Instructional Technology Update

Technology Network Program (TNP)
Reminder – DESE and MOREnet staffs are discussing “deliverables” for next year’s TNP, with application packets to be mailed to districts later this month. 

Title IID “Ed Tech” Program
FY04 – The deadline for submitting end-of-year reports – for both formula and competitive grants – is May 15, 2004. As grant project activities can continue through June 30, it is important to project final costs as accurately as possible. Compare the planned expenditures to the approved budget. If any difference exceeds the allowed 10% variance, the budget will need to be amended. The final expenditure report generates the last payment (issued by July). If an audit finds the district overestimated expenditures, the district must file an amended FER and submit a refund for the overpayment.

FY05 – Approximately 71 applications for Competitive Title IID grants were submitted by the March 31, 2004 deadline. These funds are earmarked to help district participation in the eMINTS professional development program. A panel of readers will review the applications in Jefferson City on April 7-8. Approval decisions should be determined by the end of April. 

Safe Schools & Pilot Safe Schools Grant Program
FY04 – Reminder that end-of-year reports (final expenditure and program evaluation narrative) must be received in the Department due May 15, 2004. As grant project activities can continue through June 30, it is important to project final costs as accurately as possible. Compare the planned expenditures to the approved budget. If any difference exceeds the allowed 10% variance, the budget will need to be amended. The final expenditure report generates the last payment (issued by July). If an audit finds the district overestimated expenditures, the district must file an amended FER and submit a refund for the overpayment. 

FY05 – Assuming Governor Holden’s proposed budget passes, that level funds the Safe Schools Program, the Department will continue to support 93 Pilot and Safe Schools continuation grants. Applications for FY05 grant assistance were April 1. Program staff will review the submitted applications and conduct telephone budget negotiations as deemed necessary. Tentative approval notices will be distributed to applicants by mid-May – after the General Assembly has completed its session and the appropriation is certain. Grant activities and expenditures may commence on July 1, 2004. 

Census of Technology / Core Data Screens 30 and 31
Currently, April cycle screens 30 – District Level Census of Technology and 31 – Building Level Census of Technology are available for data entry. Please enter and save these data by April 15^th.  When you have finished saving all of the data for the April cycle, please let us know by clicking the submit button on the menu screen. NOTE:  The manual includes screenshots, directions for completing the data tables, and definitions of key terms. 

District Technology Plan Approval
Approximately 70 districts submitted long-range education technology plans for state approval during the April 2004 cycle. A panel of nine readers has been selected to review the plans in Jefferson City on April 15-16, 2004. Approval status letters will be mailed to districts during the first week of May.  

E-rate Program 
Funding Year 2003 – Wave 25 for E-rate funding for funding year 2003 (July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004) was issued on Tuesday, March 30, 2004. In this wave, the SLD committed over $225.2 million in 180 letters to school and library applicants. The funding associated with this wave included funding for priority 1 (telecommunications and Internet access) at all discount levels and for priority 2 (internal connections) at the 70% to 90% discount level. To date, the SLD has committed over $2.3 billion in over 32,600 letters for funding year 2003. Additional waves will be issued every other week until the process is complete. Visit the E-rate website at: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/ 

Recent E-rate Program Developments – Selected information from recent issues of the State E-Rate Coordinators’ Alliance (SECA) E-rate News for the Week e-mail bulletin. 

Ø   Technology Plans Supporting FY 2004 Applications
Technology plans are required for all but "basic" telephone service. ["Basic" service includes only "Plain Old Telephone Service" ("POTS") and mobile telephone service. Centrex telephone service, and telephone service provided through PBX switches or key systems, are not considered basic. As a general rule, if you have to "Dial 9" to get an outside line, you are not using a basic telephone service. In addition, higher speed DSL, ISDN, and T-1 services are not basic services.] As a general rule, technology plans can be approved for up to three years. To be approved for three years, the plan should actually cover those three years, including a three-year budget. The E-rate rules presume that applicants applying for FY 2004 funding have technology plans covering the 2004-2005 year – not necessarily approved plans – before filing their FY 2004 Form 470s and Form 471s. The rules also presume that these plans cover all services for which E-rate funding will be requested, including telecommunications.  

Ø   Applicant “Invoice Check” for Service Provider Invoices 
The SLD is expected to release new versions of the applicant reimbursement form (Form 472 or “BEAR”) and the service provider invoice form (Form 474 or “SPI”). Note that there is a fundamental difference between the applicant and vendor invoice forms. The applicant BEAR form requires an acknowledgement by the vendor before it can be submitted to the SLD, but the vendor SPI form requires no comparable acknowledgement by the applicant. 

