time frame. This relevant content remains within your classroom site.


69. NetVibes Fairly simple web based aggregator that allows you to collect all of your RSS feed on a single web page. Bring together your favorite media sources with online sources.


70. Class Blogmeister This blog site was set up specifically for educators and students. There are a number of privacy controls that are already built-in.


71. Wetpaint Another popular wiki-creation site. Students are held accountable by being able to see who changed what, and automatically reverse any changes.


72. ArtRage 2 You and your students can paint with thinned oils, use wet or dry markers, soften the pencil and control the hardness of the crayon, and much more.


73. bubble.us This easy and free online tool allows you to brainstorm ideas, save your mind map as an image, share with students, and create colorful mind map organizers.


74. Adobe Connect Now Have a 3 person or site conference with this online conferencing system. You can share files, use a whiteboard, and create audio and video.


75. Asterpix Create an interactive video through the use of hyperlinking. Add more information to your video for students to access when they play it back.


76. 80 Million Tiny Images Visual dictionary of Google images that presents a visualization of nouns in the English language. You can also label the images.


77. Carbonmade: Your Online Portfolio One fabulous way for art or photography students to create a free online portfolio to share work in your class, share with other students, or even submit as an online collection for competitions or college admissions.


78. Zoho Creator An way to make an online database application that can be used for surveys, inventories, data collection, and much more.


79. Calendar Hub Teach organizational skills to your students by using these calendars in class. They will enjoy being able to take responsibility for their own time management by creating their own calendar.


80. EtherPad It’s easy to use and no password is needed. A shared notepad that lets you store your revisions and synchronize with others.


Differentiation


These tools allow students to use different learning styles. Students who are visual learners can read information; auditory learners can listen to information on podcasts.


81. Gabcast Use this application for podcast creation and hosting sites. You or your students can even use your cell phone to record the podcast.


82. Dabbleboard Make whiteboard drawings and graphic organizers in an online space you can share with others. Since more than one computer can work on the whiteboard at a time, students in multiple locations can add to the board at the same time.


83. Anki This is what is called a spaced repetition system (SRS). It can help students remember things by intelligently scheduling flashcards. This helps when trying to learn a lot of information at one time.


84. edublogs A free blog-hosting site for educators and students of all ages.


85. GoogleEarth Satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings put the world's geographic information at your fingertips. Students can see the world from a different point of view which makes learning interesting.


86. Fleck Put sticky notes and annotations onto existing web pages and share them with others. You can tell students exactly what you want them to do on a page and point out instances.


87. Kwout Capture part of a webpage and embed it onto any other site, while keeping links in the image active. Students will love this for individual assignments.


88. Fliggo Create your own free video site. Allow only the class or students you wish. Have complete control of the privacy of your site for the use of you and your students.


89. FURL A web page storage site that gives teachers and opportunity to save personal favorite sites in an online archive. You can also search, via tags, the archives of others.


90. Blogger Said to be one of the best online blog creation sites for classrooms. User friendly and privacy features are now available.


91. Wordle Turns any given text into a word cloud then picks out the most common words and give them prominence by increasing their size. Behind this simple concept lies many possibilities for use in the classroom.


92. Apple's Podcasting in Education K-12 teachers wanting to know how podcasting will enhance the learning environment should first take a look at this site. The main page gives a quick and easy overview of podcasting in the classroom, and provides the steps for podcasting.


93. Befuddlr Add some fun to your pictures by making them into puzzles using this free site. This easy-to-use, free site offers choices of flickr picture groups to choose from.


94. Many Eyes A take on the power of human visual intelligence to find patterns. Use this tool to create great discussions and debates in your classroom.


95. Big Universe Now, your students can create their own picture books with just a few clicks. Or if you want, you can read countless other books written by students. They also offer publishing of students' writing.


96. Funnelbrain Create flashcards for studying in a variety of courses from basic to advanced. Take flashcard one step further by using collaboration, and also choose the next cards based upon correct or incorrect answers.


