Man vs. Machine: 4 Robotics Programs for STEM Classrooms

If robots are ever going to take over humanity, it’s going to be an uphill battle. Undoubtedly, the engineers who create them will be tough to match wits with, at least if they come from the STEM labs in our classrooms today.

Research shows that robotics is an effective tool for improving students’ 21st century skills. And teachers have taken note. In various school settings and across all grade levels, students are engaging in programs teaching them to design, build, and program their own bots. As they do, they are developing their creativity, collaboration, self-direction, and communication skills too. So whether you want to prepare your students to withstand the bionic revolution or hasten its coming, the following educational robotics programs will serve you well.

LEGO Mindstorms

When it comes to school robotics programs, LEGO Education is the big fish in a little pond. Their Mindstorms robotics package, designed for upper-elementary and middle school students, is a natural extension of a childhood love of LEGOs. A computer-based brick, specialized LEGO pieces, a swath of sensors, and programming software, Mindstorms kits power 21st century learning without the accompanying learning curve of new technology. Not only are classrooms and after-school clubs utilizing LEGO Mindstorms for their ability to boost students’ interest in science and technology, many of them have formed teams and compete annually in FIRST LEGO League challenges which take place locally across the country.

WeDo

For early elementary students who won’t wait for middle school STEM classes, WeDo (also by LEGO) will help to create learners who don’t just know about robotics, but do robotics. Designed specifically for the early emerging engineer, WeDo enables teachers to tailor activities to specific curriculum subjects or project-based learning. A simplified version of LEGO’s Mindstorms offering, WeDo comes with a user-friendly software interface and a “plug’n’teach” activity pack that helps teachers cover science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in an engaging hands-on, minds-on way.

Sphero

If your focus is on programming robots rather than building them, Sphero might make you feel magical. At the very least, its going to make you forget that you’re really just playing with a ball. As the name implies, Sphero is a sphere. But it’s one that you control from your iOS or Android device. Make Sphero move, spin, change colors, and more. “Sphero is an interactive and engaging robot that brings programming off the computer and into real life.” With over 25 apps now available for Sphero 2.0, robotics enthusiasts are using Sphero to drive through homemade racecourses, turn their classroom into an augmented reality video game, and engage classmates, friends, and family in multiplayer fun. If you can pry it out of your students’ hands, you will see why Orbotix says that Sphero is “One smart ball [with] infinite ways to play.”

Play-i

Play-i is so 21st century that it’s not even out yet. Still this crowd-funded project has been popular enough that over $1 million worth of pre-ordered Play-i robots sold out in the first month they were available. To get your hands on your own, you’ll have to order now in time to get Play-i by Christmas 2014. But when engineers from both Google and Apple get together to teach kids how to code, the wait for what they made is definitely worth it.

What everybody wants, but nobody has is a duo of robots that fuse storytelling and play with programming. Bo, a mobile three-wheeled bot, and its stationary sibling, Yana, teach kids how to code through narrative. Controlled via Bluetooth-based remote app, children as young as five can learn to use Play-i by looking at and touching the script on an iPad. Bo and Yana can sense each other, respond to objects, play music (literally. . .on a xylophone), and even deliver a freshly picked flower to a friend. But most important, the Play-i robots help kids learn about if-then code without requiring them to master a programming language. It gives them access to computer science education before they’re even old enough to know what that is.

Whether or not our good intentions will lead to the demise of mankind is yet to be determined. But with the opportunities to engage in STEM-based learning listed here, at least we can ensure that our downfall will be fun.

Lest our fears get the best of us, it’s important to remember that even Isaac Asimov, the face of futuristic science-fiction writing said, “I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.” Additionally, the author of Robots and Empire believed that “The true delight is in the finding out rather than the knowing.” So, instead of protecting ourselves from our own creations, here’s to our blissful ignorance of a potential apocalypse, even if it is one LEGO brick at a time.

