Division of School Improvement - Instructional Technology

In response to legislation that once again reduces state government staffing, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is restructuring its workforce. Effective July 1, the Instructional Technology section moves to the Division of School Improvement’s Federal Programs unit. While we anticipate being able to continue current programs and level of services (such as publishing monthly issues of Newsline), there likely will be changes in staff assignments and responsibilities. We apologize in advance for any confusion produced by these changes. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this period of transition. – Deb Sutton

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

Budgets / Grant Programs

Missouri Safe Schools & Pilot Safe Schools Grants Program

Beginning this year, grant payments will be made upon written request. Districts submit a “Payment Request Form” when payments are needed for reimbursement. The form should be submitted by the last working day of the month that precedes the month in which districts expect payment. Completed forms are submitted to the Financial Management section (as indicated on the form which can be downloaded from the Instructional Technology and Financial Management websites).

Notes: August is the first month payments will be issued. Districts should only request an amount needed to cover what the district expects to spend before the next payment. No more than 75 percent of the approved amount may be requested prior to submitting the final expenditure report (FER).

Federal Title II.D “Ed Tech” or “EETT” Program

Competitive Grants – In May, Newsline listed the 44 year-two and 8 year-one competitive grants tentatively approved for 2005-06. This information is also posted on the IT website at http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/federalfunded/TitleIID/FY06grantawards.html.

Grant recipients should make note of the new payment system described above, in the Safe and Pilot School grants program information.

MOREnet Technology Network Program (TNP)

The MOREnet Council met June 15 to continue discussion and decision making with regards to the FY06 budget cuts: the decrease in funding related to the shared network and the decrease in funding of the TNP. The appropriation for the shared network covers Internet connectivity for higher education, public school districts, and public libraries. The K-12 proportion of the decrease in shared network funding is about $750,000. At this time, the Department is considering assessing a one-time charge based on district bandwidth. As to the decrease in TNP funding, it is projected at this time that we might not have to increase user fees. It might be possible to off-set the TNP funding decrease with FY05 E-rate balance, via lower cost projections for FY06 Internet/telecommunications, and by dipping into reserves. It should be noted that these decisions refer only to FY06. If funding is further reduced this year or if next year’s funding remains at its current low rate, fees will likely have to be adjusted. MOREnet and DESE staffs continue to examine cost structures that may need to be instituted permanently if the appropriation is not restored for FY07.

Technology Data Collection

Census of Technology (COT)

2005 – As of the June 23, all districts have submitted their COT data: Core Data Screens 30 and 31. Now that data entry is complete, Instructional Technology has begun data analysis. At this time, it is expected that the statewide report can be completed and posted online by early to mid August.

2006 – Instructional Technology has marked up 2006 COT items and accompanying directions, for production to begin later in the year. A summary of the changes from the 2005 COT to the 2006 COT is provided below. Copies of the mark-ups can be downloaded from the Instructional Technology website. Please review the mark-ups and submit feedback and questions to Instructional Technology at instrtech@dese.mo.gov.

District (Screen 30) – same number of items, but a formatting change to the following item:

· Item 3, district technology management – clarified employees and non-employees their level of support in managing the district’s technology programs and services

Building (Screen 31) – one item was deleted (library automation systems), about five items underwent minor fine-tuning, and the following five items received more substantial changes:

· Training, Item 1, technology skill levels – defined faculty/staff categories; and Item 2, professional development – added elements to cover non-eMINTS and different eMINTS-related program completion

· Hardware & Support, Item 1, technical support – clarified employees and non-employees their level of support in maintaining building-level hardware; and Item 4, Internet connectivity type – reformatted to address number of Internet-connected computers by location, by type of computer, and type of connectivity

· Internet Connectivity/Tech Usage, Item 6, technology integration support – clarified employees and non-employees and their level of support in helping staff and students use technology in teaching and learning

Technology Planning

400+ District plans due spring 2006

Over 400 districts must submit new long-range education technology plans next spring for state approval. Reminder letters to the districts about this deadline will be mailed in August. Also, the letters will explain that the state is in the process of developing the next Missouri Education Technology Strategic Plan (for 2006-2011) and what effect that will have on districts developing new plans. The rules will not change for district plans submitted for state approval in 2006. In fact, any plan developed that addresses all five technology focus areas, should align well enough with the goals and objectives set for the next state plan. Nonetheless, a district may elect to wait until after the new state plan is published before developing a new district plan for state approval. If that is the case, the district would need to inform Instructional Technology of its plans – and submit an extension of its current approved plan, to cover the year July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, which is necessary for the district to be able to participate in the TNP and E-rate programs.