97. DarkCopy A text editor for free writing. This is for those teachers and students who enjoys the simplicity of a typewriter, and wants to increase productivity by focusing only on writing.


98. WiZiQ Virtual classroom application that is fully equipped with 2-way audio, text chat, whiteboard, PowerPoint and PDF document sharing capabilities.


99. Boostcast A user owned and generated video base that you control. Create and manage your own video site with your own chosen name and customized access and features.


100. Gliffy Research shows that graphic organizers promote strong thinking skills and comprehension for all age groups. assign groups to create study guides using this collaborative tool.


If you want to see what many teachers and students will be doing in the next couple of years, we suggest you try some of the above tools. It’s clear that Web 2.0 has some real educational value that teachers enjoy implementing in their classrooms.

100 Essential Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers

391 Places for Free Books Online

391 Places for Free Books Online

HTML5 Cheat Sheet

HTML5 Cheat Sheet

HTML 5 Reference: A Web Developer’s Guide to HTML 5 W3C Editor’s Draft 23 March 2009

This version: http://www.w3.org/TR/2009/ED-html5-author-20090323


Latest version: http://www.w3.org/TR/


Previous version: No previous versions.


Editors: Lachlan Hunt (Opera Software ASA) lachlan.hunt@lachy.id.au


[Copyright licence pending]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HTML 5 Reference: A Web Developer’s Guide to HTML 5 W3C Editor’s Draft 23 March 2009

HTML5 Doctor

HTML5 Doctor

Dive Into HTML5

Dive Into HTML5

15 Best Websites To Find And Download eBooks

15 Best Websites To Find And Download eBooks

50 Online Tools to Convert Documents and Media Files

Audio/Video Converters

1.KeepVid: KeepVid is an useful online utility which helps users download videos from different online streaming websites.


2.CellSea: CellSea is another useful converter which can help users download, convert, crop and resize videos from different streaming websites.


3.VideoDownloadX: With VideoDownloadX, users can convert and download videos from YouTube.


4.GetYourVideo: With GetYourVideo, users can download videos from different online video streaming websites including DailyMotion, YouTube, Metacafe and many more.


5.SaveVideos: With SaveVideos, users can download videos from different video sharing websites in multiple formats including mp3, mp4 and flv.


6.SaveVid: Savevid.com is a tool which gives you the ability to download videos from streaming video sites including Youtube, Google Videos, Metacafe, Spike and more in FLV, AVI, MOV, MPG or WMV formats.


7.Media Converter: Media Converter is one of the best online conversion utility which can be used to convert media files from different online streaming websites.


8.SaveYouTube: SaveYouTube is a simple, online utility to download different YouTube videos.


9.GetVideoMp3: GetVideoMp3 is a useful online utility which can be used to convert YouTube videos into Mp3 and download them to your PC.


10.ConvertDirect: With ConvertDirect, users can easily convert FLV videos into AVI, Mp3, 3GP, MP4 and many other formats.


11.VidtoMp3: VidToMp3 allows users to download different online videos in MP3 format so they can be stored on different portable devices.


12.2Convert: 2Convert is an excellent online music converter which can help users convert online videos into formats supported by different media players like iPod, PSP and many others.


13.BenderConvert: With BenderConvert, you can convert video and audio files uploaded from your computer. Users can even convert videos from YouTube into multiple formats.


14.MovAvi: Movavi Online is a free online web service that lets you download videos from video-sharing sites and save them to your iPhone, iPod, cellphone, and popular video formats


15.All2Convert: All2Convert is another online utility which can help users convert online videos into different file formats.

Document Converters

1.DocsPal: DocsPal is a useful online utility which can be used to convert documents, video, audio, images, e-books and archives.


2.CreatePDF: CreatePDF is an excellent service provided by Adobe which can help you create PDF files easily.


3.Docx2Doc: Docx2Doc supports almost all the popular documents formats including docx, doc, PDF and many others.


4.PDF2JPG: PDf2Jpg is the easiest way to convert PDF files into image files.


