Fun On Friday #135: xkcd

I think it's time for xkcd to feature properly. Here are some of my favourite tech-related xkcd comics. (Note, click the comic to go to the xkcd site and see the comic full size. Also, once on the xkcd site, leave the mouse on the graphic and enjoy the description that appears after a short pause!)

This comic may only make sense if you understand that there are 10 types of people: those who understand binary and those who don't.

I was thinking again this week about ICT verses Computing Science? I wonder where it would be placed on the "purity" continuum?

I would guess somewhere between Physics and Maths... but no doubt many other scientists would slap me for even suggesting this.

And finally, something I have printed out and laminated:

Do you have a favourite xkcd comic?

Fun On Friday #120: Toontastic

What we did on our holidays - by Daughter Number 2. (It's a bit slow to load at first but stick with it!):

Brilliant, isn't it.?

Created in Toontastic - possibly my favourite iPad App at the moment. You move the puppets, you speak, you make a movie. Excellent! Daughter Number 2 drew her own puppets but there are loads of great pre-drawn models, with moveable limbs. (For example, see Pirates.)

When you tap the button to create a story, the App suggests you make five scenes:

1. Setup;
2. Conflict;
3. Challenge;
4. Climax;
5. Resolution.

Some great teaching points there even before you start but all wrapped up in a bundle of the best fun ever!

Do you have any examples of classes using this app? How did you use it and what did the pupils make of it?

Fun On Friday #87: Ada Lovelace

I was speaking to some students this week about Ada Lovelace. She was stunningly smart. She described a machine that was never built; realised that it was a general purpose device (not just a number cruncher); and wrote the first computer program!

Then I came across Ada Lovelace: The Origin! on the 2D Goggles site. Perhaps not entirely accurate but outstandingly good fun and full of real information (in spite of the nonsense).

Fun on Friday #75: Productivity

This pretty much sums up my life at the moment:

Is there a cartoon that does the same for you?