Now how’s that for a title?
Bartow Elementary has taken a really cool step in teaching technology to their students; installing Promethean Activboards in place of chalkboards in the classroom. Check out the video below.

Find out more about Promethean in the US or Bartow Elementary

I’ve never heard of this technology being integrated into classrooms before, have you?

I wish my school would of had this available ‘back in the day’ – I actually learned typing on a typewriter, can you imagine?! The year after, they switched to computers though and taught us all the valuable skill of Pascal programming…ah…middle school.

I hope those Bartow Elementary students know how lucky they are!

I found this article on the Fast Company website the other day and have checked out a few of their suggestions. Here are 12 must-listen-to podcasts for creative knowledge workers—those entrepreneurial spirits who start and staff the most innovative, fast-growing companies.

12 Podcasts for the Creative Class. Fast Company lists these podcasts according to creative genre – check out their site for links and more details – it’s a great list!

1.) For the artist: smARThistory

2.) For the musician: Uncensored Blues

3.) For the scientist: ROM Media

4.) For the humanitarian: Doctors without Borders

5.) For the chef: ReMARKable Palate

6.) For the Web 2.0 worker: Podleaders

7.) For the freelancer: Onpodsessions

8.) For the start-up founder: Scobleshow

9.) For the technologist: Digital Planet

10.) For the business owner: HBR IdeaCast

11.) For the self-promoter: Duct Tape Marketing

12.) For the strategist: Knowledge@Wharton

I’m excited for this list because I’m desperately in the need for new podcasts (is my nerd showing?). My usual podcasts are great, but I’m in the mood for some fresh ideas and material. Gotta go check this list out; thanks Fast Company!

Nerd Word Alert!

Have you ever been stuck trying to brainstorm something; a new marketing slogan, a clever company name, a synonym for a common word or a fun catchphrase? Well I came across the program the other day and I’m fascinated by it! It’s called Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus. What?! A visual thesaurus? How can that be?

Well, Thinkmap has come up with a way for you to enter a word and have a flow chart type map created with various alternative word options. Try it out! You’re allowed several free tries before having to purchase the program for either $40 (Desktop) or $20 (Online).

Beware, this can be addicting, and informative!

Thinkmap says, “Copywriters use it as an idea generator. Writers use it to get unblocked. Students use it to improve how they read, write and think (not to mention prepping for the SAT). Marketers use it to come up with names. Teachers use it to energize their classrooms. Professionals use it to spiff up their PowerPoints. You can use it for all these reasons or just to waste a little time. But productively, of course.”

Check it out!

The blog Nomadishere has a fun article posted about what geeky people like me need to be happy in the workplace. Some of them are pretty ‘spot on’ too. I think a lot of the below statements help foster creativity and productivity and it seems to me that the Google offices would be the place to be according to the overview….

Overview:

1.) Let then work when they want.

2.) Let them work where they want.

3.) Let them control their lighting.

4.) Let them wear headphones.

5.) Do not expect them to wear a suit.

6.) Do not make them participate in company events, unless you are sure it is geek-friendly.

7.) Do not hold a lot of arbitrary meetings that could have otherwise been handled through email or IM

8.) Do not make them do anything other than work.

I am personally a huge fan of numbers 3,4,5,7 & 8. Man, overhead florescent lights seriously hurt my retinas, and listening to headphones while working just rocks. Especially if it’s Busta Rhymes’s ‘Woo Ha, Got You All In Check’. I think that fosters my productivity! Perhaps if I could work while drinking wine too….Hm….then we might have a deal!