5.Neevia Technology: Neevia Technology helps users upload document files from their computer and convert them into other formats like JPG,PNG and many more.


6.CometDocs: CometDocs is an excellent online document conversion tool which enable users convert documents files easily.


7.Doc-PDF: Doc-Pdf converter is a tool which helps convert Microsoft Office and OpenOffice documents without installing any third party applications.


8.Book Smith: With Book Smith users can easily convert web pages into PDF files.


9.PDF-O-Matic: PDF-O-Matic, users can convert any web page or blog post into PDF files in just few clicks.


10.PDF Converter: With PDF Converter, users can easily convert PDF into other formats like jpg, docs and many others.


11.PDF Online: With PDF Online users can easily convert word and other formats into PDF and vice versa.


12.PrimoPDF: PrimoPDF is a useful online tool which can be used to convert any type of file including documents, images and other type of files.


13.InvestinTech Doc Converter: With InvestinTech Doc Converter, users can easily convert .docx files to .doc format in few simple clicks.


14.Doc2PDF: A simple online tool which helps users convert Microsoft Word documents into PDF files.


15.Text Fixer: With Text Fixer, users can easily convert contents of a doc or docx file and convert the word text into HTML code.

Image Converters

1.Free Online Images Converter: With Free Online Images Converter, users can convert over 100 image formats including MP, DIP, JPG, EPS, PCX, PDF, PNG, PSD, SVG, TGA and many more.


2.Swift Converter: Swift Converter is a useful online tool which helps users convert images into variety of formats.


3.Image Converter: With Image Converter, users can convert images into different formats including BMP, JPEG, PNG and many others.


4.ConvertHub: ConvertHub let users convert different photos, images, drawings and much more into different image formats.


5.Iaza: This is one of my favorite online image convert which helps users convert and add effects to photos online. It has almost all the features you would find in a good photo editing software.


6.Image Espresso: With Image Espresso, users can convert, resize, crop, rotate, touch-up or apply effects on images.


7.ImageUtils: With ImageUtils, users can resize different image formats in few simple clicks.


8.Image Optimizer: Image Optimizer is an online useful tool which helps users optimize and compress images.


9.DynamicDrive Image Optimizer: With DynamicDrive Image Optimizer, users can compress and convert photos into different image formats.


10.ImageToVideo: This handy service helps users convert different images into video.


11.ConvertMyImage: With ConvertMyImage, users can convert between various image formats.


12.ConvertiCo: ConvertIco is a free online tool which helps users convert different PNG files into icon files without installing any software.


13.Vector Magic: With Vector Magic, users can easily convert bitmap images into clean vector arts.


14.ConvertIcon: With ConvertIcon, users can import ICO, PNG, GIF, and JPEG formats and export to high-quality PNG or ICO files.

Multi-Purpose Converters

1.YouConvertIt: With YouConvertIt, users can easily convert different document and media files without installing any software.


2.Zamzar: Zamzar is an excellent online multipurpose converter which can convert different documents, audio and video files.


3.ConvertFiles: With ConvertFiles, users can convert almost any type of file in few simple clicks.


4.Go2Convert: Go2Convert helps users convert different documents, images and media files easily.


5.CoolUtils: CoolUtils is another excellent online conversion tools which enable users convert images, documents and many other formats in seconds.


6.Free File Converter: With Free File Converter, users can convert multiple file formats including image, document, audio and many others.


You may want to check out the following as well:


■10 Useful Online Task Management Tools


■4 Online Tools to Crop and Split YouTube Videos


■10 Free Online Tools to Reduce Image Size and Optimize Them


■10 Free Websites to Convert PDF Files to JPEG Image Files


Hope you will find them helpful. If we missed any tool from the list, please share with us using the comments section below.

If you like this post, please subscribe to our RSS Feeds or follow us on Twitter/Facebook for more updates.

