Gizmodo Australia » students

Obama’s Plan To Help Next Generation Science Geeks

Danny Allen — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:51:51 +0000

Wow, this is great. The “Educate to Innovate” campaign will aim to improve US students’ grounding in science, technology, engineering, and maths education through $US260 million in public-private partnerships, plus the first “National Lab Day” to update school science labs.

The president also said he’s introducing an annual White House Science fair with the winners of national competitions in science and technology. “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you’re a young person and you’ve produced the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognised for that achievement, too. ”

Students will launch rockets, construct miniature windmills, and get their hands dirty. They’ll have the chance to build and create – and maybe destroy just a little bit – to see the promise of being the makers of things, and not just the consumers of things. [White House via NY Times]

Industry leaders like Sony are launching a nationwide challenge to design compelling, freely available, science-related video games. And organisations representing teachers, scientists, mathematicians, and engineers – joined by volunteers in the community – are participating in a grassroots effort called “National Lab Day” to reach 10 million young people with hands-on learning.

Business leaders from Intel, Xerox, Kodak, and Time Warner Cable are teaming up with Sally Ride, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as the Carnegie Corporation, to find and replicate successful science, maths and technology programs all across America. Sesame Street has begun a two-year initiative to teach young kids about maths and science. And Discovery Communications is going to deliver interactive science content to 60,000 schools reaching 35 million students.

These efforts extend beyond the classroom. Time Warner Cable is joining with the Coalition for Science After School and FIRST Robotics – the program created by inventor Dean Kamen, which gave us the “Cougar Cannon” – to connect one million students with fun after-school activities, like robotics competitions.

Windows 7 Student Pricing Is The Way To Go, If You’re A Student

Nick Broughall — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:46:17 +0000

If you’re a university or TAFE student looking for an OS update, Microsoft is offering you the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional for $50. It’s better than paying full price, that’s for sure…

[Microsoft – Thanks Matt!]

Amazing Student-Made Solar Homes Compete In Solar Decathalon

Dan Nosowitz — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:45:00 +0000

The Solar Decathalon, a 10-criteria (it’s a little bit of a stretch to decathalon, but that’s okay) judging contest, just completed this year’s competition, and there are some incredible works here. I love that each group used its hometown aesthetic.

Student groups from around the world (and several from the States) competed to create a net zero-energy, 800-square-foot house powered exclusively by solar energy, and came up with some great ideas. The house pictured above was created by the team from Cornell University in upstate New York, using silos to reflect the bucolic look of that area. Other teams experimented with automatic shutoffs for TVs and lights or sophisticated purification of shower and rainwater. The winner will be announced this coming Friday, and you can check out the current standings here. [CNET]

Top Eight iPhone Apps For Students

The Business Insider — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Not everything in Apple’s iPhone App Store is fun and games: Students should check out some of the handy educational tools and reference guides in the App Store.

One new, popular utility that could be useful for students is Convert, a 99-cent (AU$1.19) unit calculator that’s currently the no. 2 best-selling app in the App Store.

It converts dozens of unit types, ranging from measurements you might use in math class—angles and area; to science class —temperature and force; to design class — typography and computer file sizes.

It’s also been a big hit. The app’s developer Tap Tap Tap tells us that it’s sold 100,000 copies of Convert since it went on sale in mid-August. After Apple’s 30 per cent cut, that’s about $US70,000 in sales so far, in less than a month. Not bad!

Other interesting apps for students include several digital organisers, which could replace a paper calendar and assignment notebook.

The free app MyHomework is one popular example, and it’s currently the no. 2 most downloaded education app in the App Store. It lets students keep track of their classes, homework assignments, projects and tests, with a fun, simple user interface.

College students may be more interested in iStudiez Pro, which seems more tailored to the nature of university studies, helping you keep track of lecture and lab sessions, tasks, homework, scheduling, etc. At $AU3.99, it’s currently the no. 1 most popular paid education app in the App Store.

One apparent disappointment: An iPhone app that hooks into the Blackboard software that many schools and colleges use, which would be a great help. But we stop short of recommending the free “Blackboard Learn” app that’s in the App Store.

Why? Reviewers have given it terrible grades—a 1.5 star rating out of 5 possible stars, complaining about all sorts of shortcomings and bugs. We don’t have access to a Blackboard server, so we couldn’t try it first-hand. But it sounds like it could use an update.

Have any favourites for students? Let us know in the comments section.

iStudiez Pro: AU$3.99
Keep your schedule and class locations at a glance, keep track of lecture and lab locations, and track tasks and deadlines, homework assignments, etc.

AlgebraPrep Series: AU$3.99 each
Need to get your algebra knowledge in shape? These apps—a series of five, for AU$3.99 each—include practice, videos, and tests for algebra factoring, graphing, systems, equations and real numbers.

Convert – The Unit Calculator: AU$1.19
Converts dozens of unit types, ranging from measurements you’d use in math class—angles and area; temperature and force; design class—typography and computer file sizes. Currently the no. 2 most downloaded paid app in the App Store.

Dictionary.com: Free
There’s plenty of paid dictionary apps in the App Store—Apple is currently promoting a $25 dictionary, for example. But this one is free and includes audio, etymology and a thesaurus. Caveat: It’s a big file because it’s designed to work offline, too. So it’s a good idea to install it over a Wi-Fi signal or USB sync.

MyHomework: Free
A simple assignment notebook, which is currently the no. 2 most popular free education app in the App Store. Track assignments, quizzes, tests, etc.

The Chemical Touch Lite: Free
“Sometimes all you need is a simply periodic table,” the app maker says. True! Includes elements’ masses, densities, melting and boiling points, etc. Also a pro version for AU$1.19.