Development of a new State Plan <reminder>

The Missouri Education Technology Strategic Plan provides Missouri policy makers and school districts with a blueprint to guide and facilitate state and local technology planning, funding, implementation, and evaluation. Instructional Technology and SuccessLink have partnered to oversee development of a new state technology plan for 2006-2001. Planning efforts are being organized around five technology focus areas (TFAs): 1) student learning, 2) teacher preparation and delivery of instruction, 3) administration/ data management/ communications, 4) distribution of resources, and 5) technical support and facilitated by the use of an interactive website. The goal is to have the new plan completed for presentation to the State Board in May or June of 2006.

While there is a small core committee for each TFA, the use of technology will provide ample opportunity for all key stakeholders to participate in the planning process. The Missouri Education Technology Strategic Plan website (http://www.successlink.us/motechplan/) allows Missouri educators, and all other interested parties, to review the work of the planning teams and provide input and feedback into the development of the next five-year plan. It is a place where colleagues can communicate and collaborate with one another as they look into the future and develop effective, long-range strategies for enhancing education through technology.

Site registration is free and we encourage you to register so you can participate fully in the development of the new plan. Non-registered users can go to the website and provide immediate feedback to any article (by typing in the Comment Box below the “article”). Articles are categorized by the five different TFAs and can be accessed by using the menu on the left side of the screen. As a registered member you can submit articles for review by the core committee of each TFA, participate in discussion board forums, and receive newsletters which will occasionally be sent out by various teams or sub-committees. You can create a free account by clicking the "create account" link in the lower-left of the screen. Once you have logged into the system you can edit your account details by clicking on "Your Details" in the User Menu (lower left-hand corner, below the Main Menu).

E-RATE PROGRAM

Year 2003 Funding News

The SLD issued Wave 40 on June 1, 2005 – the last regular wave to be issued. To date, the SLD has committed nearly $2.696 billion in 34,719 letters for Funding Year 2003. For more Funding Year 2003, see: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/funding/y2003/national.asp.

Year 2004 Funding News

On June 29, 2005, the SLD issued Wave 23 of funding commitment decision letters, committing over $9.9 million in 55 letters to school and library applicants. Funding for Wave 23 included funding for PRIORITY ONE (telecommunications services and Internet access) services only. To date, the SLD has committed over $2.2 billion in over 32,000 letters, with consortium applications accounting for about 11 percent of the committed amounts, school district applications totaling nearly 80 percent, school applications about seven percent, and library applications just over two percent. See: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/funding/y2004/waves/default.asp.

Year 2005 Funding News
On Monday, June 27, 2005, the SLD issued the first wave of funding commitment decision letters for Funding Year 2005 that provides support for services delivered from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006. In Wave 1, the SLD committed over $265.2 million in more than 7,700 letters to school and library applicants. The funding associated with this wave includes funding for PRIORITY ONE (telecommunications services and Internet access) services ONLY The SLD plans to issue waves every other week until the process is complete. Those eligible for discounts below the 81% level are being advised their requests for internal connections must be denied due to insufficient funds. For more information about Wave 1, see: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/. To track the progress of Forms 471, visit http://www.sl.universalservice.org/FY3_form471/471StatusCheck.asp.

E-Rate program developments

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Source: “Here’s your chance to fix the eRate” by Corey Murray, in June 16, 2005 eSchool News
See: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5730.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on June 14 said it would seek public feedback regarding its management, administration, and oversight of the Universal Service Fund (USF), the federal coffer from which the E-rate program draws its money. The announcement comes in the wake of a congressional report that openly criticized the FCC for its lax oversight of the program and called on the commission to reevaluate its approach to approving and administering E-rate funds. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), posted on the FCC web site, welcomes comments across the full scope of the program, with an emphasis on four specific areas: program management; improved oversight; administrative structure; and performance measures to help assess the effectiveness of the E-rate going forward.

The official NPRM has yet to be posted in the Federal Register, a process that sometimes takes up to three weeks. Once posted, educators will have up to 150 days to respond with their comments, FCC officials said.