50 Online Tools to Convert Documents and Media Files

The Blue Skunk Blog: Mindset lists for teachers and librarians updated

Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 06:27AM



I've enjoyed the Beloit Mindset list (2015) and use parts of it in presentations for years. Bruce Krajewski writes a college faculty "mindset list." (via Stephens Lighthouse.)



Maybe it's time to dust off my librarian and teacher mindset lists and spruce them up a little...


The Mindset List for Librarians Entering the Field in 2011


Librarians entering the field today...
1.Have never had to type a catalog card.
2.Have never looked something up in the Readers Guide to Periodical Literature.
3.Have never maintained a vertical file.
4.Have always maintained a Facebook fan page for their library.
5.Have never attended a F2F graduate school library class.
6.Have never puchased (or rented) a 16mm film, VHS tape or LaserDisc. (Let alone a filmloop or filmstrip.)
7.Have never NOT had the Internet as a resource.
8.Have never checked out 5 1/4 floppy disks of MECC games.
9.Have always helped find and stream videos rather than checked out tapes to teachers.
10.Have never arranged for interlibrary loan of a physical book.
11.Have ever worked in a library without student workstations or a computer lab.
12.Have always had wireless access for students and teachers.
13.Have never sent overdue notices to parents by postal mail.
14.Have always been more concerned about Internet sites being blocked that books being challenged.
15.Have always worried about whether their positions would exist the next school year.


Teachers entering the profession in 2011:
1.Have never gotten a buzz sniffing fresh mimeograph copies.
2.Have never used a paper gradebook (and have always needed passwords).
3.Have only received their school bulletin via school e-mail and have always had a school website.
4.Parents and students have always been able to Google them.
5.There has always been a Rate Your Teacher website.
6.Have always used white boards and LCD projectors, not chalk boards, overhead projectors or TVs.
7.Have always had a telephone and voice mail in their classrooms.
8.Have always been asked to be more concerned about test scores than about learning.
9.Have never "taught" students how to use a print dictionary, encyclopedia or atlas.
10.Have been portrayed by politicians and the press more as villains than as heroes.
11.Have always had students who can "fact check" a statement using their cellphones in class.
12.Have always had their collective bargaining rights questioned.
13.Have always had both parents and students look at their gradebook via a web portal.
14.Have always used a card rather than a key to get into their buildings and have always smiled at the security camera by the door.
15.Online classes have always been an option for students who don't like the F2F class they are attending.

The Blue Skunk Blog: Mindset lists for teachers and librarians updated

Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching and Learning; September 22 – 25, 2011

Welcome to Lilly - Traverse City



Important Information: Save the Date


Lilly Conference - TC


Sept. 22-25, 2011


Call for


Poster Proposals


WILL REMAIN OPEN until all slots are filled.


Lilly Conferences have provided opportunities for the presentation of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for over 30 years. Participants come from a multitude of disciplines and from throughout the US and from abroad.


The 12th Annual Lilly–Traverse City Conference, will be held September 22 –25, 2011 in beautiful downtown Traverse City, Michigan.


"Brain-Based Learning and Teaching"
This conference will introduce innovative approaches to teaching and learning, challenge previously held assumptions regarding acquisition of knowledge, and share new ways to help students learn from both their instructors and from one another. Grounded in the fields of neuroscience, cognitive psychology, physiology, pedagogy and andragogy, brain-based learning is the application of our collective and integrated knowledge about how the brain works to learn foundational concepts and to solve meaningful problems. Drawing from our combined practice and scholarship, together we can create more meaningful learning environments for our students.


In addition to the overall theme of “Brain-Based Learning and Teaching,” we include additional sub-themes that address some of the most important aspects of learning and teaching. At Lilly -T.C. we offer the following sub-themes: Engaged Learning; Promoting Social Responsibility; E-Learning; and Creating Communities of Learners, and Preparing Future Faculty.


Engaged Learning: Focusing on ways to promote learning in which students are actively involved with the course material. Examples include (but are not limited to) problem-based learning, group projects, interactive discussions, and demonstrations.


