Q: “Why
do schools have to complete the Census? How are the data used,
and how are schools held accountable?”
A: The
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and Title II, Part D (Ed Tech
Program) have specific goals that districts and states are
expected to meet, with two of these expected to be in place
this school year. Districts are to have 1) technology
integrated into core curricula by December 31, 2005, and 2)
mechanisms in place to ensure students are technology literate
at the end of their eighth grade by June 30, 2006. The Census of
Technology (COT) is the mechanism by which the Department
collects school data for reporting on the state’s progress in
meeting these goals to the U.S. Department of Education (ED).
Just as important, COT data are used to monitor progress toward
meeting the goals and objectives of the state education
technology plan. The state plan is aligned to national program
goals, while also reflecting the state’s vision, goals, and
objectives.
The implication
for a district or school is that there is evidence to support
local COT responses. For the state to report data with any
confidence, the Department defined key terms so everyone
operates under a common understanding of those terms. These
technology integration and use definitions set by the Department
are provided in the Core Data Manual, under instructions for
completing the COT – Screens 30 and 31.
First is the
issue of education technology standards (District Census
item 2). Having local, board-approved standards is important
because standards define a common agreement on what ought to be
taught and learned, provide guidelines for developing
curriculum, and guide teacher and student behavior. The Show-Me
Curriculum Standards have technology embedded, and a great many
of the districts indicate using the Show-Me technology
standards. However, there are only a few technology standards,
and they are broad in scope and not readily defined. For these
reasons, the 2002 Missouri State Educational Technology
Strategic Plan (METSP) adopted the National Educational
Technology Standards (NETS). The International Society for
Technology in Education (ISTE) directed the NETS projects that
established specific standards for students, teachers, teacher
education programs, and school administrators. The NETS for
students itemizes expected student behaviors by grade spans.
The eMINTS
(enhancing Missouri’s Instructional Networked Instructional
Teaching Strategies) instructional model and the NETS provide
the bases for how the Department defines curriculum
integration (District Census item 6). Schools teaching from
curricula aligned with the state’s definition and/or widely
implementing the eMINTS instructional model meet the curriculum
integration requirement. The eMINTS model consists of
extensive professional development and on-going support for
teachers as they integrate multimedia technology into
inquiry-based, student-centered, and collaborative teaching
practices that are standards-based and result in higher levels
of student performance.
Education
technology standards and technology curriculum integration
provide the underpinnings and guide development of teacher
technology skills (School Building Census item 2), fully
integrated teaching strategies (School Building Census items
3 and 18), and
student technology literacy (District Census item 8).
Schools implementing eMINTS, or an eMINTS-like model, would also
meet the teacher and student technology literacy standards. The
eMINTS comprehensive professional development program for
teachers is aligned with the NETS and establishes expected
competency levels. In 2005, eMINTS became the first program to
receive the ISTE Seal of Alignment and cited as the only program
to meet all 23 of the NETS for teachers.
A district that
does not have such a program, or only has eMINTS in a few
classrooms, grades or buildings, is advised to examine the state
definitions for technology integration and use (as provided in
the Core Data Manual), and compare the state descriptions with
district curriculum guides, classroom syllabi, prevailing
instructional practices, as well as expected student behaviors
and work products. Should a district be asked to provide
documentation that supports COT responses, evidentiary documents
would include teacher or professional development instructor
observations, teacher and/or student work artifacts or
portfolios, survey results, test scores, course grades, and the
like.
There is a
multitude of online resources and materials to help schools
collect local data on teacher and student use of technology to
enhance teaching and learning. Various schools in the state are
already familiar with Profiler, an online survey service
provided through the High Plains Regional Technology in
Education Consortium (HPR*TEC), and TAGLIT, the survey used in
Missouri’s Technology Leadership Academies. The State
Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), with
assistance from the Metiri group and support from the U.S.
Department of Education, created the PETI tools – Profiling
Educational Technology Integration: Resources for Assessing
Readiness and Use. SuccessLink recently began work to automate
data collection and reporting for the PETI district, school, and
teacher surveys, and should have these available soon for
Missouri school use.
Many schools
have also been looking into testing to “certify” student and/or
teacher technology literacy. While there is no federal or state
mandate requiring literacy examinations, there has been a lot of
press in the last two to three years about testing services,
technology businesses, and education technology organizations
creating literacy tests for K-12 use. Such schools may be
interested in the Assess 21 resource that provides a database of
instruments assessing “21st century skills”,
including technology literacy. See:
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/assess21/.
Speak Up Event
2005
NetDay is pleased to
announce its third annual Speak Up event. Teachers and
students are invited to take the online Speak Up survey to
contribute to a national dialogue about technology use and
needs and the development of 21st
century skills. The goal of Speak Up events is both to
gather national data and to encourage participants to use
their data to inform local decision-making. NetDay grants
schools and districts access to their aggregate data through
a password-protected website to encourage them to consider
stakeholder views on technology and 21st
century skills. To learn about this and previous Speak Up
Events, go to
http://www.NetDay.org.
-
The online survey will
be open October 21 – November 18, 2005.
-
Schools and districts
can register for the event starting September 15.
Show-Me
TechKnowledge Day 2006
Mark Your Calendars –
The Missouri Educational Technology Professionals
Association (METPA) announces the 5th annual Show-Me
TechKnowledge Day will be held in the Third Floor Rotunda of
the Capitol, on January 18, 2006. Students, from
kindergarten to high school, are invited to enter exhibits
and presentations that illustrate how technology is used in
Missouri schools to enhance learning and improve student
achievement. Look for invitations to be mailed to schools in
the near future!
Imagine a
Technology Blackout Day 2006
Mark Your Calendars – The State Educational Technology
Directors Association (SETDA) has targeted January 20, 2006
as the kick-off for the national
Imagine a Technology Blackout Day. Like in 2005, the
2006 event will have a 30-day open window for participation.
Last year, over 3,500 students and teachers participated
nationwide. Look for more details to be shared soon!
Funding News
Year 2004 –
On September 20, the SLD issued Wave 34 of funding commitment
decision letters, committing over $3.1 million in ten letters to
school and library applicants. Funding for Wave 34 included funding
for PRIORITY ONE (telecommunications services and Internet access)
and for PRIORITY TWO (internal connections) at the 81% and above
discount level. To date, the SLD has committed over $2.298 billion
in over 32,400 letters. For more information on FY2004 funding, see:
http://www.sl.universalservice.org/funding/y2004/waves/default.asp.
