The Scout Report -- Volume 22, Number 35

HippoCampus is an extensive online resource designed to enrich secondary and post-secondary instruction in mathematics, the natural sciences, the social sciences, and humanities. The resource is a product of the NROC (which stands for Network, Resources, Open, and College and Career), a "community-guided, non-profit project focused on new models of digital content development, distribution, and use." On this website, readers will find resources created by the NROC as well as relevant resources created by other digital content creators, such as Khan Academy and PhET (Physics Education Technology). The site is essentially a useful "one-stop shop" for anyone looking for ready-to-use material. Resources are initially sorted by Subject, then by type of resource (including Presentations, Worked Examples, and Simulations). Within some subject areas, instructors can also check access complete open courses created by the NROC. Some subjects also include a Textbook Correlations tab, which allows teachers to quickly and easily discover the page numbers in a variety of commonly used textbooks that correlate with online resources. [MMB]

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Much of the scholarship about Jewish communities in the Americas focuses on religious texts and practices. Laura Leibmann, an English scholar who teaches at Reed College, believes that our contemporary understanding of these communities can be enriched by examining "everyday objects that defined and created Jewish identity." Liebmann is the author of Messianism, Secrecy, and Mysticism: A New Interpretation of Early American Jewish Life, an award winning book that centers on the importance of these quotidian objects. This website, which can be experienced as a teaching and learning tool that accompanies Leibman's book, lets readers browse a number of artifacts from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries. Items include artifacts from major areas in the United States and the Caribbean where Jewish individuals settled as well as artifacts from major sites of emigration, including Amsterdam, London, and Hambert. These artifacts can be browsed by Type (including Architecture, Funerary Art, and Images), Time Period, or Geographic Region. This website also includes two short webinars hosted by Dr. Liebmann and a handful of classroom activities - designed for high school or college classrooms - that help history students situate and analyze these important objects. [MMB]

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Open Yale Courses provides a unique opportunity for members of the general public to experience a stimulating classroom environment and learn about a diverse number of issues without stepping foot on the New Haven campus. Philosophy and the Science of Human Nature is one such course that allows interested readers to engage in the thought-provoking subfield of Philosophy, the Philosophy of Science. In this course, Dr. Tamar Szabo Gendler "pairs central texts from Western philosophical tradition (including works by Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus, Hobbes, Kant, Mill, Rawls, and Nozick) with recent findings in cognitive science and related fields." Site visitors can access all 26 of Dr. Gendler's lectures for this course, which each center on one of three key themes: Happiness and Flourishing, Morality and Justice, and Political Legitimacy and Social Structure. A list of the required texts for this course may be found on the course Syllabus. [MMB]

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The Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory (EMSL) provides "molecular level studies for the Department of Energy and its Office of Biological and Environmental Resources." On its website, visitors can learn about ongoing research projects at EMSL and read publications from the laboratory team. This content is organized into four Science Themes: Atmospheric Aerosol Systems, Biosystems Dynamics & Design, Molecular Transformations, and Terrestrial & Subsurface Ecosystems. These categories may be found on the homepage as well as under the Science tab on the website. In addition to providing the public with scholarly publications, each Science Theme also helpfully includes Science Highlights, which are brief, accessible summaries of major discoveries at EMSL. Featured projects include an examination of the impact of soot on ice-holding clouds; an analysis of interactions between different kinds of aerosol emissions; and an exploration of how viruses infect bacteria cells. [MMB]

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Today, there are an estimated 115,200 speakers of the Mahri language, a distinct tongue spoken by the Mahra, an ethnic group that lives in modern-day Yemen, the Yemeni island of Socotra, Oman, Kuwait, and Northeastern Somalia. Mahri speakers have preserved their language orally, making it "one of the few, living remnants of the pre-Arabic language substrate that once stretched across the southern quarter of the Arabian Peninsula." Oral Poetry, in particular, is an important artistic component of the Mahri language. Samuel Liebhaber, Associate Professor of Arabic at Middlebury College, has created this impressive archive of Mahri poetry. Visitors can browse the Index of Poems by Title, Region, or Poet, Transmitter, or Singer. Each poem is transcribed using the International Phonetic Alphabet and also translated into English. And, excitingly, visitors can watch videos or hear recordings of many of these poems being performed as a way to experience Mahri for themselves. In addition to the extensive Index, Liebhaber also provides an extensive history of the Mahra people and Mahri language as well as an analysis of Mahri poetry. [MMB]