Rural Caucus to buttress universal service
Source: CongressDaily, June 24, 2005. See: http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-HQZR1119396787827.html]

Members of the Congressional Rural Caucus are circulating a draft letter asking House Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas, and Energy and Commerce ranking member John Dingell, D-Michigan, to expand the base of contributors to the Universal Service Fund as part of legislation to overhaul of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Other priorities listed in the draft letter include maintaining universal service as an industry-funded mechanism; requiring that carriers be compensated by all traffic using their networks; encouraging inter-modal competition; and mandating all providers to allow competitors to interconnect with their networks, regardless of the technology used. The 140-member Rural Caucus also has scheduled a June 30 briefing to announce its goals for the rewrite of the Telecommunications Act.

NATIONAL/WASHINGTON NEWS

House moves Education appropriation, restoring some Title II.D funding
On June 9th, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education approved its version of the FY06 appropriations bill by voice vote. In total, the bill provides $142.5 billion, but cuts more than $1 billion from program levels contained in the FY05 bill, with $163 million in actual cuts and $890 million allocated to Medicare to pay for the prescription drug law. In terms of education, the Subcommittee chose to restore funding for most of the 48 education programs that the Administration had proposed to eliminate in its budget request, while it reduced Administration proposed funding increases for Title I and special education grants, and provided little funding for elements of the Administration's high school reform initiative.

Although total funding was down in the bill, the Subcommittee increased funding for the Department of Education by $115 million from FY05, for a total of $57.7 billion. Most importantly, the Subcommittee provided $300 million for the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program, which is a $196 million cut from FY05. The fact that EETT received funding is very significant because the Administration had sought to eliminate funding for the program in its FY06 Budget request. Many other education programs were either level funded or received reductions in their funding levels.

Here is a list of programs and their change from last year:

Title I	12.7 billion, $100 million increase
Title II, Part A	$2.9 billion, level funding
Title II, Part D (EETT)	300 million, $196 million decrease
State Wide Data Systems	$24.8 million, level funding
Community Technology Centers	$0, $4.96 million decrease

The full House Appropriations Committee is slated to mark-up this bill on June 15th, with passage by the full House possible before the 4th of July recess. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS and Education is expected to begin action on its FY06 appropriations bill on July 14.

ED TECH RESEARCH, PUBLICATION, RESOURCES, SPECIAL EVENTS

NCES Releases report on High-Tech Preschoolers
"Rates of Computer and Internet Use by Children in Nursery School and Students in Kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade: 2003," reports that nearly a quarter of preschool children use the Internet. Released in June by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), this Issue Brief describes the widespread use of computers and the Internet among U.S. schoolchildren. According to the report 91 percent of all students between preschool and 12th grade use computers, and 59 percent use the Internet. See: http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/.

New ISTE book offers ideas, approaches, and best practices for training teachers
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) released the new resource, "Integrated Technologies, Innovative Learning: Insights from the PT3 Program." This book offers a wealth of ideas, approaches, and best practices for training teachers for the future they and their students will face. With stories of transformation at the institutional and individual levels, it discusses different models for mentoring and field experience, the big gains possible with partnerships, and the key role of electronic portfolios in evaluating performance and promoting reflective practice. Intended for teacher educators, college of education faculty and administrators, professional development personnel, education researchers, and pre-service teachers, the book offers a wealth of ideas and approaches for integrating technology in teacher preparation, including innovative professional development practices, unique university and public school partnerships, and effective strategies for sparking institutional change. The book may be purchased online for $35.95 for ISTE members and $39.95 for nonmembers. See: http://www.iste.org/store

Technology barriers
According to a new report from the Education Development Center, limited technology access, little professional development on the use and integration of digital resources and lack of time to find and adapt digital resources are major factors limiting full-scale use of digital materials in the classroom. http://www2.edc.org/GDI/publications_SR/EffectiveAccessReport.pdf

MOREnet Announces Online Resources for FY06

- Submitted by Eric Nicklas, Program Manger, K-12 Technology Network Program, MOREnet
www.more.net

The Secretary of State’s Office and Missouri State Library are proud to be able to maximize state funding for the online resources by promoting a statewide purchase for multiple subject areas in one procurement process. As a result of this process, the state of Missouri has access to a broader range and greater depth of resources than has been available in previous years.

Online Resources Contract Awarded to EBSCO

EBSCO Publishing has been awarded the contract to provide online resources for general periodicals and the health, business and K-12 subject areas.

As of July 1, 2005, access to the following resources will be available for REAL Program participants, K-12 TNP participants, MERC and all other MOREnet customers:

Academic Search Elite

MasterFILE Premieer (Upgraded from MasterFILE Elite)

Business Source Premier (New)

Regional Business News (New)

Newspaper Source (New)

Alt Healthwatch

HealthSource: Consumer Edition

HealthSource: Nursing Edition

Gale’s Business and Company Resource Center will no longer be available.