Late last year, recognizing that there may be situations in which an applicant might wish to review a service provider invoice before a discount payment is authorized, the SLD established a special “Invoice Check” procedure to deal with specific Internal Connections funding requests (“FRNs”). The focus on Internal Connections is significant because the FRNs normally involve high discount rates. As a result, the majority of the vendor’s compensation is received from the SLD, not directly from the applicant. For the applicant to maintain proper control over a project, therefore, it is often critical to monitor and control SLD payments to the vendor. Consider the following examples: 

Situation #1: Funding has been awarded for Internal Connections, but work has not yet begun. The applicant may be considering a service substitution or even a service provider change, and wants to make sure that the vendor does not prematurely submit an invoice for payment. (Note: while E-rate rules do not permit a vendor to invoice the SLD before delivering services to the applicant, it is important for the applicant to do everything possible to prevent improper payments.)

The most direct way for an applicant to deal with Situation #1 is to simply defer filing a Form 486 on the FRN until work is about to begin. Until a Form 486 is filed for a specific FRN, the SLD will not authorize any payments. If, on the other hand, the FRN was already included in a Form 486, perhaps as a part of a broader multi-FRN filing, then the “Invoice Check” may be the solution.

Situation #2:The work associated with a FRN has started, but is to be completed in phases with associated progress payments. In this case, the Form 486 has already been filed, so the “Invoice Check” becomes the applicant’s only option if control of progress payments is deemed necessary. 

Situation #3:The work associated with a FRN is largely complete, but has not yet been accepted by the applicant. In this case, the applicant might use the “Invoice Check” to maintain financial leverage until the project is completed to its satisfaction. 

The basic “Invoice Check” process is described below. Please note that the process places additional E-rate responsibilities on all parties (applicant, vendor, and SLD). As such, we encourage applicants to use the “Invoice Check” process sparingly and only for serious control problems.

To request an “Invoice Check,” an applicant must call the SLD’s Client Service Bureau (888-203-8100) with specific information on the FRN. Once an “Invoice Check” is associated with a FRN, any Service Provider Invoice (“SPI”) referencing that FRN is flagged. Before paying any invoiced charges associated with that FRN, the vendor is required to obtain a certification from the applicant that the services have been delivered. At this point, either of two outcomes can occur. If the vendor receives the applicant’s certification in a timely manner (the SLD’s normal “7-day rule” applies), the SLD will call the applicant to confirm the certification and, assuming no problem, authorize the invoice for payment. If the vendor cannot obtain the applicant’s certification, the payment associated with that FRN is denied. The vendor’s recourse in this case is to resolve the issue with the applicant, and then resubmit the invoice. The SLD’s announcement of the “Invoice Check” procedure is available on the SLD’s Web site at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/whatsnew/2003/122003.asp#120503a. 

Washington News
NCLB National Leadership Summit (Update) – On March 10-12 in St. Louis, MO, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) held the first in a series of Leadership Summits, the Secretary’s Leadership Summit on Accountability Using Technology. The purpose of this meeting was to bring together teams of state education department leaders to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with technology-based assessment and accountability. Acting Director of the Office of Educational Technology, Susan Patrick, gave the opening keynote and acted as host for this important meeting. Secretary Rod Paige also provided a luncheon keynote. A key theme was the importance of using technology in assessment and accountability to ensure timely information and data driven decision making for all stakeholders in education. Members of the state teams were encouraged to attend concurrent sessions on issues including consortia approaches to accountability, technology literacy requirements, and school improvement initiatives. ED hosted Bring Your Own Problem (BYOP) sessions at the end of each day where states could seek advice and strategies from other participants and ED staff on any issue related to accountability and assessment. Presentations from the breakout sessions are available on the Leadership Summit website at http://www.NCLBTechSummits.org/. The next Leadership Summit is tentatively scheduled for July and the topic is virtual education.  

New Head of ED’s Office of Educational Technology
This week, US Secretary of Education Rod Paige officially named Susan Patrick as director of the Office of Educational Technology (OET) to success John Bailey. Before moving to Washington, Patrick worked for the state of Arizona on technology issues. She also served as a liaison to the legislature and the press on technology and served in the Government Information Technology Agency. See: http://www.ed.gov/

  Ed Tech Research, Publications, Resources 

SETDA National Report on Year One of the NCLB’s Title IID Ed Tech Program
The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) recently released National Trends: Enhancing Education Through Technology, NCLB Title II, Part D – Year One in Review. In the fall of 2003, SETDA commissioned the Metiri Group to conduct a national survey on the first year of implementation of the NCLB Title II, Part D Program. Forty-six states and the District of Columbia completed this survey, representing 92 percent of the federal dollars allocated across the United States in Title II, Part D funds in 2002-2003. This report documents the implementation of the formula and competitive grant programs and highlights several state programs, documenting their alignment with the purposes of NCLB. To access the entire report, please click here http://www.setda.org/docs/SETDANatlReport_022704.pdf.  