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Exploring Computer Science (ECS) is a partnership between the University of California Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District, with funding from the National Science Foundation, that aims "to increase and enhance the computer science learning opportunities" in LAUSD and "to broaden the participation of African-American, Latino/a, and female students in learning computer science." ECS has compiled this resource list that may be of interest to computer science teachers as well as other K-12 instructors looking to integrate computer science education into their classrooms. Readers will find a number of articles of interest (such as Jeanette Wing's 2006 article about computational thinking), in-class worksheets and activities, and links to outside websites realted to K-12 technology education. Note that this page also includes a link to ECS's Student Resource list, which includes a number of resources about youth-centered technology programs and initiatives. These resources will be of interest to teachers and youth workers as well as students. [MMB]

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Civic media is the practice of using media and technology to promote a collective good. The Civic Media Project (CMP) "is a collection of short case studies from scholars and practitioners from all over the world that range from the descriptive to the analytical, from the single tool to the national program, from the enthusiastic to the critical." These case studies are written by scholars across a number of fields, including journalism, digital media, political science, and education. Case studies highlight civic media projects in four Sections: Play + Creativity; Systems + Designs; Learning + Engagement; and Community + Action. Highlighted projects include Presenting our Perspectives on Philly Youth News (POPPYN), a youth- produced TV News show and Aliens on Campus, an Alternative Reality Game at the University of Western Cape designed to address gaps in digital literacy education. Many of these projects focus on youth empowerment and education, so CMP may especially be of interest to youth workers and educators in alternative or out-of-school settings. [MMB]

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The American Museum of Natural History has compiled this collection of twelve two hour-long lesson plans that are designed to provide students with a humanistic perspective on health care and disease. In addition to detailed lesson plans, readers will find ready-made PowerPoint presentations and links to related resources, such as articles and videos. Although these lessons are designed to be completed as a series, they also contain activities that can be completed in shorter time periods or as stand-alone lessons. Sessions facilitate student learning by using a number of compelling central questions, including "How does oppression make the experience of disease and illness different in different cultural contexts?" and "What is the relationship between humans and the microbes that cause disease?" In all, this Curriculum Collection contains lessons and resources that may be of interest to science, social studies, and health educators alike. [MMB]

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Those interested in the history of medicine, psychology, and science will want to check out The Wellcome Library Blog, a highly engaging, frequently updated blog authored by the staff of the Wellcome Collection's Wellcome Library. Each blog entry is tagged, allowing visitors to browse topics of interest. In From the Collections, visitors will find posts that highlight and situate items from the library's remarkable collection. Items include a 1420 "wound man," an admittedly gruesome image that appeared in fifteenth century German medical textbooks, along with early twentieth century job advertisements from the publication, Chemist and Druggist. Meanwhile, The Researcher's View features engrossing guest blog posts composed by academics, students, and independent researchers utilizing the library's collections. Those interested in the digital humanities will want to check out the Digital Developments portion of the blog, which highlights newly digitized library materials and an examination of how visitors interact with digitized books in the collection. [MMB]

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The Square Dance History Project is dedicated to documenting the history of square dance in North America. Powered by Omeka, this website is home to over 1,400 items related to the popular dance, including past issues of Grand Square magazine, filmed dance choreography, newspaper clippings, album covers, interviews with contemporary square dance "callers," and poetry. Visitors can browse the collection by subject or by region of the country. For those less familiar with the dance form, the website includes material about all types of square dance, including Spanish Colonial dances in the Southwest, Quebecois dances in Canada, and Irish set dances. The site also features 13 online exhibits where visitors can learn about the world's largest square dance (held on July 13, 1950 in Santa Monica, California) or learn about notable women square dance callers throughout history (and hear original recordings of their "calls"). [MMB]

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The interdisciplinary Places Journal is a valued resource for those interested in the future of architecture, landscape and urbanism. The journal was established through a collaboration between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of California, Berkeley in 1983, and is now freely available in its entirety on this website. Places publishes articles by scholars of architecture, geography, and media studies, as well as by architectural professionals. Articles include peer reviewed academic pieces, more informal (but well-researched) journalistic essays, and photo galleries. For visitors interested in a specific discipline a search can be carried out by topic, including architecture, ecology, history, sustainability, and many more. The Reading Lists section of the site is especially notable. Here, readers can share and create annotated bibliographies, syllabi, or reading lists on a variety of topics, from Architecture and Jazz to Environmental Readings. Fans of the journal can also sign up for a free newsletter to receive new articles directly to their email inbox. [MMB]