Year 2005 – On September 28, the SLD
issued Wave 14 of funding commitment decision letters for Funding
Year 2005 that provides support for services delivered from July 1,
2005 through June 30, 2006. In this wave, the SLD committed over
$20.7 million in 728 letters to school and library applicants. The
funding associated with this wave includes funding for PRIORITY ONE
(telecommunications services and Internet access) services ONLY. To
date, the SLD has committed over $647.8 million in more than 15,800
letters. 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, see:
http://www.sl.universalservice.org/funding/y2005/waves/default.asp
SLD
posts fall training slides for FY 2006
In mid-September, the SLD posted four PowerPoint presentations
intended to be used in the fall’s training sessions. These materials
address the nuts and bolts of the E-rate program, eligible products
and services, new procedures, and updated system enhancements. While
much of the information applies to FY 2006, some of the information
affects earlier funding years – such as program compliance 2005.
See:
http://www.sl.universalservice.org/training/2005_training.asp.
FCC looks to E-rate aid for
Katrina-affected schools
The Federal Communications Commission, announced the FCC intends
to harness the federal E-rate program to restore telecommunications
services to schools and libraries affected by Hurricane Katrina. In
his September 22 statement to the Senate Commerce, Science, and
Transportation Committee, FCC chair Kevin J. Martin said the FCC can
authorize $96 million in E-rate funds for the approximately 600
schools and libraries in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama hit by
the hurricane. The application period would be reopened for the 2005
funding year to allow these entities to amend their requests for
E-rate aid. He added that millions more from the $2.5 billion
program will be available for schools and libraries that serve
evacuees. They, too, will be allowed to amend their E-rate
applications to account for unexpected increases in enrollment and
population.
Civil Rights group urges Congress to close the
“Digital Divide”
In late September, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
hosted a discussion and released new research on the digital divide.
A study conducted by the University of California – Santa Cruz found
that Blacks and Latinos are much less likely than white, non-Latinos
to have access to home computers and Internet access from home. To
solve the digital divide, executive director of the Leadership
Conference, Wade Henderson, suggested that Congress fully fund the
E-rate program and expand it to cover advanced telecom services.
Further, he suggested that providers such as cable and VoIP become
more equal players in contributing to the fund.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Comments due by October 18 <reminder>
On June 14, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) posted a
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) related to the administration,
management, and oversight of the Universal Service Fund (USF),
including the E-Rate program. The NPRM will not have an immediate
impact on the functioning of the E-Rate program, as initial comments
to the FCC are not due until October 18. However, the inquiry may
alter or further delay Congress’ efforts to reform the USF and
E-Rate through the legislative process. The NPRM can be found on
pages 41658-41678 of the Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 138 for July
20, 2005. See:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
National Center for Technological Literacy
launched
The National Center for Technological Literacy
(NCTL) goal is to integrate engineering as a new discipline in
schools nationwide and inspire the next generations of engineers and
innovators. It fosters learning about how technologies are created
and used, offers educational products and programs for preK-12
students and teachers, creates curricula, supports an online
resource center, and engages in partnership and outreach with other
institutions. To learn more about the NCTL educator resources
center, including the curricular materials and professional
development, see:
http://www.mos.org/doc/1505.
Digital
literacy summit report released
Last spring, the New Media Consortium, working with Adobe
Systems and The George Lucas Educational Foundation, convened a
summit of thought leaders to spur the expansion of visual,
aural, and digital-literacy awareness and programs across K-12
and higher education. The summit led to the publication of a new
report, "A Global Imperative: The Report of the 21st
Century Literacy Summit." This document includes a discussion of
five strategic priorities designed to encourage, stimulate,
model, and use twenty-first-century literacy skills and methods.
For more information and the full report, go to:
http://www.nmc.org/summit
Study targets effectiveness of student electronic portfolios
The Researching Electronic
Portfolios: Learning, Engagement, Collaboration through
Technology (REFLECT) Initiative is a two-year project designed
to research how e-portfolios can provide evidence of deep
learning, the essential conditions for use of e-portfolios, and
benefits and challenges in using e-portfolios. Inaugurated prior
to the 2005 NECC and headed by expert Helen Barrett and
underwritten by TaskStream, the project allows participating
institutions to design their own portfolio programs with help
from experts. Researchers will focus mainly on high school
sophomores and juniors, collecting data from surveys, on-site
observations, online discussions, journals, and student
performance-bases assessments. See:
http://www.taskstream.com
MOREnet NEWS
MOREnet Videoconferencing Services
Experience Significant Growth During the 2005-2006 School Year
submitted by: Eric Nicklas,
MOREnet K-12 TNP Program Manager
This year MOREnet is
experiencing significant growth in the use of its videoconferencing
service as more MOREnet members are selecting videoconferencing as a
means to deliver events and content to participants throughout the
state. At this time last year, MOREnet was supporting 130
videoconferences on a weekly basis. Currently, MOREnet supports 300
videoconferences per week, for a one-year increase of more than 120
percent.
The course topics being delivered are of a wide variety and include
but are not limited to physics, college algebra, history, business,
English, French, Spanish, German, psychology, anatomy, ACT prep, and
statistics.
The MOREnet members delivering and receiving these courses are of
all shapes and sizes. The MOREnet member content providers are
located throughout the state. MOREnet members such as Missouri State
University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis to smaller K-12
school districts such as Prairie Home R-V and Couch R-I are
regularly delivering and receiving courses through
videoconferencing.
“Maximizing Your Investment in Videoconferencing”
presented by CILC
To assist with supporting the
growth in videoconferencing, MOREnet is working with the Center for
Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) to provide two
videoconference events and one Web seminar entitled “Maximizing Your
Investment in Videoconferencing.” These sessions will be available
to MOREnet members as a videoconference (eight-site limit per date)
on Oct. 20 and Nov. 2 with the same sessions being presented in a
Web seminar format on Nov. 10. All sessions will be two hours and
start at 2 p.m. To register for these events, visit
http://www.more.net/conferences/seminars/genevents.html
MOREnet Video Meeting Rooms
Along with providing
videoconference services that support course delivery, MOREnet also
provides Video Meeting Rooms. The Video Meeting Room makes setting
up impromptu videoconferences easy and is designed to provide quick
access to multipoint videoconferencing without the 48-hour advance
notice normally needed.