Promoting Social Responsibility: There is no longer any doubt that we live in a changing global environment, and as a result we are increasingly responsible for our impact on the environment and our interactions with others from a wide variety of cultures. This track will include (but is not limited to) the latest findings and approaches in the areas of diversity, global climate change, sustainability, service-learning, and ethics within education.


E-Learning: Identifying ways in which the integration of a wide variety of technologies promotes learning. Technologies presented will include (but are not limited to) best ways to include course management tools, student response systems, online collaboration tools, blogs, and chats.


Creating Communities of Learners: The affective domain and social support are often ignored in discussions of learning, but how students interact and support one another is an important aspect to learning. Sessions in this area will focus on learning communities, respect in the classroom, classroom civility and incivility, building support systems, and the impact of the affective domain on learning.


Preparing Future Faculty: The PFF track is designed to assist future faculty in preparing for their careers as college and university instructors. It is also designed to assist those developing PFF programs. Sessions in this area will include (but are not limited to) understanding the principles of course design, developing teaching portfolios, establishing a research agenda, work-life balance, and identifying resources needed to success as in the first teaching position.


For more information about the Lilly Conference in Traverse City, please contact:


Todd Zakrajsek


Conference Director

Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching and Learning; September 22 – 25, 2011

Online Certificate Programs

Online Certificate Programs

L.A. Watts Times: THE MONUMENT AND THE MAN

August 25, 2011

According to the history of Washington monuments, the National Memorial in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was completed with lightning speed and that by itself is a tribute to the quality of the man: his life, his work and his accomplishments. Notwithstanding, though he never held political or elective office; he was not the traditional celebrity; nor was he molded in the footsteps of the rich and the famous. But he was rich and famous in his service to his fellow man; many came to hear him speak; and when he dreamed, he dreamt of a world of peace and understanding among men (and women) – peace, “not just the absence of war,” he would say, “but the presence of justice.” That is the King that is being immortalized in Washington, D.C on August 28, 2011.


The National Memorial is located on a four-acre site that is situated adjacent to the FDR Memorial, and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Congress passed a Joint Resolution in 1996 authorizing Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to establish a Memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring Dr. King, who will be standing literally as a King among men (presidents).


As the project began to unfold, its magnitude created many bumps in the road, but as Dr. King would say, “You can disagree without becoming disagreeable.” Those bumps were smoothened out as time went by. Though much significance can be attributed to the unveiling of the Dr. King National Memorial on the 48th anniversary of his historic March on Washington, one thing is certain: looking at the events of today, though some progress has been made, ‘the Dream Is Still Unfulfilled.’


McKissack & McKissack, the oldest minority-owned architecture firm in the country, headed up the design team that consisted of construction, architect and building entities. The centerpiece of the memorial is a three-story high sculpture of Dr. King that is made of granite symbolically reflected the character of the man – unyielding, enduring and steadfast. There are walls around the memorial on which selected portions of Dr. King’s speeches and sermons are etched. Those selections were chosen by a group of historians including Maya Angelou, Cornel West, the late John Hope Franklin and Henry Louis Gates.


The controversy over the choice of a Chinese sculptor was one of the bumps in the road and Martin Luther King III seemed to have mitigated that by saying that he’s seen “probably 50 sculptures of my dad, and [I] would say 47 of them are not good reflections” but that “this particular artist – he’s done a good job.” And it appeared that the focus on getting the memorial completed in a timely manner, overcame any and all squabbling.


THE CELEBRATION AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE
The August-28 dedication coincides with the 48th anniversary of Dr. King's historic March on Washington and his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Dr. King’s protégés, VIPs celebrities and top entertainers are scheduled to participate in the dedication ceremonies. Beginning with President Barack Obama, he will deliver remarks and it is significant to note that he has come the furthest in the march of progress that Dr. King dreamt about.


Those who walked and worked with Dr. King will be Congressman John Lewis; Ambassador Andrew Young; Rev. Jesse Jackson; Rev. Joseph Lowery; Julian Bond and Dr. King’s children: Martin Luther King III, Dexter King and Bernice King.