Evaluating Title IID Programs and Projects
The recent ATEC report Measuring the Impact of Technology on Classroom Teaching and Learning is intended to help states, school districts, and school personnel plan ways to measure the impact technology is having on classroom practices and academic achievement. The paper can help state and local technology coordinators to create comprehensive and systematic evaluations. Written by Dr. Peter Dirr, the paper responds to the need to conduct more effective and rigorous evaluations of the Title IID expenditures under the NCLB legislation. See: http://www.the-atec.org/lib-pub.asp

National Forum On 21st Century Skills 
On March 15-16 in Tucson, AZ, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills hosted a two day National Forum on 21st Century Skills. The purpose of the Forum was to provide input and feedback on the tools being developed by the Partnership. The tools will be publicly released at NECC 2004. The first tool is an interactive online tool for states to use in implementing 21st Century Skills. Built on the nine steps identified in last year’s Mile Guide, the online interactive tool aligns more than 2500 resources with the steps. A state or district leader will be able to identify where they fall on the continuum of implementing 21st Century Skills. Specific resources will then be available according to the needs of the state or district. Participants in the National Forum provided feedback on the tool and suggested resources that should be included and

The Partnership is also developing a policy paper designed to draw attention to the need for 21st Century Skills development in American education and the work force. There was a great deal of discussion around the policy paper as participants felt that it needed to be geared toward state policy makers and therefore the messages to be delivered need to be very compelling. A revised draft of the policy paper will be available to Partnership advisors in 4-6 weeks.  

Schools Interoperability Framework Releases New Specification
On March 5, the Schools Interoperability Framework, (SIF), announced the release of the new 1.5 specification version. The new release expands functionality in such areas as human resources, food services, instructional services, transportation, data warehousing, infrastructure and student information services. The 1.5 release marks a milestone for SIF with the addition of objects that support "Vertical Reporting" functionality. Vertical Reporting allows for the automated transfer of data utilized at the local level to state levels and state to the national level to streamline mandated reporting and No Child Left Behind requirements. Vertical reporting allows automated data transfer from local to state to national levels. For the first time the SIF specification will be used for data sharing and support in a number of State Departments of Education as well as United States Department of Education.

Guide for Conducting Education Research
A recent article in Education Week (3/24/04) raised the question: "Is the federal government's call for "scientifically based research" in education a mandate or just strong advice? Federal officials seem to say "yes," but Congressional staff that wrote the recent federal education laws seemed to say "well sort of."  Bob Sweet, a key Republican staffer and Russ Whitehurst, the director of the ED’s Institute of Education Sciences, said "no scientifically based research police" would be coming around inspecting schools.  However, they said in due time they hoped educators will come to rely on research evidence - similar to the way medical doctors follow the results of scientific experiments. ED officials pointed to their new guide on evidence based education, titled "Identifying and Implementing Educational Practices Supported by Rigorous Evidence."  See: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ies/index.html  

A reference prepared by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) and Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) can also be helpful. It is a practical hands-on resource designed to help policymakers find, understand, and evaluate education research as a guide for making and changing policies. See: http://www.mcrel.org/topics/productDetail.asp?topicsID=12&productID=163 

Assistive Technologies and Universal Design
Recent studies suggest that opportunities for using technology that provide flexible, supportive, and adjustable learning and productivity experiences for students with disabilities are being overlooked. However, they say that educational software developers and publishers are increasingly willing to collaborate on standards that might make "universally designed products and computer-based services" usable by all learners, including those with physical disabilities. 

Educators who want to lean more about assistive technologies and standards for "universal designs for learning" how these topics relate to the No Child Left Behind Act should read the recent paper by Chuck Hitchcock and Skip Stahl at the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum at the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum, which is supported by the U.S. Department of Education to help school officials to develop curricula, teaching practices, and policies improve access to the general curriculum by students with disabilities [http://www.cast.org/ncac/].  
Also see: http://jset.unlv.edu/18.4/hitchcock/five.html  

Study Notes Price is Giving DSL an Edge in Broadband
Forrester Research reported Tuesday that 61% of people surveyed said they'd switch to a faster broadband service, if it were priced comparably to their dial-up service -- usually between $10 and $25 a month. But only 17% said they would upgrade to a $45 broadband service. While cable modem service usually runs around $45 per month, digital subscriber line (DSL) service usually costs between $30 and $40 a month. Recent studies of broadband access show: DSL services offered over telephone wires make up 33 percent, coaxial cable-television connections remain the most popular at around 57 percent of all reported

lines, and satellite, fixed wireless and fiber-optic connections account for the remainder of broadband lines. See: http://news.com.com/2100-1032-5178050.html?tag=cd_top
 

  eMINTS National Center Announced

On February 24, 2004, the eMINTS (enhancing Missouri’s Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies) program moved to a new level when the eMINTS National Center was approved by the General Officers of the University of Missouri System. Formerly a part of MOREnet, the eMINTS National Center is an autonomous entity within the University of Missouri System Office of Academic Affairs. 