Meeting Rooms are set up on a first-come, first-served basis and up
to six sites may participate in each Meeting Room videoconference.
The default conference length is two hours.
To request access to a Meeting Room, call MOREnet Video Services on
the day you need the room. Video Services staff will configure the
room during the phone call and give you instructions to forward to
the other participants. Video Meeting Rooms are available at no cost
to MOREnet members who have an active Video Service Level Agreement
(SLA).
For additional information on MOREnet Videoconferencing Services,
visit
http://www.more.net/services/video/videooverview.html.
Programs Available Through Cooperating School Districts
Submitted by Ruth
Litman-Block, Director, Virtual Learning Center
The Virtual Learning Center
at Cooperating School Districts (CSD) helps you use your wired
classroom to its fullest advantage. Studies show that students are
more motivated to learn in an interactive environment. CSD offers
several opportunities for you to make the most of computers, virtual
tours and the web through our many programs and services.
We offer a wide variety of videoconferences and programs through New
Links to New Learning. Practical Anatomy for K-12, sponsored by
Adventures in Medicine and Science (AIMS), Lewis and Clark Then and
Now, and the ACT Prep Classes sponsored by Princeton Review are just
a few. CSD offers multi-point connections and technical
support through our partnership with MOREnet. Districts throughout
the state may participate in CSD’s distance learning programs. Go to
http://www.csd.org/newlinks/newlinks.htm and click on
program description and choose a field trip to go on. Here is your
chance to try our service. Call or email Rebecca Polityka,
314-692-1274 or
rpolityka@csd.org Districts such as Sullivan,
Kennett and Caruthersville are currently taking part in the
Princeton Review ACT review opportunity. Students have improved as
much as five points on their ACT scores giving them an opportunity
for scholarships and entrance into the college of their choice.
Students visit with world renowned authors, including Patricia
McKissack, and Carolyn Lesser, and local poet Connie McIntyre. We
also offer programs for staff development in Character Education,
Mental Health Issues and Copyright Issues. Through
videoconferencing, Parkway School District will travel to eight
countries including Japan and Brazil to discuss global issues
relating to HIV/AIDS.
After a booming first appearance last year, our Show-Me a Movie
Contest is returning. Show-Me a Movie is a digital storytelling
contest for Missouri students in grades 3-12 to demonstrate their
creativity and digital moviemaking skills. Based on curriculum and
with a content focus, the videos will showcase what students know,
care about, and are able to do. Join us in this fun event! Prizes
will be awarded to the different divisions of each category, and the
winners of these two minute student-made videos will be shown at the
Midwest Education Technology Conference (METC). Deadline for entry
is December 19, 2005. View winners from last year and find
guidelines for the contest at
http://www.csd.org/showmemovie/index.htm For more
information, call or email Martha Bogart at 314-692-1258 or
mbogart@csd.org
Our annual Midwest Education Technology Conference (METC) will be
held in St. Louis, MO, at the Sheraton Westport, January 30, 31 and
February 1, 2006. We have several strands for all educators
including digital media, instructional technology, distance
learning, library media, data-driven, technology leadership, and
technology nuts and bolts. New strands include special education and
learning from students, as well as a special breakfast for
superintendents and board members. Our keynote speakers are Annette
Lamb, senior lecturer and Adjunct Professor for Online Course
Development from Indiana University and Diane Lewis, Education
Consultant. Our featured speakers include Michael Butler,
Professional Development Manager for UMSL; Brian Friedlander, School
Pshychologist, Assistive Tek, LLC; Tom March, Web-based Educator,
Ozline.com; Susan Silverman, Adjuct Professor, New York Institute of
Technology; and Bernajean Porter, International Consultant, BJP
Consulting. Find out more and register at
http://www.csd.org/metc2006.htm For more information call or
email, Nancy George at 314-692-1251 or
ngeorge@csd.org
New Features For
MarcoPolo
Web Site
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/home.aspx
Submitted
by the MCI Foundation MarcoPolo Program
MarcoPolo is on the
move! New features and future plans promise to make the
MarcoPolo resources more useful and more engaging then ever.
First things first…What is MarcoPolo?
As defined on the
About page of the MarcoPolo Web site, MarcoPolo: Internet
Content for the Classroom is a nonprofit consortium of premier
national and international education organizations and the MCI
Foundation dedicated to providing the highest quality Internet
content and professional development to teachers and students
throughout the United States. First launched in 1997 as a
collection of standards-based, discipline-specific educational
Web sites for K-12 teachers, MarcoPolo features:
· seven
content Web sites with lesson plans, student interactive
content, downloadable worksheets, links to panel-reviewed
Web sites and additional resources created by the nation's
leading education organizations.
· a
scalable professional development program that has
registered over 200,000 teachers trained in all 50 states
and the District of Columbia by world-class trainers and
materials.
· a
network of state partners dedicated to rolling out MarcoPolo
to all teachers and aligning the content to state education
standards.
· leading
edge diagnostic measurement and technology that enables
state-of-the-art tracking and reporting to ensure that
teachers' Internet integration needs are being met across
the country.
What's in the Pipeline?
At the recent
National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), Content
Partners presented their plans for new resources in the 2005-06
school year, which were reported in the Summer 2005 special
edition of the
MarcoPolo News. These plans include an increase in
interactive activities for students as well as greater breadth
and depth of resources to support key areas of study.
The
following preview is reprinted with permission from that
article.
"Immersive" arts experiences are at the heart of
The Kennedy Center's new
content development for
ARTSEDGE. Plans include a major exploration of Hip Hop with
dance legend Rennie Harris, a set of major interactive resources
in support of the Kennedy Center's Festival of China and a
Musical Map exploring world rhythms, melodies and voices.
Out-of-the-desktop technology components – like handheld Flash
applications and geo-caching – will support new content, while
Podcasting and video interviews with performers and producers
will offer students and teachers ARTSEDGE's trademark peek
behind the scenes.