Rethinking Math Teaching

9 #EdTech Problems You’re Facing

Technology in education isn’t new, despite what it might feel like. The Internet is older than most beginning teachers and depending on how you define “technology,” you have to admit that it’s always been an iterative change process.

However, it does seem as though we’re finally at a breaking point where our old systems have stretched to their absolute capacity for the influx of new technologies. In layman’s terms: we’re maxed out and something has to change. Here are 9 problems that #edtech needs to fix, in 3 categories: #1-3 are about Communication, #4-6 are about Visibility, and #7-9 are about Pedagogy.

1. Parents. No, not the parents themselves, but rather our communication channels with them. We need better methodologies in place to have open, honest, transparent conversations with the parents of the students we teach. Involving parents in the educational process is the single greatest contributor to an increase in student achievement.
2. Students. I’m sure education would be much easier if we just had robots for kids, right? But that would be boring and that’s not our world. Nobody signed up to be a teacher because it was easy and that would be a waste of our talent. Instead, we need an edtech solution to how we can keep communication channels open with our students about their learning. Much like we need more dialogue with parents, we need students as active participants in their own learning as well. Students need to have voice and choice when it comes to their learning and so far, edtech has provided a lot of choice, not so much voice. Tools like Remind101 and Edmodo are changing the paradigm around the conversation of student learning and I encourage others to follow suit.
3. Universal IEPs. This is a problem you probably didn’t know we had. Here’s the scenario: students identified as qualifying for special education services have a meeting once a year where their teachers look at the instructional practices that work or don’t work for that specific student. They set goals for the year and identify any new strategies that could be tried. They talk about the future of this specific child’s education and, as a team, commit to working together for their benefit. Oh, and did I mention that the student is part of this process as well? They are in the room while this is taking place, interacting with these educators, administrators, diagnosticians, and their parents. They are actually a co-creator of their learning. Why don’t all students get this? Time and money. This represents the single biggest opportunity of edtech, in my humble opinion. Show me a tool that provides easy pathways to have a conversation about a specific student with all of their stakeholders with identifiable outcomes and recommended practices for the upcoming school year and I will show you a billion-dollar idea and one that will completely change the face of education.
4. Data. Teacher-accessible data that is clear and easy to understand just doesn’t exist. Data analysis is right up there with ‘root canal’ in most teachers’ prep times. And let’s not even start down what data visibility looks like for students and parents (it’s nonexistent). Companies like Eduvant and Metryx are looking to change this, but the edu-pool is big enough for all to play in. Let’s stop talking about data-driven decision-making and actually do it.
5. Soft Skills. Remember, back in the day, when we had character education? For some, it was even a class! We’re pretty focused on cognitive skills (reading, writing, arithmetic) but we’ve passed the buck on our non-cognitive skills like empathy, respect, and leadership. Yes, we could point fingers at why we think these skills have fallen by the wayside, but the past doesn’t have to determine the future: we can choose to value these again and edtech can help. We need tools to help us track and identify the impact of these skills. We need to be able to demonstrate them and show employers how valuable our skills are: cognitive and non-cognitive.
6. Lesson Planning. Somewhat surprisingly, we still need edtech to step in when it comes to lesson planning. We need embedded state standards. We need collaboration. We need idea discovery mechanisms. We need sharability. We need transparency. There is so much opportunity here and I am excited to watch companies likeTrinket, Planboard, and Common Curriculum as they seek to innovate this space.
7. New tools. This one might seem a little ‘meta’ at first, but hang with me. Teachers need to know what to use in their classroom and how to use it. It needs to be easy and it needs to be fast. Please don’t tell a teacher to go to a conference or “search the Internet” or “join a Twitter chat” to find the latest tools. Yes, these will work, but they are horribly inefficient. Keep an eye on great tools like EduClipper and what they’re doing in this space.
8. Entrepreneurialism and the Maker Movement. Teachers desperately need help here. If we want to see more entrepreneurs and more makers, we’ve got to create the spaces for our students to not only discovery but develop these skills. For this to happen, there need to be the resources in place to facilitate this kind of learning. It represents a pedagogical shift for sure, but education is ripe for this kind of innovation and we think the edtech community is primed to bring it. Here’s the bottom line: if you want entrepreneurs and/or makers and you are one, you need to create something to help expand the playing field. You need to get more folks into the game, not less.
9. The Nature of Learning. The massive influx of personal computing devices into classroom environments represents a tidal shift in pedagogy. If we want teachers to be successful with these pedagogical shifts, we need to give them the support and resources they need to make them. More than just an app or a tool, teachers need training and practical steps to help them cross this chasm.

