Categories
ed tech language

New Style Manual for Australia in 2020 – APA?

The new Australian Public Service Style Manual will be published online later in 2020. The last edition was 2002 and followed Harvard referencing. The online edition will be easier to use, with a search function. It will probably adopt APA 7th edition, the same as many universities, though no announcement has yet been made.

https://www.dta.gov.au/blogs/new-style-manual-new-public-service

 

Read on for more information from Citemaker, the Australian bibliography and referencing creator used by many schools. CiteMaker continues to provide no-fee versions through eastern state School Library Associations, as well as paid subscriptions.

www.citemaker.com

 

Australia to get a new Style Manual
“While no mention has been made of the preferred referencing style it is unlikely to be Harvard. This is because Harvard is not a singularly codified standard like APA. The new APA 7th edition, if it becomes the standard, will be consistent with the direction taken at universities; which for many years have migrated away from Harvard since the demise of the Australian Government Publishing Service.

One of the advantages of APA 7th edition is that it caters for referencing social media and draws a distinction between static and fluid website pages. Additionally, APA 7 caters for acknowledging original publication dates, which is increasingly important when citing older literature that is now accessible online. CiteMaker has also released a new page design as well as APA 7th edition and accompanying Chrome extension.”

Categories
books films human rights Indigenous resources language sociology TV

National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week resources

National Reconciliation Week 27 May – 3 June

This year’s theme is Grounded in truth. Walk together with courage.

‘At the heart of reconciliation is the relationship between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To foster positive race relations, our relationship must be grounded in a foundation of truth. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long called for a comprehensive process of truth-telling about Australia’s colonial history. Our nation’s past is reflected in the present, and will continue to play out in future unless we heal historical wounds. Today, 80 per cent of Australians (and 90% of indigenous Australians) believe it is important to undertake formal truth telling processes, according to the 2018 Australian Reconciliation Barometer. Australians are ready to come to terms with our history as a crucial step towards a unified future, in which we understand, value and respect each other.’ (Reconciliation.org.au)

https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/

Unpacking the 2019 NRW poster: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/tot-rationale.pdf

NRW 2019 guide (includes race relations and truth telling; respectful conversations): https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ra-nrw-2019-guide_v8.pdf

Reconciliation timeline 1770-2018: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/reconciliation-timeline-3.pdf

Resources and news: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/resources/

Excellent book list: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/recommended-reading-1.pdf

Excellent film and TV list: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/recommended-viewing.pdf

 

NAIDOC Week 7 July – 14 July

This year’s theme is Voice. Treaty. Truth. Let’s work together for a shared future.

The theme highlights 3 key elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.This theme acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have always wanted an enhanced role in decision-making in Australia’s democracy. Our sovereignty has never been ceded – not in 1788, not in 1967, not with the Native Title Act, not with the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It coexists with the sovereignty of the Crown and should never be extinguished. Australia is one of the few liberal democracies around the world which still does not have a treaty or treaties or some other kind of formal acknowledgement or arrangement with its Indigenous minorities…The true story of colonisation must be told, must be heard, must be acknowledged…Then we can move forward together.’

https://www.naidoc.org.au/get-involved/2019-theme

https://www.naidoc.org.au/

Uluru Statement from the Heart (2017):

https://www.referendumcouncil.org.au/sites/default/files/2017-05/Uluru_Statement_From_The_Heart_0.PDF

NAIDOC Week poster designer – Charmaine Mumbulla:

https://www.naidoc.org.au/news/charmaine-mumbulla-winner-naidoc-2019-poster-competition

 

 

Reconciliation Australia: What we are asking of the next Federal Parliament (May 2019)

3 key actions are required: 1. Address the unresolved issues of national reconciliation (eg. support issues raised in the Uluru Statement from the Heart; meet Closing the Gap targets) 2. Support truth telling initiatives at a local, regional and national level (eg. establish a healing centre and reform the school curriculum to better encompass indigenous culture and history) 3. Support work across the breadth of reconciliation issues.

https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-federal-election-key-asks.pdf

 

Final report from the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Released in November 2018, the report recommends a bipartisan approach, including support for the establishment of a Voice to be co-designed between government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. However, a clear timeframe is needed to ensure the Voice is realised in the next parliamentary term, maintaining momentum towards a referendum on constitutional recognition. The report did not, however, make a recommendation in relation to a treaty.

https://www.reconciliation.org.au/report-a-good-step-now-parliament-must-deliver-reform/