VIPs and celebrities include Berry Gordy Jr. Clarence Avant, Rev. Al Sharpton, General Colin Powell, Alexis Hermann, Maya Angelou, Myrlie Evers, Vernon Jordan, Russell Simmons, Tom Brokaw, Alpha Phi Alpha chairman, Herman “Skip” Mason Jr.; members of the faith-based community, Chairman of General Motors, Dan Akerson; Tommy Hilfiger and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, whose department oversees memorials and national parks.


Entertainers include Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx, Michael Baisden, Tom Joyner, George Lucas and many others.


The men, women children who witness the dedication will be witness bearers to the work of Dr. King. Many present had marched with Dr. King; had been to jail with him; had withstood the barbs and insults that he endured; and championed the cause of a King national holiday including Stevie Wonder who penned a tune, “Happy Birthday,” in honor of the his birthday-holiday.


For the children present, Dr. King has allowed most of them an improved measure of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness than he had. And to be able to be much more than they could have been had he not lived the life that he did.


WHAT WOULD DR. KING SAY?
In looking at the legacy that Dr. King left, his words in 1967 – April 4 – would be appropriate today substituting Vietnam with Iraq and/or Afghanistan and/or Libya – the dream is still unfulfilled. There are striking parallels between causes and effects of the 21st century wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, and the 20th century war in Vietnam; and it is only fitting to highlight those predictions of yesterday with the rhetoric and the actions of today.


Projections and predictions for the future are often based on the experiences of the past – for the good and also for the bad.


In a part of Dr. King’s 1967 speech, he exhorted: “For nine years following 1945 we denied the people of Vietnam the right of independence. For nine years we vigorously supported the French in their abortive effort to re-colonize Vietnam.


“…Before the end of the war we were meeting eighty percent of the French war costs. Even before the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu, they began to despair of the reckless action, but we did not. We encouraged them with our huge financial and military supplies to continue the war even after they had lost the will. Soon we would be paying almost the full costs of this tragic attempt at re-colonization…”


It appeared that the American-French alliance has never weakened or waivered in aggressing upon non-European nations: Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya; all at the expense of a ruinous financial toll for military supplies, and human suffering, as Dr. King noted about Vietnam.


Further on Dr. King continued, “… The only change came from America as we increased our troop commitments in support of governments which were singularly corrupt, inept and without popular support. All the while the people read our leaflets and received regular promises of peace and democracy -- and land reform. Now they languish under our bombs and consider us -- not their fellow Vietnamese --the real enemy. They move sadly and apathetically as we herd them off the land of their fathers into concentration camps where minimal social needs are rarely met. They know they must move or be destroyed by our bombs. So they go -- primarily women and children and the aged….”


SPONSORS
The General Motors Foundation and Chevrolet will serve as the Dedication Chair and Dedication Co-Chair is The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation. Dedication Vice Chairs include Aetna, Boeing, BP, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, GE McDonalds, Travelers, and Wal-Mart Stores.


Major donors include: General Motors, Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, NBA,


The Walt Disney Company, Coca-Cola Foundation, The Ford Motor Company Fund, MetLife Foundation, Toyota, Verizon Foundation.




COMMENTS FROM SOME WHO KNEW DR. KING AND THE REST, MOST CERTAINLY, KNEW ABOUT HIM.


REV. JESSE JACKSON: “Dr. King was a source of inspiration. Blacks in the South, under the laws of oppressive segregation, were held down by fear; so he had to inspire them to choose hope over fear. Blacks in the North and in the West, it wasn’t so much fear as it was cynicism: the belief that we could not win. Many Blacks went North and West where there was a little more dignity than the Southern oppression; they were free but not equal. Dr. Kings mission was to change the law. It was a struggle to end (unjust) law. But it was also to take our consciousness beyond just legal oppression to economic justice. Many of our freedom allies would not be our economic allies. Dr. King last campaign was to end the war in Vietnam and a war on poverty; and that’s where we are today.”


