The Smithsonian Libraries have released three courses on iTunes U with a focus on early aviation history. “For students, the courses include vocabulary and guided questions to help process more difficult materials. For teachers, the courses include learning goals, common core standards for grades 6–12, national history standards and a guided-inquiry section that suggests how the courses and materials can be effectively used in the classroom or school library.”

A new study from Western Illinois University: how do people use Facebook to maintain friendships?

Vine now has a Web version with profiles and such.

CERN’s Google Street View includes a Lego scavenger hunt. Adorable!

OH I LOVE THIS. A researcher built a database of excavations and hoards of coins that would have been accepted in the city of Antioch. Then she imported the data into Google Maps so she could visualize it. “From the project, Neumann has discovered that Antioch’s local currency was used further across the globe than was originally thought and more abundant along a specific trade route.”

From Mashable: 12 Free Web Apps to boost your drawing skills.

The American Library Association will be holding a tweetchat on January 7th about copyright issues for educators. “As part of the tweetchat, [Carrie] Russell will offer clear guidance on the ways that principals, superintendents, teachers and librarians can legally provide materials to students. Additionally, Russell will discuss scenarios often encountered by educators in schools, such as using digital works in the classroom and students’ use of information found on the web.”

From GenealogyBank: three steps to using Pinterest for your family history.

More genealogy: From the History and Family blog, an overview on locating East Asian roots.

More more genealogy: Library and Archives Canada has released a new version of its database Naturalization Records, 1915-1951. Good morning, Internet…

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