 

Indigenous Knowledge

This project from the University of Melbourne helps teachers integrate Indigenous perspectives in their teaching. Resources are grouped around the 3 themes of Astronomy, Fire and Water. They are linked to the Australian Curriculum and are for Years 3 to 10 but can be adapted. Resources include Fire in song; Geometry of water sources and landforms; Indigenous astronomy, geography and star maps.

https://indigenousknowledge.research.unimelb.edu.au/

 

UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages

In 2016 the UN reported that 40% of the estimated 6 700 languages in the world were in danger of disappearing, with the majority of these being indigenous languages – putting at risk the cultures and knowledge systems of indigenous peoples. In Australia today, only 13 traditional Indigenous languages are still acquired by children (with over 250 spoken in 1788), with about 100 spoken to various degrees by older generations.

https://aiatsis.gov.au/IYIL2019

https://en.iyil2019.org/

Indigenous Australian languages: https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/indigenous-australian-languages

AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia (languages and groups): https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/aiatsis-map-indigenous-australia

Gambay – map of Australia’s first languages (over 780): https://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/features/gambay-languages-map/

Word up – shares the diverse languages of Aboriginal Australia, one word at a time: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/wordup/

 

 

Right wrongs

An excellent resource. Short videos and informative text explore developments since the 1967 referendum which changed how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were referred to in the constitution. Sections include: Controlled but not counted; Fighting for change; An extraordinary vote; The legacy; Where to now?

http://www.abc.net.au/rightwrongs/

 

ABC Education

Many resources – search under Topics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures. Includes History of Indigenous rights in Australia (video 14 min.); Dust echoes (animations of Dreaming stories); History of the Tent Embassy.

http://education.abc.net.au/home#!/topic/494038/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-histories-and-cultures

 

 

Aboriginal agriculture, technology and ingenuity
Excellent new ABC Education resource. In short videos, renowned author Bruce Pascoe reflects on Aboriginal people’s relationship with plants, animals and technologies and celebrates the ingenuity of the First Australians. Journals of early explorers and other research shows evidence of vast agricultural fields, aquaculture systems, sophisticated use of fire and successful industries that existed in Australia prior to colonisation.

https://ab.co/2VLGOH2

 

ABC Indigenous

Access the latest Indigenous stories and features from ABC Radio, news & current affairs, TV and iview.

http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/default.htm

 

Awaye

Diverse and vibrant Aboriginal arts and culture from across Australia and the best from indigenous radio broadcasters around the world. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or ABC Listen app.

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/awaye/

 

Creative Spirits

“Learn about contemporary Aboriginal culture without agenda”. Many resources in many areas including history, arts, people, economy, law and justice, politics and media, spirituality. “Creative Spirits is an amazing collection of history and an inspiring representation of Aboriginal culture”—Michele Hetherington, Aboriginal woman from NSW. www.creativespirits.info/

 

Reconciliation Film Club

Developed by Reconciliation Australia, NITV and SBS. This online platform supports organisations to host screenings of compelling documentaries from our leading indigenous filmmakers. Also includes links to other resources dealing with indigenous themes and issues.

https://www.sbs.com.au/learn/reconciliationfilmclub

 

Top end wedding

Romantic comedy starring and co-written by Miranda Tapsell. Directed by Wayne Blair (The Sapphires). A celebration of love, family and belonging set in the far north of Australia and Tiwi Islands. Great film!

https://theconversation.com/top-end-wedding-a-new-australian-romantic-comedy-with-a-sincere-sense-of-place-114914

 

NITV – National Indigenous Television

Informs, educates and entertains its indigenous and non-indigenous audiences. Great documentaries, news, personal accounts and perspectives.

http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/

Explore topics and link to videos: Social issues, Arts and entertainment, Social Justice… http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/topics

NITV programs include:

NITV programs on demand: http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/channels/nitv

Movies on NITV: http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movies/nitv-movies

The point: Current affairs and news for all Australians, with indigenous perspectives.  https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/the-point

http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/the-point

Family rules: Nine sisters navigate the modern world while trying to stay true to their mother’s values. https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/family-rules

Grace beside me: The adventures of indigenous 13 year old Fuzzy Mac who keeps seeing ghosts. Based on the novel by Sue McPherson. https://iview.abc.net.au/show/grace-beside-me

The Dreaming: Animated stories explained by elders. http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/677413443508/the-dreaming-series-1-ep-24

