Dinosaurs at Dixie State College of Utah

Thinking about dinosaurs? Take a look at Dr. Jerry D. Harris' course, Geology 1040 - Introduction to Dinosaurs. It's been updated already for Fall 2008.

Looks like some very solid material contained in 23 lectures, downloadable in pdf or PowerPoint format. Note that the ppt files will need to be saved as read-only to download.

Hope this be be a good addition to geology and dinosaur resources.

Writing to Learn

William K. Zinsser's book, Writing to Learn, is one of my favorites. Of course, you probably already know that I have many favorite books. But, really this is an exceptional book.

It offers a lot of food for thought for the lifelong learner. We are always looks for ways to reinforce our learning or measure what we have acquired from a given resource. His suggestions on writing to learn are very applicable to our needs.

And on top of that, he is just plain fun to read. And you immediately sense his admiration for writers across many subject areas, like science and math.

Just a bit about his background--He started out at the New York Herald Tribune, he's taught at Yale, and at the New School, in New York and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

I just wish he would do an updated, expanded version. I was sorry when I finished this book and have re-read it many times.

Americans and the Global Forest at UC Berkeley

Professor Lynn Huntsinger has an impressive amount of material on the website for her course at Berkeley, ESPM C11: Americans and the Global Forest. She says that the "course explores different ways of thinking about forests and our relationship to them." It does indeed do that. I especially like that she uses Simon Schama's Landscape and Memory. Now, if I can only pull out of storage, that one box holding this book captive.

There are notes available for 15 lectures. A few of the pdf's are password protected, but most of them are not. These pdf's are lecture slides and readings. Even with the few files that are unavailable to us, this is an excellent addition to the lifelong learner's resources for environmental history.

Biology at Clermont College

The University of Cincinnati, Clermont College, Biology Home Page is the portal to biology courses. By selecting "Courses" you will have access to numerous biology courses, for both biology majors and non-majors.

Each course offers a wealth of resources. For those lifelong learners who want podcasts of course lectures, this may be a disappointment, but the courses offered here give an enormous amount of information online. Note there are also links to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library.

These should prove to be good additions to our biology resources.

History of Science at University of Delaware

Lifelong learners who are looking for history of science resources should add this website to their learning toolbox. It is at the University of Delaware Library, under Subject Guides, Internet Resources for History of Science and Technology.

There are so many Internet resources here that I won't even try to give an overview. Go have a look. It should keep us all busy for awhile. Enjoy!

Earth Portal Features Rachel Carson

Here's a most interesting topic of the week over on the Earth Portal. This week the topic is Environment in Focus: Rachel Carson's environmental ethics.

The author is Philip Cafaro, assistant professor in philosophy at Colorado State University. I haven't yet checked to see if any of his courses have websites.

As is always the case on Earth Portal, this article is more like a crash course, profiling Rachael Carson and her work. Throughout the very long piece there are link-outs to other supporting information and a long list of additional reading suggestions, related news links and external links to sites about Rachel Carson.

This is an extremely useful paper for any lifelong learner studying the environmental movement. In addition, this site is a valuable addition to our learning toolbox. In our next post we'll talk about the Earth Portal.

Introduction to Archaeology at UCSB

Here's another archaeology course you'll want to check out, Anthropolgy 3 Introduction to Archaeology at UC Santa Barbara. Lots of great content in the Study Guide. Assignments are laid out for you and two essay exams that you can use. Take a look at the Writing Guide.

One tip that might be helpful--as of this writing, I had a problem getting to the instructor's homepage, which has more interesting information. Dr. Stuart Tyson Smith's homepage is here.

Don't miss the "Hollywood" page. Looks like Dr. Smith was involved in the Mummy movies and Stargate.

Introduction to Archaeology MATRIX Course

Matrix at Indiana University offers some really cool archaeology resources. This course, Introduction to Archaeology, by Dr. Nancy White is excellent. MATRIX is a website for archaeology instructors.

Dr. White provides 17 detailed lecture modules, 16 exercises, 6 tests and assessments, syllabus and an extensive bibliography.

This should be a great addition to your lifelong learner's course list.

Voice of the Shuttle at UC Santa Barbara

Are you searching for resources in the humanities? The Voice of the Shuttle at UCSB has been reworked (actually is still in the process of being updated, so you might encounter a few glitches) and promises to be one of the most comprehensive websites for humanities research.