REP. EMANUEL CLEAVER: “No African American alive would ever believe that the final monument on the mall would be that of Martin Luther King Jr. We, of course, realize that Dr. King is now serving as a reminder to all of us that we must remain vigilant on issues of justice, and his monument, the statue that is now on the mall is a reminder. He’s looking across the city and across the nation … when you look at the sculpture depicting him and the appearance of his facial expression is very serious. I’m looking at you guys … stay on the job and do the right thing.”


XERNONA CLAYTON: “Dr. King was such an usual man … a real man, in that he was honest and truthful to his convictions. He felt that he never wanted any monument, any honor, or anything bestowed or directed to him, personally. If he was here and we needed his approval to have this, we would never have this monument. But we have to keep in mind that this was a man who … when he got the Nobel (Peace) Prize, and got a monetary attachment with it, he gave it all away. He was unselfish … a selfless man who cared more about everybody else than himself.


REV. JOSEPH LOWERY: “I think it’s a great honor for Dr. King and for the nation. I think he belong in that environment on the mall because I consider him to be one of the fathers of the nation … having led the nation to a new era of racial justice in his lifetime.”


REV. JAMES LAWSON: “I have mixed feelings about the event, though I look forward to being there. We have built a monument to a dead hero, and dead heroes are easier to take than live advocates of truth and justice are tolerated. I see it as a historical moment to be more tactful and powerful than any of us understand. King was the Moses of the 20th century for Western civilization; he was a Jesus figure of the 20th century. His voice was the major voice many people around the world heard, and listen for, and by 1967, in the United States, 90 something percent of us Black people said, ‘he speaks for me.’ That has never happened in the history of humankind except for people like (Mahatma) Gandhi of India, and Nelson Mandela of South Africa. But unless Black people, Hispanics and people of goodwill, and women in the United States can really recover that story; we are not going to move to confront our nation, with its obligation to continue this journey.”


DR. MERVYN M. DYMALLY: “As fiery as he was in public life I found him, in private, to be a quiet, modest and unassuming person. It was my dubious experience to be the last person to drive him from LAX to Anaheim (Orange County) for a meeting for the liberal California Democratic Council, during my tenure as State Senator. This experience was a major high point in my political career.”


GWEN GREEN (In reading a letter she received by those who are putting on the dedication). Ms. Green, it was a pleasure speaking with you today as you would join us in the nation’s capital for this important dedication. We recognized the significance contribution that you’ve made in civil rights struggle and considered an honor to host you. “It is very significant for the first time we have a Black person on the mall with all the White presidents.”


BEN JEALOUS: “This is an historic moment in civil rights and American history,” stated President Jealous. “I look forward to honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King on the eve of the unveiling of his national memorial. The work of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is not over. The civil rights community must ensure that his dream becomes a reality”.


JULIANNE MALVEAUX: So even as a statue opens to the public, doors close to too many Americans. Even as people throng to celebrate, there are those who are supportive, but who have had nothing to celebrate in a long time. The debt ceiling has imposed a particular ugliness on the current climate. As cities gird up for fall and winter, they are grappling with the reality that many will be unable to pay for utilities, and have the possibility of freezing this winter. Some were buttressed by federal funds, funds that must be cut. Similarly, there are cities where there is vacant housing and also homelessness. Why not put some of the homeless into vacant homes. Banks are often special villains, chasing profit and repelling the people whose dollars have inflated their bottom line. While (Harry) Johnson’s dream has been realized, Dr. King’s dream for economic justice, which means economic restructuring, remains deferred. This is a dichotomy, and also a tragedy.


DIANE E. WATSON: “It is a monument to justice. He will be the first African American on the mall and that really marks a turning point for America. We have an African America president because of Martin Luther King. It is the case where he got to the consciousness of America. So rather than judge the person by the color (of their skin) as Martin Luther King spoke, they judged him by the content. And so Martin Luther King has a place in the history of the world because he came and saw that civil rights were given to all in this country, the number one country on the globe.”