Little J and Big Cuz: Provides a young indigenous audience with ‘relatable’ characters and offers an insight into traditional Aboriginal culture, country and language. Includes online educational games.

https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/jarjums

 

SBS On Demand

A changing selection of films, documentaries and newsclips. Search for “indigenous” and “Aboriginal” programs.

http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/

 

Books

Catching Teller Crow (2018) – Amberlin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina (children of Sally Morgan). A suspenseful ghost story and psychological thriller, written in prose and verse. Beth Teller is a ghost who can still communicate with her detective father. Together they solve a mystery and discover a shocking story. Winner of the 2019 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, Young Adult. Winner of the 2018 Best Young Adult Novel, Aurealis Awards. ‘Told in two unforgettable voices, this gripping novel interweaves themes of grief, colonial history, violence, love and family.’ Great book!

https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/childrens/young-adult-fiction/Catching-Teller-Crow-Ambelin-Kwaymullina-and-Ezekiel-Kwaymullina-9781760631628

Young dark emu: a truer history (2019) – Bruce Pascoe. The highly anticipated junior version of Dark emu, showing Australia as it was before Europeans arrived.

https://www.booktopia.com.au/young-dark-emu-bruce-pascoe/prod9781925360844.html

Dark emu (2014) – Bruce Pascoe. A new perspective on indigenous history, arguing against ‘hunter gatherer’ history and providing evidence of sedentary living and crops.

Too deadly (2017) – Us Mob Writing. Diverse collection of First Nations writings from a Canberra writers group.

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia (2018) – Anita Heiss (ed.). Anthology of diverse voices, experiences and stories. https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/growing-aboriginal-australia

Terra nullius (2017) – Claire G. Coleman. Historical/speculative fiction with multiple perspectives. In the near future, Australia is about to experience colonisation once more. What has been learned from the past?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/australia-books-blog/2017/aug/22/speculative-fiction-is-a-powerful-political-tool-from-war-of-the-worlds-to-terra-nullius

Knowledge of life: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia (2015) – Kaye Price (ed.) Investigates history, reconciliation, law, art, enterprise, health, education, literature, sport and human rights. The authors of each chapter are indigenous and experts in their field. Each chapter begins with biographical information about the author.

 

Categories
Apple books ed tech Facebook films future Google Indigenous resources internet Internet of Things language literature media mobile phones news newspapers pedagogy popular culture robots and drones science fiction sociology TV YouTube

What’s new in ICT, popular culture, media and education?

Some interesting developments – artificial intelligence, robots taking our jobs, disengaged students, Generation Alpha, words of the year, great new films, TV and books….

Previous presentations about What’s New can also be found here.

http://dckclib.wikispaces.com/Technology%2C+media+%26+popular+culture+updates

 

 

Categories
language popular culture sociology

Words of the Year and Google Translate

Interesting words and their reflection of society…..

 

Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year

Announced 25 January. The Committee’s Choice for 2016 Word of the Year is fake news. Honourable mentions go to enby and halal snack pack.

People’s Choice: Halal snack pack.

Fake news – disinformation and hoaxes published on websites for political purposes or to drive web traffic, with the incorrect information being passed along by social media.

Halal snack pack – hot chips, grated cheese, halal kebab meat, garlic sauce, bbq sauce and chilli sauce.

Enby – a person who identifies as neither male nor female.

Shortlist category winners: youlk; racebending; standing desk; shoefiti; fatberg; greige; rumbler alarm; patient navigator; filter bubble; alt-right; enby; bubble soccer; plyscraper.

Winners and finalists with definitions: https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/resources/view/word/of/the/year/

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-25/fake-news-named-2016-word-of-the-year/8211056

 

Other Words of the Year 2016

 

Oxford Dictionaries (UK and US)

Post-truth  – relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. Other popular words: alt-right, glass cliff, hygge (Danish cosiness), chatbot (computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users), adulting (behaving like a responsible adult).

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/word-of-the-year-2016

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/nov/15/post-truth-named-word-of-the-year-by-oxford-dictionaries

 

Collins Dictionary

Brexit – withdrawal of the UK from the EU. Other popular words: hygge, mic drop, Trumpism, throw shade, sharenting (sharing your kids’ photos on social media), snowflake generation, dude food, Uberization, JOMO (joy of missing out).