The goal of the eMINTS Program is to support educators as they integrate multimedia technology into inquiry-based, student-centered, interdisciplinary collaborative teaching practices that result in improved student performance, increased parent involvement, and enriched instructional effectiveness. The eMINTS National Center features the eMINTS professional development methodologies, materials, and services. These components are shared with Missouri and with other states and educational organizations through a “train-the-trainers” model. Ongoing support is provided to participants through a variety of means, including access to eThemes, which was selected for inclusion on SBC Communications' Blue Web'n site in early 2004. 

The eMINTS National Center serves as a resource base for schools, districts, and states that wish to collaborate with eMINTS staff and with one another to replicate the eMINTS instructional model within their educational systems. It seeks to share the successes of the eMINTS program with educational organizations in Missouri and other states so that program goals of improved academic performance and increased parental involvement can be realized for children across the nation. The Center provides participants with sufficient support to ensure that the eMINTS program is replicated in ways that maintain program integrity. Additional services such as ad hoc consulting and program evaluation are available through eMINTS partners. 

The Center experienced the first program replication in another state this past year. Educational specialists from Utah are working closely with eMINTS staff to reconstruct the program in every aspect in 45 classrooms in their state. eMINTS staff have also consulted with educators in Kansas who have initiated classroom programs similar to the eMINTS model and with a statewide education task force in Arkansas that is exploring possible instructional technology models for implementation. Lessons learned from experiences with Utah, Kansas, and Arkansas formed the foundation for the eMINTS National Center.   

[1] eThemes is a database of over 800 topics aligned with Missouri Show-Me Standards. Each resource consists of 10-15 child safe Internet sites at the reading level of the grade for which the topic is requested. Please see http://www.emints.org/ethemes/index.html 
 

  MOREnet to offer Internet safety NetSmartz Workshop  

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Online Victimization: A Report on Our Nation’s Youth, approximately one in five children receive a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet in one year.  Therefore it is critical that children, parents, and educators inform themselves about the potential dangers that children can face while surfing the Internet.    

The NetSmartz Workshop®, a program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® and Boys & Girls Clubs of America is an interactive, educational resource for youth (ages 5 to 17), parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement. The program uses age-appropriate, 3-D activities to teach young people how to stay safer on the Internet.    

In collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Secretary of State’s Office and the State Library, the Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet) will provide NetSmartz resources and training to Missouri’s schools and libraries. Downloadable versions of the NetSmartz interactive computer activities and supporting materials can be accessed from the MOREnet web site at http://www.NetSmartz.org/education/mo/. 

The goal of the NetSmartz Workshop is to extend the safety awareness of young people to prevent victimization and increase self-confidence whenever they go online. NetSmartz Workshop teaches children and teens the rules for online safety: 

1. I will tell my parents, my guardian, or a trusted adult if anything makes me feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.
2. I will ask my parents, my guardian, or a trusted adult before sharing my personal information.
3. I won't meet in person with anyone I have first “met” online. 

The Department encourages schools to review the NetSmartz Workshop resources. The program entertains youth while educating them about Internet safety. The teaching materials are divided into different age groups. Children in kindergarten through second grade learn to never give out any personal information from Clicky, the NetSmartz robot. Cyber siblings Nettie and Webster talk to children in grades three through six about online risks and introduce children to the “WizzyWigs.” The “WizzyWigs” are characters that represent Internet dangers. Age-appropriate activities and stories help older youth understand Internet dangers, as well as other Internet topics such as spamming, hacking, plagiarism, and piracy.  

When children and youth complete the activities, they receive a certificate authorizing the completion of the NetSmartz Workshop. 

Teachers in the eMINTS (enhancing Missouri’s Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies) program will learn about the NetSmartz Workshop as part of their two-year professional development program. eMINTS teachers will be another source for sharing NetSmartz resources across the state. The eMINTS program is a joint effort of DESE and the University of Missouri System Office of Academic Affairs.  

To learn more about how to incorporate the NetSmartz Workshop resources in your school, contact Eric Nicklas at MOREnet, at (573) 882-9785 or eric@more.net.   

The NetSmartz Workshop is made possible via a public-private partnership with the United States Congress, United States Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 
 

  State vendor contract holder, WWT, to administer ‘bulk purchase program’ to help schools lower costs of education technologies and services 

World Wide Technology (WWT) and DESE staffs met recently to discuss ways to help drive down the cost of education technology purchases. Understanding that with dwindling budgets these are very challenging times for Missouri schools, WWT is offering an opportunity for schools to participate in a Bulk Purchasing Program for the procurement of computers, printers, software, and networking equipment. The program will be administered April 1 through August 31, 2004. 

