The Scout Report -- Volume 22, Number 22

The Scout Report -- Volume 22, Number 22
June 10, 2016
Volume 22, Number 22

Changing of the Guard

This issue of The Scout Report marks the end of Craig Hase's tenure at the Internet Scout Research Group. We would like to thank him for all the great work that he contributed and wish him the best of luck with his future endeavors. While we are sure to miss Craig, we are happy to welcome Molly Blake to our team. Tune in next week for her first full Report.

A Note From Craig

It's seems like only yesterday that I wrote my first Scout Report, but in fact it's been nearly two years. Along the way, I've learned more than I ever thought I would know about the intricacies of 19th century New England agricultural practices, the vicissitudes of quantum physics, and the best places on the web to find contemporary maps of the African savanna, among many other things. I've also had the pleasure of working with the dedicated staff at the Internet Scout Research Group, who are working day in and day out to bring the creme de la creme of the web to readers. Wishing you all the best. Scout well. [CNH]

Research and Education

General Interest

Network Tools

In The News

Research and Education

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BBC NEWS: Americas: Country Profiles
Social studies

For social studies teachers - or anyone fascinated by the politics and culture of the Americas - the BBC has assembled this compendium of profiles for every nation in North and South America. From Argentina to Venezuela, the material here is sure to provide fuel for lectures, discussions, readings, homework, and other classroom assignments. Comprehensive in scope, the profiles are well written and accessible; they are often accompanied by vivid images, and sometimes by audio or video content. For instance, students may learn about Mexico that the 2 million square kilometer country is "a nation where affluence, poverty, natural splendour and urban blight rub shoulders." They may also listen to Mexico's national anthem, read about the history of the "de-facto one-party system" that dominated Mexico's politics for 70 years, and learn about current leaders. Related news stories also appear on the right hand side of the page making it easy for educators to reference current events as they unpack the complexities of each nation. [CNH]

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AskAboutIreland
Social studies

Curious about the history, culture, and heritage of Ireland? AskAboutIreland will come as a welcome fount of information. The initiative, which aggregates resources from public libraries, local museums, and national archives, seeks to publish "the original, the unusual and the unique." With a collection of online cultural, educational, and environmental resources on over thirty general interest topics, the Reading Room is a great place to start. Readers may use a Keyword search to filter the contents or browse by Popular Articles. There is also much to appreciate in the Learning Zone, where educators will discover resources, games, and lesson plans for primary students and secondary students in History, Science, Music, Art, and even Gaeilge. [CNH]

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Videos for Psychology Teachers
Social studies

From the American Psychological Association (APA), this substantial list of Videos for Psychology Teachers can enliven lesson plans, bolster class discussions, and foster engaging homework assignments. Ranging from 30 minutes to approximately one hour in length, the videos cover topics such as Understanding the DSM-5: What Every Teacher Needs to Know, Update on the International Classification of Diseases, and Nature or Nurture? The New role of Epigenetics. Talks are offered by top experts in the field, such as Jeffrey Stowell who teaches psychology at Eastern Illinois University and has published extensively on epigenetics as it relates to theories of nature and nurture in psychology. [CNH]

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SciStarter
Science

Citizen science is the idea that anyone, any citizen, can volunteer their time for the good of scientific research and discovery without having to be formally trained. SciStarter is the place to find and participate in citizen science projects, whether that be an extension of one of your current hobbies, like collecting data while bird watching (The Great Backyard Bird Count), or a fun educational activity to do with a child, like collecting bugs (Urban Buzz). As a repository for citizen science projects, the SciStarter Project Finder lets users search for projects and opportunities by type of activity, such as something to do exclusively online, or by topic, such as animals, geography, or health and medicine. There are also ways to limit your search by location, by free or low cost projects, or by projects suitable for students. Each entry includes general information about the project and a link to more information about how to participate. If you're looking to contribute a project to the database, the For Scientists section of the website offers an easy way to add suggestions, while the blog discusses news and outcomes of current citizen science fueled projects. [MM]

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Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots
Science