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/word-lovers-blog/new/top-10-collins-words-of-the-year-2016,323,HCB.html

 

American Dialect Society

Dumpster fire – an exceedingly disastrous or chaotic situation. Other popular words: normalize, post-truth, woke (socially aware). Emoji of the Year: fire (exciting). Digital Word of the Year: @ (replying on Twitter).

http://www.americandialect.org/wp-content/uploads/2016-Word-of-the-Year-PRESS-RELEASE.pdf

 

Merriam-Webster

Surreal – marked by the intense irrationality of a dream. Other popular words: icon, deplorable, feckless, revenant.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/woty2016-top-looked-up-words-surreal

 

Global Language Monitor

Tracks global trends through Big Data analysis of Global English, with over 1.83 billion speakers. Number of words in the English language (1 Jan 2016 estimate): 1 035 877. Most understood word of the English language – OK. Top 40 words for the first 15 years of the 21st century and what they portend: 1. Web/internet 2. China 3. Selfie 4. 404 (internet failure) 5. 9/11

http://www.languagemonitor.com/trending-words/top-words-for-the-first-15-years-of-the-21st-century-the-trends-they-portend/

 

Google Translate

Google Translate now uses Neural Machine Translation Artificial Intelligence for translation tasks. This works on entire sentences at once, giving more context to work out the best translation. It is used for 8 of the most common language pairs and results in more natural translations with better syntax. Now 10 years old, Google Translate supports 103 languages and translates over 140 billion words every day. It also continues to rely on Translate Community, where speakers contribute and review translations.

https://translate.google.com.au/

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2114748-google-translate-ai-invents-its-own-language-to-translate-with/

https://blog.google/products/translate/found-translation-more-accurate-fluent-sentences-google-translate/

 

Vocabulary.com

Free fun way to learn over 13 000 words effectively – suitable for Grade 5 onwards. A games approach personalises learning experiences, asking questions to increase vocabulary. The online dictionary used is very user-friendly and easy to understand. Vocabulary lists are easily created and can be shared. Educator Edition also available. Available on desktop, tablet and mobile devices.

https://www.vocabulary.com/

https://www.vocabulary.com/howitworks/

Categories
ed tech language popular culture sociology

Google Translate and Words of the Year

Google Translate: translating the entire internet

13 more languages were added on 17 Feb (Amharic, Corsican, Luxembourgish, Frisian, Scots Gaelic, Pashto…) – access for an extra 120 million people. 103 written languages are now covered – 99% of the total online population. Translations are improved over time by improving algorithms and systems and learning from translations via Translate Community (3 million people have contributed).

http://googletranslate.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/from-amharic-to-xhosa-introducing.html

 

Vocabulary.com

Free fun way to learn over 13 000 words effectively – suitable for Grade 5 onwards. A games approach personalises learning experiences, asking questions to increase vocabulary. The online dictionary used is very user-friendly and easy to understand. Vocabulary lists are easily created and can be shared. Educator Edition also available. Available on desktop, tablet and mobile devices.

https://www.vocabulary.com/

https://www.vocabulary.com/howitworks/

 

Macquarie Dictionary Words of the Year 2015

Announced Jan/Feb and chosen from new entries in the annual update of the online dictionary. Word of the Year: captain’s call (People’s Choice and also the Committee’s choice). Runners-up – keyboard warrior and wombat gate. Category favourites – slipstream fiction, abandoned porn, deso, lumbersexual, hoverboard, fitspiration, digital tattoo, dox, fancruft, fur baby, grandcare, slackpacking, selfie drone. Most searched words online in 2015 – chuffed, wellbeing, practice, practise, firsthand, licence, healthcare, onboard, longstanding, frontline.

https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/news/view/article/352/

https://media-macquarie-wspdigitalproduction-com.s3.amazonaws.com/media/hosted_files/Macquarie_Word_of_the_Year_2015_entries.pdf

https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/news/view/editor/article/337/

 

Other Words of the Year 2015

 

Global Language Monitor

These rankings are based on actual word usage throughout the English-speaking world (1.83 billion people). Words are analysed from the internet, blogs, the top 275 000 print and electronic global media and new social media sources.