Periodically during the program period, WWT will combine the purchasing needs of multiple schools and state agencies through bulk purchase orders to WWT’s suppliers, thus driving down each school’s individual price. A similar program was sponsored by DESE, and administered by WWT, in 2002 for the bulk purchase of Internet filtering software. That program was successful in helping more than 200 schools reap savings of over 75% on software list prices, as compared to the prices schools would have been charged had they purchased the software on their own. 

For more information please contact pat.moriarty@wwt.com at 314-301-2530.

  Missouri Teachers Honored In D.C. For Math and Science Accomplishments 

Two Missouri teachers were among a group of educators from throughout the country honored by President Bush in Washington. Ninety-five teachers from forty-nine states were in the nation's capital to receive Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Joann Barnett, who teaches math to 7th graders at Ozark Junior High School in Ozark, never thought something like this would come along. She sees it as a great honor. Paul Rutherford, a science teacher at Summit Technology Academy in Lee's Summit, sees this as a great honor, as well. The teachers visited the White House and were congratulated by President Bush. Each of them received an award and a $10,000 prize. The program was established in 1983 by the White House and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
 

  2004 Missouri Educational Technology Conference-Exploring Technology: Improving Teaching and Learning
--Submitted by Eric Nicklas, Program,Manager, K-12 Technology Network Program, MOREnet
www.more.net 

This year, we are pleased to announce enhancements to the conference that align with high quality professional development standards and which should result in a more meaningful experience for all participants. Practitioners will notice a new format that includes a new, standardized strand matrix, a variety of session lengths, and sessions that encourage more in-depth and on-going study, practice and discussion. 

Dates
October 3 - 5, 2004 

Location
The 2004 Missouri Educational Technology Conference- Exploring Technology: Improving Teaching and Learning will be held at Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO. Participants may reserve rooms at the special conference rate of $82.00 until Friday, September 17, 2004. For information or reservations, contact Tan-Tar-A at (800) 826-8272 or visit the Tan-Tar-A website. 

Student Project Showcase
Come see projects using technology that are written and/or produced by students. Projects might include videotaped documentaries, student-written tutorials, problem solving exercises/games, CD-ROM applications, video yearbooks, computer-assisted designs and/or drafting, computer programs, multimedia projects or other applications of technology. Insert date, time, and location. Monday, Oct. 4, in Windgate Hall.

More Information
For more information, contact MOREnet Conferences and Events at conferences@more.net or (573) 882-0289. TTY users call via RELAY Missouri: (800) 735-2966.
 

 METPA  Update
--Submitted by Andy Hall, METPA Vice-President, Technology Director, Wellington-Napoleon R-IX School District
http://www.metpa.org

It seems the duty of writing the METPA Update for Newsline falls to me after every technology conference.  Not that I’m complaining – the conferences seem to give me new hope and excitement about my job, which makes writing this much easier. 

METPA held its annual meeting during the conference.  Thanks to everyone who attended and I’m sorry if we missed you.  There was a lot of good discussion at the meeting, including ideas to make the conferences more useful to those who attend.  If you have ideas or comments about this topic, take a look at the METPA website (www.metpa.org) and send your thoughts to one of the officers. 

The other big reason for the annual meeting was to get nominations/volunteers for METPA officers for next year.  Offices to be filled are vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and parliamentarian.  Duties for the newly elected people will start on July 1, 2004 and run through June 30, 2005.  If you are interested in serving as an officer or know someone who is, please submit their name as soon as possible – I need to have a slate of candidates ready by mid-May. 

The third annual METPA Technology Leadership Awards nominations are available now, and are due back by May 15.  There are two categories for these awards:  Best District, or School, Classroom Web Page and Best Practice Award in Technology Professional Development.  The nomination form will be available on the METPA website soon, and winners will be announced at the Fall DESE/MOREnet Education Technology Conference. 

  National Cyber Security Day—April 4, 2004
--Submitted by Lainie Martin, Web Development, DESE
http://dese.mo.gov/divadm/infotech/cybersecurityday.htm 

Sunday, April 4, 2004 is National Cyber Security Day.  Set some time aside to update your anti-virus software and scan your computer for viruses.  This is also a good opportunity for schools to incorporate cyber security into school curricula.  Check out the Department Web site for resources on the following:

• Cyber Security Day Information

• Top Ten Security Tips

• Cyber Security Posters--Elementary and Middle School--Teens

• Free K-8 Cybersmart Curriculum

   Web Accessibility in Mind (WEBAim) K-12 Training Initiative
--Submitted by Lainie Martin, Web Development, DESE
WebAIM’s K-12 initiative is administered through a grant provided by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) of the Office of Special Education and Rehabiltative Services (OSERS).  Our goal is to improve accessibility to online learning opportunities for all people; in particular to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities who currently may have a difficult time getting access to the general curriculum in K-12 educational settings.
 

