"What's Your iCue?" - A reason to check out Facebook

"What's Your iCue?" is the only video trivia quiz in Facebook with multiple categories, thousands of questions, and videos from the NBC News archive. Test your own knowledge and advance up the ladder from Trivia Newbie to Trivia Genius!- Challenge your friends and play against them in real time.- Start your own trivia team and take the challenge to the next level.- Check out the weekly match-up and see which teams are pitted against each other.

http://www.whatsyouricue.com/

You'll need to set up a Facebook account - this will give you a chance to check out the application. Also, try joining a few groups and collaborating with friends .... look me up. I look forward to connecting with you. Join my trivia team "Geek Houston".

Inauguration of the President

There's a wonderful website containing all you need to know about the inauguration next week.

http://inaugural.senate.gov/index.cfm

Watch the Video "So Help Me God", a historical look at the Inaugural Ceremonies 1789-2005. Any videos can be watched on the site or downloaded.

This site would be great to share with your kids this weekend - prepare them for the big day! If you are at work on Tuesday, you'll be able to watch the swearing-in ceremony online. It will be streamed live on the website.

View and share documents online

Need a quick way to share documents online? Check out Zoho Viewer - you just select a file from your computer and specify the amount of time you'd like the file to be available. I tried it with a Microsoft Word document as well as an Adobe PDF document. Once the file is uploaded, just provide the URL to anyone who needs to view it. No sign up is required. I think this would be great for those documents too big for email! If you want to delete the file, you have to email the Zoho folks - this will probably change once this product gets out of beta.

Zoho has a suite of other useful products - check out Zoho Meeting. Have one-on-one meetings online ... at no charge.

Also, try Zoho Docs. Create a doc on your desktop and then save it in a Zoho folder so you can work on it at home or anywhere you can access the Internet. Share the file or files with others by providing their email addresses and access permission (read only or read/write).

Check it out: http://viewer.zoho.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoho_Office_Suite

My test viewer document: http://viewer.zoho.com/docs/jrecbj

Stepping into Science: A Second Life Conference

Wondered about how to use Second Life as a learning tool? Or just want to check it out? Attend the Stepping into Science conference on 1/30/09. This day long conference costs $65 and will be hosted inside of Second Life. During this conference, they will talk about and actually visit some of the best and most creative work being done in promoting science in a virtual world environment.

Participants in this conference will enter the virtual world of Second Life to attend presentations and visits simulations. They will open a Second Life account, create an "avatar," or virtual representation of themselves, and attend all sessions in a 3-D environment. Participants will hear presenters speak over their computer speakers, and be able to respond and interact in ways similar to a live conference. An orientation for new Second Life users will be included in the conference fee, and is required for those new to Second Life.

Check it out: http://www.steppingintovirtualworlds.org/

Train SMEs in design of rapid e-learning materials

Do you need to train Subject Matter Experts in the design of rapid e-learning materials for use in the workplace? Check out the free 60 minute masters course. This course was developed using PowerPoint and Articulate Presenter. There are both audio and non-audio versions of the course, along with handouts, resources and an online discussion area. The course is hosted in a Moodle LMS so you get a chance to check out that application as well.

Check it out: http://www.kineolearning.com/60minutemasters/

Sign up and take the online course.

http://www.learning15.net/wiki/index.php?title=The_60-minute_masters

Sign up and view course outline and project background. You can download the script and PowerPoint files. If you use Articulate Presenter, you can use the PowerPoint to practice your development abilities - create a course with branching.

CES 2009: Mattel's Mind Flex Game Is Powered by Brainwaves

The coolest gadget out of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week has to be a game - Mind Flex by Mattel.

It will be out in the Fall and cost around $80.

Read about it:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/156860/oddball_gadget_mattel_mind_flex.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i63X73ML9bAZaen2bBo7G1NUwibA



Image credits: Engadget

How To Find The Best Free Image/Photo/Graphics

This article discusses finding the best free images etc. for your blog but I think it's appropriate for e-learning as well.

It also discusses Creative Commons Images - a set of free licenses that allow artists to share their work, while still retaining some of their rights.

Check out this article:
http://smackdown.blogsblogsblogs.com/2009/01/12/how-to-find-the-best-free-imagephotographics-downloads-for-your-blog-posts/

Free text messaging polling system

Here's a way to get those Millennials perked up during your training class. Poll Everywhere is a text message polling and audience response system. You create the poll, the audience responds via text message or on a web page. The results update live on the web page or in your PowerPoint presentation.

You can set up an account for free (30 responses per poll). Check it out: http://www.polleverywhere.com/ You can respond to my poll below online or via cell phone. The results are displayed instantly. Pretty cool.

Make your own poll voting question with Poll Everywhere

Create your own sms poll at Poll Everywhere