Infonews n°346 from 15/11/2008

It is not yet April Fool, and yet : discover this spectacular hoax from people who want to make sure Obama will keep his promises! Then find out how to build a Pixelator, see some surprising innovative ads and explore Van Gogh's technique. After Obama's victory, what's next? Find here a new song, sites presenting the transition and the changes to come, a South Park cartoon explained, a futuristic video and a lesson plan from the NYT "Examining Anti-intellectualism in America". If you want to anticipate in the calendar, here are some pages about Thanksgiving (Nov 27th), Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day (Nov 28th) and Black or Cyber Monday (Dec 1st).
In the regular features, primary school teachers will discover a game of cards that teachers can adapt to their needs, several songs with audio and lyrics, and children stories read by natives. Secondary school teachers will find a site about the 3Rs when you travel, homework helpers to help students write texts, two podcasts : one about GM food and the other about poetry, and a site about biology. Finally, fans of Mac will discover a nice site of tricks and tips, and you will become your personal coach with those 15 ways to boost your teaching confidence...

Have a nice week!

Christine Reymond

Sommaire

A la Une : Spoof edition of the NY Times, July 4th 2009

Modern Art

Pixelator
Innovative Advertisements
Van Gogh and the Colors of Night

More about Obama

Victory of Obama Song
Transition News
Other sites about the Transition
South Park Cartoon
Brave New Obamian World
The American Scholar? Examining Anti-intellectualism in America

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, BND and Cyber-Monday

Those addresses will be active next week
In Infonews and elsewhere

Resources for Primary School

Songs and Lyrics
Who am I?
Audio resources for the youngest

Resources for Secondary School

Pack the 3Rs while on holiday travel
TFK Homework Helper
Insight Plus Podcasts
Poetry
Bio-ed Online

Internet Tools

Mac World How to

Teaching Practice15 ways to boost your teaching confidence


A la Une : Spoof edition of the NY Times, July 4th 2009

On eteachNet, Claude Covo-Farchi invited us to discover this futuristic edition of the New York Times dated July 4th 2009. You can see it online on a site provided by The Yes Men, a New York-based group that some call pranksters and others culture jammers. The main title is : "Iraq War Ends" and he newspaper was printed and distributed for free...and many people believed the hoax! See for yourself, it does look like a real New York Times edition!
http://www.nytimes-se.com/
You can also download the pdf version and find more info about the hoax in this article:
http://shenews.projo.com/2008/11/fake-ny-times-o.html
Here is the reaction of the NYT on their blog, in an article entitled : "Liberal Pranksters hand out Times Spoof" : "In an elaborate hoax, pranksters distributed thousands of free copies of a spoof edition of The New York Times on Wednesday morning at busy subway stations around the city, including Grand Central Terminal, Washington and Union Squares, the 14th and 23rd Street stations along Eighth Avenue, and Pacific Street in Brooklyn, among others. " Read more in the article:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/pranksters-spoof-the-times/
"The Associated Press reported that copies of the spoof paper were also handed out in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington, and that the pranksters ­ who included a film promoter, three unnamed Times employees and Steven Lambert, an art professor ­ financed the paper with small online contributions and created the paper to urge President-elect Barack Obama to keep his campaign promises." In this article in the Washington post: you can learn everything about how it was made possible:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/12/AR2008111202062.html

Modern Art

Pixelator

As we were exchanging about Buy Nothing Day, my American Tandem partner Nicole Dunham found this site which is art work from culture jammers. Here is what you can read on the site: "Pixelator turns those ugly, blinding video billboard ads into art". "Pixelator is an unauthorized on-going video art performance collaboration with the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority, Clear Channel Communication, and its selected artists. Since 2003, the MTA has made available for exhibition purposes 80 LED screens located at subway entrances across New York City. Unfortunately, the high cost of exhibiting (an estimated $274,000 per month per screen) prevents most artists from having access to these facilities. While the MTA's effort to create more opportunities for video art exhibition in public spaces is to be commended, selected works remain wholly fixated on commercial goods and media conglomerate events, a short-sighted curatorial choice that regrettably ignores the full potential of these promising exhibition spaces.
In an attempt to broaden the scope of MTA's video art series, Pixelator takes video pieces currently on display and diffuses them into a pleasant array of 45 blinking, color-changing squares. Since the project is an anonymous collaboration, the resulting video is almost entirely unplanned and unanticipated, with the original artists helping to create new works of art without any knowledge of their participation. "
http://jasoneppink.com/pixelator/#prior_art
and the site explain with diagrams how to build your own Pixelator: a nice handicraft for your students, if you can find the material require : white foamboard and Heavy Frost diffusion gel...

