January 2007

	Technology Planning and Reporting Note the following news and updates regarding the state technology plan and district technology planning and reporting requirements. State and District Technology Plans <Planning information and Upcoming Webcast> Instructional Technology staff will present an information workshop on Thursday, January 25, 2007. This session will cover the latest version of the 2007-11 Missouri Education Technology Strategic Plan (METSP), the process and requirements for receiving state-approval of district plans in spring 2007, and an update of the 2007 Census of Technology. The workshop will be broadcast over the Internet. Times, location information, and supporting materials will be housed on the Technology Planning webpage, at: http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/techplan/index.htm.
January 2007: Volume 8, Number 3

Newsline Submission Guidelines Inside this Issue Instructional Technology Update From the Director’s Desk DESE Budgets / Grant Programs Technology Planning and Reporting State and National News DESE Releases report cards for state and local public schools Congressional Appropriations, Actions eMINTS featured in Threshold Magazine Missouri Teacher in the News E-rate Program Funding Year 2007 Funding Year 2006 Funding Year 2005 Research, Publications, Resources SERVE offers free technology project evaluation resources NCES study analyzes Internet access in public schools Time Magazine covers "How to Bring our Schools out of the 20th Century" New report from Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce NCEE distributes free virtual economics CD-ROM to U.S. schools eSN announces "top 10 ed-tech stories" of 2006 T&L announces 2006 Awards of EXCELLENCE winners NASA launches Google collaboration What Works Clearinghouse releases reports eMINTS Update Registration open for Missouri's eMINTS Winter Conference eLearning for Educators Update MOREnet Update H.239 video now available through MOREnet bridge Connections 2007: MOREnet's Spring Technical Conference Regular Featured Items Upcoming Conferences Grant Funding Opportunities Mark Your Calendar From the Mailbag Websites of Interest Newest eTHEMES Updated eTHEMES My eCOACH Resources Recommended Online Projects Index by Topics Archives	Staff at Instructional Technology hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. This issue of Newsline provides updates on current programs and initiatives and addresses important issues and events that likely will impact the 2007-08 school year. *Deborah S. Sutton*
	INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
	DESE Budgets / Grant Programs Note the following updates, including upcoming FY08 dates and deadline, for the Safe Schools and Title II.D competitive grant programs. Safe Schools Competitive Grants The Safe Schools Grant Program is funded through a state appropriation, the amount determined annually, for the purpose of “establishing and implementing educational services to address the needs of students with violent, abusive, and/or chronically disruptive behavior.” A successful project may request continuation funding for three additional years. A district match is required, at percentages that increase each year of the program (30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%). Initially awarded $10 million, the program has been level-funded the last two years at $3.1 million. FY07 – This year, the program funded 26 first-year and one continuation grant. All 27 grants are implementing “Intervention” (e.g., alternative school) projects. Descriptions of these projects can be found online at: http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/safeschools/. Upcoming deadlines for FY07 projects include: March 31 – Last date to obligate funds for the purchase of materials, supplies, and capital outlay May 15 – Final Payment Request / Final Expenditure Report deadline June 30 – Last date of grant period and last date to submit Program Evaluation Narrative FY08 – The Department included this program in its budget requests for the coming year (FY08). On January 24, when Governor Blunt will present his State-of-the State address, we will learn whether the Governor included the program in his budget and at what proposed level of funding. Assuming level funding, at the least, the Department anticipates the following timeline: January 31 – distribute application materials via district mailing and webpage postings February 23 – present information workshop via the Internet April 15 – deadline for submitting first-year (Year 1) applications May 15 – deadline for submitting continuation grant applications May 22-25 – peer review of first-year application narratives May 31 – finalize funding decisions Notes: All funding decisions are based on the appropriation status. Funding is distributed across four geographic areas. Priority is given to continuation grants. Remaining funds, if any, are made available for first-year grants. Year 1 applications are competitive in nature. Continuation funding is not competitive; however, funding is contingent on successful implementation of activities in previously funded years. Title II.D Competitive Grants The Title II, Part D program is a federal-funded program under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. The Title II.D “Enhancing Education through Technology” (Ed Tech or EETT) Program was established for the purpose of improving student academic achievement through the use of technology in schools, and with secondary goals of ensuring every student is technology literate by the end of the 8^th grade and encouraging effective integration of technology with teacher training and curriculum development to establish successful research-based instructional methods. Initially funded at nearly $700 million nationwide, FY07 program received an appropriation of $272 million. With the substantial decrease in funding, Missouri took the one-year option of offering competitive grants only rather than distributing the funds via competitive and formula grants. In Missouri, competitive Ed Technology funds are used to support eMINTS implementation across the state. The eMINTS professional development programs help teachers integrate multimedia technology into inquiry-based, student-centered, interdisciplinary, collaborative teaching practices that result in higher levels of student performance. [To learn more about the eMINTS Program, see: http://www.emints.org.] Since the Comprehensive eMINTS for Teacher program is a two-year professional development program, grants may be renewed for a second year of funding to sustain and complete professional development requirements. FY07 – This year, the competitive program funded six first-year and ten continuation grants. Descriptions of these projects can be found online at: http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/instrtech/federalfunded/TitleIID/index.htm. Upcoming deadlines for FY07 projects include: January 31 – Mid-year Progress Report deadline March 31 – Last date to obligate funds for the purchase of materials, supplies, and capital outlay May 15 – Final Payment Request / Final Expenditure Report deadline June 30 – Program Evaluation Narrative deadline September 30 – Final Report (project evaluation) deadline (Year 2 Grants only) FY08 – Congress has yet to finalize the budget this year, which would support projects during FY08. [See State and National News for details.] Assuming the program, at the least, is level funded, the Department anticipates the following timeline: January 24 – distribute application materials via district mailing and webpage postings February 23 – present information workshop via the Internet March 31 – deadline for submitting first-year (Year 1) applications April 17-19 – peer review of Year 1 application narratives May 1 – deadline for submitting Year 2 applications May 4 – finalize funding decisions Notes: All funding decisions are based on the appropriation status. Funding is distributed across three geographic areas. Priority is first given to continuation grants. Remaining funds, if any, are made available for first-year grants. Year 1 applications are competitive in nature. Continuation funding is not competitive; however, funding is contingent on successful implementation of activities in previously funded years.