Top word: microaggression. Phrase – migrant crisis. Name – Donald Trump. Other top words: climate changing, refugee, migrant, thug, trans, affluenza. Most understood word of the English language – OK. Number of words in the English language (1 Jan 2016 estimate): 1 035 877.

http://www.languagemonitor.com/category/word-of-the-year/

 

Collins Dictionary

Binge-watch. Other popular words: clean-eating, dadbod, ghosting, swipe, contactless, shaming, transgender.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/word-lovers-blog/new/binge-watch-collins-word-of-the-year-2015,251,HCB.html

 

American Dialect Society

Singular they (gender neutral pronoun). Other popular words: ammosexual, ZFG, yaass. Most notable emoji – face with heart eyes.

http://www.americandialect.org/2015-word-of-the-year-is-singular-they

Yaass: excited affirmative statement – see Yaass cat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGUn-rOl_9s

 

Merriam-Webster

Suffix -ism. Top words: socialism, fascism, racism, feminism.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/word-of-the-year-2015/-

 

Oxford University Press – (UK and US)

Face with tears of joy emoji.

http://blog.oup.com/2015/11/oxford-dictionaries-word-of-the-year-2015-emoji-face-tears-joy/ism

Categories
Apple ed tech Google internet language popular culture sociology virtual reality

ICT news

What’s new at Google?

Google I/O 2015, the annual software developer-focused conference, was held last week in San Francisco (I/O = Input/Output and Innovation in the Open). Announcements include:

  • Google Photos for Android, iOS and Web – unlimited storage for photos and videos (see below)
  • Chrome and Android both have over 1 billion active users
  • Android Pay (Apple Pay competitor)
  • Brillo OS and common language Weave for the Internet of Things
  • Jump – people create and share virtual reality experiences; compatible with GoPro cameras; 16 cameras will work as one to combine images
  • Inbox – new email app
  • Cardboard Expeditions (see below)
  • Advancements in deep learning (AI) for image and speech recognition – Google’s speech recognition has just an 8% error rate (23% in 2013)
  • Launch of the Family Store in Google Play for children and parents – find apps for children by their age
  • Chromecast allows you to use mobile gadgets to play games on your TV and stream videos and photos from your laptop

http://venturebeat.com/2015/05/28/everything-google-announced-at-io-2015/

 

Google Cardboard and virtual reality platform Cardboard Expeditions

A smartphone (Android and iOS) slides into the cardboard gadget, creating a virtual reality headset. 1 million Cardboard viewers are being used with hundreds of apps in Google Play. Cardboard Expeditions brings virtual reality into classrooms – students with multiple Cardboards can see the same content as the teacher. Cardboard kits cost about $25.

Short video: http://venturebeat.com/2015/05/28/google-announces-cardboard-expeditions-to-let-teachers-take-classes-on-field-trips/

 

Google Photos

Launched last week. All your photos and videos synced on all your devices , automatically backed up and easy to share. Find photos by content; transform still photos into movies, animations, GIFs and panoramas; automatically created photo stories; easy editing tools. Free storage for images of 16 megapixels or less and videos of 1080p or less (the most common smartphone files); larger items get compressed. App for Android and iOS; browser version for Mac and PCs.

https://www.google.com/photos/about/?page=auto-awesome

https://photos.google.com/

Good review: http://recode.net/2015/06/02/the-new-google-photos-free-at-last-and-very-smart/

 

The unrealized vision of Google Glass

The project was paused in Jan 2015 after protoypes were released in April 2013. Some people feared privacy violations and some places banned it eg. theatres and bars. Google are possibly working on a new model that is more acceptable, fashionable and user friendly – foldable, so it can easily be removed and stored, with a red light to show it is recording to alert others. Should they be banned when driving?

http://www.cnet.com/au/news/lost-explorers-the-unrealized-vision-of-google-glass/

 

Apple WWDC 2015

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is on 8-12 June in San Francisco. Some predictions: Apple TV update; new versions of Mac OS X and iOS9 (the operating system for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch); new Macs and iMacs; relaunch of iTunes Radio and music streaming to rival Spotify.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/apple/wwdc-2015-ios-9-os-x-apple-tv-macs-displays-how-get-tickets-video-beats-music-3522648/

 

Emoji and other cool words added to dictionary

The free online Merriam-Webster Dictionary last week added 1700 new words, including hip internet words!: emoji; meme; net neutrality; click fraud; clickbait; photobomb; NSFW; WTF.

http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/blog/2015/05/a-growth-spurt/

 

New Scrabble words

6 500 words have just been added to the official dictionary. Updates usually happen every 5 years, based on the Collins dictionary, but this update came after only 3 years, reflecting the pace of language change. Words include: onesie; lolz; tweep; bezzy; twerking; hashtag; sexting; thanx; lotsa; ridic; facetime; obvs; grr; eew; wuz. Twitter seems to be a driving force for many of the new words. However, lol is not permitted.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-26/scrabble-new-words-bezzy-tweep-onesie-lotsa-ridic/6496944