  Show-Me TechKnowledge Day 2004 
--Submitted by Diane Turner, Joplin Schools Gifted Center
dturner@joplin.k12.mo.us\ 

Show-Me TechKnowledge was an awesome experience for the first grade Tech Team from Joplin! To be included among so many impressive technology exhibits at the State Capitol was both an honor and a privilege for the students as well as their teachers.  

The opportunity to visit the Capitol building in itself was exciting, but to be given a personal tour by our Representative, Mr. Ron Richard, provided an appreciation of our state beyond the walls of any classroom. The students were also greeted by Representative Marilyn Ruestman and were given the honor of serving as pages on the Senate floor as guests of Senator Gary Nodler. The children enjoyed meeting our legislators and learning about the responsibilities of each official. 

To work so diligently on such a monumental project and to have their efforts recognized at Show-Me TechKnowledge Day was an experience that will have a lasting impression on my students. We so appreciate the time and expertise of those who organized such an outstanding event for Missouri’s future leaders! 

For those of you who missed out on the fun and excitement this year, consider submitting an application to exhibit in 2005.
 

 2004 MoDLA Conference: An Odyssey of Learning

The Missouri Distance Learning Association (MoDLA) will host 2004: An Odyssey of Learning, the annual summer distance learning conference, July 15-16, 2004, at the Clarion Hotel, in Springfield, MO.  The conference is designed to provide educators, administrators, technology coordinators and others interested in distance education, information on current trends in instruction, and information on the latest instructional technologies along with a multitude of exemplary presentations of distance learning strategies in action.

Conference Location
2004: An Odyssey of Learning will be held at the Clarion Hotel, Springfield, MO.  Participants may reserve rooms at the special conference rate of $64.95 until July 1.  For information or reservations, contact Clarion Hotel at (417) 883-6550. 

Conference Features

Keynote Speaker
Thursday, July 15 - "Educational Evolution: The One-Room School House meets the Virtual Classroom"           
Dr. Jim Baker, Assistant to the President, Southwest Missouri State University 

Friday, July 16  - "Thriving or Surviving in Difficult Economic Times"
Dr. Ed Gould, Department Chair, Higher Education Leadership, School of  Education Capella University President, Beacon Resource Group, Higher Education Consultants 

Breakout Sessions
To be determined

Vendor Fair
The vendors will be available from 1:30 PM - 6:30 PM on Thursday, July 15 and 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM on Friday, July 16 to give attendees the opportunity to view and discuss the latest distance learning technologies. The Vendors will help kick off the conference with a Vendor Reception from 4:30 PM- 6:30 PM, Thursday, July 15.

 Virtual Field Trips
Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of live videoconferences with presenters in different locations around the world. 

Silent Auction
Visit the Silent Auction and browse through the donations. Take the opportunity to enter a bid on one or more items.  The Auction will continue for the duration of the conference so you will have an opportunity to return often to see if someone has upped the ante.  The Silent Auction will close at 1:00 PM, July 16. 

Cyber Cafe
The Cyber Cafe will be open for the duration of the conference for attendees to have the opportunity to check email and web sites. 

More Information
For more information, contact the MoDLA Office at 417-836-6150 or by email through the MoDLA director MichelleNorgren@smsu.edu 
 

   Missouri Schools and Programs in the News

Columbia School District
Data-driven decision making is the buzz phrase of choice for this decade.  Once we have the information, how do we use it to yield results?  Read what twenty school administrators have to say about it in a recent issue of Technology & Learning: Data Driven with a Mission.  Elaine Hassemer, principal of Paxton-Keeley Elementary School, Columbia School District, submitted information for the article. http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=18311595

St. Louis School District
Congratulations to Peabody Elementary School in the St. Louis School District! Secretary Paige's No Child Left Behind Education Summit on Assessment and Accountability was held in St. Louis recently. Peabody School was named as an example of a school that had set high standards and expectations for their students and is beginning to see the results of their work. Peabody School has been in the eMINTS program for several years and the principal and teachers have worked with local foundations to provide funding for additional classrooms. Their MAP scores have climbed steadily and they now have some of the highest percentages of children in Proficient and Advanced categories in the state. Their school made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) when many others did not. Keep up the great work! 

eMINTS:  Digital Storytelling Project
Eight eMINTS teachers have joined Bernajean Porter, national education consultant, in a project to create digital stories about how the eMINTS program has given children wings. Lori Mathys (Moniteau R-I), Pam Lowe (Poplar Bluffs), Julie Fessenden (Nixa), Renee Wilcox (Jefferson C-123), Janice Uptegrove (Smithville), Stephanie Madlinger (Warren Co. R-III), Sandy Willis (North Harrison R-III), and Amy Vejraska (Kirbyville) spent the day learning about the elements of digital storytelling, storyboarding, and hardware/software tools for storytelling. They will come back in May for a three-day camp to put their stories together with music, voice, and other effects. Watch for their stories on the eMINTS website early this summer.  