For educators looking for a way to engage K-12 students in community activism and wildlife conservation, Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots is a welcome resource. From its origins as a group of 12 environmentally conscious students in Tanzania in 1991, Roots & Shoots has since grown to include over 150,000 members in 130 countries. Building on Dr. Jane Goodall's vision of a youth-led environmental movement, this website provides the necessary tools to launch a project relevant to students and their communities. From the homepage, navigate to Start a Roots & Shoots Community Project to learn about the 4-step formula. Step 1, Get Engaged, includes resources for learning about Dr. Goodall, the Roots & Shoots program, example campaigns, and lessons and activities for students. Step 2, Map It, includes age-appropriate options for assessing community needs and potential resources. After mapping the needs of a community, it's time to Take Action, Step 3. Here readers will find links to help with the process, such as applying for a mini-grant, or tips on community collaboration. Finally, Step 4 is Celebrating. In addition, the Tools for Educators section offers even more resources, curriculum, and support for getting started on a project. [MM]

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The Inquiry Project
Science

The Inquiry Project, a joint endeavor of TERC and Tufts University, seeks to bring a more relevant understanding of science to elementary school classrooms. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the Project brings research, curriculum, assessment, and professional development together in order to build an early understanding of science that may then progress into more nuanced study. With a focus on inquiry, the Project is designed around three content areas: measurement of matter, change and conservation, and scale. The Curriculum portion of the website reveals a helpful video introduction as well as separate sections for grades three, four, and five. Assessment materials are provided for the curriculum, as are professional development resources and opportunities for teachers. For educators looking for new ways to encourage student agency and investigation through science, The Inquiry Project should not be missed. [MM]

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Theodore Roosevelt Center
Social studies

The Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University created this digital library to provide online access to Roosevelt-related photographs, ephemera, and documents. For those that wish to know more about our 26th president, the Learn About TR section of the website provides an extensive Biographical Overview with many themed collections that highlight important moments in Teddy's life and work. The section also features the TR Trail, which depicts Roosevelt's legacy in North Dakota, and a TR Encyclopedia. Within the TR Quotes tab, readers may browse some of TR's most memorable and lasting words, while the TR Timelines tab lets readers explore his life, his time in the Badlands, and his experience in World War I. The Research section of the website provides a way to search and browse the comprehensive digital collections, offering a glimpse into the unique and fascinating life of Teddy Roosevelt through telegrams, sound recordings, letters, advertisements, and more. [MM]

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General Interest

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MSU Library: Digital Initiatives and Digital Collections
Social studies

The Montana State University Library has assembled an impressive range of visual, textual, and video resources that center on Montana-related topics. Scholars, educators, students, and those fascinated with the rich history of the state will find a wealth of information here. Readers may like to begin with the Photos/Papers section, where they will find a digital collection of photographs, publications, research data, and much more from the Federal Work Projects Administration's efforts to revitalize the local economy through government sponsored infrastructure projects. Other fascinating inroads into local culture include the Trout and Salmonid Artwork Digital Collection, links to real-time National Park Service Webcams, and proceedings from the International Snow Science Workshops. Also of interest is the Audio/Video section, which brims with archival material that ranges from recordings of the soundscape of Yellowstone National Park to videos of MSU-sponsored lectures on trout, banned books, and other fascinating topics. [CNH]

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Wall Street Journal: Law Blog
Social studies

Spearheaded by lead writer Jacob Gershman, the Wall Street Journal Law Blog publishes posts from a range of WSJ staff writers and columnists. Featuring detailed posts on a variety of legal topics, the blog provides commentary on news, emerging trends, and interesting cases. Interested readers can browse the homepage for the latest posts, sort through topics, such as Law School, State Legislation, and Intellectual Property, or sign up to receive email alerts when new entries are added. With the range of material covered, the Wall Street Journal Law Blog will provide hours of erudite entertainment to law experts and amateurs alike. [CNH]

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Politico
Social studies

Founded by former Washington Post editors in the winter of 2007, Politico shares breaking news on politics and policy, from congress to lobbying to the presidential campaign. With a circulation of about 40,000, the newspaper is distributed for free in Washington D.C. and Manhattan. Most adherents, however, stay up-to-date by using the Politico website, where readers may like to begin by scouting the continually updated and always interesting articles in its queue. The Agenda tab elucidates topics such as Education and Transportation, among others, while the Policy tab focuses on Agriculture, Cybersecurity, Defense, and many other topics. [CNH]