Take a look and see what you think.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory Blog

JPL Blog--this is going to be so good. Only two posts so far, but this one already looks like a winner.

July 14, 2008Here We Are … at Saturn - by Bob Pappalardo (project scientist for the Cassini Equinox Mission to Saturn.) Update on what's going on four years after the Cassini spacecraft entered orbit around Saturn.

July 17, 2008--Water Ice and Soil Samples on Mars - by Deborah Bass (deputy project scientist for the Phoenix mission to Mars, part of the science team studying findings from the lander.) Lots of behind the scenes insight.

I already have this on my home page. Thanks JPL. We are going to look forward to every one of these posts.

Gems at UC Berkeley

Are you interested in gemology, but don't have a strong background in science? Then, according to Professor Jill Banfield, this introductory earth science course at UC Berkeley should give you what you need.

The EPS 2 Gems and Gem Minerals course website provides all the basics that you need online. There is no required textbook, however Gemology by Hurlbut and Kammerling is recommended for additional information.

Just click on the "students arrow" and dive right in. There are six modules, with extensive materials in each. Starting with "What is a gem?" each section is loaded with information, beautiful illustrations and movie clips to show how things work.

Lifelong learners wanting to find out about gems will definitely benefit from this course. The only negative about this online course, if there is one, is no audio or video of the lectures. We are very quickly becoming spoiled with the so many available resources.

U.S. History at the University of Minnesota Part II

Today, as promised, we'll highlight History 1302W United States from 1865 to the Present, a U.S. history course at the University of Minnesota. This course website is not as impressive as the one for History 1301 U.S. History to 1865. However, it does give a nice outline for studying the period. Lecture outlines are just that, short outlines. There are no online readings as there are for History 1301, but you will find a nice (active) links page. The assignments will prove to be a good addition to a lifelong learner's collection of material for the study of U.S. history.

All in all, this site offers some good supplemental materials if you're designing your own course of study.

U.S. History at the University of Minnesota

Want a writing intensive U.S. History course? Then, take a look at History 1301 U.S. History to 1865. In the syllabus, it is described as an innovative survey course that uses the themes of “authority” and “rebellion” to explore American history from the early colonial period through the Civil War. The lectures and discussion sections are organized around seven significant topics that offer different viewpoints into the contests over authority in American history:

1. Encountering the “Other” in early America
2. Religion and the Social Order
3. Making a Revolution
4. Framing a New World Order
5. Expansion and Exclusion
6. Slavery and Social Reform
7. War and Memory

You will find detailed writing assignments and links to many of the primary documents referenced. Also available are 21 PowerPoint lecture presentations.

Tomorrow we will look at History 1302W United States from 1865 to the Present.

Human Impacts on Ecosystems

Are you looking for a course that will give you an overview of the impact humans are having on the earth's ecosystems? Check out this Oregon State University Winter 2008 course, BI 301 Human Impacts on Ecosystems. Dr Patricia Muir makes available extensive resources, good solid information, on the course website. She describes the course, "... we will examine selected human impacts on ecosystems in depth, including management of agricultural and forest resources, altered air quality, and changes in global climate. The causes, approaches to investigating, and potential solutions for each issue will be discussed from scientific and social perspectives. For each environmental problem, we examine how human activities are transmitted through linkages among air, land, water, and the biota."

In addition to lecture notes, there are also study guides and supplementary readings for each unit of the course:

• Human population
• Agricultural issues
• Air quality issues
• Global climate change
• Stratospheric ozone depletion
• Biodiversity and forestry issues

The website is still being updated for fall, but it appears all links are live.

Free Lectures--New York 1900

Think lifelong learning is a new concept? Here's an article from the New York Times, October 20, 1900, Saturday Review of Books and Art, that might interest you. It's titled, FREE LECTURES., Courses in History, Literature, Art, and Science Under the Board of Education.

