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Badge: Explore eBooks (revised)

2011/07/24 by 1 Comment

Badge: Explore eBooksPublishing is moving to the electronic age. More and more books are available electronically. Not only does this save you money, it is more convenient as long as you are comfortable with your electronic devices. Your first step into the world of ebooks is to explore what is out there.

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Steps

1. Benefits of ebooks.

Are ebooks for you? Brainstorm advantages of ebooks over regular books. Here’s a list to start.

  • Many free ebooks available
  • Purchased ebooks are cheaper than printed books
  • Read on computer or other electronic devices
  • Easily carry them with you

2. Disadvantages of ebooks.

Brainstorm disadvantages of ebooks. Here’s a list to start.

  • No power equals no books
  • Electronics more easily damaged
  • May be hardware / software dependent
  • Eyestrain

Compare the advantages and disadvantages. Are you leaning toward ebooks?

3. eBook readers.

Proprietary readers are designed to read ebooks in a format they determine. Some can read other formats as well. Review the following list. How many have you heard of? Compare them and determine if a proprietary reader is for you.

  • Kindle / Amazon
  • Nook / Barnes & Noble
  • PRS / Sony
  • iPad / Apple

4. Smart phones.

Smart phones have software that allows you to read ebooks. Examine ebook readers available for your smart phone. Choose one and install an ebook reader on your smart phone and try free ebooks to see if you like the portability of ebooks.

5. Reading ebooks.

Try downloading an ebook on your computer. Review your advantages and disadvantages. Which are more important to you after trying an ebook?

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Places to find free ebooks

6. Project Gutenburg.

www.gutenberg.org

Choose from over 36,000 free ebooks. These are digitized by volunteers. They are available because the copyright has expired in the US. Also, check out the additional 100,000 available through their Partners, Affiliates and Resources links. These include links to similar projects in other countries such as Australia and Canada.

7. Manybooks.

manybooks.net

Choose from over 29,000 free ebooks.

8. Free ebooks.

www.free-ebooks.net

Site features ebooks writers pay to publish and you get them free.

9. Get free ebooks.

www.GetfreeEbooks.com

Sign up to get notifications of free ebooks. This site is a nominee for best Web site for free ebooks. NOTE: Some of the links are to ebooks that are free for a limited time. If you are interested in one, be sure to download it in a timely manner.

10. Google book search.

books.google.com/books

Google book search links to many ebooks. Only those in public domain are available for free downloads. Check out the future of Google books to see about the settlement and where they plan to go in the future.

11. How to search for free ebooks.

www.getfreeebooks.com/?p=4959

Read the article for help finding additional free ebook resources. Explore some of the links and bookmark any that you would like to return to in the future.

12. Keep exploring.

There are many ebook sites available. The above list is only a small sampling. Use the links below or go to your favorite search engine to search for more. Enjoy your adventure through the world of ebooks

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Sites to Explore

www.gutenberg.org
www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Gutenberg:Partners%2C_Affiliates_and_Resources
www.the-ebook-reader.com/free-ebooks.html
www.hongkiat.com/blog/20-best-websites-to-download-free-e-books
educhoices.org/articles/Online_Libraries_-_25_Places_to_Read_Free_Books_Online.html
www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-best-6-sites-to-get-free-ebooks/
savedelete.com/20-best-free-ebook-websites-for-downloading-free-ebooks.html
www.bibliomania.com
wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Free_eBooks
slodive.com/design/top-websites-to-read-download-free-ebooks/
tomuse.com/free-ebook-sites-search-tools-download-books/
Filed Under: AEP, Badge Programs Tagged With: , , , ,

Harry Potter #8

2011/07/24 by Leave a Comment

I was having a long discussion with my friend, Moriah, about the first seven Harry Potter badges. The first seven were designed to have parts used during a day camp event.

Moriah was looking at it from a costumer’s viewpoint. She is an excellent seamstress who makes outfits and accessories for AMTGARD events. For day camps, costumes can be too much. So, we got into a discussion of what kind of Harry Potter event would be good for costumes. We came up with Christmas.

