CM Bulletin Board
From the NOVAE GROUP Teachers Networking for the Future
Expanding Universe: a classified search tool for amateur astronomy.
http://www.mtrl.toronto.on.ca/centres/bsd/astronomy/index.htmlCreated by Wayne Daniels and his colleagues at the Metro Toronto Reference Library, Expanding Universe: a classified search tool for amateur astronomy is an index of astronomy hotlinks that is organized like a library. A modified form of the Dewey Classification has produced a set of virtual library shelves whose "books" can be browsed by pointing to each in turn. Including the Dewey number in each of the URLs within the site has created a file structure that reproduces the subject hierarchy of Dewey. This allows users to travel deep into the site without losing their way. Alternatively, users can get keyword access through an index of terms taken from the headings. As in a library, once you find the right shelf you are in your subject area.
This prototype site is a considerable improvement on wading through search engine results or scanning loosely organized lists of links. The possibility of producing subject gateways for secondary school students that will provide large, ordered collocations of Net resources for curriculum purposes is also being investigated. Time will be saved for both teachers and students by having librarians selecting and ordering information. The next application will provide enhanced keyword access, amongst other things.
From the NBNSOFT Content Awards Ejournal
Dictionary.com
http://www.dictionary.com/It aspires to be the definitive guide to reference material on the Internet, and includes many great features, including Roget's Thesaurus, Bartlett's Quotations, Webster's Unabridged Dictionary and Strunk's classic Elements of Style.
OneLook Dictionaries
http://www.onelook.com/Just by taking one look at this site you'll find that it's brought together the best of the web dictionary sites for easy searching. Or you can use the links to the actual sites.
travlang's Translating Dictionaries
http://dictionaries.travlang.com/Few things are as frustrating as having a word in German and not knowing what it means in English. Or French. This site features many translating dictionaries, including German, Dutch, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Portuguese, Afrikaans and Esperanto. Each will translate words into English and many other combinations.
Language Identifier
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dougb/ident.htmlThis program can be used to identify the language of origin of a phrase, word or sentence. Submit the words of your choosing and the list will be returned reordered, with the most likely choice at the top of the list.
CM News Bulletin Board is a regular column featuring bits and pieces of notable information that have flowed through the CM office in the last few weeks and may be of interest to you.
Any reader who has news for other CM readers can send it to cm@umanitoba.ca under the subject newsbits. All information is subject to selection by CM and may or may not appear in the column. Please note that CM will not accept any direct advertising in its Bulletin Board column.