Baby Boomers U. S. (The Blog)

Monday Musings for Baby Boomers – Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Final Flight [Video]

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 02:54 AM PST

Smile!

Monday has always been a little bit of a let down, what with it being the beginning of the work week and all.

So to start things out on a bright note for the week, I bring you the…

Baby Boomers Monday Musings.

Shuttle Endevour’s Last Flight

This is a beautiful, clean, quiet (other than the pilot’s own observations) video of the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s final flight over California.

The vid is taken by the escourt F-18′s and shows the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with Endeavour hitched to it’s back on the final tour of California before becoming a Museum Piece at the California Science Center in L.A.

Hope that put a little smile on your face and Keep On Smilin’

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3 Educational Technologies for Any Age

Posted: 04 Nov 2012 03:28 AM PST

This is a Guest Post by Patricia Garza. If you would like to Guest Post for Baby Boomers US, check out our Guest Post for Us page.

Whether you are young or old, there is never a point in life where you should let go of the joy of learning. Our brains thrive in a stimulating environment and need constant exercise to stay supple and alert. Activities that require us to follow steps, solve problems, build things or exercise our bodies are all important for a healthy and happy life, from start to finish.

In this modern age of digital technology, a number of tools have been developed that are useful for both entertainment and educational purposes. These tools come equipped with games that exercise the brain and also give users access to reading content and other learning material via Wi-Fi. These technological devices are making lifelong learning easier, because they give users the freedom to get the information they need about anything, any time.

Listed below are three of the newest and most popular educational technologies that any one at any age will find useful and engaging.

Computer Tablet

The computer tablet has changed how we interact with the internet. Before, desktop computers and laptops kept us anchored or weighed down, but the computer tablet is small, light and features touchscreen technology. In terms of learning, computer tablets are one of the best tools to use educational applications, play games, peruse the internet and read digital books. Computer tablets also have enough space to store music, podcasts, audio books and videos, and they automatically come with the software needed to listen to and watch this content.

MOOCs and Other Free Online Learning Platforms

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are relatively new to the internet and education sector. Whereas online colleges require students to go through the traditional admission process and pay a tuition fee, MOOCs do not require applications or charge a fee. Although MOOC platforms do not grant college credit or supply college degrees, they are still valuable for education. This is because every course is designed and taught by a professor from a top university, so students can be sure that they are being given quality, factual information. Example MOOC platforms include Coursera.org, EdX.org and Udacity.com.

For those who are not old enough to learn college-level information, there are other sources on the internet for free learning, including PBS.org and E-LearningforKids.org.

E-Readers

For those who are only interested in instant access to reading material, an e-reader may be a better choice than a computer tablet. Some e-readers do come equipped with access to the internet and software for games, video and music, but there are also e-readers available that are only capable of downloading books. If you are only interested in education through reading, this is a device to consider. By connecting your e-reader to Wi-Fi, you can download any book at any time. You will never have to drive to the bookstore again, and you can take your entire book collection anywhere, because they will all be stored on your reading device.

Computer tablets and e-readers can be purchased through an online or storefront technology retailer. MOOCs and other free online learning sites can be found through a quick internet search on Google.com.

About the Author: As an advocate for regionally accredited online colleges, Patricia Garza has been blogging about the future of education for the past decade. In addition to education news and advice, Patricia enjoys sharing information related to careers, personal finance and technology. Please share your comments with her below!