The 21st century is here and it’s brought some baggage. How will you turn it into an opportunity? Teachers, which of the above most resonates with you? Be sure to leave some feedback for us in the comments.

Are You Ready to Be Relevant, Or Will Natural Selection Happen to You?

In 1859, Charles Darwin advanced his theory of natural selection. It states that for a species to survive, production of variations in traits needs to occur throughout generations. Though he formed his theory while observing animal species on an island chain over 150 years ago, Charles Darwin could have just as easily been talking about teachers today. As such, there are certain characteristics of effective teaching that lead to an extra survival probability in the classroom. After reading the following six traits, ask yourself, are you primed to remain relevant, or a potential victim of educator evolution?

Pursuing professional development is not an exception, it’s the rule. Blogs, Twitter, wikis, podcasts, Edcamps, and other social-learning activities are not simply add-ons, but complements to what thriving teachers and principals do. In the 21st century, best practices are being crowd-sourced and largely found online. Whether or not you have time to log on isn’t a relevant concern anymore. It’s an expectation.

Collaborating with colleagues is a fundamental extension of a willingness to grow. About as obsolete as classroom desks are classroom doors. Successful educators are engaging in rich and meaningful discussion with professional learning communities on a regular, if not daily, basis. Contrary to using their prep time for photocopying or updating grades, collaborative colleagues analyze student data and create differentiated instruction to meet individual learners’ needs so that every student has an equal opportunity to grow, succeed, and achieve.

Creating context in the classroom isn’t explaining when math students are ever going to use the quadratic formula beyond Algebra. It is students engaging in work that actually matters. Teaching content standards is important, but learning in a meaningful context is essential. To survive as a teacher today, ensure that your students are too busy asking how they can demonstrate their learning to be asking how much work they actually have to do.

Sharing student work on social platforms follows from adding context to the curriculum. Instead of asking students to turn their work in, require them to publish it online. Why else would we spend our time working on a project if we weren’t going to share what we did with the world? In addition to creating an authentic audience to motivate quality engagement with learning, having students publish their polished projects on the Internet is assisting them in establishing a positive digital footprint long before they will ever wish they had one.

Offering autonomous learning paths is also a practice whose time has come. School is the only place where we are expected to leave our personal pursuits at the door. Apparently, they aren’t valuable enough to budget classroom time for. Not anymore! Allowing students to design self-directed learning projects isn’t en vogue. It’s encouraged by neuroscience. Whether that is time carved out of the day for Genius Hour or a pedagogical approach through quest-based learning, it is imperative that we empower our students by acknowledging that what drives them is at least as important as what drives the curriculum.

Building bridges beyond the blackboard through connecting with other classrooms, experts, and cultures can not only transform your teaching but take instruction to new heights. No longer do you need a school-bus, permission slips, and a cooler full of sack lunches to leave the classroom for the day to explore the greater world. With an Internet connection and a webcam, endless opportunities abound. Software such as Skype, Google Earth, Adobe Connect, and Ustream, along with social networks including Twitter, Google+, and Instagram provide a number of avenues to exit the classroom for an academic journey that will move students to higher order levels of thinking. By designing virtual field trips, video conferences, live streamed productions, and more, your classroom can be as large as you allow it to be.

It’s not sexual selection, but it’s just as important; adopting characteristics of effective teaching leads to survival of the fittest in education. Failure to evolve most likely won’t cost you your job. Much worse, it will cost you your students as they disengage and daydream about getting back to real life, real meaning, and really anything other than what you have to offer. So, are you willing to steer your own HMS Beagle or let natural selection happen to you?