Increased Number of NewsBank Online Newspapers Coming Soon

http://www.more.net/online

As of July 1, 2005, access to more full-text online newspapers available through NewsBank, Inc., will be available for REAL Program participants, K-12 TNP participants, MERC and all other MOREnet customers:

Kansas City Star (1991-current)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (1988-current)

Springfield News Leader (1999-current)

Chicago Tribune (1985-current)

Wichita Eagle (1984-current)

Washington Post (1977-current)

Los Angeles Times (1985-current)

Des Moines Register (1999-current)

Louisville Courier Journal (1999-current)

Tulsa World (1989-current)

Christian Science Monitor (1987-current)

Remote access is available for all titles except the Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle.

Information about the online resources and access to the online resources will be available on MOREnet’s website at http://www.more.net/online as of July 1, 2005.

Please direct any questions regarding the online resources to MOREnet Technical Support at techsupp@more.net or (800) 509-6673.

Intel(r) Teach to the Future Essentials Course for Master

www.intel.com/education/teach

Intel(r) Teach to the Future Essentials Course offers FREE face-to-face, hands-on instruction on the essentials of effective technology integration. You're invited as a teacher to learn how, when, and where to incorporate technology tools and resources into their curriculum to enhance student learning and develop higher-order thinking skills. The course involves use of the Internet, multimedia software, and Web page design. Teachers learn new ways to create assessment tools and align unit and lesson plans with state and national standards.

Teachers will leave this forty-hour course with:

* A Unit Plan with student learning objectives aligned to state standards * Student samples:

   o A student multimedia presentation sample

   o A student publication sample (newsletter, brochure, or poster)

   o A student Web site sample

* Evaluation tools:

   o A multimedia evaluation tool for assessing student learning

   o A publication evaluation tool for assessing student learning

   o A Web site evaluation tool for assessing student learning

* A teacher presentation, newsletter, brochure, or Web site to support the Unit

* Handouts, templates, or tests to support the Unit

* A unit implementation plan, classroom management documents, and a Works Cited document.

Local Education Agencies (LEAs) identify Master Teachers who are intermediate computer users with experience in technology integration.

These Master Teachers undergo comprehensive instruction and curriculum review from Intel-certified trainers. At the completion of their instruction, these teachers return to their area schools to recruit and deliver the course to their colleagues.

Dates/Locations:
July 11-15, 2005 - St. Louis, MO
July 18-22, 2005 - Jefferson City, MO
August 1-5, 2005 - Independence, MO
August 1-5, 2005 - St. Louis, MO

For more information, contact: Jana Craig Hare
Phone: 888-TEC-2001 (toll free)
Email: jana@altec.org

METPA NEWS

None for July.

MISSOURI SCHOOLS AND PROJECTS IN THE NEWS

No report this month.

eMINTS QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Q. When will the Missouri Comprehensive School Reform Grants be awarded?

A. Missouri CSR grants were read in June and the awards are posted on the DESE website at: http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/discretionarygrants/csr/CSRDappvdindex.htm

COPYRIGHT QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Q. May a videotape be used for before and after school day care or for child care during meetings and school events?

No. This situation does not meet the face-to-face instruction requirement.

Note: If videotapes are to be used for this purpose, public performance rights must be obtained.

There are commercial providers that sell public performance licenses that allow the use of videos for reward, entertainment, etc.

UPCOMING 2005 CONFERENCES

July 10-14	EDUCAUSE Institute: Instructional Technology Leadership Program http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/
July 11-12	SuccessLink Handheld Computer Conference Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO http://www.educause.edu/ITL05
July 17-20	The Laptop Institute 2005 Memphis, TN http://www.laptopinstitute.com
July 21-22	Mid-America Conference on Cooperative Learning http://www.iasce.net/events.shtml
July 25-28	Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education Summer Conference http://www.mo-acte.org/conferences/main.html
August 2-5	Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference

GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Source: Technology & Learning
For descriptions of the individual grants, go to www.techlearning.com/grants.html

Deadline Grant

Ongoing Educational Foundation of America Grants
www.efaw.org

Ongoing The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s Education Grants Program
www.hewlett.org

Ongoing
Intel’s Model School Grant Program
www.intel.com/modelschool

Ongoing
Adopt a Classroom Grants
www.adoptaclassroom.com

July 19
Microsoft Unlimited Potential Program
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/citizenship/giving/programs/up/

July 29
Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant Program
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2005-2/062105d.html