WILLIS EDWARDS: “The establishment of this memorial is historic in that our nation’s capitol will now include an African American who has been acclaimed as a peacemaker worldwide. This memorial recognizes the life themes characterized in all of Dr. King’s speeches of justice, democracy, hope, and love. His life and this memorial should inspire all of us to be committed to positive change and active citizenship.”


LEON JENKINS: “It’s been a long time in the making but it’s a sure sign that America understands the importance of Dr. King’s contributions to the lives of every American. He helped change the face of what America looked like in the corporate room, in the boardroom, in politics, and socially.”


CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS (CBC): “America has changed dramatically in the past five decades. For people under 50, it is hard for many to imagine life in the 1950's and 60's as compared to the America of 2011. Segregated housing, transportation, restrooms, theaters, and restaurants, coupled with the physical presence of racism, and sexism, religious intolerance and painful accusations of communism are all part of the dark past of America's recent history. The magnitude of how the Civil Rights movement changed America is truly remarkable and is perhaps without precedent in modern history. Dr. King's contributions to the changes of the last 50 years highlights the work of many who sacrificed and challenged America to reflect the practices in the words of the founding fathers.”


MYRLIE EVERS-WILLIAMS: “I am honored to be a part of this historic occasion, for the Dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The honoring of this Great American Hero also inspires us to remember the Great Heroes and Sheroes of the Civil Rights Movement. Through the Civil Rights Movement, America has seen many positive changes in this ongoing struggle for Equal Opportunity and Justice. The Vision statement for this memorial dedicates the memorial to the Tenants of Dr. King’s American Dream of Freedom, Democracy, and Opportunity for all. There remains so much to be done to achieve this Dream for all American citizens. We have a responsibility to enhance the Legacy of Dr. King and the many other Civil Rights leaders who gave their lives, by being activist citizens on behalf of all, but especially those who are less fortunate. We have to Guard the Freedoms and Democracy that Dr. King lived and died for. It is imperative that the history of the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King and his great work be transferred to our next generations.”


ELAINE EASON STEELE: “Rosa Parks would be just as excited as the rest of the country at the great honor being bestowed on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a leader and role model for social justice. Dr. King’s philosophy is more important today because of the mobilization to turn the clock back to the 1950’s. When Rosa Parks’ arrest on Dec 1, 1955 lead to the successful 381 Day Montgomery Bus Boycott, thrust a 26-year old Montgomery, AL. pastor into national prominence. The rest is history.”


ROBERT “BOB” FARRELL: “ It is important to me for two reasons. Number one: to see the acknowledgement of a man who deserves all the contributions and praise and tributes that are due our own heroes, at the same time, I view it as something that represents the collective ‘us’, because at a point, it’s not just Martin Luther King, Jr., the man, it’s the movement he led that made us proud. And he worked his way to the top, he won our collaboration and our cooperation, regardless of the different bases from which we came in the struggle, and it is most appropriate that this American hero has such a dedicated statue right there in the center of our American government.”


DR. MARK PERRAULT: “He was a brilliant, dedicated community servant known especially for his ideas regarding non-violence and he also had a unique visionary intellectual quality built into his DNA.”


MARC H. MORIAL: “National Mall on Sunday is not just a historic occasion for African-Americans, but a milepost on the nation's journey to social justice. My own emotions are touched on so many levels—pride as an African-American, as a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity—King's own fraternity and the organization that has driven the project from the beginning, as the leader of a national civil rights and economic empowerment organization, but mostly as an American. For all the mistakes that have been made attempting to carry out the principles outlined by the Founding Fathers, the principles themselves endure: All men—and let us not forget to include women—are created equal, and are endowed by their creator with inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Perhaps more than anyone in American history, Dr. King embodied that ideal.”


THE DEDICATION WILL BE CARRIED LIVE ON MSNBC AND CNN

L.A. Watts Times: THE MONUMENT AND THE MAN