Very Current Events

Picture Date: March 23, 2009 19:55:58

Image Creator: Webcam, Alaska Volcano Observatory/U.S. Geological Survey

This time it was Plurk that tipped me off - last night Ted Sakshaug (tsakshaug) and John Martin (EdVentures) both mentioned an erupting volcano in Alaska and provided some very useful links.

By the time I arrived at school this morning, I had already constructed a lesson plan that included:

• a CNN article describing the event and its significance to Alaskans
  
• data from the Alaska Volcano Observatory
• US Geological Survey tips on dealing with volcanic ash
• the link to AVO's Redoubt Hut webcam

Our local newspaper included a small article about the volcanic activity at Mount Redoubt, but there were none of the valuable resources that my PLN (Personal/Professional Learning Network) shared. When I thanked Ted and John, someone else saw my message and was grateful when I passed along the links.

I've had similar experiences on Twitter, learning about earthquakes, fires, and extreme weather in all parts of the world via my web of friends and virtual colleagues.

Plurk, Twitter, and other social networking sites are just beginning to demonstrate their value as educational tools. Though some users choose to focus on trifles and trivialities, that's only one aspect of the endless stream of messages. There is gold among the dross.