August 1
Toshiba Large Grants
www.toshiba.com/about/taf.html

September 1
InfoSource Inc. ‘Integrating Technology in the Classroom’ Grant Program
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6prweb249852.htm

September 1
NEC Teaching in Motion Contest
http://www.necvisualsystems.com

September 1
Teaching in Motion Video Contest
http://www.necvsd.com/educationvideo/ed_home.html

September 15
Innovation and Learning & Leadership Grants
NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
www.nfie.org

September 30
The SMARTer Kids Grants for SMART Products
www.smarterkids.org

October 1
Toshiba Small Grants Program for K-6 Science and Math Education
Toshiba America Foundation
www.toshiba.com/taf

November 10
Educational Foundation of America Grants
www.efaw.org

November 15
Shell Science Teaching Award
www.nsta.org/awardscomp

Grant Writing Tips

www.techlearning.com/grants.html
Source: Technology & Learning

1. TIP: Leverage the funding you have. Often state and federal funds may be used for more than one purpose. For example, the No Child Left Behind Act encourages districts to leverage federal funds by allowing the movement of money from one Title to another. Since grantors favor proposals that demonstrate applicants are making the best use of existing funds, be sure your budget narrative shows how existing funding will be used to help support the proposal.

2. TIP: Be creative in your infrastructure solutions. For example, do you have a surplus of outdated or donated computers? Propose using these to build a thin client network which can cut costs for equipment and technical support. Need funds to maintain and/or upgrade software? Write bulk application software purchases into the grant to save on licensing fees.

3. TIP: Identify local foundations that support education initiatives. Competition for national foundation funds is fierce, but many smaller corporations offer small grants to local schools. Identify and contact corporations in your area to learn more about their community support initiatives.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

July 1 Newsline published online

July Missouri Rural Development Partnerships
Committee Meeting (1:15 pm-3:30 pm)
Governor Office Building, Room 316, Jefferson City, MO

July 25 Newsline articles due

FROM THE MAILBAG

InfoSource Announces 'Integrating Technology in the Classroom' Grant Program
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb249852.htm

InfoSource Inc. is accepting applications for its grant program that will award up to

$2.5 million in online tools and training to school districts. The InfoSource Integrating Technology in the Classroom Grant Program aims at supporting "in need" school districts across the nation by providing the tools and technology needed to improve digital literacy skills for both teachers and students, simplify and enhance the learning process, and make computers and the Internet an integral part of the classroom.

Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant Program
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2005-2/062105d.html

Organization: U.S. Department of Education
Eligibility: School districts
Value: $27 million total
Deadline: July 29, 2005

The Emergency Response and Crisis Management grant competition provides $27 million to support school districts' efforts in improving and strengthening their school emergency response and crisis management plans, including training school personnel, students, and parents in emergency response procedures, and coordinating with local law enforcement, public safety, health, and mental health agencies. The department expects to make 100 awards ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.

Online Classroom Network Set to Launch Major Chinese-English Language, Learning Portal

ePALS Classroom Exchange will launch a Chinese-English Language and Learning Portal in September, enabling its 103,000 global classrooms to connect with Chinese schools in a teacher-supervised online environment. Initially, the focus will be on matching 60,000 English-speaking K-12 schools in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland with schools in China, allowing Chinese teachers and students to practice English language skills while English-speaking schools learn Chinese history, culture, and, language. The company will integrate basic Chinese and English language learning tools into the portal as well as the company's proprietary school-safe, multi-lingual e-mail and eMentoring tools to power the collaboration between classrooms.

Polycom Launches Honors Education Program to Expand, Enhance E-Learning

Polycom Inc. has announced the launch of its Honors Education Program, providing beneficial services, training, and curriculum to educational institutions to expand usage and enhance collaborative communications for distance and interactive learning.

The Honors Education Program includes a membership in the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) and specialized interactive videoconferencing awareness training and curriculum content provided by the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC). Customers will benefit from the resources of both organizations providing a gateway to build stronger distance learning programs. The Honors Education Program also provides special pricing through Polycom Certified Resellers to educational customers who purchase Polycom products, including MGC bridges, voice and classroom video solutions, and support services.

INTERNET SITES OF INTEREST

Computer Capers
http://www.buddyproject.org/capers/default.asp

Here is a huge resource for computer/technology activities that can easily be incorporated into either your computer lab time, or any of your current areas of study across the curriculum. Simply define your parameters with grade and topic, then submit for a wide variety of technology-based exercises.

