7 Mythbusters Clips for Science Teachers
If you ever put the Discovery channel on, the chances are that very soon you’ll encounter an episode of Mythbusters. It’s one of my favourite shows on TV at the moment. OK, the kid in me never tires of watching large explosions, but there is some very good science going on too. They put movie myths, old wives tales, urban legends, thought experiments and internet viral videos to the test. If you’ve ever wanted to know if you can find a needle in a haystack, or teach an old dog new tricks then this is the show for you.
I’m still amazed when I meet science teachers who have never heard of the Mythbusters. In every situation the team use proper scientific method to break down each myth and put it to the test. Often they go one step further on busted myths to see if they can replicate the intended outcome of the myth (which is usually where the explosions happen!)
There are plenty of clips from the shows up on YouTube that are perfect for use in Science lessons to illustrate concepts or to demonstrate thought experiments. Here are a few of my favourites:
Bullet Drop
A classic thought experiment. If you fire a bullet from a gun, and at the same time drop a bullet straight down from the same height, will they hit the ground at the same time. Physics says yes, but most peoples common sense says no. The Mythbusters put it to the test.
Throwing an object from a moving car
If you have a car travelling at 60mph, and you throw an object out the back at 60mph, will the two velocities cancel each other out and the object appear to an observer to fall straight down?
Can you really build a lead balloon?
If you do it right, can you build a balloon out of lead that can actually float?
Thermite and Ice
If you combine the thermite reaction with a lump of ice, it turns into something a lot more explosive!
Alkali Metals (Debunking the Brainiac video)
This is the Mythbusters take on the famous (and sadly faked) Brainiac video of alkali metals in a bathtub (Jump to about 5 mins in).
Water on a chip pan fire
An amazing video which demonstrates exactly why you don’t pour water onto a chip pan fire. Scary.
Can you cut down a tree with a minigun?
OK, not a lot of science here (although could demonstrate friction) – but I just love this clip of Kari cutting down a tree with a minigun.
There are loads of other great examples out there. If you haven’t seen the Mythbusters before, go check them out!
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Freecorder – another YouTube downloader
Here’s yet another way to get hold of YouTube videos as flv files to embed into Smart Notebook and ActivInspire Pages, it’s called Freecorder and you can download it here.
Videos from YouTube and like sites are transmitted and captured in FLV format. Many of these video sites cache the video on your PC if you’ve already played it. Freecorder 4 is smart enough to search your cache, locate videos you’ve recently played, and even show the name of the video so you can archive it easily on your PC. It’s the best way to save these FLV video clips.
Freecorder 4 makes it easy to save video and audio from the web, and convert to many popular formats. Once Freecorder 4 is installed, just use the toolbar in your browser. Freecorder should work in both Internet Explorer and Firefox. Here’s a guide on how to do it.
And yes, the usual disclaimers apply. By using this you will be in breach of the YouTube terms and conditions – so use accordingly.
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Daydream Interactive Wallcharts
Daydream Education have been making wall charts for 14 years, having shipped over 1 million wallcharts covering over 600 titles. In recent years they have begun the process of converting these wall charts into interactive versions that can be displayed on Interactive Whiteboards.
These interactive wallcharts currently cover 10 subjects, Business Studies, D&T, English, Geography, ICT, Maths, Music, P.E, R.E and Science. There are versions of their Interactive Packs for both Primary and Secondary (and Sixth Form), with CD or VLE versions available.
For example, here are the links to their Primary Starter Pack and Secondary Starter Pack. You can also purchase individual subject packs or even just the individual wallcharts that you like. You can buy them on CD, or as a version that runs on your VLE.
Each pack contains Interactive Wallcharts, with simple animations and text. They also include related worksheets to print off, quiz questions plus additional interactive content to aid revision.
Many of the wallcharts are bigger than your actual screen. You start with a zoomed out view, and then can zoom in on each different section of the chart to show them clearly. You are able to hide the text or hide images to vary the amount of information that the students are initially given. You can then selectively reveal it again. Could make a simple recall task to check knowledge.
The sheets are not entirely “interactive” in that they do not include simulations and the animations are simple. But the quiz questions are very nice for checking knowledge again as a starter or plenary. The worksheets that accompany each chart are also a useful resource.
You can download some trial versions of their wallcharts via this page. All you need to do is register with your details. You can also ask for a free trial CD to be sent to you.
It’s definitely worth checking out their resources. Download the trial and see what you think.
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Smart Notebook Licence Update
Further to the article earlier today about Promethean’s licence changes, I’ve managed to locate the new Smart Notebook licence as of 21 June 2010. You can download the pdf file here.
Basically, like Promethean, Smart are tightening up on what you are allowed to do with Smart Notebook software. The ability to install it on staff machines for preparation purposes is still there. But what they are being more explicit about is what you cannot use Smart Notebook on. To quote from the letter sent out by Smart in June.
A SMART Notebook licence is included with a SMART licencensed product (IWB, voting set, slate etc) and you are permitted to use the software on any computer connected to these Licensed Products. SMART Notebook software may also be used on a reasonable number of computers associated with your authority or school that are not connected to pen or touch-enabled devices. This permits teachers to use the software at home to create lessons for use on their Licensed Products in the classroom.
The licence agreement does not, however, normally permit the use of SMART Notebook software when a computer is connected to a restricted pen- or touch-enabled device (“Restricted Product”). Restricted Products include, but are not limited to, any touch-enabled or pen-enabled devices that are not on the Licensed Products list above, including the following:
· Interactive whiteboards
· Interactive projector systems
· Display screens
· Screen digitising devices or slates
The only exception to this is if you use a non-SMART slate/graphics tablet. You are allowed to use this if another Smart product is attached. But if you are using a wireless slate with a projector, you’re not allowed to use Smart Notebook.