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DearTomorrow
Science

DearTomorrow is a unique type of archive. Instead of collecting bits of the past for current research and scholarship, it is collecting letters to the future. With climate change a very real consequence of the human use of fossil fuels, DearTomorrow "is inspiring people to send open letters, photos and videos about climate change to loved ones living in the future." Messages will be held in the DearTomorrow archive and released in 2030 and 2050. Letters may contain thoughts on climate change, promises to make personal changes to mitigate climate change, or any message intended for future loved ones. Submitting a message is easy and there are options for keeping your message private, sharing it publicly, or adding a photo or video. The Help Writing Messages section also offers helpful prompts to get you going on this difficult and important topic. Public messages are viewable on the site and contain heartfelt and touching memories of times spent outdoors, as well as pledges to drive less, to be mindful of waste, and to be ruthless fighters for climate science and climate change awareness. [MM]

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The New York Preservation Archive Project
Arts

Historic preservation is the organized effort to preserve the built environment for its rich historical significance. It makes sense, then, that an archive of historic preservation would come out of New York City, with its long tradition of fighting to save historic buildings. The New York Preservation Archive Project (NYPAP) tells the many stories of New York's historic preservation movements via two main collections, the Preservation History Database and Oral Histories. The Preservation History Database can be scouted by People, Places, Organizations, or Public Policy. In this last section readers will find lengthy and informative multi-part entries that range from the 1961 New York City Zoning Resolution to the fight to save an African Burial Ground, one of the oldest and largest sites associated with 18th-century slavery in the United States. The Oral Histories section offers "eyewitness accounts and personal impressions of moments in preservation history" through interviews with the movers and shakers of NY preservation. For those itching to learn more, NYPAP has compiled a comprehensive list of both preservation history resources and general archival resources for user reference. [MM]

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California's Old Series Trademarks
Social studies

Both historically interesting and visually appealing, this collection of Old Series Trademarks from the California State Archives provides a glimpse into early industry and entrepreneurship in the West. After the California Gold Rush of 1849, commerce in the region increased and led to the state's first trademark law. The result? A plethora of colorful logos and labels registered with the Secretary of State. Get oriented to this collection by reading the introductory write-up provided on the main collection page. The links embedded in the text allow for easy searching or browsing of these fascinating historical artifacts. Below the text, labels and trademarks are divided into categories, such as Patent Medicines to Cure any Ailment, Famous Sweets and Treats, and Grizzly Bears Represent Bygone Era, among others. 3,940 digitized trademark applications are available, dating between 1861 and 1900, for readers' research and enjoyment. [MM]

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WGBH: Open Vault
Social studies

Originally featured by the Scout Report in 2006, we've decided to re-feature Open Vault and it's myriad of audiovisual resources. After a recent comprehensive site revamp, Open Vault offers even more rich and varied historical radio and television from the WGBH Media Library and archives. As the largest producer of public media in the United States, and the home of the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, this new iteration of Open Vault offers over 42,000 records that are easier to navigate. Content is organized and discoverable in three ways. WGBH Series offers a browseable index of over 1,000 WGBH produced series, such as nationally syndicated shows FRONTLINE and NOVA, or regional programs, such as the New England Music Showcase. Scholar Exhibits offers curated content and substantive articles on public media topics or programs. These include an exhibit analyzing the history of the television coverage of violence on television and a feature about the Civil Rights Movement in Boston. Finally, Special Collections offers content organized around a particular program or topic, such as The Vietnam Collection and Press and the People, as well as full length interviews. Readers are sure to find something intriguing here. [MM]

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NYPL Digital Collections: Jerome Robbins Dance Division Audio and Moving Image Archive
Arts

The Jerome Robbins Dance Division Audio and Moving Image Archive at the New York Public Library offers "a virtual space for dance enthusiasts and researchers alike to browse, search, compare, and comment on dance videos and images." In fact, without even clicking a link readers may view a recorded dance performance on the site's homepage. Moving through the site, there are a couple of easy ways to get to more collection materials. A band of thumbnail images promotes recently digitized items, however, many of these can only be viewed onsite at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Good thing, then, for those unfamiliar with the collection, that it is also possible to conduct a search that excludes all items that can only be viewed onsite. This retrieves a list of close to 800 videos that can be viewed remotely. [DS]

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Network Tools

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ClassDojo
Educational Technology

