Freely Educate

Review: Software to Improve Memory, Attention and Academics

Sure, you've thought of exercising your arm muscles, but have you ever thought of exercising the muscle of your brain?  It’s a pretty big muscle.  It’s a well-used muscle (I hope!).  So, why don’t we think of exercising it?

What about your attention span, or that of your students?  Have you thought of using brain training to improve your attention (and retention!)? 

Advanced Brain Technologies is at the forefront of brain training technology.  Here is their description of what they do:

Advanced Brain Technologies is a neurotechnology company that develops and distributes interactive software and music-based programs for the improvement of memory, attention, listening, academic skills, sensory processing, brain health, peak performance and more.

Here are a few of the brain training products from Advanced Brain Technologies that are particularly interesting to us as educators:

·         SoundHealth:  Classical recordings chosen to improve your  relaxation, productivity, and for other specific goals.

·         BrainHealth: An interactive software program to improve your brain health through games, coaching, exercises, and more.

·         Shelly’s My First Computer game for ages 3-6. This interactive computer program teaches your little student basic computer skills.

Brain training is not a new concept (we’ve had schools, after all, for centuries) but brain training technology is a new and exciting frontier.  I’m looking forward to all that will come in the future from companies such as Advanced Brain Technologies.

Subscribe to FreelyEducate here

Keep up with FreelyEducate tweets (Twitter) here: @freelyeducate

Have an educational resource to share or a giveaway to donate? Want to be highlighted in a review of your educational product?  Email me at loriseaborg@gmail.com

Free Notebooking Audio and Handouts

The following description is from the writer of this free notebooking audio and ebook set:

A Quick Start for Notebooking Mini-Set!

Need ideas for encouraging your young writers and QUICK?  Ready for a FUN way to encourage your most reluctant writer to write AND like it??? This fun-filled, hands-on workshop is one that you simply CANNOT miss!!  Cindy Rushton, who has become known through the years as THE BINDER QUEEN, uses Notebooking for EVERYTHING! She will show you how to begin whether your child is a toddler or the most skeptical high schoolers.  This workshop is sure to light a fire that will equip YOU to help your children deepen their studies and document learning all along the way! TOPICS FOR THIS WORKSHOP INCLUDE: Hey! Do I Have A Chance At This??; Why On Earth Notebook???; Down to the Nitty Gritty...WHAT Do I Need and HOW Do I Do It?; Step-by-Step Through Notebooking; Scrapbooking! YES! You CAN Have Fun Homeschooling; Hey? What is Legal?  What All  Goes Into A Notebook???; Developing FUN Studies That Teach and Inspire!!; Copywork...Answers to ALL of Your Questions; Taking the Writer From Reluctant to Researching; Ideas, Ideas, Ideas, There’s Gotta Be One for You; PLUS Much, Much More! PLUS! Cindy doesn't stop with the workshop, she also includes the Q/A Session after the workshop AND her handouts/samples of student notebooks. Awesome!

Let’s Try Notebooking :

Cindy's Workshop (audio, mp3 to download or listen online)

Questions and Answers

Handouts

Samples of Student Notebooks

Many more articles, handouts, and audio workshops are available with a ticket to the Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2009.  For more information and to purchase a ticket (half of the sale price comes back to Freely Educate!), go to the UHSE09 site.

Subscribe to FreelyEducate here

Keep up with FreelyEducate tweets (Twitter) here: @freelyeducate

Have a resource to share or a giveaway to donate?  Email me at loriseaborg@gmail.com

Free Audio Workshop: Scheduling ABCs

Cindy Rushton, founder of the Ultimate Homeschool Expo (an online conference) is promoting her 2009 UHSE event (click that link for more information) by offering a few freebies which I'll highlight throughout this week.  Today's freebie is...

Scheduling ABC’s Audio Workshop with Cindy Rushton

Let Cindy take you by the hand and show you secrets to
developing a schedule that works for you and your family!

Download by Mp3 or listen to the program online, here.