Innovative Advertisements

On e-teach, Mathilde Serhan recommends this page of innovative advertisements. I especially liked the steaming cup of coffee, the people moving away because of body odor and the "wet floor" sign in front of the hamburger ad! ;)
http://www.hemmy.net/2006/10/15/creative-advertisements-around-the-world/

Van Gogh and the Colors of Night

"Companion to a 2008/2009 exhibit exploring painter Vincent Van Gogh's "nocturnal interiors and landscapes, which often combine with other longstanding themes of his art -- peasant life, sowers, wheatfields, and the encroachment of modernity on the rural scene." View "paintings, drawings, and letters from all periods of his career, as well as examples of the rich literary sources that influenced his work." Also includes audio commentary. From the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)." (from the Librarians' Internet Index)
http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/27040
[ for students in Arts level B1+ minimum.]

More about Obama

Victory of Obama Song

On eTeachNet, Florinda Fernandes has found a new song by Will-I-Am about the victory, with references to Harriet Tubman, MLK, Lincoln, Kennedy and Malcolm X. You can use it now or save it for February which is Black History Month...
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=s7y4IDeKjqk

Transition News

On [et], Isabelle De Lattre recommends the new site created by the President-elect team for the transition until the inauguration.
http://www.change.gov/
You can hear the weekly speech through which Obama intends to keep his promise of transparency. This week, you can hear his comment on the economic crisis, see the video and read the transcript. Here is what's on the site : " For the first time, the weekly Democratic address has been released as a web video. It will also continue to air on the radio. President-elect Obama plans to to publish these weekly updates through the Transition and then from the White House. Today's address from the President-elect concerns the current economic crisis."
http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/your_weekly_address_from_the_president_elect/

Other sites about the Transition

In the newsletter from November 13th, The Librarians' Internet Index features several addresses to learn everything about the transition and the future government (See the "government" section and here:
http://lii.org/pub/subtopic/6471
You can also find two sites of front pages for the 5th of November in the "media" section, and info about the history makers and Ann Nixon Cooper (the 106 lady mentionned by Obama in his victory speech) in the "people" section.
http://liiwww.ischool.drexel.edu/cs/lii/print/news/171

South Park Cartoon

On e-teach, Marielle Bianchi recommends this cartoon of the South Parks watching Obama's victory speech in an episode called: "We'll name him Sparkles"
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/209726/
This cartoon seems simple, and contains mainly extracts from the victory speech in Chicago, but what does the choice of this name "Sparkles" for the new puppy mean? It refers to Stephen Bubb, the British CEO of the ASEVO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) who wrote in his blog : ""Good to see there will be a puppy in the White House. I stand ready to give advice on the correct choice . My puppy is now snoozing in front of the fire as I blog from the library. And good also that Obama began his career as a community activist . So I guess that must be the first third sector person in the White House? Acevo has sent congratulations and best wishes to the newly elected President ."
http://bloggerbubb.blogspot.com/2008/11/barack-and-hope-for-uk.html
and Stephen Bubb's new dog who is called Sparkles.
http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2374&pg=15&cat=58
Here is the page of his blog about his new puppy:
http://bloggerbubb.blogspot.com/2008/07/sparkles-arrives-and-hazel-reminisces.html
and here is a definition of "third sector"
http://www.anztsr.org.au/third1.htm

Brave New Obamian World

In the same vein as the NYT Spoof edition, Marielle Bianchi recommends this video that she received from a friend. No script, but fun and interesting for students level B2....and teachers!
http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/1506

The American Scholar? Examining Anti-intellectualism in America

The NY Times features a lesson plan based on the article "Obama and the War on Brains" with as a final task the writing of an answer to the newspaper discussing the content of the article.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20081114friday.html
As usual, those articles are difficult and full of references, but the content is indeed very interesting, opposing figures of non intellectuals like Sarah Palin or G W Bush to Obama. And the page of the lesson plan is full of links to explore. For students level B2, with a good knowledge of the American culture.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20081114friday.html

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, BND and Cyber-Monday

Those addresses will be active next week

In Café Pédagogique n°97 which will be published next week, you can find a special report about the election of Obama, with more resources than in Infonews n°345, and lots of addresses about Thanksgiving (Thursday November 27th), Black Friday and the reaction to this day of consumerism : Buy Nothing Day (Friday November 28th).
http://www.cafepedagogique.net/lemensuel/lenseignant/languesvivantes/anglais/Pages/97_Sommaire.aspx
http://www.cafepedagogique.net/lemensuel/lenseignant/languesvivantes/anglais/Pages/2008/97_anglais_ElectiondebarackObama.aspx
http://www.cafepedagogique.net/lemensuel/lenseignant/languesvivantes/anglais/Pages/2008/97_anglais_Thanksgiving2008.aspx
http://www.cafepedagogique.net/lemensuel/lenseignant/languesvivantes/anglais/Pages/2007/87_anglais_BuyNothingDay.aspx