ClassDojo's behavior management program is free, easy to implement, and many students and teachers report liking its game-like quality. Educators simply enter a list of their students names then add certain desired behaviors, such as sitting still, raising a hand in class, or completing homework, as well as undesired behaviors, such as bickering in class, interrupting, or getting off task. From there, teachers can monitor students' performance in real time. When a student performs desired behaviors they receive a point. When they perform an undesired behavior they lose a point. Some educators choose to project students' scores publicly throughout class, while others keep a private tally and share with students as needed. Set up requires nothing more than an email address. Educators may like to begin with the short introductory video that explains how to best utilize the tool. [CNH]

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Infogram
Science

Infographics have become increasingly popular over the past few years, often presenting complex or text-heavy information in an easy to understand and visually appealing way. Among the numerous online tools and services out there, Infogram is especially handy for users interested in creating data-centric infographics, maps, and charts. User data may be uploaded as a .xls, .xlsx, or .csv file, or may be imported from a number of sources, including Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. From there, users may select from three basic design types: Infographic or Report, Chart or Graph, and Map. With a variety of themes and templates, customization is easy and completed graphics may be embedded and shared anywhere. As with many online services, users may opt for a free basic version or upgrade to a pro version at cost. Also of note is the Infogram blog, which is updated frequently and features user stories and tips and tricks to inspire or help with various data visualization topics. [CDR]

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In The News

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Rethinking "Dead as Dodo:" New Scientific Insights About the Dodo Bird and Animal Extinction

The Smart, Agile, and Completely Underrated Dodo
http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/06/the-dodos-redemption /486086

How humanity first killed the dodo, then lost it as well
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160408-how-humanity-first-killed-the-dodo-then-lost-it-as-well

Death by Dry Spell
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2012/03/death-dry-spell

Memoirs of Hugh Edwin Strickland
https://archive.org/details/memoirshughedwi00jardgoog

There's No Such Thing as Pristine Nature
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/theres-no-such-thing-as-pristine-nature

Will It Happen Again? Examining Mass Extinctions on Earth
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/will-it-happen-again-examining-mass-extinctions-on-earth

In the 350 years or so since the last dodo bird died in Mauritius, the flightless bird has come to represent the havoc that human beings can wreak on a defenseless, comically ill-equipped species. However, over the past few years scientists have made discoveries that challenge this traditional narrative of the dodo bird's demise. In 1598, Dutch sailors first described encountering the dodo bird in Mauritius; less than a century later, the species had died out. According to legend, dodo birds were plump, slow animals that were quickly hunted and consumed by Dutch settlers. Immortalized by numerous paintings and books - and a cameo appearance in Alice in Wonderland - the dodo bird briefly fascinated Victorian researchers, but lost the public's interest by the time Mauritian naturalist Louis Etienne Thirioux uncovered the skeletons of two dodo birds at the beginning of the 20th century. Now, over 100 years after Thirioux's discovery, a team of scientists including Leon Claessens, Julian Hume, and Kenneth Rijsdijk have studied Thirioux's findings and have come to new conclusions about the dodo bird. Notably, the dodo's skeleton and brain suggest that the bird was smarter and more agile than legend suggests. This new research challenges the notion that dodos were swiftly hunted to their extinction in the 17th century, leaving room for new theories about what likely killed out the dodo. [MMB]

The first link will take readers to an article by Emily Anthes that appeared in The Atlantic this past week. Anthes describes in clear detail what Claessens and his team have discovered about the dodo by studying Thirioux's skeletons. The second link leads to a BBC article by Colin Barras that describes the long history of how researchers throughout the last three centuries have studied, imagined, and also ignored the dodo bird. The third article, from Sid Perkins of Science Magazine, details the drought that killed many dodos over 4,200 years ago - providing readers with a richer history of the dodo in Mauritius. Next, readers will find the complete memoir of Hugh Edwin Strickland, a Victorian ornithologist and naturalist who, along with Alexander Gordon Melville, was instrumental in keeping interest in the dodo bird alive during the 19th century. (In 1848, Strickland and Melville published the monograph, The Dodo and Its Kingdom. Readers will find a link to this monograph in the BBC article above). The fifth source will take readers to an essay by Michelle Nijhuis. Published in the New Yorker this week, the essay notes that human influence on ecosystems long predate the death of the dodo bird. Finally, readers will find a New York Times lesson plan designed to help youth think about extinction.