So, now we have an eighth badge for the set, to be done during the winter holidays. It’s cool enough for costumes and great for groups that are having problems meeting during the school year because of conflicting activities.

And, even better, I have a volunteer when I run a Harry Potter event.

Filed Under: AEP

Badge: Harry Potter – Christmas at Hogwarts

2011/07/24 by Leave a Comment

Badge: Harry Potter - ChristmasThe other AEP Harry Potter badges have steps to provide you with material for day camp, afternoon camps and other non-holiday activities. Some of those activities can be adjusted slightly and used with a Christmas theme. This badge program focuses on the happenings in the Harry Potter world during Christmas.

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Steps

Event possibilities

1. Event featuring food.

A feast can take an entire day to prepare. From deciding what to serve to preparation to enjoying the final product, an entire event can be held around learning food made in England and those dishes specifically mentioned in the Harry Potter saga. Typically, large meals are prepared and enjoyed around festive occasions, such as Christmas. See the AEP supplement Harry Potter: Feast Recipes for food ideas for this event.

2. Yule ball event.

While this was mentioned in a previously released badge program, create an event around the ball only. Start with teaching your kids various dances, tips for “dressing up” including applying make-up, making decorations and more activities that can go into preparing for a dance. Then hold your ball.

3. A very Weasley Christmas.

Picture Christmas at the Burrows. From knitting scarves and hats to homemade treats, you can bring a family Christmas to your troop, group or even do this as a service project, donating the items you make to a homeless shelter or other needy organization.

4. Hogwart’s Christmas party.

Most years, there are more staff than students that stay at Hogwart’s for the holidays. Try a toned-down theme featuring decorating a Christmas tree with homemade ornaments and readings from “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”. See the AEP supplement Harry Potter: Ornaments for ornament ideas. What other ideas can you come up with?

5. Host a party for others.

Create a Hogwart’s Christmas for others — younger troops, children at a homeless shelter, etc. Incorporate ideas from the event ideas above or from the specific activities below.

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Specific activities

6. Quick list from events.

Below is a quick list of possible activities mentioned in the Christmas party ideas above. Feel free to mix and match these into your own unique Christmas celebration.

  • Create a Christmas feast
  • Share a Christmas feast
  • Enjoy a Christmas feast
  • Dancing
  • Proper attire for a ball
  • Making decorations
  • Knit hats and scarves
  • Make homemade gift treats
  • Decorate a Christmas tree
  • Make Hogwart’s inspired ornaments
  • Listen to stories from “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”

7. Donate a tree.

Instead of putting up and decorating a tree, place the tree in a public location. Create your own ornaments or ask others to help decorate the tree. Exchange ornaments on the tree for gifts for needy families. Brainstorm your own exchange program, places that would appreciate a specially decorated tree, etc.

8. Sleigh rides.

Sleigh rides are a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer as the bells ring across the snow. You can do them for your own group or share them with the public and request they share the Christmas spirit as you have with them.

9. Magical bonfire.

Taken from the Harry Potter: Science badge program (Step 8), gather your ingredients to make your fire magical. Instead of being in a small fireplace, create a bonfire outside to enjoy readings or songs.

10. Hogwart’s carols.

From dressing in white to be caroling ghosts to enjoying traditional caroling, Christmas is the most musical of the holidays. Be sure to practice with your group before starting out and perhaps even provide a small songbook with the lyrics for use during the event as well as a memento for participants to keep.

11. Snow sculpture contest.

Create snow sculptures of the architecture, creatures or even characters from Harry Potter. If you want to add color, have spray bottles mixed with colorant available. Keep these bottles warmed so they don’t freeze. Be sure to provide an area to warm up with refreshments.

12. Secret Santa.

Harry received more than one present anonymously – the invisible cloak and the Firebolt are just two examples. Host a Secret Santa exchange and reveal the gift givers at a special event.

13. Socks everywhere!

Allow everyone to bring and decorate one or more pairs of socks.