Constitution Resources
http://www.ed.gov/free/constitution/index.html

Features tools for learning about the U.S. Constitution. Meet the 55 delegates who gathered in Philadelphia in May 1787 to rewrite the Articles of Confederation. Learn what issues they faced. Discover the sources that inspired them. Read the essays printed in New York City papers urging ratification of their proposal. Explore a 200-year timeline showing the impact of their work, the Constitution, on our history. Search the Constitution and see explanations of 300 topics. (multiple agencies)

Centuries of Citizenship: A Constitutional Timeline
http://www.constitutioncenter.org/timeline/

An interactive timeline of events marking more than 200 years of our constitutional history. These events tell the evolving story of our Constitution and the role it continues to play in our lives. See headlines, hear debates, explore maps and graphs. (NCC)

Constitution of the U.S.
http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/constitution.html

Recounts how the Constitution was created and ratified. Learn about the Bill of Rights. Read biographies of the Founding Fathers -- the 55 delegates who gathered in Philadelphia (May 1787) to revise the Articles of Confederation but drafted an entirely new plan of government. (NARA)

Interactive Constitution
http://www.constitutioncenter.org/constitution/

Search the Constitution and find relevant passages and explanations. Discover how the Constitution relates to more than 300 topics, from civil rights to school prayer, including Supreme Court decisions. (NCC)

United States Constitution
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Constitution.html

Includes notes George Washington wrote on his copy of the Constitution, his diary at the Constitutional Convention, an essay on Madison's role in the Constitutional Convention, Madison's notes on the debates, Jefferson's letter to Madison expressing his opinions on the new Constitution and his belief that a Bill of Rights was needed, and more. (LOC)

Seeing Math
http://seeingmath.concord.org/resources.html

Features a math curriculum, professional development for teachers, and software "interactives." The interactives, available on the web, clarify key algebra concepts. They help students see connections between symbolic and graphic representations of quadratic functions, linear functions, piecewise linear functions, and more. (ED)

Dinosaurs
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/dinosaurs/

Helps students answer questions about dinosaurs: What makes a dinosaur "a dinosaur"? Where did they live? What caused their mass extinction? Students can participate in a virtual dinosaur discovery, follow milestones in dinosaur evolution, and see behind-the-scenes slideshows of the lab environment where vertebrate specimens are prepared for exhibits and research.

Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/dinosaurs/

Updates what we know about dinosaurs from recent studies of their tracks, how they moved, and their unusual body parts (e.g., spikes, armor). "Extinction" examines the mass extinction 65 million years ago -- the possible causes, how many of the plants and animals alive at that time died out, and which dinosaurs survived. Interviews with paleontologists are included. (AMNH,SI)

Life of a Vertebrate Fossil
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/LVF/#start

Traces the journey of fossils from discovery to display. Find out what paleontologists do in each stage a vertebrate fossil's life. Learn about digging fossils, getting them to the laboratory, preparing them for research and exhibition, and understanding what they say about past life. (NMNH,SI)

Sustainable Development Education
http://www.concord.org/research/sustainable.html

Provides models, curricula, and professional development materials for learning about managing trade-offs between resource use and quality of life. Software is offered to help clarify key principles of sustainable thinking, including a spatial modeling and visualization tool for community design and an ecological footprint calculator. (ED)

Newest eThemes

Literature: "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001603.shtml

These websites are about the book "Bridge to Terabithia" and author Katherine Paterson. Visit the author's official website to learn about her life. On one website you can hear the author read an excerpt from the book. Also includes resources on death, grief, and friendship. There are links to eThemes Resources on bridges and dreams.

Literature Awards: Beehive Award Nominees for Children's Fiction 2004-2005
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001615.shtml

Here is information about the children's fiction books nominated for Utah's Beehive Award in 2004-2005. Includes author biographies, book reviews, and lesson plans. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on the Mark Twain Award, which is Missouri's version of the competition.

Literature Awards: Beehive Award Nominees for Children's Fiction 2005-2006
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001605.shtml

These links include information about the children's fiction books that were nominated for Utah's Beehive Award in 2005-2006. Includes author biographies, book reviews, and lesson plans. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on the Mark Twain Award, which is Missouri's version of the competition.

Literature Awards: Beehive Award Nominees for Young Adult Books 2004-2005
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001609.shtml

Here is information about the nominees for Utah's Beehive Literature Awards for young adults. Young adults in Utah nominated their favorite books for this award. There are biographies of the authors, lesson plans, excerpts, and reviews of the books. Includes a link to Missouri's Gateway Readers Award.