The
National Council on Economic Education is further
developing its CyberTeach component for
EconEdLink. Soon CyberTeach will include a "MyEconEdLink"
portal that affords teachers their own workspace to organize
resources and lessons. An online daily calendar linking to
relevant EconEdLink lessons is also planned, along with a
listing of interactive activities that teachers and students can
use to illustrate economic concepts. Recent additions to the
CyberTeach component include correlations between EconEdLink
lessons and economic standards for all 48 states that have them,
accessible through an interactive map in the "Teaching
Resources" section.
This year
EDSITEment will post a series of American history lesson
plans, sponsored by the “We the People Project” of the
National Endowment for the
Humanities. The lessons cover the Colonial period,
the American Revolution, Sectionalism, The Civil War, World War
II and the Cold War. Student interactive tools under development
for these lessons include interactive maps, a text annotation
tool, an image annotation tool and a student portfolio tool.
These tools will be adaptable for other lessons. A Student
LaunchPad has been created to house student exercises, making it
easier for teachers to assign the online student component of an
EDSITEment lesson.
The National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics
is working to develop 100 new
Illuminations lessons by next June, along with several new
student activities. While student interactives previously were
developed using Java only, new ones will use QuickTime,
Shockwave and Flash. Work is underway to enhance the look, feel
and navigation of the Illuminations Web site, which will have an
improved search function and feature "highlighted lessons" with
selections updated on a regular basis.
ReadWriteThink plans to increase the site’s ability to meet
the needs of English language arts teachers at all levels with a
focus on grammar, technical writing and reading comprehension.
The
International Reading Association and
National
Council of Teachers of English report that they plan to
add curricular items that teachers frequently search out for
their classrooms – such as materials focusing on a particular
author, text or genre. The design and production of interactive
materials will complement these goals by focusing on increasing
student publication options, supporting process-based literacy
activities, and providing overview, exploration and presentation
materials that are ready for classroom use.
The
American
Association for the Advancement of Science will introduce
a number of new lessons and interactives that encourage students
to take a closer look at skin and how to protect it as part of
the ongoing "Skin Deep Project" on
Science NetLinks. Other content development will cover
energy, especially fuel resources and the chemistry of fuel. New
materials that help teach about oceans, ecosystems, marshes and
storm tracking will strengthen the site's environmental literacy
resources. The new science-specific professional development
courses for teachers and trainers will be rolled out in
face-to-face sessions and the online version of the course is
expected to be finalized and launched.
This fall
Xpeditions will feature new lessons that explore the history
and current environmental issues surrounding the Chesapeake Bay
and incorporate resources from other media including The New
World feature film.
National
Geographic
reports that the first suite of lessons supporting the
"Genographic Project" is in development along with additional
lessons and activities on the theme of human migrations. Other
current projects include lessons and activities for the new King
Tut exhibit and educational materials for the March of the
Penguins feature film. A new interactive template for
student activities also is planned.
Recent Web Site Updates
Several MarcoPolo Content Partners have updated their Web sites
over the past several months including EDSITEment, EconEdLink,
Illuminations, ARTSEDGE and ReadWriteThink. For the details,
visit the
MarcoPolo Features page
Featured Resources Focus on Hurricanes
To
help students understand the causes, effects, and dangers of
hurricanes and other natural disasters, MarcoPolo has assembled
a
collection of Features Resources for K-12 teachers and
students on this timely topic. Check this page often for
featured resources and lessons developed by the MarcoPolo
Content Partners.
Teacher
Newsletter Provides Timely Resources
MarcoGrams are
valuable curriculum e-mail newsletters, distributed monthly to
educators across the country, highlighting common themes from
space exploration to family culture. Each MarcoGram features
motivating warm-ups for classroom discussion and links to the
best K-12 interdisciplinary lessons and resources from MarcoPolo
Content Partners.
National School Lunch Week, October
8-14
Presents an opportunity to learn about and discuss a
favorite topic of students--food! The
October 2005 issue,
A Celebration of Food, includes mouth-watering lessons,
links and resources on this topic. Bon appetit!
Professional Development
Opportunities
MarcoPolo offers a
variety of professional development opportunities designed to
help educators effectively utilize these resources with their
students.
Courses for teachers and trainers are offered on-site and
via distance learning options for easy access and scheduling.
MarcoPolo's training paradigm and materials are
aligned to ISTE's National Educational Standards for Teachers
(NETS-T).
http://www.cscic.state.ny.us/msisac/ncsa/oct05/
submitted by
Lanie Strange, DESE Web Master
The US Department of Homeland
Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance have declared
October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month. This site
contains great resources for schools to promote Cyber Security
Awareness Month, such as a calendar, brochure and poster templates
you can customize.
While the entire month is Awareness Month,
each week in October will have a specific focus as follows:
-
October 4-8: Home Users
-
October 11-15: Small
Businesses
-
October 18-22: State/Local
Governments, Primary and Secondary Schools, and Higher
Education
-
October 25-29: Children
Everyone is encouraged to
visit the site as a useful starting point to help increase cyber
security knowledge.
http://www.dnr.mo.gov/energy
submitted by Pat Justis,
Department of Natural ResourcesMissouri Schools Going Solar (MSGS) exists to educate students,
teachers and communities about the importance of electricity as
an energy form, the value of renewable solar energy in meeting
current and future energy needs, and solar energy technologies.
This project serves K-12 schools that have an interest in solar
electric energy and the initiative to create a partnership with
the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Energy Center,
local electric utility and the local community to install a
solar array. The solar arrays offer a great opportunity for
students, parents, teachers, governments, utilities and whole
communities to increase their awareness and familiarity with
solar electric energy technologies that are successfully in use
throughout the world.
The application deadline for the
next cycle is October 31, 2005. More details and applications
are available online at
www.dnr.mo.gov/energy
or by contacting the department’s St.
Louis Urban Outreach Office at (314) 340-5900.
METPA Fall Plans
Submitted by Dee Wieicher,
president
The Missouri Educational
Technology Professionals’ Association (METPA) is organizing again
for this year. Please look for METPA sponsored events at the fall
Enabling Learning Technology Conference in October. Sessions
sponsored by METPA will include “Issues Facing New and Experienced
Tech Directors,” “How to Write a Tech Plan,” “I Can Top That!
Stories from Tech Coordinators’ Experiences and How They Were
Handled,” and “Technology Coordinator as an Educational Leader.”
METPA will also be holding a planning session that we invite you to
attend if you would be interested in developing plans for METPA in
the future.
METPA encourages you to bring a group of students
to demonstrate how technology is being used in your districts.