"The popularity of the free lectures to the people given under the auspices of the Department of Education of this city was long ago demonstrated. Begun as they were experimentally as long ago as 1888, when the lectures were given in only six places, they have been gradually extended until last year the lecture centres numbered fifty-one, and the attendance reached the enormous total of 533,084. There are many persons to whom knowledge comes by means of these free lectures who could not have it otherwise. They are "the other half," the common people, the workers, who toil early and late, and who could not study if they would, since they lack the needful books, the time, and the energy. And yet they are anxious to gain knowledge. They love art, and often appreciate it in its higher forms more than we suspect. The Social Settlement and the University Extension movements have been surprising in the revelations that have spring from them. The lecturer sows the seeds of knowledge so easily and by means of his lantern slides makes his subject so luminous that those in his audience learn almost in spite of themselves, and if they forget the words of the lecturer they do not forget the pictures thrown upon the screen. Lacking the school and the college, therefore, the lecture hall supplies the deficit, and a little learning, instead of being a dangerous thing, is found rather to be a stimulation to add to the small stock that has been gleaned with most beneficial results.

The present lecture season, which began on Oct. 1 is the thirteenth undertaken by the Department of Education of the School Board for the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. As a result of twelve years of experience the lectures given are arranged in two great classes, viz.; those which are elementary in their character, and whose purpose, generally speaking, is to give information in a pleasing way, and thus to form an antidote to the lurking snares and temptations of a great city. and those whose object is to follow a prearranged and definite line of study.

The themes generally considered last year having proved quite satisfactory in secured results will be continued this year. Travel, geography, history, literature, music, physics and electricity, natural science, and art appear in the bulletins just issued as lecture topics, preference being given to these subjects in the order of enumeration. Astronomy, first aid to the injured, education topics the human body, and New York City also appear less prominently and less numerously as lecture motifs.

Dr. Henry M. Leipziger, the supervisor of lectures, will make an effort this year to introduce scientific lectures, in which experiments and demonstrations with apparatus shall be made a feature. The use of the "Platform Library" will be continued, and a larger number of books bearing upon the lecture themes will, it is hoped, be made available for reference and circulation. When a condition of idealism is reached every school will not only have an adequate library, but also an auditorium for lectures and class meetings."

You can finish reading the article which gives a list of the locations of the first quarter lectures and the a partial list of lecture topics.

Yes, the writer appears to consider himself a bit above "the other half" for whom these lectures are intended. But, isn't it amazing that over 500,000 learners attended these lectures during the one season, 1989-1900? The desire to learn seems to be embedded in our DNA. Wouldn't you love to be able to attend one of those lectures? What a scene!

Galileo Project

Portrait of Galileo

Justus Sustermans circa 1639

This is what Connexions says of its approach, "Connexions is an environment for collaboratively developing, freely sharing, and rapidly publishing scholarly content on the Web. Our Content Commons contains educational materials for everyone — from children to college students to professionals — organized in small modules that are easily connected into larger collections or courses. All content is free to use and reuse under the Creative Commons 'attribution' license."

Here's just one course, the Galileo Project by Albert Van Heldon at Rice University. He and his students have been working on the Galileo Project for many years. He presents several in-dept modules, including Introduction to Galileo, his family, his science, instruments, theories and observations.

An excellent overview for independent scholars interested in the history of science.

Geography of World Affairs at BYU

If you're looking for some resources to supplement your study of geography, check out Geography 120 Geography of World Affairs at BYU. This course uses Rowntree et al 2006. Diversity Amid Globalization: World Regions, Environment, Development, 3rd Edition, one of my personal favorites. Dr. Brandon Plewe also recommends Goode's World Atlas, which is a must-have for every lifelong learner's toolbox. You'll also find a link to the Prentice Hall companion textbook which you will find to be another great resource.

The essay assignment is excellent, with detailed instructions. It is sometimes hard to come up with one's own assignments, so Dr. Plewe has laid out all the requirements for this one.

You'll really enjoy the slide presentations, however, some of the topics don't have slides, which is a disappointment, especially after viewing the ones that are available.

Note: Amazon.com sometimes has excellent prices on this textbook and the atlas. If you can find them at an affordable price, they will give you many hours of excellent study time.

One World Journey: The Sonoran Desert

Just can't get enough of the American Southwest? Want to learn a bit more about the Sonoran Desert on the U.S.-Mexico border? Then, here's a website for you.