Literature Awards: Gateway Readers Award Nominees 2004-2005
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001608.shtml

These sites are about the Gateway Readers Award Nominees for 2004-2005. This is a contest where Missouri students in grades 9-12 vote on their favorite book. The sites include biographies of the authors, book discussion guides, lesson plans, reviews, and excerpts. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on Utah's Beehive Awards.

Literature Awards: Mark Twain Award Nominees 2005-2006
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001613.shtml

These sites are about the Mark Twain Award nominees for 2005-2006. Includes biographies for the authors, plus some book excerpts, reviews, and activities. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on Utah's version of the award, the Beehive Book Awards for Children's Fiction.

Math: Geometry: Circumference
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001606.shtml

Learn how to calculate the circumference of a circle also known as a perimeter of a circle. Find out what radius and diameter are and how to find their values. There are links to eThemes Resources on perimeter and pi number. Includes an animation, interactive exercises, quizzes, and worksheets.

Teaching Tips: Interviews
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001612.shtml

These sites focus on interviews which relate to information gathering. There are sites about interviewing skills, interview processes, and interview questions. A lesson plan and an online exercise are included. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on Interviewing Senior Citizens and Grandparents.

Teaching Tips: Questioning
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001611.shtml

These sites provide information to improve student's questioning skills. Learn how to ask good questions and how those questions improve learning. Includes activities to practice questioning skills and examples of good questions

U.S. Symbols: Liberty Bell
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001607.shtml

These sites focus on one of the nation's most famous symbols, the Liberty Bell. Learn the history of the symbol, its significance, and meaning. Maps, photos, an audio clip, a quiz, and a lesson plan are included. There are links to eThemes Resources on National Symbols, Declaration of Independence, and Independence Day.

Learning Disabilities
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001587.shtml

Find out about learning disabilities among school children including dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Learn their symptoms and discover how children with these types of disorders can succeed in school. Includes a self-evaluation test, lesson plans, tips and suggestions for teachers and parents, success stories, and online artwork gallery.

Videoconferencing
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001598.shtml

Find out the benefits of videoconferencing. Learn about different types of videoconferencing, equipment, participating companies, and classroom layouts. Learn how to prepare, plan, set up a room, start and end videoconferencing. Includes images and video files of examples of successful videoconferences, tips for teachers, and in-class projects and activities.

Famous People: Sojourner Truth
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001604.shtml

These sites focus on the life and works of Sojourner Truth who fought for freedom from slavery and women's rights. Biography, historical pictures, timelines, a speech, narrative, and classroom activities are included. Also includes links to eThemes Resources on the Slave Trade, Civil War, and Women.

Literature Awards: Beehive Award Nominees for Young Adult Books 2005-2006
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001605.shtml

These links include information about the nominees for Utah's Beehive Literature Awards for young adults. There are biographies and interviews with the authors, excerpts, discussion questions, and reviews for the books. Includes a link to Missouri's equivalent of the award, the Gateway Reader's Award.

Literature Awards: Gateway Readers Award Nominees 2005-2006
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001601.shtml

These sites are about the Gateway Readers Award Nominees for 2005-2006. This is a contest in which Missouri students in grades 9-12 vote on their favorite book. The sites include biographies of the authors, book discussion guides, reviews, and excerpts. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on Utah's Beehive Awards.

Plants: Propagation
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001600.shtml

Learn about plant or vegetative propagation. Find out about propagation methods, type of plants to which they are applied, propagation seasons, and gardeners' tools used for propagation. Find out how to propagate houseplants, flowers, and woody plants. Includes images, video, propagation charts, and a lesson plan. There are resources on gardening and plant science.

Crafts: Around the World
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001614.shtml

These sites include craft activities from other cultures. There are links to eThemes resources on U.S. Cultures from Around the World, Hands-On Activities, and Halloween Crafts and Games.

Cultures from Around the World
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001610.shtml

Learn about different cultures from around the world found in our country. Find out the traditions, holidays, languages, folktales, and mythology. Discover what each nation brings to the culture of the United States. Includes photographs, games, video, and audio. There are links to the eThemes Resources on crafts from around the world, Native American culture, European and African heritage in Missouri, and more.

Landscape Design
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001619.shtml

These sites offer basic principles, tips, and ideas on how to design an attractive backyard landscape. Find out how to plan the yard layout, choose the right plants and vegetables, select colors, and decorative ornaments. Includes quizzes, audio, and video. There are links to eThemes Resources on gardening and propagation.