Simplenote: AU$2.49
The iPhone comes with a built-in note taking app, but it’s an ugly yellow design and requires you to plug in your phone to sync it with your computer. Simplenote syncs wirelessly to a Web interface, so you can take notes in class and pull them up on your laptop, even if you left your iPhone cable at home.

Free Language Tutors: Free
This app maker, 24/7 Tutor, offers several free tutoring apps, including Spanish, French, Italian and German. They include audio of words, a puzzle game, flash cards, and quizzes.

University Tech Gadgets: Then And Now

Danny Allen — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:20:00 +0000

From 35mm SLRs in the 50s to electronic-typewriters of the 80s, PC World has a timeline of gadgets that most changed campus life. For me, it was a giant CRT (which doubled as my room heater). What about you?

As school goes back, it’s a fun reminder that the laptop wasn’t always the essential piece of tech gear that you needed to survive uni. And with e-book readers and tablet PCs taking on more and more textbook duties, maybe they’re next in line after all. Time will tell. [PC World]

If You Need a ScreamBody, You May Also Need a Vacation

Mark Wilson — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:40:00 +0000

Have you ever been so upset that you just needed to scream, but you didn’t want to upset your co-workers? Well here’s an incredibly practical solution to that problem. It’s called the ScreamBody.

By former MIT student Kelly Dobson, the Screambody is a “portable space for screaming.” She had a vision of the future in which every man would want to look 8-months pregnant at all times, so long as he could scream at will into his stomach and then play back said scream through convenient, built-in speakers. She demonstrates this future more than once in this clip for clinical purposes only. So it’s really not something to laugh at. Repeatedly.

Because, after all. A good scream is a terrible thing to waste. Or is that money and water I’m thinking about? [via MIT Thanks Jessettr!]

This Year’s Apple Student Deal Not As Good As Last Year

Nick Broughall — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:30:35 +0000

Last year, Apple enticed students with a $199 rebate when they bought a Mac and an iPod in one purchase, which essentially gave them a free 4GB iPod nano. This year, the rebate’s been dropped to $179, meaning your best option is $20 for an 8GB nano (which ain’t half bad). Of course, the price of Macs has gone up as well, and compared to the US offer of a free iPod Touch this does seem a little cheap, but as my pappy always used to say*, “if you start complaining when you’re getting something for free, you’re a douchebag”.

[Apple - Thanks Ben!]*My pappy never did say that…

Student Develops Cheap Power Turbine For Developing Nations

Matt Hickey — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:20:05 +0000

It’s one thing to tinker in your garage to restore that old gas-guzzling muscle car that you think will get you some action. It’s something entirely different to invent an electricity-generating wind turbine out of scrap parts that could revolutionise personal power in developing nations, especially if you’re in college. Max Robinson has done just that, designing a turbine out of spare parts that costs less than US$40 to build out of readily available parts and can power a home’s lighting for up to two and a half days or a radio for over a day. No word on how long an OLPC would last. [Daily Mail]

10 Back to School Gadgets for Lazy Students

Sean Fallon — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:00:00 +0000

Summer has gone fast hasn’t it? Hard to believe that many of you will be heading back to school sometime in the next few weeks. That means it’s time to get on a schedule and prepare yourself for another semester of boring lectures, homework and tests. Sure, there is a lot of fun to be had–but the party is going to come to a screeching halt when you get out there into the real world. That’s why you have to apply yourself now so you can get a good job when all is said and done. Either that, or you have to learn how to cut corners more effectively. Since this is the Thank Giz It’s Friday roundup, we are going with the latter.

Step 1: Get on a Schedule

Even if you set your own class schedule, chances are you are going to have to get up before noon. So, you are going to need an alarm clock that gives you that jump start you need in the morning. I can guarantee that no clock will satisfy on more levels than the Orgazmo. Just set the alarm and an invigorating female orgasm will gently coax you from your slumber. Available for US$30. [Gobaz via Link]

Step #2: Dress For Security

If you go to a public school, you will probably find yourself caught in a crossfire at one point or another. Therefore, It is essential that you come to school with the appropriate bullet-proof protection.

Defender Hoodie: Features 2mm of Type IIA bulletproofing in the torso, which is enough armour to stop a 9mm full-metal-jacket round at a velocity of 1,090 feet-per-second. Too bad its only for police officers and security personnel in the UK. And the US$845 price tag sucks pretty hard too. [Bladerunner via Link]

Backpack Shield: Made from 13 layers of K-29 Kevlar that could stop a round from a .44 Magnum. Available on a Back to School sale for US$155-US$180. [Backpackshield via Link]

Step #3: Dress for Success

Dressing up for school isn’t all about personal style and deflecting bullets, it is also about getting an edge. No matter what subject you are in, there is an article of clothing that can help you cheat like a champ.

Math Equations Shirt: Available for US$15. [Sanchez Circuit]

Calculator Belt Buckle: Available for US$10. [BeWild]

Science Crib Sheet Shirt: Available for US$25. [Computer Gear]

US History Cheat Shirt: Available for US$17. [Snorg Tees]

Step #4: Get the Right Supplies

Sure, you need a decent laptop, calculator, notebooks and the like but may I also suggest:

Doggy Style Pencil Sharpener: Those pencils aren’t going to sharpen themselves people. Might as well have a good time doing it. [Link]

LiveScribe Smartpen: This high-tech pen records the audio in the classroom then syncs it with the notes you take. All of that information can be indexed on a PC or you can play back specific portions of audio by tapping the corresponding section on your notepad. Available in 1 and 2GB sizes for US$149 and US$199 respectively. [Livescribe via Link]

Step #5 Manage Your Time More Effectively

You know all that sleep you are losing by getting up earlier? Catch up in class using some of these sneaky eyelid stickers. Your teacher would probably have to be legally blind to miss it in a small classroom, but in an auditorium you are golden. [Link]