Categories
Apple ed tech Facebook future human rights internet Internet of Things language popular culture sociology

ICT news

Mapping the future: the future of the internet

The World Economic Forum has many interesting articles about world trends – great for global studies classes. By 2020, there will be 26 billion devices on the Internet of Things – all connected to the web, giving and receiving information. Who should oversee our online world? Should core infrastructure remain in Western institutions? Do the real dangers of the internet lie with the emergence of monolithic platforms eg. Google, Facebook? Can existing laws about copyright, libel, data protection and freedom of expression be effectively enforced online?

http://reports.weforum.org/outlook-global-agenda-2015/future-agenda/mapping-the-future-the-future-of-the-internet/

http://www.weforum.org/reports

 

“The internet will disappear”

Google chairman Eric Schmidt states that the internet’s presence will become so all-encompassing that we won’t even be aware it’s there. With devices, sensors, wearables etc, the Internet of Things (IoT) will be highly personalised & interactive.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/01/23/ericschmidt-internet-will-disappear_n_6530574.html

 

Internet.org

Two thirds of the world is not connected to the internet. You have probably seen the ads recently on TV –  Internet.org (a non-profit organisation founded by Mark Zuckerberg) will bring the internet to developing nations, in partnership with local carriers. It was launched on Android phones in Colombia and Ghana in January and India in February; also available in Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania. Users have free access to websites and services – news, local info, education, books, health info; sport, job search. Services include BBC News, Wikipedia, Facebook, Wattpad.

http://www.internet.org/

 

Facebook suicide prevention

Facebook has 1.4 billion users. Working with mental health organisations, Facebook will add new tools in the US (and then globally) to assist users who express suicidal thoughts. If someone posts something that indicates self-harm and it is reported to Facebook, they will be sent messages that encourage them to speak with a mental health expert and offered support. Resources will also be offered to those who flag the posts.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/26/8113735/facebook-suicideprevention-feature

 

What are the most important features of digital content to improve student learning?

Center for Digital Education Survey (2014). 1. Enables interaction among students or between students and teachers (44%) 2. Is adaptive or personalised (22%) 3. Is project or problem-based (16%) 4. Is game-based (12%) 5. Includes video (6%).

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/paper/Curriculum-of-the-Future-How-Digital-Content-is-Changing-Education.html

 

Apple iWork

Apple is to challenge Office 365 and Google Apps by offering their productivity suite (Pages, Numbers , Keynote and 1GB of storage) free to Android and Windows users via a browser.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/15/8043569/iwork-apps-apple-nowavailable-android-windows

 

Most anticipated technology of 2015

The Apple Watch has been launched (available late April); USB 3.1 Type C – faster, reversible, no “right way up” – yay!; lightning accessories for Apple’s port eg. wireless speakers; Windows 10; self-driving cars; Oculus Rift virtual reality headset; Sony Project Morpheus (VR for Playstation)…..

http://www.cnet.com/au/pictures/most-anticipated-tech-of-2015/

 

Top 10 emerging technologies of 2015

Next-generation robotics; emergent artificial intelligence; “sense and avoid” drones; digital genome….

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Top10_Emerging_Technologies_2015.pdf

 

No punctuation is funnier

What. Vs What? A written statement can be funnier when there isn’t any punctuation. The informality and open structure of text messaging has led to stylistic changes – full stops, commas, capitals and other punctuation are used infrequently, especially on Twitter. It is a style that can remove emotion from a sentence or present a feigned nonchalance.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/19/twitter-grammar-no-punctuation_n_6785766.html?ir=Technology&ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

Categories
language popular culture sociology

Words of the Year

Here are some words that dominated popular culture in Australia, the US and UK during the last year. Interesting for English, sociology, psychology, popular culture….

 

Macquarie Dictionary’s 2014 Word of the Year

Announced 5 Feb 2015. The winner: Mansplain (verb) – a man explaining something to a woman, in a way that is patronising because it assumes that a woman will be ignorant of the subject matter (Man + [ex]plain with “s” inserted to create a pronunciation link with explain). Runners-up: lifehacking, binge watching and bamboo ceiling.

People’s Choice: share plate –  a serving in a restaurant designed as multiple small portions so that several diners can share the same dish.