You might even want to play “Dobby’s Mismatched Socks” game. Provide each participant a pair of mismatched socks in a wrapped box. Everyone opens their box to find their gift. They then must trade socks, one at a time, until they have a pair. They may have to trade for a sock they don’t want because someone who has their sock wants a different one. The prize is each person gets a pair of socks and perhaps a nice card from Dobby.

14. Painting fun.

Pair off your participants. Let them paint a portrait of each other. Be sure to emphasize that it doesn’t have to be an exact likeness, it can be abstract or more realistic.

15. Camping in the wilderness.

While your tents might not be like Hermoine’s, camping in the wilderness during the holidays is a lot more likely to happen if your girls are active in other groups. Most clubs and groups don’t do much during the holidays, so use this time wisely. You might even want to decorate the trees outside the cabin with nuts and berries for our feathered and furry friends.

16. Hogwart’s Christmas candy.

Inspired by Honeyduke’s? Ask everyone to bring their favorite sweet treats for an exchange. Provide rules for sharing before the event to eliminate misunderstanding. You might also like to make some at the event like taffy or bar cookies.

17. Costume contest.

Ask everyone to dress up as their favorite character or Muggle. Rate them on their outfits as well as how well they play the role they’ve selected.

18. Share your ideas.

Do you have more Hogwart’s Christmas ideas? We’d love to hear them. Send them directly to me or post them to our blog at larajla.com.

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Supplements Available

SUPP_HP_Feast Recipes.pdf
     Recipes that are more in keeping with Christmas.
SUPP_HP_Ornaments.pdf
     Ornament ideas and a few sample patterns found on the Web.
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Sites to Explore

harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Christmas_at_Hogwarts
harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Christmas
thehogshead.org/christmas-at-hogwarts-65/
www.helium.com/items/2043526-how-to-host-a-harry-potter-christmas-party
britishfood.about.com/od/introtobritishfood/tp/harrypotterfavorites.htm chowhound.chow.com/topics/787195
www.squidoo.com/harry-potter-christmas-ornaments
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tales_of_Beedle_the_Bard
Filed Under: AEP, Badge Programs Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Badge: Digital Natives

2011/07/17 by 1 Comment

Badge: Digital NativesWhen you were young, you might not have had a computer, a television or even a radio. Today’s youth were born into technology and it infuses every moment of their lives. Because of this, you may find that you are lost when talking to them or have difficulty connecting with them. They are digital natives — technology comes easy to them. Marc Prensky coined this term in 2001.

While you may not be comfortable with the technology, you need to be able to understand “where they’re coming from.”

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Steps

1. Frontline: Digital Nation

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/view/?utm_campaign=viewpage&utm_medium=grid&utm_source=grid

For an overview of digital natives, watch the flash video from Frontline on PBS. Originally, this aired February 2010. It is 90 minutes long, so get comfortable before you start.

2. PBS webinar.

www.pbs.org/teachers/webinar/archive.html

Scroll down the archive of PBS webinars and find “Education in the Digital Age: A Tour of Frontline’s Digital Nation.” This webinar highlights the Web’s impact on education, multitasking and social media. This webinar will help expand your view of how the world is changing for and by digital natives.

3. Digital native map.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/extras/digital_native.html

Learn about how digital natives are affected by exploring Wen-Jay. Click on each circle on her picture and learn physical information about digital natives. The list below shows the areas you can find statistics about how technology is affecting our youth.

  • Brain
  • Eyes
  • Ears
  • Mouth
  • Heart
  • Spine
  • Hands
  • Wuji (dog)

Check out other digital native resources on the main PBS Digital Nation page.

4. Digital natives vs. digital immigrants.

Are all people born in the 21st century digital natives? Are all of those born before digital immigrants? There are no absolutes. Find the characteristics of digital natives and immigrants. Take a poll of your friends and family. Which category does each fall into? Or are they somewhere in between?

5. Moving toward truly global.

Phrases like “global community” have been with us a long time. Digital natives communicate with people who are interested in the same things they are. They tend to disregard geographical and political distinctions. They are individual and adaptable, more likely to try something new or look at the world a different way.