Literature Awards: Coretta Scott King Award 2005
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001621.shtml

These websites are about the Coretta Scott King award, and the books, authors, and illustrators that received the award in 2005. Includes lesson plans, book reviews, and illustrations and excerpts from the books.

Literature Awards: Michael L. Printz 2005
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001620.shtml

Find out which books won the 2004 Michael L. Printz award. The award is given by the American Library Association to books for young adults that exemplify literary excellence. Includes author information, activities, and excerpts from the books. There are links to eThemes on other book awards for young adult novels.

Literature Awards: Show Me Readers Award Nominees 2004-2005 http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001618.shtml

These websites are about the books and authors nominated for the Show Me Readers Award in 2004-2005. Find out which books were nominated and which books won. Read more about the authors. Also includes activities, lesson plans, and book reviews.

Literature Awards: Show Me Readers Award Nominees 2005-2006 http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001617.shtml

These websites are about the books and authors nominated for the Show Me Readers Award in 2005-2006. Find out which books were nominated, and read more about the authors. Also includes activities, lesson plans, and book reviews.

Updated eThemes

Math: Geometry: Symmetry
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000202.shtml

These sites offer many examples of how symmetry works in a variety of shapes. Find out the difference between reflection and rotational symmetry. Includes interactive sites that let you draw symmetrical shapes and manipulate them. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on tessellations.

Math: Pattern Blocks and Tangrams
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000853.shtml

This is a collection of sites about pattern blocks and tangrams. There are several interactive sites that allow you to manipulate blocks and tangrams online. Also includes hands-on classroom activities that focus on polygons, area, angles, fractions, and patterns. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on geometric shapes.

Math: Telling Time
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000224.shtml

These sites help students read digital and analog clocks. There are several online games and printable pages for students to practice telling time. Includes links to eThemes Resources on elapsed time and time zones.

Math: Tessellations
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000511.shtml

These sites explain how to create tessellations with polygons using rotation and reflection. Also includes information about artist M.C. Escher and examples of his tessellation artwork. There are several interactive games for manipulating patterns online. Includes a link to eThemes resources on pattern blocks and tangrams, shapes, and symmetry.

Natural Disasters: Relief Efforts
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000390.shtml

A collection of sites describing natural disasters and various relief efforts. Provides preparation and clean-up tips and how to protect family animals. Includes games and quizzes about natural disasters. eThemes Resources on specific disasters are included.

Natural Disasters: Volcanoes
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000237.shtml

These sites have information and facts about volcanoes. Learn about volcanoes throughout history and how to construct volcano models. Many sites are interactive and include video clips or live Webcams.

Egypt: Pyramids
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000094.shtml

Explore these sites to learn about the ancient Egyptian pyramids. Includes illustrations and interactive sites. There are links to eThemes Resources on angles and triangles, Modern Egypt, and ancient culture.

Bubbles and Water Tension
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000091.shtml

How to make bubbles, the history of bubbles, and different bubble formula recipes.

Geography: Continents
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000037.shtml

Develop map skills by learning about the seven continents of the world. Includes interactive quizzes to test basic geography knowledge of the continents. There are links to eThemes Resources on Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, South America, and oceans.

Math: Geometry: Angles and Triangles
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000371.shtml

Learn about angles and triangles. See examples of acute, obtuse, and right angles as well as equilateral, isosceles, and scalene triangles. Find out several rules of angles, triangles, and Pythagorean Theorem. Includes classroom activities, quizzes, and animated movies on triangles. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on shapes.

Math: Geometry: Area
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001227.shtml

These sites explain how to calculate the area of circles, triangles, rectangles, trapezoids, and parallelograms. Includes many practice problems and interactive games. There is also a link to blank grid paper so students can calculate the area of the shapes they draw. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on perimeter and circumference.

Math: Geometry: Perimeter
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000278.shtml

These sites include activities and lesson plans for measuring perimeter. The sites include interactive exercises, quizzes, games, and worksheets. There are eThemes Resources on area of polygons and circumference.

Math: Geometry: Shapes
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000201.shtml

These sites are about shapes including quadrilaterals and polygons. Includes definitions and examples of various shapes in everyday life. There are interactive sites with games, manipulatives, and animated movies. Includes links to eThemes Resources on symmetry, triangles, lines, and tessellations.

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 sales prices, commissions, and restaurant tips. There are many online quizzes, interactive games, word problems, and worksheets. Includes links to eThemes Resources on decimals and fractions.

DESE 3370-34 7/05