Wiimote Whiteboard Project

I recently tackled Johnny Chung Lee's Wiimote Whiteboard project and I've documented the results on TeacherTube:



Getting Uwe Schmidt's Java port of the software to run on my Mac was very easy and I had no problems pairing the Wiimote with the laptop. I did have some trouble building the IR pointer, but that was mainly due to my general incompetence with a soldering iron.

The software isn't ready for the average classroom user yet, but at the very least it's a great proof-of-concept that an interactive whiteboard system can be built for a fraction of the cost of a SmartBoard.

DonorsChoose Helps Teachers Fund Projects

If you're struggling to find funding for a project in your classroom, you may want to consider DonorsChoose. DonorsChoose allows you to post a project for which you would like to receive financial support. Individuals can then read about your project and donate to you if they find it compelling.

DonorsChoose is to large foundation grants, as Virgin Money or other personal loan companies are to big bank loans. The scale is reduced, and the focus is on connecting individual donors with teachers, reducing bureaucracy, and creating opportunities for individuals to support education in an affordable fashion.

Many of the projects seeking donations on the site have a total cost of less than $500, so this is a great opportunity to fund those small projects that have been on your back burner... or that you've been paying for out of pocket!

Political Advertisements Online

One of my favorite online resources for use in social studies class is The Living Room Candidate. Created by the Museum of the Moving Image, this site collects television commercials from every Presidential election since 1952.

As we all become inundated with political ads during this election season, The Living Room Candidate can be a great resource to discuss how political ads are constructed to target specific voter groups, appeal to emotions, and even use subliminal imagery.