  Copyright Question of the Month

Q.  May an educator (e.g., administrator, classroom teacher, substitute teacher, or student teacher) other district employee, volunteer, or others download material from a web page without a copyright notice and incorporate the entire web page into a multimedia project? 

A.  No The assumption must be made that everything is copyrighted even in the absence of the copyright notice. Lack of copyright notice on a work does not mean it is not protected. 

Note:  Most web sites contain an email address that the educator may easily use to contact the copyright owner for permission to use the information on the web page. 

CAUTION:  Be aware that some information is posted without the knowledge and permission of the original copyright owner.  It is important to remember that the person posting or managing the web site may not be the original copyright owner and therefore does not have the right to grant permission for use.
 

  Mark Your Calendar

   Upcoming 2004-2005 Conferences 

 
  From the Mailbag

Unsung Heroes Awards Program
http://www.ing-usa.com/us/about/connect/education/unsung_heroes.html 
Presented by financial services company ING and managed by Scholarship America, the Unsung Heroes Awards Program recognizes kindergarten through twelfth grade educators across the United States for their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects, and ability to make a positive influence on the children they teach.  All K-12 education professionals are eligible for the program. Each year, 100 finalists are selected to receive $2,000 awards. Of the 100 finalists, three are selected for additional financial awards. First Place receives an additional $25,000; 2nd Place receives an additional $10,000; and 3rd Place receives an additional $5,000. The deadline for application is April 30, 2004 and winners will be announced in Fall 2004. 

Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program
http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=26 
The Jordan Fundamentals Grants are awarded to teachers or paraprofessionals who work with students in grades one through twelve in a U.S. public school who also demonstrate instructional creativity and exemplify high learning expectations for economically disadvantaged students. Application deadline: June 15, 2004.

 Internet Sites of Interest

Easter and Passover
This year Easter will be celebrated on Sunday, April 11, 2004. Orthodox Easter will also celebrated on Sunday, April 11th.  As the Jewish day begins at sundown the night before, for the year 2004, the first night of Passover will be April 5, 2004.

Easter on the Net
http://www.holidays.net/easter
Easter is the time of springtime festivals, a time to welcome back the tulips, the crocuses and the daffodils. A time for Christians to celebrate the life and resurrection of Christ. And a time of chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks and colored eggs! http://www.holidays.net/easter/ 

Kids Domain - Easter
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/easter 
Lots of online Easter games, crafts, printable puzzles and coloring pages, clip art, stories and downloads.

BlackDog's Easter Celebration
http://www.blackdog.net/holiday/easter 
Features free Easter games, puzzles, mazes, wallpaper, screen savers, print and play downloads, vintage Victorian and cartoon cards, and blank Easter stationery.

DLTK's Easter Crafts for Kids
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/crafts.html  
Printable instructions for children's Easter crafts, including bunnies, chicks, eggs, lambs and religious-themed crafts. 

Passover on the Net
http://www.holidays.net/passover 
In celebration of the Jewish holiday of Pesach (Passover), we have stories of Moses and the exodus, we have matzohs to find, songs to sing, and matzoh brie to make! 

Kids Domain – Passover
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/passover
Has articles about what Passover is, printable coloring pages, and crafts.  

Torah Tots - Pesach (Passover) 
http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/pesach/pesach.htm 
Stories, educational material, games, and coloring pages for this Jewish holiday. 

eThemes
Literature: "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001252.shtml 
These sites are about the book "Crash," which explores the themes of bullying and friendship. Find information about the book, its themes, and the author. 

State Quarters 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001257.shtml 
These sites are about the state quarter program that began in 1999 and will continue until 2008. The coins are introduced in the order of statehood. Vote on your favorite quarter design and learn why certain symbols were chosen to represent each state. Includes lesson plans, a matching game, and an interactive story about how coins are made. The state quarter designs can be used to introduce students to the 50 states as well as the notion that the United States expanded westward. There are links to eThemes Resources on money and United States geography.

Teaching Tips: Literature Circles 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001263.shtml 
These sites explain the benefits of using literature circles to have students discuss books. Includes tips and handouts on how to organize the groups, how to lead discussions, and how to assess student participation. Learn about the different student roles and their discussion duties. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on guided reading. 

World War II: Guadalcanal 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001256.shtml 
These sites for older students explain about the Battle of Guadalcanal. Read first-hand accounts from American and Japanese soldiers. Learn about the naval and air defenses and read about the history of this battle. Includes maps, timelines, and photographs. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on World War II.

Holiday: April Fool's Day
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001265.shtml
Learn when April Fool's Day began and why it is celebrated. Read about some famous April Fool's Day jokes, including the story that Taco Bell was going to buy the Liberty Bell. Includes some common pranks for kids that are intended to be funny and not hurtful. There are recipes for unusual April Fool's Day dishes. Includes a link to an eThemes Resource on jokes and riddles.