Boost Science Literacy with Music

If you ever watched Bill Nye the Science Guy, you probably remember the song parodies his episodes featured, which rewrote the lyrics of popular songs with scientific themes. Sure, getting the song stuck in your head will probably help you remember a few facts, but the benefits of music to learning science could go beyond just helping your memory.

Check out this recent article from the University of Washington, which suggests that music can help you learn science not necessarily by including mnemonics, but by relaxing and engaging you. After you read that, check out SingAboutScience.org, a database of thousands of songs about science and math. Their navigation isn’t the most obvious–search for songs under ‘Find/Add Songs’ and click on the little purple buttons by each song.

A few of my favorite songs about science from around the web: Fossil Rock Anthem, Bill Nye’s Air Pressure, Large Hadron Rap, Biologist’s Mother’s Day Song, anything from Symphony of Science and a lot from Geek Pop. And let’s not forget They Might Be Giants’ entire album of science-themed songs called “Here Comes Science” (check out my favorite song on the album: Why the Sun Really Shines).

New! Blended Learning Infographic

This infographic first appeared on Navigatorfrom CompassLearning on March 24, 2014. 

Bended learning incorporates multiple methods of instruction in order to customize the learning experience for each student, leading to increased student interaction and engagement. A critical component of a rigorous blended learning model is quality digital learning time, filled with digital curriculum aligned to classroom curriculum. Learn more about harnessing the power of digital curriculum in the blended learning classroom in this new infographic by Compass Learning.

10 Things to Consider When Choosing Digital Tools for Students Ahead of the Curve

Originally posted on GettingSmart Blogs

By: Catelyn Cantrell

Engaging study materials—whether print or digital—seem to be geared mostly toward students who are struggling. This is without a doubt a positive and necessary trend, but there is no reason to support one group and not the other. In fact, some tools work for a variety of student populations.  What I want to talk about is how to recognize and select tools for the students who are working beyond their grade level. Digital tools enable strong students to direct their learning to places outside the restrictions of the conventional classroom setting.

1. Purpose of the Tool. Before considering anything else, each digital tool selection should be made with a clear purpose in mind. Is the tool meant to prepare the student for standardized tests or is it meant to help students explore their more creative side? Although some tools may end up being used for multiple tasks, a specific goal is key to maximizing the tool’s value. It all begins with a single, simple question—What can the student do with the digital tool?

2. Context: Classroom, Home or Something New? Consider where the tool will be used. The context in which the tool is used will shape how the student uses  the tool.

3. Is the tool required or just something extra? Once you know the purpose and type of tool you’re looking for, determine how the tool will figure into the student’s existing inventory of tools. Is this tool going to be required for a class or other academic program? Is it just an extra way for the student to explore topic not covered during class? Figuring out these questions also help inform cost and time considerations.

4. Individual or Collaborative? Is this tool meant to give students a sense of community or is it meant for individual work? Some digital tools might provide those students at the top of the class a chance to connect with similar students. Educational technology affords them the chance to build not only academic abilities, but also the social skills at the heart of the learning process.

5. Costs and Savings. The cost of the tool is (of course) another factor to consider. Free and cheaper software is easier to access and may have a larger user community. Also, a digital tool may actually end up saving money for schools, teachers and students. So the question may actually be about how much money the tool will save you, rather than cost you. If money is really tight, frame it as a learning experience and bring students into the conversation. Advanced students are often inclined to help solve problems!

6. Saving Time for Busy Students. Digital tools often save students and teachers more than just cash. Another thing to consider when comparing tools is whether or not they can make studying more efficient. Technology can help students learn smarter, not harder. Try to find tools that follow this idea. Advanced students often already have intense schedules, so why not find ways to make use of usually wasted time?

7. Familiarity with Technology. There should be a consideration about how comfortable the student is with digital tools. Think about tools they have used previously and how they compare to the potential selection. Even if the student lacks experience with digital tools, a new tool could be a valuable learning experience.