Census of Technology <2006 Summary Report posted on IT website>
The Census of Technology (COT) is collected annually to chart progress on statewide education technology goals and objectives. The data analyses for the 2006 state summary report have been completed. The aggregate data tables were posted on Instructional Technology’s COT website in late November, and the full report was posted in early January. Note that Instructional Technology staff do not expect major revisions for the 2007 COT.

STATE AND NATIONAL NEWS

DESE Releases report cards for state and local public schools
On December 22, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced recent releases of several reports that profile state and local education statistics. To read the press release, see: http://dese.mo.gov/news/2006/reportcards.htm.

Missouri Public School Accountability Report – this new report provides statewide statistics about Missouri’s public school system (preK-12) for the 2005-06 school year. This eight-page pdf document details statistics regarding accreditation status, preschool and K-12 enrollment levels, percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, student attendance rates, high school dropout rate, number of classroom teachers, teacher certification status, average teacher salary, per-pupil costs, student performance on the MAP, ACT, and NAEP, and more. The link to the report is in the left column of the School Data and Statistics webpage, at: http://dese.mo.gov/schooldata/.

School Report Cards – “report cards” about every public school in Missouri are prepared by the Department annually as required by state law. The reports provide key statistics and trend data about students, teachers, academic performance, finances and other topics. To access the report for any school district or school building, go to School Data and Statistics webpage [http://dese.mo.gov/schooldata/] and select the district’s or school’s name from the list, then click “Load Profile.” On the selected school’s page, select “2006 School District Report Cards.”

Special Education Profile – this new report, required by federal law, provides data about achievement, graduation, and other performance indicators for children with disabilities. Go to School Data and Statistics webpage, select a district or charter school, then click “Special Education Profile.”

Congressional Appropriations, Actions
The 109^th Congress wrapped up legislative business early Saturday morning, December 9, after members passed a third continuing resolution (CR). This CR will fund education programs temporarily at the FY06 funding levels. The CR expires at midnight on February 15. The House adopted the resolution on December 8; the Senate cleared the CR on December 9; President Bush signed the measure into law early December 9.

As Congress has passed only two of eleven appropriations bills for the 109^th Congress, Defense and Homeland Security, this new CR will likely be extended and replaced by new legislation when the 110^th Congress convenes in January. The two veteran Democrats preparing to chair the education committees – Rep. George Miller of California and Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts – report they won’t simply extend the GOP-drafted CR funding programs at the lowest possible levels. This suggests that the door is still open for tapping Congress for more education funds.

eMINTS featured in Threshold Magazine
Monica Beglau, Ed.D. Executive director of the eMINTS National Center recently participated in Personalization in Schools: A Threshold Forum featured in the Winter 2007 edition of Threshold Magazine. Dr. Beglau was part of a panel discussing the current state of personalization, the roles of technology, and their hopes for the future, along with Mary Ann Wolf, Ph.D., Executive director, SETDA, Thomas Greaves Chairman, The Greaves Group, Larry Rosenstock Founding principal and CEO, High Tech High, San Diego, CA David Warlick Director, The Landmark Project The discussion can be found at Threshold magazine, winter 2007 issue - http://www.ciconline.org/thresholdwinter07 For a direct link to Personalization in Schools Forum article (PDF), visit http://www.ciconline.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=89&name=THWin07PersonalizationSchools.pdf.

