Data!

Inforgraphics, those catchy, trendy images that expalin complicated concepts visually, are hot on the Internet.

Here's a nice one explaining the sheer volume of data controlling our digital world.

Found via Read/Write Blog

Are you +?

Millions are +ing... Are you?

Google+ is taking over the world of social networking... Or, at least it's getting its 15 minutes of fame this month.

Is it good enough to last? Is facebook doomed to be the next MySpace?

Only time... and the fickle world of the Internet... will tell.

Want to know more about the mysterious new Google+? For a complete breakdown and explanation of all of Google+'s goodness, check out Mashable's Google+: The complete Guide.

Highlights for Recent Supreme Court Decisions that Impact Education

From one of my favorite blogs on law/education:

A summary of 10 recent Supreme Court decisions that impact the rights of children, school board members, school employees, and/or litigants seeking to challenge aid to private schools:

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/school_law/2011/07/the_us_supreme_courts_recently.html

The Creative Commons

A wonder illustrative explanation of the power of the creative commons licensing:

Home Digital Media Centers

I just got a new device for my home entertainment center... ROKU.

Without the hassle of setting up a computer to connect to your TV at home, you can now enjoy your subscription to netflix 'watch instantly' queue on the big screen.

Just connect the small, easy to set up device (retails less than $100) to your TV via HDMI and you're ready to start streaming!

I love it. Remote-controlled, Internet TV on your TV.

Link.

Are you this kind of leader?

I love this blog post about leadership. Absolutely love it.

Are you this kind of leader?

Can you remember the leader you once worked for who followed this philosophy and helped you to get where you are today?

Link.

Google+

Some reports are out there that Google+, the newest player on the social networking scene, is now up to as many as 10 million users after only a few weeks in beta... with membership only given to limited folks at a time to ensure the google infrastructure can support it.

Incredible... more about the new Internet phenom here.

PAIUnet

The vast majority of Pennsylvania school districts have joined the state's first high-speed fiber optic Wide Area Network... PAIUnet.

PAIUnet is a statewide, high-speed educational network that enables educators and students throughout Pennsylvania to create, communicate, collaborate and share valuable resources to enhance student learning.

PAIUnet provides PA Intermediate Units (IUs) and K-12 schools a network that is 50 times faster and 95% less expensive than using the commodity Internet to connect to one another. It increases connectivity between Pennsylvania IUs and school districts providing access to content and resources that will transform the way educational services and information are delivered.

PAIUnet connects all 29 IUs and their member school districts throughout the Commonwealth. It also connects public library systems and charter schools. This project will have an impact on all areas of IU and school services from the business office to the classroom.

Learn more about PAIUnet and its many services available to PA schools.

Copyright and Kids

Here's a short video produced by YouTube with the intention of teaching younger kids about the "Dos" and "Donts" of digital copyright.

Fiber Optics in Laymen's Terms

Fiber optic connectivity is largely the driving force behind the infrastructure that connects our schools to one another, the Intermediate Unit, other school districts, and the Internet in general.

Here's a terrific video that describes in layman's terms how this technology is able to transport data rapidly over long distances.

The Future of Search Engines

Wolfram Alpha is one of the more exciting websites that I have seen in recent memory. I have been a big fan since its BETA launch some time ago. It represents what is to come as we approach Web 3.0... using data contextually to make more informed decisions, leveraging the vast amounts of information avaialble on the web.

Visit the site here.

Take a tour of what the site can do here.

Visit the education-specific site to learn how WA can be used in the classroom.