With technology, your location is no longer as important as your access. As stagnant, location-specific industries such as newspapers and book publishing fail, others flourish with a world-wide audience. Think of the things you use every day. How many are moving into the global? How many are dying because they are afraid of change? How are digital natives embracing these changes? How are they fueling these changes? How are digital immigrants reacting?

6. Redefining the terms.

Friendship used to mean someone you spent time with physically, going bowling or fishing. You’d discuss your day or air out your problems to a sympathetic ear. Now, friendship is limited to a few hundred people who follow you on the Web.

You can find people interested in the same things you are. For example, when I started desktop publishing in the early 1990s, there weren’t people I could talk to locally. I had to drive an hour and a half to Chicago for lessons as none of the local colleges taught any of the programs. This limitation is gone with the Web. You can ask a question about software and get responses within minutes from people anywhere in the world.

Reflect on how friendship/acquaintance has changed over the last few years. See how much, or little, personal information digital natives share. See how freely ideas and interests are shared and how fast new ideas are developed. Our current technological revolution is redefining and speeding up our lives. What other terms have been affected?

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Breaking it down

7. Digital education.

Traditional education was designed to create individuals who were replaceable in the factories, just another material for the industrial revolution. With digital natives, this educational system is changing. From K-12, college and even enrichment classes can be found online. Find out what digital offerings are available in your area for education. What areas are you interested in that offer digital education? What areas do not?

8. Adult enrichment project.

Could the AEP have existed five years ago? Ten years ago? By earning badges online with free resources, you can tailor each badge program for your own tastes, experiences and materials available to you. In addition, multiple people can post their own interpretations to badge programs that can be shared over time, not wasted on a single class or group of individuals. Think of a subject you are interested in that is not available on the AEP sites. Can you digitize it?

9. Digital workplace.

Brainstorm the tasks you do every day at your job. What parts could you do digitally without making the trip to the office? Can your company do as IBM and have an empty building with all employees working from home? Think “outside the box” to include not only the tasks you do every day, but how the entire company can adjust to utilize new technologies.

10. Digital entertainment.

Digital entertainment is no longer the domain of large corporations. It is moving toward smaller, more dynamic markets. Read the three areas highlighted below and discuss the questions with others of varying ages and technical abilities to help broaden your understanding of the changes happening in digital entertainment.

Compare the number of television stations 20 years ago and now. How have your watching habits changed? How has technology affected how and when you enjoy television? Try watching a show online at hulu.com or another site. Do you think broadcasting will slowly move completely to the Web? Will programming be on-demand? Will viewing habits be tracked in real time? Do you think old shows and movies will be archived or will younger generations not be interested in “I Love Lucy” and “The Three Stooges?”

Video games are no longer played by one or two people in their home. Video game consoles can connect to the Web to play with people around the world or they can play the games online without having hardware beyond their computer. Will game systems such as Playstation and Wii be around in 20 years or will they be a pay service on the Web?

Compare the music industry of the 1980s and today. How do you get your music? How do digital natives? Check out the offerings on iTunes or YouTube. Find at least one musician who gives away their music for free. Do you think purchasing pre-packaged music will become obsolete?

11. Social media.

Digital natives are always “on.” Wired. Wireless. Mobile. Instantaneous. They are constantly checking what their friends are doing and sharing what they are doing. Social media affects how information is delivered, communicated and organized. Check out a social media sight such as Facebook, MySpace or Twitter. See what they have to offer digital natives. How can you utilize this for your own purposes?

12. Web 2.0 is the place to explore.

This is a generalized list of different types of Web 2.0 technology that is utilized by digital natives. Explore some of these areas and note how digital natives make Web 2.0 theirs. Do you use any of these?

  • Blogs
  • Podcasts
  • Wikis
  • Social bookmarking
  • RSS – Really Simple Syndication
  • Content tagging

Try doing one or more of these items. Check out ehow.com or a learning site of your choice for short tutorials. How easy is it to adjust a wiki or reply to a blog? Would RSS help you keep track of a subject you’re interested in? Does the new technology help make the Web easier for you to use?

