NorthStarNerd.Org

Learning Management System (LMS) eBook

For many of you .... this is not relevant, but for my readers who work in their corporation's learning organization. Via the blog, Net Dimensions Insight, and the eLearning Guild, you may download this very thorough eBook:

• 339 Tips on the Implementation of an LMS (free)

The Nobel Science (not Science Ig Noble )

Earlier this week I posted about Science Ig Noble, now it's on to the real McCoy, the Nobel Prizes. You should visit the official Nobel Prize web site. The Nobel Lectures from recent year's winners are available via webcast: (click upon any year ... then select the individual ... and finally the lecture link in the right hand column

• Chemistry
• Physics

For a real wealth of Nobel lectures around a particular theme, you finally need to visit the Gustavus Adolphus College web site. This Swedish Lutheran college (how appropriate!) in southwestern Minnesota has the only annual conference in the world of former Nobel laureates ... and you can attend / watch any of the lectures dating back to the year 2000 via a free webcast.

• Gustavus Adolphus College Nobel Laureate Conference Webcasts

Each year the conference has a different theme. The past two years themes were:

• Medicine, Prescription for Tomorrow
• The Legacy of Einstein

Rich Hoeg's Screencasts

This web page contains links to screencasts tutorials created by Rich Hoeg (this blog's host) and the original postings that gave background information. As I create new screencasts, I will always add a link on this page. Thus if you like what you see ... please bookmark this web page! If you like my tutorials, make certain you check out Northstar Nerd TV (NNTV).

This page was last updated on January 03, 2011

Newest Tutorial: Practical Android for the Business User

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Google Tools Tutorials

• Google Alert
  (create custom RSS feeds using Google Alert)
  .
• Google Blog Search
  (create custom RSS feeds using Google Blog Search)
  .
• Google Book Search (create custom eBooks using Google Book Search)
  • Original - technical examples and links
  • Updated - reviews "my library option"
    .
• Google Co-op Search Engines
  (create your own search engines with Google Co-op)
  .
• Google Docs
  (use Google's office software suite)
  .
• Google Fast Flip
  (read newspapers and journals online)
  .
• Google Index Metadata Tutorials (silent ppt version | narrated hi-res version)
  (better understand how Google indexes the content you create)
  .
• Google Maps Mash-Ups
  (create maps which link to other web content you select)
  .
• Google Search
  (finding the hidden gems of the web)
  .
• Google Search Wiki
  (annotate your results ... for yourself or the community)
  .
• Google Video - Your Training Video Search Engine
  (use this Web 2.0 tool to find high quality training resources)
  .
• Google Wonder Wheel
  (optimize your searches)

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Nokia Handheld Tutorials

• Northstar Nerd's Nokia N800 Demo
  (a Geek's toy which anyone can love)
  .
• Spot Takes a Walk - N810 GPS
  (a man, his dog, and GPS!)
  .
• RSS on the Nokia
  (after all ... it's an internet tablet)
  .
• To Grandma's House
  (via the Nokia N810 GPS)

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Other Tutorials (work optimization, and selected others)

• 12 Sprints Tutorial
  (collaboration tool from SAP)
  .
  
• CamStudio Tutorial
  (create your own web demos using CamStudio, a free software tool)
  .
• Data Visualization
  (study the concept of data visualization using IBM's ManyEyes)
  .
• Drivetime Podcasts
  (listen to podcasts in your car w/o a MP3 player or iPod)
  .
• Great News RSS Feed Reader
  (learn how to install, configure and use the RSS feed reader, Great News)
  .
• Hodge Podge World (The World is Flat ... Not!)
  (learn about world resource trends while listening to Renaissance)
  .
• Jump Drive Learning ... or Wiki on a Stick!
  (create and run learning / knowledge domains off a jump drive)
  .
• Intelligent Computing - Microsoft Virtual PC Tutorial: Adobe PDF | Powerpoint
  (file sizes: 4 mb and 5 mb respectively)
  .
• Northstar Nerd's Podcasting Tutorial
  (learn how to create professional podcasts ... with a smile!)
  .
• Practical Android for the Business User
  (learn Android for your smart phone)
  . 
• Process Mapping / Mind Mapping Tutorial
  (very useful for any project work ... software is free)
  .
• Screencast-O-Matic / Jamaican Style!
  (learn to use the web service by the same name)
  .
• Second Life Overview / Tutorial
  (learn about SL from a business perspective)
  .
• SportTracks Garmin Software
  (optimize the measurement of your workouts)
  .
  
• Test Drive Office 2007
  (run a full, free form, simulation test of any Office 2007 product)
  .
• Using Your iPod as a Training Device
  (presentation created by Mark Henry, but hosted on this blog)

Like these screencasts? ... then check our my Google Co-op eLearning Search Engines

Please also visit my engineering learning wiki!

Wouldn't It Be Neat ... Innovation!

Companies try to put a process around innovation. Use your favorite cookbook and recipe ... put in the oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees ... out pops innovation. Wouldn't that be neat? However, it's not that easy.

Innovation happens when the environment encourages free thought, and the ability to fail. Here are some neat resources to challenge your imagination:

• What is your work environment like? What if you had a tool like ConnectBeam (8 minute demo from the Scoble Show). You will see how social networking / web 2.0 software can be used effectively in a private corporate environment.
• Ah yes ... the Scoble Show ... author of Naked Conversations. This book and its writing was an innovation process in itself. The authors, Robert Scoble and Shel Israel had the blogging community help them write their book (all chapters were made available online). Listen to this IT Conversations podcast interview with the authors about the book and its development process. You've obviously heard of Open Source Software, but Open Source Authoring???

In a bit more of the traditional approach to managing innovation, here is an eight part innovation podcast series from Information Week. (via the Innovation Insider). It's good too!

Engineering Podcast Search Engine

Google recently introduced Google Co-Op. This service allows you to create your own search engines using extracts from Google's index. Earlier this month I built two specialized search engines ... one for engineering webinars, and one for academic courses. Here is my new engineering podcast search engine (also added to my orginal search engine post):

• Search Engine: Engineering Podcasts

When this search engine index was first created (see this page for updates), it included free engineering podcasts from these leading academic and technology organizations. These groups include: American Society of Civil Engineering, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - Quirks and Quarks, European Space Agency Advanced Concepts Team, IEEE Computer & Society - The Silver Bullet Security Podcast, IEEE Spectrum Radio, NASA, Naked Scientist, New Scientist, NPR Science Friday, Planetary Society Radio, SAE Automotive, Science and Society, Software Engineering Radio, Stanford - Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders, Texas A&M - Engineering Works