 

Category winners:

  • Agriculture: crash grazing
  • Arts: binge watching
  • Business: drip pricing
  • Colloquial: mansplain
  • Communications: emoji
  • Eating and drinking: share plate
  • Environment: green electricity
  • Fashion: loom band
  • General Interest: decision fatigue
  • Health: ambulance ramping
  • Internet: typosquatting
  • Politics: defund
  • Social Interest: lifehacking – the application of strategies or shortcuts used to simplify or improve any aspect of one’s life
  • Sport: urban exploration
  • Technology: selfie stick

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-05/mansplain-macquarie-dictionary-2014-word-of-year/6073620

https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/resources/view/word/of/the/year/

Complete list: https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/media2/feature_documents/MacquarieWOTY_WordList_2014_2.pdf

http://theconversation.com/mansplaining-the-word-of-the-year-and-why-it-matters-37091

 

Australian National Dictionary Centre 2014 Word of the Year

Shirtfront – to challenge or confront a person. Other popular phrases: Team Australia; man-bun; Ned Kelly beard; coward punch.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-10/shirtfront-named-australias-word-of-the-year/5956328

http://ozwords.org/?p=6939

 

Global Language Monitor Top Word 2014

Analyses the English language globally – internet, social media, print, e-news. Emoji and other emoticons (pictographs) are becoming ingrained into the world’s vocabulary. The heart emoji was the most used character worldwide in 2014 and also won top “word” for 2014 – the first time a pictograph has won. There are currently 722 characters, with 250 more due this year (approved by Unicode Consortium, official keepers of internet code). Other top words: hashtag; vape; blood moon; nano; bae; bash tag; white privilege. Some top phrases: Hands up, don’t shoot; cosmic inflation; Big Data. Top names: ebola; Pope Francis; WW1; Medecins Sans Frontiers.

http://www.languagemonitor.com/category/words-of-the-year-woty/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11316095/Heart-emoji-the-most-used-character-online-in-2014.html

 

Oxford Dictionaries 2014 Word of the Year

Vape – to smoke an e-cigarettes via vaporised nicotine. Runners-up: normcore (unisex fashion with unpretentious clothing); contactless (card-hovering payments); slacktivism; bae (term of endearment for a romantic partner).

Chambers Dictionary: overshare; Collins Dictionary – photobomb.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/25/vape-this-years-selfie-2014-word-of-the-year

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/23/overshare-word-of-the-year-2014-chambers-dictionary

 

Merriam-Webster (US) 2014 Word of the Year

The most lookups online: 1.culture 2. nostalgia 3. insidious 4. legacy 5. feminism 6. Je ne sais quoi 7. innovation 8. surreptitious 9. autonomy 10. morbidity

http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/2014-word-of-the-year/culture.html

 

American Dialect Society 2014 Word of the Year

#blacklivesmatter – protest over black men killed at the hands of police (actually a hashtag sentence).

http://time.com/3662593/2014-word-of-year-blacklivesmatter/

 

Words of the Year from around the globe

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/11287651/Shirtfront-to-vape-words-of-the-year-around-the-world.html

Categories
ed tech iPads language maths resources

Good iPad apps – Mathstorm, Count Coins & Transformation Sentences

Here are some useful apps for primary school maths and language learning (all levels):

Mathstorm

$2.49 in the App Store; iOS 6 or later.

An entertaining and customisable collection of 5 games (monsoon, avalanche, meteor shower, sandstorm, blizzard) that each provide a different approach to developing maths skills. Teachers and students can choose to focus on particular skills eg. addition, subtraction, division, times tables etc. and they can also set time limit challenges. Games can be adjusted to suit players’ maths ability levels, catering for multiple abilities within a class. For example, the game can be set to only ask:

– 6 times tables

– Addition sums below 10

– Only division and multiplication

– Only division, multiplication and subtraction

– and many more combinations.

High scores are tracked, giving players a goal to beat. For ages 4 to 11.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/mathstorm/id897375887?ls=1&mt=8

Demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAnEndlRcRE

 

Aussie Kids Count Coins

$2.49 in the App Store; iOS 4 or later.

Money skills are practised and developed through 6 games, using animated characters. Activities include paying and giving change, counting change and multiplying, comparing amounts & shopping. Stars are awarded and used to decorate a night scene. For ages 4 to 10.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/aussie-kids-count-coins/id834143919?mt=8

 

Transformation Sentences

$2.49 in the App Store; requires iOS7 or later.