8. Personal and Academic Interests. It is important to think about the student’s strengths and interests. A tool can either allow a student to push their already strong skills to the next level or let the student work on an interesting, but unfamiliar subject. Technology is all about removing limitations and building connections. A quality digital tool should connect the advance student with new, useful content and experiences.

9. Chances to Explore and Create. Many digital tools also equip students with the freedom to explore their own ideas. As project-based learning becomes increasingly popular, these tools will be useful to advanced students as they embark on projects for class and those emerging from their own unique interests.

10. Feedback and Practice Opportunities. Digital tools can provide students with the chance to take risks with the material they are learning. Some can also provide educators and parents with insight about the real capabilities of their students.

Some digital tools also provide a more comfortable environment for practicing material. Often, more advanced students are reticent to practice material if they are unsure about it. A tool which provides useful feedback without any potential for low grades may be an appropriate choice for students to practice while also not worrying about test scores or embarrassment. Some digital tools also help students grow familiar with environments in addition to content. This works well for those bright students who are entering test preparation time later this spring.

Education technology crosses over barriers between learners and content. With this in mind, digital tools and advanced students seem meant for each other. A well-chosen digital tool will connect the advanced student with materials once outside the limits of their existing classwork. Always keep in mind that these students will often come up with their own ways to incorporate technology in their education. In fact, it’s second nature to most of them. So, be sure to include students in the conversation.  Make choosing the tool a learning experience in addition to the technology itself!

10 Considerations for Blended Learning in the Classroom

Here are ten considerations that I have developed for students to review before taking an online course that will strengthen their engagement and increase their chance of online learning success. These considerations are all connected; being able to adopt all ten as a student will be especially effective. Students already taking an online class would also benefit from reviewing these items and finding some keys for improvement.

• Time Management. Create a personal calendar for the course that consists of a layout of what activities (readings, journals, etc…) need to be accomplished each day.
• Organization. Make sure that you have everything you need to succeed in the class, including materials (note cards or digital flashcards, laptop, passwords, books) and that you create quiet time in your life for class work daily.
• Flexibility. Adapt and go with the flow. Remember that you may need to revise and rethink your calendar plans as you begin the class. Being successful also means taking care of all areas of one’s life.  Sometimes during my open period I train for sports, study for another class, or focus on Latin work, depending on how I have planned the needs of any specific day.
• Learning Style. An audio or tactile-based learner might struggle in an online environment. Take the time to develop a metacognitive perspective and consider learning about learning styles through an online quiz to gain insights and strategies to give you success.
• Group. Develop a group of study friends as a support network. I was fortunate enough to have two other friends take the same class. Someone who understands a certain concept particularly well can assist the group, which is especially valuable.
• Extra help. A student needs to be open to looking for extra help, whether that is from a tutor or teacher of a similar class. I was reluctant at first, but I met with a tutor and quickly recognized what I was missing without this valuable asset.
• Use of technology. Use technology to your advantage. This might mean finding an online textbook or a website that helps you with the topic. Get help with any technology bugs or glitches that may set you back.
• Independent work. Most of the time, you won’t have other people to work with, so you need to be able to go through your work on your own.
• Communication. Make yourself comfortable e-mailing or calling the instructor. This is necessary if you have any questions, content-related or other.
• Course reputation. Research the program or course that you are going to be taking. If a particular course has bad reviews, you might want to look into other schools that offer the class.

These ten considerations are something that I wish I had had before I started taking my online Latin class. I would have then been able to construct an outline with a plan laid out for the future and organized everything beforehand. These ten crucial considerations are extremely valuable resources; make sure to use all the resources that are accessible for a successful educational experience.

About the Author: Grant Ryerse is in the Class of 2017 at East Ridge High School in Woodbury, Minnesota. He is currently enrolled in a two-year online Latin course through Brigham Young University’s K12 Independent Study program.

California Chrome and the Kentucky Derby.