What Smart do make clear is that if you do with to access Smart Notebook files, then you can use their SMART Notebook Express web application, which can be found at http://express.smarttech.com/
So if you are using Smart Notebook on a non-Smart product, you are in breach of the licence. This hasn’t changed, it’s been like that for quite a while, but now they’re being more explicit about it. At present I don’t know of any way of buying additional licences for Smart Notebook to use on other boards or devices (IWB-free projectors) but maybe that will be something that will develop soon.
Don’t forget – if you have Smartboards in your school, the licence does allow for staff to have it installed elsewhere for preparation of lesson resources (on a “reasonable number of machines”, whatever that means…). Make sure you do this – it is a much better way of making resources to use in the lesson. You’d be amazed how many schools I go into where the staff have not been told this.
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No Longer ActivInspire for All?
When ActivInspire was released last year there was much trumpeting over the use of the new Personal Edition. I wrote about what a good idea this was in my post “ActivInspire for All IWB Users?“.
I’ve noticed recently, however, on the ActivInspire website, a section that mentions a change to the terms of the licence, effective 30 April 2010.
Please note that as of 30 April 2010, new licensing terms and conditions apply to the use of ActivInspire Personal Edition software affecting use with non-Promethean products.
You are permitted to use ActivInspire Personal Edition with non-Promethean products solely for the purpose of operating Promethean approved ActivInspire Publisher Created Resources available from the Promethean Planet Store or from a Promethean Approved Publisher.
If you do wish to use your copy of ActivInspire Personal edition elsewhere then you need to apply for a Teacher Consent Licence which, according to the site:
The new Teacher Consent Licence allows teachers to use ActivInspire for other purposes with non Promethean Products.
And if you want a Teacher Consent Licence you can apply for one online. I haven’t filled this in myself so don’t know what happens after this. It might just allow you to use it, or it might ask for more info. Has anyone done this?
A full copy of the new terms and conditions can be seen here, which includes this line highlighted in red:
4.4 Use with Competitive Products: If You wish to Use the Software with any third party products which are comparable with or similar to Promethean Products (other than as provided in Clause 4.1), including but not limited to any projectors, interactive whiteboards, slates, tablets or learner response devices, then you must purchase a Professional Licence.
So it looks like quite a change from the initial promise of this software, which I am guessing comes from a large number of people downloading ActivInspire to use on cheap chinese IWB’s (or Hitachi boards) or the IWB-free projectors.
I can see why they have done it, but I’m rather concerned that most people I speak to still think the old terms and conditions apply and that you can run the cut down version of ActivInspire Personal on any IWB. I wonder how many users have been made aware of this change.
Now – if you are using ready-produced materials from the Promethean Planet website, then you are fine. Likewise if you’ve bought Promethean Flipcharts from a publisher. But technically you can’t open any of my flipcharts for example….
Of course, if you have a cheaper board and want to run ActivInspire then it’s best to purchase a licence for the Professional edition, so you get all the features of the software. It’s well worth upgrading to the full version as you get so much more than the free version.
Thoughts?
From what I can tell Smart have made similar changes to their licence. I’m trying to track down an announcement about that too. (Update- Read Here)
(Oh and if you are an existing user, go and check for an update as there’s a patch available)
Don’t forget, for Promethean training check out my Think Bank website.
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SMART Notebook Maths Tools Demo
The newest official SMART Training and PD video is up on YouTube. It is a quick overview of the SMART Notebook Maths Tools, check it out:
Download a 30 day trial of the Maths tools here.
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The PGCE Survival Guide
Newly qualified teacher Tim Handley (@tomhenzley on Twitter) has put together an excellent guide to surviving your PGCE year. It’s a crowdsourced book, pulling in the experience of Tim’s PGCE year as well as a wealth of information shared by experienced teachers via Twitter.
Inside the book you will find 143 pages full of hints, tips and advice intended for those who are embarking on, or who are currently on any form of teacher training. There is a mixture of articles, blog posts and of course the 250 tweets which were sent into the #pgcetips hashtag via Twitter.
Every element of the teacher training year is covered- from the first day on the course, through the hectic world of placements (with lots of teaching tips!) to finding a job. The emphasis is on practical and relevant content which will be of real use (and hopefully help) to a trainee teacher, not on educational theory. It is based on the contributors, who are all teachers, advisors or trainee teachers real, first hand, experience of teaching and teacher training.
You can download the guide for free, or you can purchase a printed edition for £6.91 via Lulu. Click here for the links to both versions.
Well done to Tim and to everyone involved in producing the guide, it’s an excellent resource for all teachers starting out on their PGCE. I’ve shared it over on Scitt Science so that my own PGCE students will see it.
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Review of the year – top posts
I’ve been looking over the site stats, and here are 10 of the most visited pages over the last year. There might be some things you’ve missed. Most of the page titles are self-explanatory:
11 Ideas for Music Lessons on your Interactive Whiteboard
13 sites for MFL teaching with your Interactive Whiteboard
10 avatar generators for profile pictures
10 More Cool Teaching Resources for Your Whiteboard
Powerful Images to Give Lessons Punch
Lesson Starter Ideas for your Whiteboard
How to embed a YouTube video into Smart Notebook
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Smart Notebook Official Help Files and Tutorials
Smart have had a redesign of their website. As a result, it’s bloody hard to now find the tutorials and guides that are available on the site. If you didn’t know they were there, it would be hard to track them down.
If you want to access them, try this link: Smart Notebook Help Files
Worth bookmarking it!
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About Me
Danny Nicholson : Educator, Science teacher, ICT Consultant, PGCE lecturer, Author and Web2.0 / SMART Masters/ Interactive Whiteboard Trainer. Contact me for any training requests. 
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