13. Creating content.

More than half of teenagers have created online content. Often, they collaborate. Look through social media, video and other sites teenagers frequent. How many do you think were made by the digital natives themselves? What are the benefits of working collaboratively with others? How does this change the Web? How does it change other media? How have attitudes toward intellectual property changed? Look at how Creative Commons has allowed those holding copyrights to waive some of their rights.

14. Multitasking.

Have you seen a digital native working on three or more tasks at a time? This is multitasking. Debates are raging on whether this is something people are adept at or if it is interfering with deeper learning and understanding. Look at both sides of this issue and determine where you fit into the debate.

15. Hardware.

You can’t have digital natives without hardware. Do you remember the first computers that didn’t have hard drives? Now, you have a powerful computer that can be easily carried in the iPad. Smart phones are another “computer” used by digital natives. How do you think the hardware will change in the future? Do you think everyone will have desktop computers or do you think the entire planet will go wireless?

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Sites to Explore

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_native
www.marcprensky.com/writing/default.asp
www.twistimage.com/blog/archives/digital-natives-are-here/
www.mondaynote.com/2010/07/25/understanding-the-digital-natives/
www.openeducation.net/2009/09/23/digital-natives-are-they-really-skilled-at-multitasking/
www.ehow.com/list_6631103_effects-digital-technology.html
www.ehow.com/list_6798576_implications-digital-technology-music.html
ww.ehow.com/about_6522661_cell-phones-educational-tool.html
www.ehow.com/how_5061987_safe-social-networking-sites.html
www.ericsson.com/ericsson/corpinfo/publications/ericsson_business_review/pdf/108/understanding_digital_natives.pdf
www.youtube.com
www.facebook.com
www.myspace.com
www.podcastalley.com
www.ipodder.org
www.delicous.com
www.digg.com
www.stumbleupon.com
www.flickr.com
www.twitter.com
www.digitalnative.org
creativecommons.org
openid.net
Filed Under: AEP, Badge Programs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Badge: My Music

2011/07/17 by Leave a Comment

Badge: My MusicWhether you like making music or just listening, sharing your music with others not only gives them new experiences but allows you to enjoy your own music even more.

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Steps

1. Party.

Have a party for a small group featuring your music. Your party might be a small dinner party with a few friends, a tent in your backyard or even a beach party with everyone being invited by word of mouth. Create a “theme” for the party based on the music.

2. Music club.

Start a monthly “music madness” club where different music is featured each time. Ask a different person to feature their favorite artist(s) each month. Be sure to provide a list of the artists so everyone has a chance to explore the ones they like further.

3. Share your musical tastes.

Share your musical tastes with friends and family. Be able to share the musician, genre and why you like the music. If you have stories that go with a song, record your story to share as well.

4. Find music mates.

Attend a gathering of like-minded musical enthusiasts. Explore other artists in your genre that have been suggested by others.

5. Surfing for music.

Find songs and samples for your musical tastes. Music transcends political, social and linguistic boundaries. See if you can find samples outside your own country as well.

Check out original musical offerings on YouTube or other video sites. Many artists offer free songs to entice you into listening to their music. Find one or two new artists to add to your musical playlist.

6. Share My Playlists.

sharemyplaylists.com

Create and share your playlists with other enthusiastic listeners.

7. Sharing on the Web.

From radio stations to sites and applications that allow you to share, find how to share songs legally online.

8. Conversions.

Find how to convert music files so you can play your music on more than one device. Convert song files from those you own to a new device / player.

9. Shopping trip.

Go on a shopping trip to find new artists in your genre – expand your own horizons. Take a list of artists / songs you acquired from others that you enjoyed on your trip.

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Create your own

10. Guess the instrument.

Make up a “guess the instruments” game featuring your music. Present it to others.

11. Choose an instrument.

Choose an instrument you’d like to learn to play that is used in your musical genre. Find a local instructor. Determine the price and frequency of lessons. Decide if you would like to pursue this skill.

12. Play an instrument.

Learn to play an instrument from your musical genre. Incorporate practice and lesson times into your routine.

13. Play for others.

Play an instrument for fun or profit, perhaps even attend a “talent night” or charity event to help others.