California Chrome is a race away from immortality

Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero California Chrome will break from post 2 in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, where he will aim to end the Triple Crown drought that racing fans have endured since Affirmed’s conquest in 1978. The flashy chestnut has been installed as the 3-5 favorite to make history in the 1 1/2-mile classic at Belmont Park, both the oldest and longest of the jewels of the Triple Crown.

Ten rivals hope to stand athwart history and yell “Stop,” including Commanding Curve and Ride On Curlin, the respective runners-up in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness; Wicked Strong, Samraat and Medal Count, who like Commanding Curve, have all been freshened since their Derby losses; General a Rod, who had traffic trouble en route to a closing fourth in the Preakness; and impressive Peter Pan winner Tonalist, arguably the most dangerous of the new shooters. The speedy Social Inclusion, who would have been the key pace factor, passed in favor of the seven-furlong Woody Stephens earlier on the card.

Trained by Art Sherman, California Chrome is unbeaten since teaming up with jockey Victor Espinoza over the winter. The pair are six-for-six together, with blowout scores in the December 22 King Glorious at Hollywood, the January 25 Cal Cup Derby at Santa Anita, the March 8 San Felipe and the April 5 Santa Anita Derby before taking the Triple Crown scene by storm.

California Chrome employed stalking trips en route to glory in the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and the May 17 Preakness at Pimlico, but he has previously shown versatility by setting or contesting the pace this spring at Santa Anita. Espinoza thus has more tactical options in his second chance at completing the elusive Triple Crown; in 2002, he guided confirmed front runner War Emblem to victories in the Derby and Preakness, only to see his Belmont hopes wiped out by a stumble at the start.

“There’s a lot of fresh horses taking shots at me,” Sherman said. “He’s going to have a target on his back. It’s going to be a jockey race. (Espinoza) will just have to maneuver him to the right spot and just sit there and not move too quick. It’s a long race. He just needs to have a good trip; that’s all I hope for.”

Should California Chrome prevail and extend his winning streak to seven, Perry Martin and Steve Coburn’s homebred would become the 12th Triple Crown winner in American racing history, and the first California-bred to sweep the three classics. He has not appeared to show any effects from the Triple Crown grind, but has rather gained weight since the Preakness and continues to train with enthusiasm, as evidenced by his controlled half-mile in :47 3/5 last Saturday.

“I feel better about this race than I have any other race, to be honest with you, just looking at the horse and saying, ‘Wow,'” Sherman said said. “I see how far he’s advanced. I know it’ll be tougher going a mile and a half, but this horse is a good horse. I think he’s the real McCoy. They better worry about me, I can tell you that.

“You think about it, 36 years and nobody’s won the Triple Crown. It’d be quite an honor,” Sherman added. “If you would have said to me the first of the year that I would be on the Triple Crown trail, I would say, ‘You’re kidding me.’ So here I am, hoping that we can get the final race. It would mean a lot to racing, I can tell you that. It’s a great honor to win the Triple Crown. I would be very deeply happy if it happens.”

Deep closer Commanding Curve would have preferred Social Inclusion to liven up the pace. Nevertheless, the Dallas Stewart trainee has rallied powerfully off middling fractions in both the March 29 Louisiana Derby, finishing a barnstorming third after being slammed at the break, and in the Kentucky Derby, where he closed from the tail of the field and reduced California Chrome‘s margin to 1 3/4 lengths. Skipping the Preakness to concentrate on the Belmont, Commanding Curve posted a sharp half-mile work over the track on Sunday. Derby rider Shaun Bridgmohan, who has yet to finish worse than second in three starts aboard Commanding Curve, has the return call.

“Basically, you’re just concentrating on your horse and trying to get that feeling that you can win,” Stewart said of his chance to thwart a Triple Crown. “It’s not like you’re trying to upset something special. I don’t personally think like that. I just want to train my horse to win the race and let everything fall where it may. That’s my job, and that’s what I do. He beat us fair and square at a mile and a quarter. Hopefully, the extra quarter of a mile in this race will be what we need.”

