Archive for February 2011
WorldWide Telescope is a free astronomic telescope visualization software that allows to to use your computer as a virtual telescope. Indeed WorldWide Telescope brings all imagery of ground-based and space-based telescopes, to your computer. From your computer, you are able to visit the final frontier. This free astronomical telescope software captures terabytes of images, information and stories from an array of different sources. Students of all ages, as well as teachers and other academics, find WorldWide Telescope a fascinating trip through the cosmos. The application’s interface is simple and easy to navigate and understand.
WorldWide Telescope comes from Microsoft, and is available as a both web based client, as well as downloadable Windows based client. I tried web based client, and was absolutely amazed. I saw a Nebula, explored areas in space around it, and just loved the clarity of images around it. Let me warn you; using this free telescope software can become addictive. Microsoft has done a great job in putting together this software.
The creators of WorldWide Telescope had two missions in mind when they created this journey into the heavens. The first is to collect all scientific data from major telescopes, observatories and institutions around the world and make this data available for all via a single, cohesive internet-based portal. The second is to stimulate interest in science among young people. WorldWide Telescope aims at teaching astronomy as well as other facets to do with the cosmos.
For those that are keen to get started, you will find a dialogue box on the main interface that explains how to navigate the world of WorldWide Telescope. Follow the instructions until you are familiar with the controls as well as features. Click on the ‘Guided Tours’ tab. From here you are able to choose from a slew of tours created by various contributing astronomers and educators from some of the most prestigious institutions from around the world.
There are tours to the Milky Way to see how it condensers into stars and planets. Traveling back in time to view gravitational lens bending the light from galaxies. These are just two examples of the trips or tours that are available; there are many more. You can also “bookmark” the tour and resume the tour at another time, in the event you are busy.
The program utilizes Microsoft’s high performance Visual Experience Engine, this free application allows you to explore the universe as though you are a crew member on board the starship Enterprise. You are able to seamlessly pan the sky and zoom in on celestial features that are of interest. these include stars, nebulae, and planets. You are able to this plus a great deal more, all from a comfortable chair and a mouse click.
Space consists of many celestial objects radiate energy over an extreme wide range. These objects include, wavelengths; radio waves to infrared, optical ultra-violet and even x-rays. WorldWide Telescope is able to bring together information of these space objects thanks to contributions from such instruments as the Hubble Space Telescope, The Chandra X-Ray Observatory and the Sloane Digital Sky Survey.
Some other similar software we reviewed earlier include: Stellarium, and Celestia.
The data in WorldWide Telescope is not readily accessible; it is presented in such a way that it facilitates integrative research. Having an application like this enables the gap between research, education and public knowledge to be closed. Anyone, with an interest, can learn about space and what is out there. Indeed, with WorldWide Telescope, your computer is a virtual supercomputer and telescope to the stars.
The Microsoft research team has dedicated WorldWide Telescope to the memory of Jim Gray and thus released it as a free resource, for all. Try WorldWide Telescope Free.
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Now teachers and students can view, edit, and share Microsoft Office documents from virtually any computer with an Internet connection (PC or Mac).
Office Web Apps are:
- Online companions to Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, Word 2010, Excel 2010, and OneNote 2010.
- A smart way to get work done outside of class.
- A free, easy way to collaborate with colleagues and student workgroups.
- Available free through Windows Live SkyDrive using a Windows Live ID.
Get helpful teaching tips on how to use Office Web Apps to access and share your documents, and give all your students access to the same, rich, productive software.
The Microsoft Leadership Conclave (MLC) has been conceived of as a hallowed portal of learning for those in the highest echelons of corporate India. The initiative comes as a year on year event, consistently driving the growth of leaders, businesses and most importantly India’s economic landscape!
This year the conclave was held in New Delhi on 3rd and 4th February’ 2011.
The focus at the conclave was on growing CORE AREAS of Leadership – Business Strategy, Innovation and Personal Growth. Eminent industry leaders introduced the delegates to new and broader horizons of thinking, helping them understand what it takes to be a multi-faceted leader, there by building the business architects of the next decade.
Interestingly, under the section of Developing Talent, two ‘Shiksha’ trained teachers were invited to talk about their tryst with ICT and how their educational projects have influenced the teaching landscape.
Mr. Raghavendra Rao, a finalist at WWIEF last year spoke on his project Biology 24 X 7 – Redefining Classrooms and teaching through V-Rooms and podcasts. The audience greeted him with applause when he described how the academic performance & self esteem of special children increased after using podcasts specially created for them. Once again, the audience was moved when Raghavendra Rao shared that during Tsunami, his was the only school to have maintained V-Sat connectivity with the mainland. Also, children who had lost everything in the Andaman Islands were sent to his school and they soon began taking interest in his digital lesson plans. Mr. Rao was happy to share that all those students passed their board exams successfully.
Mr. Parambir Singh Kathait, a teacher from Uttrakhand also made an impact on the audience with his talk on the challenges faced by him -strenuous geographical terrain & rigid mindsets of parents of first generation learners in his remote village. Defying all challenges, Mr. Kathait’s project won at a global event and has been distributed not only in his state but also to other countries via the World Economic Forum. Mr. Kathait’s work has been recognized by the state and now he has been deputed to the State’s ICT Cell, where he has got a much wider canvass to paint and influence academic reforms for over 5 lakh students.