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Eleanor Lutz, a doctoral student in biology at the University of Washington, is a gifted designer and visualization artist. Her personal blog, Tabletop Whale, presents readers with a virtual treasure trove of "charts, infographics, and information about any and all things science." The most recent graphics featured on Tabletop Whale include a rainbow color clock that blends into a new color every two minutes; three-dimensional trading cards of viruses; and a remarkable map of Mars in which Lutz combines her own hand drawn map - inspired, as she explains, by historical hand-drawn maps - with topographical images of the planet from NASA. Each creation is accompanied by an explanation of her creative process, including her sources of information, the tools she used to create her infographics, and the fonts she selected. Tabletop Whale also includes a tutorial about creating animated infographics for those interested in learning more about the process and craft. [MMB]

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Machine learning, when "computers apply statistical learning techniques to automatically identify patterns in data," is becoming a bigger part of the everyday life of most Americans in ways that are both embraced and debated. For example, websites like Facebook use machine learning for facial recognition, while banks use machine learning to monitor credit card fraud. Still, it can be difficult to grasp exactly how this component of artificial intelligence actually works. This interactive website, authored by Stephanie Yee and Tony Chu, uses R2D3 - a data visualization tool created by Yee and Chu themselves - to help the general public better understand machine learning. Using vivid visualizizations and a concrete example (How would a machine determine if a home was in New York City or San Francisco?), this resource clearly explains the key vocabulary and concepts behind machine learning in an accessible, engaging way. [MMB]

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50 Watts is a website dedicated to book design and illustration. Curated by Will Schofield, who works in publishing and loves to collect books, the site features colorful art and design from around the world and across centuries. Visitors can search this impressive collection (over 800 works total) by Location or by a number of Groupings, including Children's Books, Comics, Ephemera, and Science Fiction. Not sure where to start? Check out Schofield's personal favorites in Editor's Choice. Here, visitors will find a collection of gorgeous, vibrant children's textbook covers from 1920 Japan, beautiful, abstract illustrations from the 1974 Czech children's book, Button Tales, and illustrations by Guatemalan-born Mexican artist Carlos Merida for the 1946 book, The Bird. Each entry includes several images, along with detailed information about the book and the artist. [MMB]

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In 2010, the Department of History at the University of Texas at Austin founded Not Even Past as a way to create a public conversation about history. Authored by university faculty and students, this website features book and film reviews (including assessments of historical portrayals in contemporary popular films), information about recent faculty research, and details about interesting archival material. In The Public Historian and Blog sections, visitors can check out essays and shorter reflections by faculty and graduate students, many of which link history to current events and issues. While much of the content on Not Even Past relates to the state of Texas, the project also addresses history from around the globe. Secondary teachers and students, especially, will want to check out the 15 Minute History podcast that provides historical context behind news stories (and is compatible with national history standards). [MMB]

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Applying for jobs can be a time-consuming, nerve-racking venture even for the experienced professional. It can be especially daunting for recent graduates who are entering the workforce for the very first time. The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL), well known for its helpful writing resources, has created this practical guide to assist with Job Search Writing. Readers will find four sections to explore: Preparing an Application, Job Search Letters, Resumes and Vitas, and Video Resumes. This last section may be of special interest as it discusses the use of video aids for job applications, from planning to filming to editing footage. Readers interested in a more traditional application may appreciate the ample collection of Model Letters or a helpful discussion on resume page length among other great resources. [MMB]

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Wikiverse is a new tool that provides users with a whole new way to browse Wikipedia and explore topics of interest. Created by data visualization engineer, Owen Cornec, Wikiverse allows visitors to visualize and explore links between Wikipedia subjects. The size of the Wikiverse can be controlled by the user, allowing users to explore either one, two, or five percent of Wikipedia. From here, users can explore any topic and see how this topic is linked to others. A list of related topics will appear on the right hand side of the site, or visitors can view the topic as a star in a three-dimensional galaxy. Related topics appear close by and are arranged into clusters, such as Art, Biology, or Geography. As visitors click on stars, full definitions and additional links appear on the left-hand side of the screen. Wikiverse provides a riveting experience, and highlights the interconnections between topics that, at first blush, seem entirely unrelated. [MMB]

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For visual learners, When2meet is a free tool designed to alleviate the stress of planning a large meeting or event. First event planners select days and times that may work (e.g., Thursday between 10:00AM- 4:00PM). Participants may then be emailed or provided with a distinct URL to offer input about the schedule in question. Participants can mark half hour blocks when they are available and unavailable to meet. As participants respond, a group schedule is shaded in (the more people available to meet, the darker the shade for that time period). This allows visitors to quickly visualize the best time to meet. [MMB]

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