This is a powerful app for teachers of sentence construction, sentence transformation and spelling – very useful for teachers of students who are learning to read – primary, high school, adult and ESL.

It was developed specifically for several teachers at Dickson College who wanted an app to support the Scaffolding Literacy program in the Secondary Introductory English Centre. Students here have just started learning English in Australia and will later move to ESL classes. The teachers wanted an app that wasn’t full of fancy bells and whistles but supported the teaching of literacy skills. The app has been used very successfully in class.

Demo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slX6TwDG0gU

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/transformation-sentences/id688779795?mt=8

Features include:

Sentences: Enter text, rearrange and drag individual words. Use for prediction games, cloze exercises etc

Spelling: Separate a word into letters or sounds.

Shuffle: Places all words in a sentence into random order. Students then reassemble the sentence.

Extra words: Add extra words and label parts of a sentence (eg. Who? What? Where?).

Save data: Save up to 10 sentences or spelling lists in folders. Send the folders to other iPads via Bluetooth or wi-fi (this enables the teacher to type a paragraph just once, which is then sent to the students’ iPads).

Draw: Use your finger as a pencil to write words directly on the screen.

Customise: Choose font, size and background.

(The apps were created by my son Bryan Hathaway, B. Software Engineering).

Categories
language news popular culture sociology

Word of the Year

Here are some words that dominated popular culture in Australia, the US and UK during the last year. Interesting for English, social science and popular culture classes.

The Macquarie Dictionary has just announced its Word of the Year 2013 and the winner is…..

infovore – (noun) a person who craves information, especially one who takes advantage of their ready access to it on digital devices.

So, an infovore is like a carnivore, but hungers for information. Smartphones provide us with instant answers and many of us are addicted to this rush of instant information. Libraries – a great place for infovores!

Honourable mentions:

firescape – (verb) to landscape an area with the possibility of bushfire in mind.
cli-fi – (noun) a genre of speculative fiction based on the premise that climate change will give rise to fundamental changes in the way humans live.

People’s Choice Award: onesie – a loose-fitting one-piece suit, gathered at the wrists and ankles. Please, can we just limit these to babies?  

Other category winners:
Arts – fanfic
Colloquial – facepalm
Health – enabler
Politics – marriage equality
General interest – watch and act
Communications – churnalism
Social interest – generation debt

http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/resources/view/word/of/the/year/

Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2013
selfie – (noun) a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website. The frequency of the word selfie increased by 17 000% during the past year. It was first used in an Australian online forum in 2002. Spin-off terms include welfie (a workout selfie), belfie (a posterior selfie) and twofie (with 2 people).
Shortlist includes: binge-watch (watch multiple TV episodes); bitcoin (the digital currency); showrooming ( visiting a shop and then buying it cheaper online); twerk.
http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/press-releases/oxford-dictionaries-word-of-the-year-2013/

Global Language Monitor Top Word of 2013
The 14th annual survey of the English language across 5 continents and spoken by 1.83 billion people.
Top word is ‘404’, followed by fail!, hashtag, @pontifex, the Optic, surveillance, drones, deficit, sequestration, emancipate.
404 is the numeric code for failure on the internet, augmenting its original use as “page not found”.
Top phrase: toxic politics
Top name: Pope Francis.
Most understood word in the world: OK.
Top trending prefix: franken- (any human-instigated activity that spins out of control)
Number of words in the English language (1 Jan 2014 est.):  1 025 109.8 http://www.languagemonitor.com/category/words-of-the-year-woty/

American Dialect Society Word of the Year 2013
because x – used to introduce a noun, adjective or other part of speech. “Because”  is now being used in new ways in informal online use and doesn’t have to be followed by “of”. Usage includes “because science”, “because reasons”, “because tired” and “because awesome”.
Other useful words: slash (and/or eg. come and visit slash stay), ACC (aggressive carbon copy used to undermine the email recipient eg. cc’ing the boss), robo sapiens (robots with human-like intelligence). http://www.americandialect.org/because-is-the-2013-word-of-the-year

Merriam-Webster’s (US) Word of the Year 2013
Based on the greatest increase in lookups over the past year, the top 10 words were not new words, but rather they were the words behind the stories in the news.
Word of the Year is science, followed by cognitive, rapport, communication, niche, ethic, paradox, visceral, integrity, metaphor.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/2013-word-of-the-year.htm

Interesting info: http://theconversation.com/the-macquarie-dictionary-word-of-the-year-is-22522