Show-Me Techknowledge Day at the Capital in Jefferson City is an
important day when students show our legislators how important
technology is in the schools.
Your METPA officers for this
year are Dee Wiecher, President; Chris Rollison, Vice President;
Melody Paige, Secretary; Kevin Roberson; Treasurer; Brent Hillsman,
Communication Officer; and Ron Spicer, Parliamentarian. You may
contact METPA at
wiecher@sbcglobal.net this school year.
Show-Me Techknowledge Day Being
Planned
Submitted by Becky Chancellor,
Show-Me Techknowledge Day chair, METPA
The Show-Me Techknowledge Day held
at the State Capitol is set for January 18, 2006 from 7:00 am to
12:00 pm. This will be the fifth year students and school districts
are asked to come to the Capitol to share with the state legislators
how technology is being used in the classrooms across the state.
This is an excellent opportunity for your students to shine! The
students have the opportunity to visit with Missouri’s
decision-makers and demonstrate how technology in education is
important for each school district. With funding a relevant issue in
all schools, this is a hands-on opportunity for students and
teachers to show and tell our elected officials how districts use
and depend on technology. Applications for the event are available
at
http://www.successlink.org/showmetech/apply2005.asp.
Please submit your application today. Spots are limited.
Applications are accepted until December 6, 2005. If you have
any questions or need more information, please contact
titleroom@hotmail.com or
claranne.vogel@dese.mo.gov. METPA hopes to see as many
districts as possible on the 18th of January.
Changes for eMINTS (enhancing
Missouri’s Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies) National
Center
Summer brought a number of changes
to the eMINTS National Center. From a new office location to the
addition of classrooms and schools in more states, the program is
continuing to grow and expand.
In June 2005, the eMINTS
National Center moved to the UM-C campus. As part of the University
of Missouri Office of Academic Affairs, eMINTS staff have been able
to interact more easily with other academic units from their new
offices in 103 London Hall. Phone numbers, fax numbers and email
addresses all remain the same; only the office location has changed.
For more complete information and directions to the new eMINTS’
offices, please see
http://www.emints.org/news/index.shtml#newhome
There have been some staff changes at eMINTS as well. The
Center is pleased to announce that Sandy Falloon has joined the
staff as a full-time Communications Specialist. Sandy is responsible
for the eMINTS website, publications related to eMINTS, and serves
as administrator for eMINTS web space and discussion list.
Additionally, the Center is pleased to announce that Bill Martin has
also joined the eMINTS staff as a full-time Business Administrator.
Bill handles the fiscal responsibilities of the Center and is the
main contact for all invoicing and accounts receivable inquiries.
Michelle Kendrick has been promoted to Area Instructional Specialist
for Area 1 (the North and Central clusters) replacing Janice Friesen
who moved to Austin, Texas with her husband who joined the faculty
at the University of Texas. Carrie Bailey, formerly a teacher in
North Kansas City, has become the Cluster Instructional Specialist
for the West cluster.
eMINTS continued its expansion as a
national center with the addition of significant work in the state
of Maine this summer. Maine offered competitive Title II.D grants to
districts interested in implementing eMINTS classrooms. Nine
professional development specialists and 56 teachers began their
journey with eMINTS this August. Maine is the first state to adopt a
one-to-one laptop initiative as part of a program called the Maine
Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI)). Every 7th and 8th grade
student in the state and their teachers have laptops that they use
everyday in their classrooms. The collaboration with Maine will add
to the eMINTS National Center’s knowledge about one-to-one
initiatives and middle school implementation.
The state of
Nevada followed in late summer by providing competitive Title II.D
funds to two districts that will begin implementing eMINTS
classrooms in January 2006. With a middle school in East St. Louis,
Illinois and a consortium of districts in Ohio preparing for eMINTS
implementations, the eMINTS National Center continues to share and
collaborate with educators across the country.
In Missouri,
over 100 new eMINTS classrooms were launched in the past month. New
districts include those that received competitive Title II.D grants
last spring as well as the following districts that are implementing
eMINTS using local funds: New Franklin, Cameron, and Brentwood. The
Savannah school district is also energizing its eMINTS program using
local funds by adding at least six new eMINTS classrooms at the 4th
grade level and has a participant in the train-the-trainer program
called PD4ETS. Springfield is adding classrooms and also has a
participant in the PD4ETS program.
Watch Newsline in the
coming months for more news about eMINTS and how the program is
expanding within Missouri and across the US.
Q. When
do the eMINTS professional development attendance reports go out to
school districts?
A.
The attendance reports are sent out
quarterly based on the fiscal year. The first quarter is July,
August and September. The second quarter is October, November and
December. The third quarter is January, February and March. The
fourth quarter is April, May and June. The reports are usually sent
out within two weeks of the end of the quarter so the first quarter
reports will be sent out by October 15. The reports are sent to the
superintendent’s office in each of the participating districts.
Copies are also given to the CIS to share with teachers to make sure
there are no errors. We do our best, but occasionally an error is
found. Your CIS will know how to help you report an error in the
attendance reports. (Monica Beglau)
Q.
May an educator (e.g.,
administrator, classroom teacher, substitute teacher, or student
teacher) other district employee, volunteer, or others create and
retain a multimedia project which contains allowable portions of
copyrighted materials to be used in face-to-face instruction for an
undetermined period of time?
A. No. The project may be used for
a period of up to two years from the first instructional use with
the class. Use beyond the two-year time period, even for educational
purposes, requires permission for each copyrighted portion
incorporated in the project.