In Infonews and elsewhere

And while you wait for the Café or to find something in English, you can go to Infonews n°315 (not updated yet, but very few addresses are in error)
http://lycees.ac-rouen.fr/pascal/infonews/archives/315.htm#thanks
also some interesting links in Infonews n°198 (I'll update them next week)
http://lycees.ac-rouen.fr/pascal/infonews/archives/198.htm
Some more about Black Friday, and discover Cyber-Monday (December 1st)
http://lycees.ac-rouen.fr/pascal/infonews/archives/317.htm#cal
Read also this article : "Cyber-Monday is a joke"
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/11/26/is-cyber-monday-a-joke.aspx
Difference between Black Friday and Black (Cyber) Monday
http://www.makeup.com/blog/best-black-monday-deals-cyber-monday-sales-for-2008/2008/

Resources for Primary School

Songs and Lyrics

Have a look at the page of songs on Cécile Clavel's site Teacher4U. You'll find a Hello song and "if you're happy clap your hands" , "Rudolf, the red nose reindeer" and Molly malone with audio and lyrics.
http://lewebpedagogique.com/cclavel/songs/

Who am I?

On e-teach, Kei Prosper McGregor recommends this page created by Darren Rigby and Florence Roura. You can download a deck of cards presenting people, and there is another deck that you can personalise with the information you like, for example to make a Cluedo game. This can be used in primary school and in special needs classes (SEGPA). Very useful to encourage your students to talk and interact!
http://pedagogie.ac-montpellier.fr/disciplines/anglais/segpa/ressources.html

Audio resources for the youngest

On e-teach, Sylvie Brod recommends this page of children's books read by natives on the site of resources for primary school created by our colleagues from académie de Clermont
http://www.ac-clermont.fr/ia63/langues/languesress7.htm

Resources for Secondary School

Pack the 3Rs while on holiday travel

The Librarians' Internet Index newsletter from Nov 13th recommends this site about recycling and environment.
http://liiwww.ischool.drexel.edu/cs/lii/view/item/26999
Here is what you can read on the page: "While you’re traveling for the holidays, don’t leave your waste reduction and recycling habits at home. With almost one-quarter of all travel occurring during the holiday season, we have a huge opportunity to recycle and reduce waste without sacrificing our comfort or convenience. "
http://www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/news/2007news/12-pack.htm

TFK Homework Helper


On e-teach, Kimberly Oger suggests the "writing Help" section of Time For Kids Homework Helper. You find suggestions to write a book report, with also a check list to encourage students to check their report before handing it out.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/hh/writeideas/articles/0,28372,634427,00.html
On this page, look at the menu on the left : you find tips and helps for "writing biography, oral report, business letters", etc. Level A2 to B1+. The tips and documents suggested to write a research paper are exactly what is expected from the students for the TPE in première.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/hh/writeideas/articles/0,28372,606651,00.html

Insight Plus Podcasts

Talk about English is another feature from BBC Learning English : "Insight Plus is your guide to the language and key issues in the news". You can receive each week a podcast or go to the site to listen online or download the mp3 file and the transcript. See for example this programme about GM food (part 17) : "GM, or genetically modified, food is so hotly debated that it's hard to imagine a time when GM crops weren't controversial. Find out how the attitudes to GM food have changed over time - and why." (quotation from the site)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/index.shtml

Poetry

Yet another feature of BBC Learning English is "6 minute English". It is also a podcast and you can download the mp3 file and the transcript. This week : "But this week, we'll hear an interview with Dave Neita who happily shares his poetry with the world! ". There are also links to sites about the poets. Level B2, for students interested in literature and poetry.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/144_6minute/
Those interested in Old English poetry will also enjoy this site recommended by The Scout Report:
http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2008/scout-081114-re.php#5

Bio-ed Online

The Scout report recommends this site containing : "resources including slide sets and streaming video presentations designed for classroom use" on topics such as sleep and teenagers or "the effects of radiation and maintaining muscle mass in space".
http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2008/scout-081114-re.php#6
Resources level B1+, useful especially for biology TPE or DNL .

Internet Tools

Mac World How to

The Scout Report recommends this site where you can find tips to make the best of you Mac and your iPod and other accessories. For mac addicts... ;)
http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2008/scout-081114-geninterest.php#4

Teaching Practice

15 ways to boost your teaching confidence

On eTeachNet, Annie Gwynn recommends this site to help us feel more efficient during those cold and wet winter days...
http://edition.tefl.net/articles/boost-teaching-confidence-2/#more-348
[ It is based on traditional coaching methods which have proved their efficiency...so it's worth trying. Think positive! ]


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