Math: Percentages
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001271.shtml
These sites explain how to calculate percentages. Learn about the relationship among fractions, decimals, and percentages. Practice calculating sale prices and restaurant tips. There are many online quizzes and interactive games. Includes links to eThemes Resources on decimals and fractions.

Teaching Tips: Skim Reading
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001258.shtml
Learn how to skim text to become a more effective and faster reader. Includes several stories with quizzes on identifying the main points. Watch a movie about reading skills or download graphic organizers. There are links to eThemes Resources on reading comprehension and writing research papers.

Famous People: Magicians
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001261.shtml 
Learn about famous magicians and the tricks that made them popular. Includes biographies of Harry Houdini, David Copperfield, Siegfried and Roy, Lance Burton, and more. Watch videos of their performances and read about the secrets behind their tricks. There are links to eThemes Resources on the history of magic and magic tricks. 

Magic: History 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001262.shtml 
Read about the history of magic and how it has evolved through the years. Find out why people used to believe the word abracadabra was important. View photographs of cups and balls that were used to perform an old illusion. There are links to eThemes Resources on famous magicians and magic tricks.

Magic: Tricks and Illusions 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001254.shtml 
These fun sites feature many online optical illusions. Students can try to unravel the mystery behind these illusions. Learn how to perform many magic tricks, including how to make a quarter disappear and how to float above the ground. There are links to eThemes Resources on famous magicians, the history of magic, and tessellations.

Utah: Rocks and Minerals 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001251.shtml 
These sites are about the different types of rocks and minerals found in Utah. Learn about the official state rock, mineral, and gem. Includes a map showing Utah's mineral deposits. There are also many suggested hands-on activities. Find out how you can have a toolbox of Utah rocks and minerals sent to your classroom. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on rocks and minerals.

Kites
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001260.shtml
Learn how kites overcome gravity to fly. There are several lesson plans that use kites to introduce math and science concepts. Includes many instructions for making your own kite out of everyday materials. There is information about the history of kites and pictures of kites from different countries. Also learn why April is National Kite Month. Includes links to eThemes Resources on hot air balloons and basic weather concepts.

Utah: History
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001275.shtml
Read about Utah's history and the people who lived in the area. Includes information about Native American tribes, pioneer settlers, and Mormons. View historical photographs and read diaries written 150 years ago. Find out what the state name means. There are links to eThemes Resources on Utah's state symbols, the transcontinental railroad, and pioneer life.

Updated eThemes
Animals: Food Chains and Webs 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000328.shtml
These sites are about food chains and food webs. Includes examples of webs and chains with animals from various biomes. Learn about consumers, producers, prey, predators, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores. There is a short animated movie, online games, and suggested classroom activities.

Habitat: Forests 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000683.shtml
These sites are about deciduous, coniferous, and taiga forests and their ecosystems. Includes photographs of these forests, plus information about the climate, animals, and plants that are particular to each forest type. Find out where in the world these forests are located. Includes links to eThemes resources on threats to forests, Arbor Day, trees, and habitats.

Habitat: Forests: Threats 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001128.shtml
Learn about the ecological problems facing many forests. The issues include acid rain, air pollution, logging, tree diseases, and more. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on forests.

Habitat: Tundras 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000698.shtml
These sites are about the types of climate, wildlife, and vegetation that are found in tundras. Locate tundras on maps and view photographs. Learn the difference between alpine and Arctic tundras. There are links to eThemes Resources on Arctic inhabitants, Arctic explorers, Alaska, Canada, and habitats.

Habitat: Wetlands 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000687.shtml
Read about the different types of wetlands (swamps, marshes, and bogs) and find out why these habitats are in danger of disappearing. Learn more about the plants and animals that make up this ecosystem. Includes many photographs. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on habitats

Country: Ireland 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000338.shtml 
These sites include information about the history, castles, and folklore of Ireland. See maps and photographs of many interesting sites. Learn about the country's geography, people, land, and more. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on St. Patrick's Day.

Country: Japan 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000620.shtml 
These sites have information about Japan's history, geography, language, education, and culture. Includes maps, photographs, and live views from Webcams.

Grammar: Paragraphs 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000446.shtml 
These sites have tips and examples on how to write good paragraphs. Includes graphic organizers to help students write down topic, detail, and concluding sentences. There are classroom activities and online writing exercises. Includes links to eThemes Resources on sentences and writing prompts.

Holiday: St. Patrick's Day 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000294.shtml 
These sites about St. Patrick's Day include games, crafts, poems, e-cards, and clip art. Learn about the history of this holiday. Play online games or print out word searches and coloring pages. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on Ireland.

Women's History Month 
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000987.shtml 
Learn more about Women's History Month and International Women's Day (March 8). There are many biographies of famous women who excelled in a variety of fields. Includes quizzes, crossword puzzles, ti