Note: If the educator does not obtain permission to use the
copyrighted portions past the initial two year period, the project
may be retained only in a personal portfolio for later personal uses
such as a tenure review or job interviews.
|
2005 |
|
|
October
3-5 |
Keystone
Conference: Interactive Videoconferencing: Igniting
Opportunities for Learning
University Place and Conference Center, Indianapolis, IN
http://www.keystoneconference.org
|
|
October
16-18 |
Missouri
Education Technology Conference: Enhancing Learning Technologies
Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO
http://www.more.net/conferences/fall2005
|
|
October
18-21 |
EDUCAUSE
2005
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
EDUCAUSE 2005,
http://www.educause.edu/e05
|
|
October
18-22 |
2005 AECT
International Convention
Association for Educational Communications and Technology
Disney Coronado Springs Resort
Orlando, FL
http://www.aect.org/events/Orlando/default.asp?clientid
|
|
October
19-21 |
The
International Student Media Festival
Disney Coronado Springs Resort
Orlando, FL
http://www.ismf.net/index.php
|
|
November
18-20 |
National
Council for the Social Studies Conference
“Social Studies: The Heart of the Curriculum”
Kansas City, MO
http://www.ncss.org/
|
|
2006 |
|
|
January
30-
February 1 |
Midwest
Education Technology Conference
(METC)
Sheraton Westport
St. Louis, MO
http://www.csd.org/metc2006.htm
|
|
February
23-25 |
Interface
A 2006: Making Connections for Student Success (Grades
K-6)
Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO
|
|
February
26-28 |
Interface
B 2006: Making Connections for Student Success (Grades
7-12)
Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO
|
|
March
22-23 |
MOREnet
Spring Connections Conference
Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO
http://www.more.net/conferences
|
|
June 17-
22 |
Teaching
and Learning Conference
Holiday Inn Select, Columbia, MO
http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curiculum/conferences/schoolleadersconf.htm
|
| October 1 |
Newsline published online
|
| October 13 |
Missouri Rural Development Partnerships
Committee Meeting (1:15 pm-3:30 pm)
Governor Office Building, Room 316, Jefferson City, MO |
| October 25 |
Newsline articles due
|
National Center for Technological Literacy Launched
http://www.mos.org/doc/1505
The
National Center for Technological Literacy’s (NCTL) goal is to
integrate engineering as a new discipline in schools nationwide and
to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators. NCTL
fosters learning about how technologies are created and used. It
offers educational products and programs for pre-K-12 students and
teachers, creates curricula, supports an online resource center, and
engages in partnership and outreach with other institutions. NCTL
works with state departments of education and teacher organizations
to facilitate the re-engineering of curricula and learning
standards.
The National Center for Technological Literacy works with educators,
administrators, organizations, and industry representatives across
the United States in the following ways.
Advocacy and
Standard Development
NCTL leadership and staff
collaborate with state leaders to help states introduce or modify
standards related to technology and engineering.
Curricular Materials
The NCTL can provide you
with access to cutting-edge curricular resources that teach
engineering and technology.
Educator Resource Center: (ERC) NCTL staff can help create an
educator resource center in your state that houses technology and
engineering curricular materials. After training by NCTL staff,
educators from your state assess the materials to evaluate how well
they meet your state’s standards. These data are available in the
online ERC so educators across the state can benefit from this
analysis.
Elementary School Materials: The Museum of Science is creating
the Engineering is Elementary: Engineering and Technology Lessons
for Children curriculum. Elementary teachers nationwide can use
these materials to teach technology and engineering concepts to
children grades 1-5.
High School Materials: The Museum of Science is also developing
the Engineering the Future: Designing the World of the 21st
Century curriculum for high school students. The student and
teacher materials encourage high school students to explore what
engineering and technology are and how they impact our society.
Professional
Development
NCTL staff work in
partnership with local or state teacher educators to provide
professional development for teachers about engineering and
technology. We adopt a train-the-trainer model, working jointly with
teacher educators to help them better understand core engineering
and technology concepts, how to most effectively communicate these
to other teachers, and how to structure and run workshops about
engineering and technology.
US Department of Education Call for Trainers:
http://www.ed.gov/teachers/
The U.S. Department of
Education has announced the formation of the Teacher-to-Teacher
Training Corps. The corps will consist of effective teachers and
practitioners who will provide on-site technical assistance and
regional workshops for teachers and districts over the next 12
months. This team is an expansion of the Teacher-to-Teacher
Workshops that have been offered in cities across the nation for the
past two summers. In order to be considered for the
Teacher-to-Teacher Training Corps, your proposal must be received by
October 10, 2005. Please visit the US DoE Web site at
http://www.ed.gov/teacherinitiative for additional information
about submitting your presentation. If selected, the U.S. Department
of Education will provide travel, accommodations, and a $1,000
honorarium for planning, preparation and participation for each
training event. You will have the flexibility to determine the level
of your participation in workshops scheduled around the country
during 2005 and 2006. More information on the Department's
Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is posted on the Web at
http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/index.html and
http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/call-trainers.html
Special Education Resource: Center for Innovations in Education,
September 2005, Now Available Online
http://www.cise.missouri.edu/publications/innovations/september-2005/index.html
This issue focuses on some
of the changes in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of
2004. An overview of the major compliance changes in the law, highly
qualified teacher requirements for special education teachers,
special education program evaluation, and focused monitoring are
topics addressed in this month's issue. The Innovations
newsletter is available in a web-based format only. Missouri
Innovations in Education is published by the Center for
Innovations in Education four times each year: September, November,
January and April. Innovations is acknowledged throughout
Missouri as a valuable source of information about educating diverse
learners.
The Center for Innovations in Special Education Course: CISE at the
University of Missouri is offering an online fall course on writing
measurable goals. Course Title: SPC ED 7401 Seminar: Writing
Measurable Goals, Benchmarks, and Objectives. Dates: October 9 -
November 12, 2005. This five-week online course familiarizes special
and general educators with the writing of measurable goals for
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) as required by the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997 and 2004.
This course may be taken for credit or for CEUs. To register, follow
this link to MU Direct:
http://mudirect.missouri.edu/catalog/courseinfo.asp?n=483
Data on Child Well-Being
http://www.kidscount.org
"KIDS COUNT”, a project of
the Annie E. Casey Foundation, released the 2005 KIDS COUNT Data
Book on July 27, 2005. The data book features ten key measures of
child well-being that it has used to track the well-being of
children since 1990. The data is used to provide state profiles of
child well-being and to rank the states. This edition also includes
several background measures related to unemployed parents in each
state. The book also includes an essay by Casey President, Douglas
W. Nelson, 'Helping Our Most Vulnerable Families Overcome Barriers
to Work and Achieve Financial Success.' The KIDS COUNT website
provides users with many state-level statistical data on children
and provides easy-to-use tools which allow users to generate custom
reports including rankings, graphs, and maps, which can be
downloaded.
SMART Launches Database of
K-12 Lesson Activities Correlated to State Standards
http://education.smarttech.com/standards.