I listened to this workshop recently and got so much out of it that I was excited to see it offered as a freebie I could share with all of you.  Cindy speaks about creating a flexible schedule (absolutely not a rigid one), one that revolves around Daddy and real life.  I took pages of notes full or practical tips which I've implemented into our school days here at home.  I love this way of educating.  ~ Lori

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This audio workshop is one of many gifts that are included with an Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2009 ticket.  Find out more or purchase your ticket, here, for $39.95.* 

What is the Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2009?  I'll use Cindy's description:

"One of the neat things about the Ultimate Homeschool Expo is that everything is ONLINE indefinitely. Cindy builds a private, exclusive Membership Site that includes everything from the UHSE in one place--it has audios (from all of the sessions and from the bonus gifts that her speakers give to us), ebooks, complete unit study guides, articles, printable notebooking pages, cookbooks, on and on. It is truly ULTIMATE!"

*Cindy is offering Freely Educate half of each ticket sold through our links. Thank you for supporting this site!

Subscribe to FreelyEducate here

Keep up with FreelyEducate tweets (Twitter) here: @freelyeducate

Have a resource to share or a giveaway to donate?  Email me at loriseaborg@gmail.com

Free Lego Kit (& Contest) for Educators

Through August 2009, Lego is hosting a contest for educators and will provide you a free kit of Lego bricks if you'd like to join in!

from Lego...  Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for the LEGO Smart Creativity Contest you must be a teacher or working in the education field. This includes administrators, coaches, home school educators, and classroom aides!

Visit the Lego Education site to fill out a form for the bricks and to view the full contest rules.   Note: This is a Limited Time Offer

Thank you, Shawndi, for sharing this high quality, 100% free educational find with us!

Subscribe to FreelyEducate here

Keep up with FreelyEducate tweets (Twitter) here: @freelyeducate

Have an educational resource to share or a giveaway to donate? Want to be highlighted in a review of your educational product?  Email me at loriseaborg@gmail.com

Free Summer Science Club

Summer Club Invitation (from the scientist behind Quick Study Labs)

Looking for something fun and educational for your kids this summer?
Summer Club and Kid’s Club are free to homeschool families and you are invited!
Check it out at www.quickstudylabs.com

You’re invited,
Joel Phillips 
Teaching Technology to Homeschool Youth
Think Quick------Quick Study Labs
www.QuickStudyLabs.com

Note from Lori:  Since the Quick Study Labs website is built with "frames," I cannot get you a direct link to the free Summer courses.  Here is what you need to do:

• Go to the Quick Study Labs site
• In the left sidebar look for these titles in bold: Getting Started, Classes, Clubs
• Click on Summer Clubs under the "Clubs" title

The courses start this month, so hurry to register! 

Subscribe to FreelyEducate here

Keep up with FreelyEducate tweets (Twitter) here: @freelyeducate

Have a resource to share or a giveaway to donate?  Email me at loriseaborg@gmail.com

A Freely Educate Break for One Week

Yeehaw!  As you read this, I'm in Texas! 

Freely Educate will take a vacation as well, resuming the week of May 17th.  Over the Summer,  I'll slow down to about one post a week and will be giving the site a big overhaul (the big focus: organization!).  I hope to get things really going again sometime in August.

You all don't read about education over the Summer anyway, right? ;) 

See you in about a week!

~ Lori Seaborg

Review: Western International University

Western International University offers business and technology courses at several campus locations in many states and overseas, but more conveniently, they also offer online degrees. The degree programs offered at Western International University are different than online courses of most colleges, because these courses are interactive.   

Here is more information about Western International University's degree programs:

• While most online courses are text-based, WIU Interactive Online connects you to a real classroom in real time, with lively interaction that duplicates the campus classroom experience.

• You’ll be able to see, hear, and chat with your instructor and classmates, live and in the moment, with a simple microphone headset and Internet access.

• Listen to lectures, watch videos, participate in class discussions, and chat with your instructor and classmates, all to enrich your online classroom experience.

• You can choose to attend class live, or listen to the recording of your live class session at your convenience.

• All recorded classes are available for review or study throughout the duration of your course. New class sessions start every two months, and classes are held once a week for two months.

You may find out more at Western International University's website, including financial aid information, a list of available online degrees, how to transfer credits, and much more.  You may even chat live with someone who will help you with any questions you may have.