14. Create a tune.

Write your own song or instrumental piece. It can be as simple as a phone ringtone or a complex piece featuring more than one instrument.

15. Share your original creations.

Share the music you create with others. Don’t make it complicated. A small handheld digital recorder or a video camera can start your sharing journey.

Make sure to include your song in a playlist, sampler, mix or any other way you feel you might be “discovered.” Don’t forget that video of your performance is also sharable.

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Sites to Explore

www.ehow.com/how_7200286_share-music-friends.html
song.ly (Twitter)
tweetmysong.com
www.tinysong.com
www.seekasong.com
www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/beginners-guide-to-sharing-itunes-music/
soundcloud.com
Filed Under: AEP, Badge Programs Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Badge: Contact Cards

2011/07/13 by Leave a Comment

Badge: Contact CardsSometimes you need to share contact information. Digging through your purse, tote or briefcase for a piece of paper and pen takes time and sometimes your hurriedly written information is unreadable by your recipient or yourself. So, let’s look at different ways to share your contact information.

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Steps

1. Traditional business cards.

In the US, traditional business cards are 3.5″ x 2″. Usually the width is the larger measurement than the height. The cheapest versions are black text on a white card. You can order them from a variety of resources or make your own.

Do you have a variety of business cards? Look through them or explore images on the Web. Which are memorable? Which would you throw away without a second thought?

2. Playing with traditional business cards.

You may have found one or two unusual cards in your collection. Perhaps you found a folded card (3.5″ x 4″ folded in half to the business card size) so there is more area for information. What would you do with a business card that had a blank front and an artist quickly sketched an image of you before handing it to you? This would not be a card you would throw away.

Explore business cards that conform to the traditional size but push the boundaries to make them unique. As you explore these cards, note what is different about these cards and whether you’d be more likely to keep them. Lastly, explore the disadvantages of non-black and white cards such as expense.

3. Say “no” to pre-printed / pre-die cut cards.

Manufacturers provide cards on standard sheets that you can run through your computer’s printer. You may think this is a great way to add color and make your card memorable. Stop and look at the final product. When you separate the cards, they have a rough edge from the perforation. These cards say that you / your organization is a fly-by-night or temporary entity. It undermines your message and importance of the card itself.

4. A critical review.

Look critically at your cards and see what elements are not positive in the message and design such as multiple fonts (sometimes conflicting), type size, too much information and type placed on images. Some items you do not like may be personal. Make sure you note those too.

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Make your own mark!

5. Another choice — moo cards.

us.moo.com

Moo cards are 1.1″ x 2.76″. Unlike traditional business cards that are all the same, you get these in a pack of 100 and you can choose whether they are all the same or different on one side. These cards are small and easy to handle. Explore these cards and see if you like this choice.

6. Show, don’t tell.

Why explain that you sell rubber stamps when you can print traditional black and white business cards and stamp an image on it? Why say you’re an artist when you can place a small drawing or paint swatch on the card that says the same thing? Think of ways you can “show” who you are and what you represent instead of adding more text to the card.

7. Color vs. black and white.

A photographer can step beyond traditional business cards by using his photography as a background for his card. Type on top of a color image may be difficult to read. Also full-color printing is very expensive compared to black and white cards.

If you want to incorporate color, will “spot colors” work? A spot color is when you use one (or more) specific colors incorporated into your design.

8. Check out that type!

The one thing you need to think about is readability. You should limit your font choices to two, though one would be better. Is the type size too small to be easily read? Studies show that printed type smaller than 9 pt. is harder to read. Will your recipient struggle to read your information? If it’s too hard to read, will they not bother and dispose of the card?

9. Information to include.

No matter the type of card, you want your name on it and some way to contact you. Think about a stranger contacting you.

Answer these questions before creating your own contact cards.

  • If you have a home business, do you want someone you don’t know knocking on your door?
  • Do you only have an online presence so you should limit the information to your name, URL and e-mail address?
  • Do you have so many contact possibilities that the type is tiny?
  • Can you have different cards for physical and online presences?
  • Can you create different ones for your business, your volunteer activities and your personal use?