SMART Technologies Inc.
announced the immediate availability of its new searchable database
of interactive K-12 lesson activities correlated to US state
standards. It is the first searchable database of lesson activities
for interactive whiteboards. The standards-based activities are
organized by state, subject area, grade level, and keyword for easy
searching on SMART's new Web site for educators.
The content, developed by teachers from SMART and around the world,
is available at no charge for immediate classroom use with SMART
products. SMART will continue to expand the database with more
lesson activities and teaching resources for educators using SMART
Board interactive whiteboards and SMART interactive pen displays.
Digital
Photography Contest for Students and Educators
http://news.techlearning.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/hqfo0FKmt60E2V0DK7T0E7
Technology and Learning
invites K-12 students to participate in the 5th annual
digital photography contest. This year's theme, "Express Yourself,"
encourages students to capture and share their vision with editors
and readers. The contest is open to all K-12 students who may submit
up to three digital photos electronically. Photos must be taken
between
January 1, 2005 and October 15, 2005. The entry form must be
submitted and photographs must be uploaded by midnight, October 15,
2005. Winners will be awarded prizes including Adobe Photoshop
Elements and/or Olympus digital cameras.
Along with their student photography contest, educators are invited
to enter digital photography lesson plans that teach photo
manipulation using Adobe Photoshop Elements. Top winners will be
awarded the newest version of Adobe Photoshop Elements software
along with an Adobe gift pack. Information may be found at
http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/lessons/main.html
Learning.com Products Receive ISTE Seal of Alignment
http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/Seal_of_Alignment_and_Review_Process/NETS_Review/Seal_of_Alignment/Seal_of_Alignment.htm
The International Society
for Technology in Education (ISTE) has awarded its Seal of Alignment
to each of Learning.com's educational products: EasyTech and
TechLiteracy Assessment K-8. The seal alerts educators that a
product, service, or resource is in alignment with ISTE's National
Educational Technology Standards (NETS). Ninety-eight percent of
states use NETS for Students (NETS-S) in their curriculum planning
and assessment.
The ISTE NETS Seal of Alignment Program was developed by the NETS
leadership team in conjunction with several key ISTE partners.
Educational programs and resources are rigorously evaluated by the
NETS Review Team and determined to meet specific NETS for students,
teachers, and administrators.
Annenberg/CPB
Professional Development
http://www.learner.org/about/news/news_profdev.html
The Annenberg Foundation and
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting offer teachers free
materials to facilitate their own workshops on a variety of topics,
including educational theory, foreign languages, history, math, and
science. Participants take classes alone, or in small
self-facilitated groups, by watching courses on the Annenberg/CPB
digital satellite channel, which is free to all schools.
The workshops are designed to improve participants' teaching methods
in a specific subject area. Groups of teachers who complete a
workshop together will receive a certificate of participation and
may be eligible for graduate credit. Groups must register by October
24 to be eligible for the certificate.
Grammy Signature Schools Enterprise Award
http://www.grammy.com/foundation
The Grammy Foundation awards
grants of $1,000 to $25,000 to music departments at financially
needy schools. Applicants must provide a creative or innovative
strategy that demonstrates how a one-time infusion of cash will
address a music department's problem or need. A successful applicant
will also show how the award will improve the overall quality of the
music department, so that a winning department will go on to compete
for Grammy Signature Schools status, an honor bestowed on
outstanding public high school music programs. The deadline for the
Enterprise Award is October 22, 2005.
Teachers Design Free Online Course Management System
http://www.gradeconnect.com/current/index.php
Teachers in Drexel Hill,
Pennsylvania, became dissatisfied with the costly grade book and
course management systems presently available. "We were using a
popular on-line grade book system three years ago when suddenly the
company decided to start charging money for its use," said Louis
Osinski, a computer science teacher. "Our school didn't have the
thousands of dollars required to continue using it." The solution?
They made their own!
The site, GradeConnect.com, allows teachers to securely post grades,
homework assignments, messages and more to students and their
parents. This free online grade book and course management system
can be found at gradeconnect.com. Any teacher, school, district or
system is welcome to use it.
Gradeconnect
was selected as "Site of the Week" at 4teachers.org at the
University of Kansas. It has been reviewed and is now noted on the
website of USA Today Education as a "Best Bet”. The U.S. Dept. for
Education selected Gradeconnect for EROD and it received a five star
review from Blue Web'n. Gradeconnect is currently being featured in
the September, 2005 edition of NEA Today.
Environmental Excellence Awards
http://www.seaworld.org/conservation-matters/eea/award-profiles.htm.
SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and
Fujifilm together award $10,000 to eight student and teacher groups
for outstanding environmental projects each year. The award
recognizes grassroots projects designed to protect and preserve the
environment. Winning applicants must be able to demonstrate
significant achievements that have occurred prior to the application
deadline, which is November 30. One teacher among the winning
projects will also be recognized as an outstanding environmental
educator/leader and will receive $5,000.
Shell Science Teaching Award
http://www.nsta.org/shell.
The Shell Oil Company
annually recognizes one K-12 science teacher from a public or
private school. The award is given to a teacher who has had a
positive impact on his or her students, school, and community,
through outstanding science teaching. The winner is awarded $10,000
and an all-expense-paid trip to the National Science Teachers
Association national convention. The application deadline is
November 15, 2005.
Presidential Award for Reading and Technology
http://www.reading.org/association/awards/teachers_presidential.html.
This award, sponsored by
PLATO Learning, recognizes K-12 teachers who are using technology in
reading education in innovative and outstanding ways. Regional,
national, and international winners will be selected. Awards range
from $1,000 to $2,000; the application deadline is November 15,
2005.
2006 Alan Shepard Technology In Education Award
http://www.amfcse.org/Alan%20Shepard%20Award/alan_shepard_award.htm
Think you deserve some
recognition? So do we! The Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF), in
partnership with the Space Foundation and NASA, is currently
accepting applications for the 2006 Alan Shepard Technology in
Education Award.
In a continuing effort to recognize outstanding contributions by
K-12 educators and district level personnel in the field of
educational technology, the Alan Shepard Technology in Education
Award was created in 2001. The purpose of this award is to
acknowledge individual contributions and exceptional accomplishments
in technology use.
The Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award is open to all K-12
district or school level educators from across the nation. The
award will be presented by AMF, the Space Foundation and NASA at the
22nd National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs,
Colorado in April 2006. The winner will be flown to Colorado
Springs, where hotel accommodations will be provided. The
winner will also receive a state-of-the-art Personal Digital
Assistant and a commemorative trophy with his or her name engraved.
In addition, the award winner’s name will be placed on a plaque
honoring past recipients that is housed in the Center for Space
Education at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Since the inception of this award, we have received many outstanding
applications and are appreciative of the many dedicated individuals
who are contributing to the success of integrating technology into
the educational environment.
If you or someone you know would like to submit an application for
this prestigious award, please visit the web site for the
application process. While on our web site, you can also view
information on past award winners and their contributions. If you
have applied in the past, please do not hesitate to apply again.
All applications must be postmarked on or before February 1, 2006.
So, get those applications filled out and submitted. We look
forward to seeing what innovations have been made across the nation
using technology as an educational tool. Good luck to all that
apply!
Visit 'Packetville' to Foster an Appreciation for Science and
Technology
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/edu/packetville/index.html
Cisco Systems has unveiled
an online village for students ages 8 to 14, called Packetville,
that uses interactive video games and other activities to encourage
students' interest in math, science, and information technology
(IT). The site's interactive games demonstrate some of the many ways
that technology serves useful functions worldwide, while preparing
students for higher education and careers in IT. Helping to navigate
users through Packetville are Peter and Penny Packet, animated
characters who take on the role of heroes to help clean the
environment, spread education, and promote good health, among other
activities. Packetville also includes resources for parents and
educators, including teaching aids and lesson plans that are mapped
to International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
standards. "This is a great opportunity for younger students to get
involved in technology early," said Gene Longo, senior manager of
the U.S. Cisco Networking Academy Program. "[Through] fun
activities, friendly characters, and games, students are given the
opportunity to develop a positive perspective toward math, science,
and IT. In addition, students gain a broader outlook on
technology-related careers, while developing important life skills
that will support them regardless of which education or career path
they eventually choose to pursue."
Web Site to Assist
Schools Welcoming Evacuee Students
http://tinyurl.com/9a7mm
From SchoolGrants bimonthly newsletter October, 2005 Vol. 4 No. 1
Visit
http://www.schoolgrants.org/ for more information or to
subscribe.
The US
Department of Education’s new Web site, Hurricane Help for Schools,
allows schools to post the supplies, (books, clothes, etc.) they
need to serve the displaced students. Organizations may peruse the
site to find ways to help meet the extraordinary needs of schools
suddenly faced with increased student population through donations.
Also on the site are resources and press releases related to
students displaced by Hurricane Katrina that schools may find
informative. There is also information provided for colleges and
displaced college students who receive federal grants and loans.
Disney Teacher Awards
http://disneyhandteacherawards.go.com/
From SchoolGrants bimonthly newsletter
October, 2005 Vol. 4 No. 1
Visit
http://www.schoolgrants.org/ for more information or to
subscribe.
The Disney Teacher Awards
program gives extraordinary teachers who find creative ways to
stimulate curiosity engage the imagination and pass on the joy of
learning the recognition they deserve.
Only full-time teachers are eligible to receive the awards.
Each Honoree will receive $10,000 from the Walt Disney Company and a
trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, from July 23-28, 2006, for a week
of festivities including an awards gala, professional development
and fun in the theme park. In addition, each Honoree’s school will
receive $5,000 from Disney.
Nominations will be accepted through October 15, 2005.
Data-Collection Workshops
http://www.vernier.com/workshop
Beginning this
month, Vernier Software and Technology will offer science and math
educators across the country a variety of free hands-on workshops in
data-collection technology. Educators may register at
www.vernier.com/workshop
or sign up to be notified by email when registration opens for
specific workshops. Educators will spend a four-hour session
learning how to integrate data-collection technology into their
chemistry, biology, physics, math, middle school science, physical
science, and earth science curriculum. Participants will have an
opportunity to collect data on computers, Texas Instruments graphing
calculators, and Palm OS handhelds.
Educators can earn two (quarter) graduate science credit hours
through the Portland State University Center for Science Education
(approximate cost $70 per credit hour, payable to PSU). The graduate
credit hours will be awarded to participants who attend a workshop
and elect to complete a follow-up project using electronic sensors.
A brief lesson plan and a description of how to plan to integrate
this project into a curriculum will be required.
The Missouri session
will be October 17, 2005, 4-8 p.m. at the Hilton St. Louis Airport.
Visit
http://www.vernier.com/workshop/directions/directions.html?id=683
for information and registration.
Digital Literacy: A
Global Imperative
http://www.nmc.org/summit
Last spring, the New Media
Consortium, working with Adobe Systems and The George Lucas
Educational Foundation, convened a summit of thought leaders to spur
the expansion of visual-, aural-, and digital-literacy awareness and
programs across K-12 and higher education. The summit, facilitated
by consultant David Sibbet, has led to the publication of a new
report, "A Global Imperative: The Report of the 21st Century
Literacy Summit." This ground-breaking document includes a
discussion of five strategic priorities designed to encourage,
stimulate, model, and use twenty-first-century literacy skills and
methods. For more information and the full report, go to the web
site.
Fujifilm’s Products for
Learning
http://www.productsforlearning.com .
Teachers can integrate
digital photo and film technology as part of their lesson plans
through Fujifilm's "Products for Learning." This new program works
closely with educators across the country to help expand student
creativity, improve communications skills and increase student
motivation through hands-on experience. From digital portfolios for
kindergartners and photojournalism with eighth-graders to
photo-enhancement projects with photography students at colleges and
universities, teachers can use a range of donated Fujifilm products,
such as CD-ROMs, film and digital cameras, to enhance learning in
classrooms.
The program is Fujifilm's way of rewarding individual educators who
understand the value of integrating imaging and information
technology into everyday classroom lessons. Fujifilm invites
educators to submit proposals outlining why they should receive a
Fujifilm Products for Learning project donation. Those whose
proposals are accepted will receive appropriate Fujifilm imaging and
information products to enhance and enrich the learning experience.
Student Photo Contest
http://www.toolfactory.com/olympus_contest/olympus_student.htm
Olympus and Tool Factory are
looking for the student photographers and artists of tomorrow!
Submit your favorite photograph online and become eligible to win
your share of $4,000 in prizes. Each entry will be posted on
www.clipartstat |