The Sonoran Desert: 5000 Square Miles of Silence enables you to join a One World Journey team as they travel the historic El Camino del Diablo to explore the history and environment of the Sonoran Desert and efforts to preserve it.

Here you will find gorgeous photography, audio expedition journals, essays and a timeline of human interaction with the desert.

This is one resource that is well worth your time to explore.

Clovis to Coronado at University of Arizona

Want to learn about the prehistory of the southwest United States? Here's an excellent course for you. ANTH205 Clovis to Coronado: Prehistoric Peoples of the Southwest, taught by Dr. J. Jefferson Reid, gives access to the syllabus and 24 lectures (notes and links). Some of the readings are not available (password protected), but several are, so be sure to check each one.

You'll also find several links at the bottom of the last page of each lecture.

The Archaeology of Ancient Arizona and Grasshopper Pueblo, A Story of Archaeology and Ancient Life by Jefferson Reid and Stephanie Whittlesey are the texts used.

This is an exceptional class.

History of Life at College of Wooster

Here's another course for the geologically inclined lifelong learners among us. Mark A. Wilson teaches Geology 100 History of Life. The website currently loaded for the Spring 2008 course. You'll find extensive resources for each class session, including Preparation Questions (excellent) and thoughtfully chosen links. As of this posting, all links are active.

Wicander, R. and J.S. Monroe. 2006, Historical Geology: Evolution of Earth and Life Through Time, (Fifth Edition) Thomson, Brooks/Cole is the recommended text. Obviously, this one is going to be expensive, but you can usually find an older edition at Amazon.com priced very reasonably. There is also a link out to the textbook companion website.

This one is going to take some time. You'll find several very interesting trails to follow from each class session. Enjoy!

Lifelong Learners Meet the Philosophers

Would you like to have an overview of philosophy? Want to know who is considered a great philosopher? Are you looking to understand some of the terms associated with philosophy?

If the answer to those three questions is yes, then The Great Philosophers: From Socrates to Foucault by Jeremy Stangroom and James Garvey should work very nicely for you. It is currently available at Barnes & Noble stores, as a special price book, for $7.98.

From the back cover, "Philosophy's long walk continues, and you will find here the thoughts which make its contemporary form what it is, and perhaps what it is on the way to becoming. Philosophy is very much still under way and The Great Philosophers pays regard to both the discipline as it is practised now, and to the history which made contemporary philosophy possible."

It's a good addition to the lifelong learner's library. If you're looking for an introduction to philosophy, this just enough information, but not too much.

The Victorians Are Here!

The Young Queen Victoria

Franz Xavier Winterhalter 1842

Queen Victoria reigned longer than any other British monarch, from June 20, 1837 until her death on January 22, 1902. This period is known simply as the Victorian era.

For those lifelong learners interested in this period in British history, this course at Lewis & Clark College is a gold mine of information. For his research seminar, Hist 450 The Victorians, Assistant Professor of History, David Campion, has done an enormous amount of work. He says, "The goal of this seminar is the development of a substantial and original research paper addressing one aspect of the British experience in India."

He gives you all the resources you need to be able to fulfill that goal, if you choose to do so. But, regardless of whether you write that research paper or just use the information he provides on this website for your study of Bristish history, you'll certainly come away with a much better understanding of the Victorian Era.

It's a Blogging World

This morning in Flagstaff, Arizona, it rained. Rain may not be a big deal in your part of the world, but here it is cause for celebration. Since it stopped snowing, precipitation as been practically non-existent. So, when it started raining, I grabbed the camera and headed to the deck. I only got three photos before the blowing rain stopped my little adventure.

Why, you ask am I telling this story on a blog about lifelong learning? It's all about what I did with those photographs, using the tools independent learners have at their finger tips.

First of all, I don't have a really expensive camera, just my trusty little Olympus. It did come with a USB cable so that I can just connect the camera to my computer and immediately upload my pics.

And that's just what I did this morning. Then, I logged on and opened a new post on The Coconino Chronicles, my blog about Flagstaff and Northern Arizona. Within that post I was able to click an icon and upload those three pictures. I wrote some suitable comments about the rain and added an apology for my "rain celebration" to the local farmer's market and gave them a little nod with a link to their website. Within minutes, I published that post. Instantaneously, it was available around the world.