10. Critique yourself.

Look at your own card. If you don’t have one to look at, sketch out what you think would be good. Look at the design, type and paper. What will the recipient think of you when you hand them your card? Is the message the one you intended? Does it represent you and / or what you do? Do you need to redesign your cards or make adjustments? If you feel you cannot objectively critique your own cards, ask friends and family.

11. Volunteer organizations.

Perhaps you volunteer for an organization and need your cards to reflect that. Before you start using an organization’s logos or claiming to be part of that organization, check with them.

Many organizations have “brand standards” which defines what colors a logo can be, the fonts that must be used on items such as business cards, paper that should be used and even more guidelines. This allows all materials from that organization to look similar. Your organization might even have a template you can use with the only adjustment you need to do is place your contact information on the card. Make sure you provide a sam-ple so it can be approved before printing.

12. Handing out and collecting cards.

You should always have cards with you. Make sure they are kept clean and flat. Keep collected cards separate from the cards you distribute.

Write a note on the back of the card to help you remember where you got it and what reason(s) you may need to contact this person / business in the future.

13. vCards — digital contact cards.

These mini one-web page contact cards are an Internet standard. You do not have to worry about not having a physical business card. You can share these via e-mail. Explore vCards and see if this is a viable option for you.

14. QR codes.

A QR code is a 2-dimensional bar code with your information imbedded in the code. Anyone with a camera phone can take a picture of your code. A decoder will read the code, leaving you the information. Experiment with QR codes. Also explore the ways designers are creating non-standard QR codes that are still readable.

15. Phone applications that can be used as contact cards.

Check the applications for your smart phone. For example, the iPhone has an app that allows you to “bump” other iPhones and transfer contact information. If your phone has something similar, check it out and see if this is a viable option for you.

16. Clean up your contact cards.

Do you have a lot of contact cards? Get rid of the ones that are no longer valid. If you don’t know, search the Yellow Pages or your local phone book. Sort the ones you’re keeping into an order that allows you to find who you’re looking for. If you prefer, digitize the information.

17. Upload images to Flickr.

Share your contact card. AEP has a special area on Flickr to share completed projects for others to see. Search for “AEP” or “Adult Enrichment Project” for our sites.

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Supplement

Contact Card Overview.pdf

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Sites to Explore

sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/08/business-card-m.html
us.moo.com
www.greatfxbusinesscards.com/articles/keep-business-cards-handy.htm
www.quintcareers.com/networking_business_cards.html
www.smashingapps.com/2010/02/24/why-you-should-have-a-vcard-and-inspiring-examples-of-personal-vcards.html
www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-ways-to-create-a-business-card-20/
www.quicksprout.com/2008/09/20/creative-business-cards-that-make-you-look-twice/
gigaom.com/collaboration//how-to-create-ocr-scannable-business-cards/
www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/do-you-need-a-personal-business-card.html
searchengineland.com/what-is-a-qr-code-and-why-do-you-need-one-27588
mashable.com/2011/04/18/qr-code-design-tips/
ericaglasier.com/2011/02/28/how-to-design-with-qr-codes/
www.fastcompany.com/1720193/13-creative-ways-to-use-qr-codes-for-marketing
www.hongkiat.com/blog/business-card-design-100-creative-examples-useful-tutorials-and-templates/
Filed Under: AEP, Badge Programs Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Summer 2011 Newsletter Available

2011/07/06 by Leave a Comment

Our Summer 2011 Newsletter is available on Scribd.

This issue features:

  • Anniversary
  • Event Sets
  • Available Badges
  • Coming Soon
  • Updated Links

In addition, we have our first badge awardee!

Filed Under: AEP, Newsletter Tagged With: , , , ,

Badge: Field Trips — Sharing My Community

2011/07/06 by 1 Comment

Badge: Field Trips - Sharing CommunityFor younger kids, field trips are normally limited to a day outing including driving time. As kids get older, field trips last longer including cross-state or even cross-country.

Each of us knows our own community. How often have you wanted to do a field trip, but are unaware of what’s outside your community? By sharing your unique community with others, you can provide experiences that visiting troops might miss.