Aside from California Chrome, Ride On Curlin and General a Rod are the only other Belmont runners who have competed in both the Derby and Preakness, and both fared better in Baltimore. Interestingly, each will have been ridden by three different jockeys during the Triple Crown.

Arkansas Derby runner-up Ride On Curlin dropped uncharacteristically back to last in the early going at Churchill, with jockey Calvin Borel determined to angle over to his favored rail, and his mount met with trouble before closing for seventh. With a rider switch to Joel Rosario for the Preakness, Ride On Curlin got a better trip and made the most of it, briefly looming as a challenger to Chrome and ultimately settling for second. The Billy Gowan pupil gets another change of jockey, this time to Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

“I knew he was a tough horse, but he runs hard and always comes out of his races and eats everything and he’s real sound,” Gowan said. “He’s come out of every race just super and wanting more, so we might as well give it to him.

“Hopefully, another five-sixteenths of a mile and we’ll be able to catch him as opposed to the Preakness, but that Chrome is going to be hard to catch,” Gowan continued. “He doesn’t have a lot of quit in him. I’m just happy to be here. I’m a racing fan like everybody else. I’ve always wanted a Triple Crown, but hopefully not this year. If we can win it and he runs second, that’d be fine.”

General a Rod, who won the Gulfstream Park Derby and missed narrowly in the Fountain of Youth, was a troubled 11th in the Kentucky Derby with Rosario. Picking up Javier Castellano for the Preakness, he was shuffled back out of position when Ria Antonia retreated. General a Rod regrouped for fourth, failing to catch Social Inclusion for third by only a head. Now trainer Mike Maker has enlisted Rosie Napravnik, who had guided the colt to his debut maiden score at Keeneland last fall. Napravnik seeks to join Hall of Famer Julie Krone as the only women riders to win the Belmont.

Wicked Strong and Medal Count likewise have tales of woe from Louisville. Wicked Strong, the convincing winner of the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial, had a rough go of it early from post 19, and again found a checkered passage down the stretch. The Jimmy Jerkens colt did well to get up fourth despite it all. Rested since, he is now back on his home track, the site of his maiden victory, and just fired a bullet five-eighths on the local training track in :59. If Wicked Strong can halt California Chrome‘s Triple Crown dreams, then his trainer would be following the pattern set by his Hall of Fame father, Allen Jerkens, well known for his role in upsetting such legends as Kelso and Secretariat.

“I’m pretty confident; as confident as I can be,” Jimmy Jerkens said. “I really like how he’s doing. I think we’re going into the race as good as we can hope. It’s a big, prestigious race and people are going to take a shot, especially with the distance being a big question for everybody. People are more apt to take a shot here than anywhere.”

The Dale Romans-trained Medal Count had a busy April on Keeneland’s Polytrack, winning the off-the-turf Transylvania and earning his Derby ticket with a clear second in the Blue Grass. But the son of stamina influence Dynaformer didn’t have much of an opportunity to run his race in the Run for the Roses, where he suffered interference and checked in eighth. Another who enters off a five-week break, Medal Count has blitzed consecutive bullets at his Churchill base, capped by a six-furlong breeze in 1:10 3/5.

Gotham and Withers winner Samraat, who brought an unbeaten record into the Wood Memorial, has now lost two straight. Dismissed by Wicked Strong when second that day, Samraat appeared to be moving as well as California Chrome as the duo rounded the far turn in the Derby, but he then flattened out in fifth. Trainer Rick Violette has kept the New York-bred on his typical diet of one-mile breezes, and like Wicked Strong, he too is returning to the scene of his maiden win. If Samraat can pull the upset, it would be a tribute to his ill-fated sire, Noble Causeway, who just died of laminitis.