Of course, when I finished I just had to go find my partner in lifelong learning and wax eloquent about the amazing resources we have access to. That led to bemoaning the fact that I couldn't come up with an idea of where I might submit an article about the opportunities blogging opens up to us. The response immediately was, "Why aren't you writing a post for The Everyday Scholar? That's the best place to publish it." That was truly a "what was I thinking" moment. So here I am, within minutes, posting this article.

If you don't already have a blog, I strongly encourage you to give it a try. You have a choice of many free or almost free blog hosts. I have only used Google Blogger and I love it. But, I know a lot of bloggers who prefer TypePad or WordPress. No matter which one you choose, just jump in and start your blog.

For me, a journal for a lifelong learning project is just the perfect use of a blog, whether you choose to make it public or not. When you try it you'll understand. It allows you to hone your writing skills, to follow your creative urges and to keep a record of what you are learning. We definitely will revisit this subject later. Another great addition to the learning toolbox.

Natural Science From the Inside Out

If you're interested in natural science, and what lifelong learner isn't these days, then the USGS CoreCast is just waiting for you. As of today, you have access to 52 podcasts, starting with episode 1, Hurricanes and Extreme Storms, August 2007 and up to Episode 52, Tribal Canoe Journey to Help Restore Salish Sea Resources, July 2, 2008. And in between you can learn about droughts, floods, wildfires, sinkholes, monthly hazard roundups, big oil in North Dakota and Montana, plus five episodes on Earth Science Week. This just a partial list, so you'll have to go take a look for yourself.

It's difficult to single out one or two episodes to highlight, but try these two. Of particular note are episodes 15 and 37. Episode 15, Who Do We Think We Are?, covers an overview of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Episode 37, Science as it Happens--Glen Canyon Dam High Flow Experiment offers video, audio only, a slideshow, as well as a transcript and related links.

The podcasts range from approximately 3 to 20 minutes in length. Transcripts of all episodes are available. Don't miss the links for additional information. You have to scroll all the way to the bottom of each transcript page to find the list of links for that podcast.

This is just one resource made available by the USGS. We'll discuss more of their contributions to our learning toolbox in coming posts. Enjoy!

Independence Revisited at the Library of Congress

Happy 4th of July!

Chicago World's Fair Fireworks
Gottscho-Schleisner 1939 or 1940

What do lifelong learners do to celebrate the Fourth of July? Of course, they head over to the Library of Congress American Memory project to see what's now available about the Declaration of Independence (click on 1700-1799) and the people who wrote it. For example, you'll find the Thomas Jefferson Papers at the Library of Congress.

Be sure and check out the Collection Connections. Just too many resources available to list. There is one link to Declaring Independence: Drafting the Documents that you'll definitely want to look at. The objects in the exhibition page is also a must see.

The Library of Congress is continually adding to its online resources. So, look around while you're there.

Fossils in Oregon

Want to take a break and enjoy a feast for the eyes? Then head over to John Day Fossil Beds at the National Park Service. This virtual tour is one of the best I have ever seen. I suggest starting with the slideshow. The colors and textures of the rock formations will take your breath away.

Painted Hills
John Day Fossil Bed National Monument
National Park Service Photo

The NPS has really kicked its park websites up several notches. The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument site is definitely an example of that. In addition to the five pieces of the virtual tour, you'll be able to see two more beautiful and informative slideshows. You can also get an overview of the history and culture of the area. Under Natural Features & Ecosystems, you'll find surprisingly in-depth materials, including a link to browse images in the park collections. There are also lots of teacher resources and educational materials. The maps are also worth taking a look at.

Hope you independent scholars enjoy that virtual tour as much as I did. I'm going to check out some more of the NPS park sites to see what other pages may have been upgraded since I last visited them.

Microsoft Live Search Images

Where have I been hanging out? That's what you'll ask when I tell you that I just discovered Live Search Images. Just thought I'd share my find, in case you've in the dark like I have.

Anyway, when I searched on books, it came back with "1-12 of 188,000,000" images. Is that possible? I didn't try to follow all the way to the last one, since if that is true, I don't have long enough to get there in my life time.

It does look like a great way to search for images and video and more. Now if I can just learn to refine my searches so I just get copy-free images, which I haven't been able to do in Google. Lifelong learners can always use more pics and videos.