Together, we can provide opportunities for discovery and exploration for our youth and ourselves. Instead of sharing our stories, we’re providing the opportunity for everyone to have the experiences to create their own.

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Steps

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Exploring my community

1. Sharing my community.

You can share your community by photos and information on events and organizations. Start a database, document or folder with information on the events that happen in your community so you can share this information. Include the following:

  • Event name
  • Dates
  • Cost
  • Hosting organization
  • Location of organization
  • Contact information for organization
  • Frequency of event (yearly, anytime, etc.)
  • Photos available?
  • Links for more information

If you have additional ideas for your database such as age limitations, group size, etc. include those as well.

2. Free all the time.

Create a listing of free field trip opportunities in your area that may be arranged at any time. Make sure organizations that have offered free field trips in the past did not do it for a specific group or reason so that anyone may be offered the opportunity. Find out if these organizations are still operating. Share this list with your service unit, council or other groups that would find this information useful.

3. Special events.

Some field trip events are special events. These may happen at parks, orchestras, museums, clubs or businesses. Keep track of events that happen annually or on a regular basis. Share these as they are released.

4. Scheduled events.

Some events need to be scheduled to make sure they have the minimum number of participants. Find events that need to be scheduled and share those. Make sure you note any specific requirements, age limitations, etc.

5. Other events.

Find other events that do not fit into the above categories. Determine if they can or should be shared.

6. Photos.

Take photos of various sites in your community. Highlight those areas that are of interest to tourists and locals. Rename your files so you can quickly identify your community sites.

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Bird’s eye view

7. Determine the area.

You may choose to share your community with other group leaders or a larger group. Decide if your final plan is to cover your city, your county, your state or your council. Can you do this on your own or do you need to recruit help?

8. Sort.

You can sort your area by any of the information in Step 1. Decide if you’ll distribute your information electronically, with printed materials or another means.

9. Printable only.

If you choose to share this only with printable materials (handouts and emailed PDFs), create a template you can share with others so you can combine collected community events into a folder for reference. Determine a way you can notify others about your updates.

10. Private and online.

You may choose to set up an online resource about your community, making it private so only those you invite can join. Discuss this option with others who are sharing their communities.

11. Interactive site.

Create an interactive map of the area you’re covering. Make each area clickable so that it opens a page specifically about an event, city or other smaller area. Provide the information and photos you’ve collected in Steps 1-6. Include links for additional information.

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Beyond sharing

12. Badge programs, individual.

List any badge programs available through the events you list and where you can acquire them. For example, many museums offer badges to participants.

13. Badge programs, clusters.

Find or create badge programs for specific sets of activities or locations. Make groups of them so that the design matches, giving kids the opportunity to “collect them all.”

You might want to do all the camps in your council, the museums in your state, parks in your region, etc. Brainstorm ways to honor kids who acquire all pieces of these badge sets.

For example, Indiana State Parks has a pin program where you can earn a pin at each of the state parks. You have to participate in events, explore the park, etc. Earning all of the pins would be an interesting project for a troop or group.

14. Badge programs, group.

Ask your council to provide a badge program featuring the counties or service areas of your council. This can coincide with an interactive map site (see Step 11). A multi-part badge can highlight areas visited within their council, exploring what the others have to offer.

The supplement for this is listed below. It is a patch program from the Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana. It is no longer on their site, so I do not know if it can be earned. It is provided as a sample only of what you can do.

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Expand the experience

15. Create your own, local

Create your own community event. Offer it beyond your organization as a recruitment event or service project.

16. Create your own, wide

Create your own community event, offering it to anyone within your organization. In addition to your own event, provide information about other community offerings that are similar that your participants might be interested in.

17. Social media.

Social media allows you to explore communities and create communities. Find out what social media offers and how you can utilize it to share your community. This might be through photo sites like Flickr, sites like Facebook or even special sites set up by your organization.

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Supplements Available

05_CouncilQuilt_Patch.pdf (For reference only, available on Scribd and Google Documents.)

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Sites to Explore

www.flickr.com
www.facebook.com
Filed Under: AEP, Badge Programs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,