Tonalist came down with a lung infection that forced him to miss the April 5 Wood Memorial. The highly-regarded colt would likely have made an impact in that race, considering that he had been second in a salty Gulfstream allowance to eventual Florida Derby hero Constitution, leaving Wicked Strong back fourth. Trainer Christophe Clement patiently waited for the May 11 Peter Pan, and Tonalist responded with a front-running, four-length romp in the Belmont slop. In the process, he notched a 107 BRIS Speed rating — the highest in the field, eclipsing California Chrome‘s best (a 106 in the Santa Anita Derby). Although Tonalist reportedly shed the frogs in both front feet in the Peter Pan, and was subsequently training in bar shoes, he has made a solid appearance in his morning exercise. Joel Rosario stays aboard.

“We missed a bit of time in Florida, but now he’s doing well,” Clement said. “He’s training great and looks well. I’m very happy on my side. We’ll just keep him sound for a few more days and go from there.”

Commissioner and Matterhorn, respectively second and fourth in the Peter Pan, are two new shooters for trainer Todd Pletcher. Commissioner, who beat the promising Top Billing in a January 3 Gulfstream allowance, didn’t prosper in a trio of preps over the spring, finishing sixth in both the Fountain of Youth and Arkansas Derby and third in the Sunland Derby. But the son of 1992 Belmont winner A.P. Indy, out of a mare by 1997 Belmont winner Touch Gold, might have turned the corner in the Peter Pan. Commissioner was no match for Tonalist then, but his steady, grinding style tends to fit the Belmont, and he gets Castellano back in the saddle. Matterhorn, on the other hand, has class concerns and must improve markedly to factor.

Matuszak would be easily overlooked, if it weren’t for his Hall of Fame connections in trainer Bill Mott and jockey Mike Smith. The nicely-bred son of Bernardini most recently checked in a troubled second to Kid Cruz in the April 19 Federico Tesio at Pimlico. Kid Cruz went on to disappoint in the Preakness and accordingly skipped the Belmont, opting for class relief in the Easy Goer instead. While that leaves Matuszak with a mountain to climb on form, he has been showing Mott enough in the morning for the astute horseman to let him take a chance.

Five Good Online Tools for Creating Infographics

Great tools for creating infographics….

Infogr.am is an online tool for creating interactive charts, graphs, and interactive infographic posters. There are four basic chart types that you can create on Infogr.am; bar, pie, line, and matrix. Each chart type can be edited to use any spreadsheet information that you want to upload to your Infogr.am account. The information in that spreadsheet will be displayed in your customized chart. When you place your cursor over your completed chart the spreadsheet information will appear in small pop-up window. Infogr.am infographics can include videos and maps along with pictures and text. Your Infogr.am projects can be embedded into your blog, website, or wiki.

Easel.ly provides a canvas on which you can build your own infographic by dragging and dropping pre-made design elements. You can use a blank canvas or build upon one of Easel.ly’s themes. If Easel.ly doesn’t have enough pre-made elements for you, you can upload your own graphics to include in your infographic. Your completed infographic can be exported and saved as PNG, JPG, PDG, and SVG files.

Piktochart provides seven free infographic templates. Each template can be customized by changing the colors, fonts, icons, and charts on each template. If you need more space on the template, you can add more fields at the bottom of the templates. If you need less space, you can remove fields from the templates.

EWC Presenter is a new tool from Easy Web Content (a website creation and hosting service). EWC Presenter makes it easy to create slideshows, banner graphics, and interactive infographics. The slideshow creator and banner graphic creator don’t stand-out from other tools like them. The EWC Presenter’s infographic animation option is worth noting. EWC Presenter’s infographic tool allows you to animate elements within your infographic. And as was featured in a post early this month, EWC Presenter infographics support audio files.

Canva is a service that makes it easy to create beautiful slides, flyers, posters, infographics, and photo collages. Creating these graphics on Canva is a drag-and-drop process. Start by selecting a template then dragging and dropping into place background designs, pictures, clip art, and text boxes. Canva offers a huge library of clip art and photographs to use in your designs. You can also upload your own images to use in your graphics. Your completed Canva projects can be downloaded as PDF and PNG files. You can also simply link to your online graphic.