Missouri Teacher in the News
Chris McGowan’s World History classes at New Franklin High School participate in a Problem-Based Learning project that received notice in the Boonville Daily News and the December George Lucas Education Foundation (GLEF) Technology in Education Newsletter www.boonvilledailynews.com/articles/2006/12/15/news/news1.txt.

E-RATE PROGRAM

Funding Year 2007 <January 10 is the last day to file Form 470 online!>
While the application window to receive funding next year (July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008) will remain open through February 6, the last day to file a Form 470 online is January 10.
MOREnet news –

The Missouri Free and Reduced Lunch data has been posted and may be found at: http://www.more.net/services/e-rate/resources/statistics/index.html#frl.

The website to access information related to the Letter of Agency (LOA) and Form 479 is now available at: http://www.more.net/services/e-rate/loa.html.

Funding Year 2006
USAC released FY2006 Wave 36 on December 20, and Wave 37 on December 27. These funding commitment decision letters (FCDLs) included commitments for Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance at 87% and above, and denials for thresholds at 79% and below. With these waves, the FY2006 commitments total $1.642 billion. See: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/funding/previous.asp.

Funding Year 2005
USAC released FY2005 Wave 65 on December 19, and included commitments for approved Priority 2 (Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance) funding requests at 81% and above. With this wave, the FY2005 commitments total nearly $1.867 billion.

Note that USAC will NOT issue funding waves for FY2006 or FY2005 during the first week of January 2007.

RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS, RESOURCES

SERVE offers free technology project evaluation resources
In collaboration with the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), and with support from Microsoft Corporation’s U.S. Partners in Learning program, the SERVE Center at UNC Greensboro is now able to provide a selection of free technology project evaluation resources to schools, local education agencies, and state departments of education nationwide. These materials, including evaluation planning templates, instructional documents, and data-collection tools tailored to technology projects, are part of a larger integrated suite of resources, professional development, and technical assistance called CAPE (for Capacity to Apply Project Evaluation). CAPE was developed by the Technology in Learning unit of the SERVE Center (best known as SEIR*TEC, the Regional Technology in Education Consortium for the southeastern states), to help educators increase their organizational capacity to evaluate technology and other school-improvement initiatives, particularly for formative purposes—to improve project implementation and benefit to students. See: http://www.serve.org/Evaluation/Capacity.

NCES study analyzes Internet access in public schools
A report recently released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) presents 11 years of data from 1994 to 2005 (no survey was conducted in 2004), on Internet access in U.S. public schools by school characteristics. It provides trend analysis on the percent of public schools and instructional rooms with Internet access, as well as on the ratio of students to instructional computers with Internet access. The report contains data on the types of Internet connections, technologies, and procedures used to prevent student access to inappropriate material on the Internet, and the availability of handheld and laptop computers to students and teachers. It also provides information on teacher professional development, on how to integrate the use of the Internet into the curriculum, and on the use of the Internet to provide opportunities and information for teaching and learning. To download, view, and print the report as a pdf file, see: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007020.

Time Magazine covers “How to Bring our Schools out of the 20^th Century”
In its cover story for December 18, 2006, Time Magazine examined how the world has changed, but the American classroom, for the most part, hasn’t. Suggestions on what is needed to help kids make the grade in the global economy include: knowing more about the world, thinking outside the box, becoming smarter about new sources of information and developing good people skills. The article also touched on a skills commission that suggests new depth and rigor must be added to standardized exams and curriculum, education funding must be increased and the teaching force must be reshaped. See: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1568480,00.html.

New report from Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce
The New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce released a 147-page treatise, Tough Choice or Tough Times, describing what must be done to change American education in the face of increasing global economic competition. Comprised of educators, industrialists, politicians, economists, academics, and researchers, the Commission formulated eight top recommendations. While commission members acknowledge that implementation and acceptance of the ideas may not be easy, they feel that changes to U.S. education must happen or the nation will face dire consequences. The recommendations target pre-K through continuing education for adults in the workforce and are designed to keep students abreast of technological and industrial changes. To read the Executive Summary, see: http://www.skillscommission.org/executive.htm or http://skillscommission.org/pdf/exec_sum/ToughChoices_EXECSUM.pdf.

NCEE distributes free virtual economics CD-ROM to U.S. schools
The National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) announced in December that it is shipping over 14,000 Virtual Economics 3.0 CD-ROMs to every school district in the country, through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), as part of the No Child Left Behind "Excellence in Economic Education" program. NCEE is providing every school district with one complimentary copy of Virtual Economics, addressed to the district-level curriculum director or superintendent. Intended to provide lesson planning and professional development resource for K-12 teachers, the discs contain a searchable database of over 1,250 activity-based economics, personal finance and entrepreneurship lesson plans from NCEE's extensive library of more than 80 publications and websites. There is also a 500-term glossary and 51 interactive multimedia demonstrations of key concepts. In addition, every lesson plan is correlated to each state's content standards in economics. See: http://store.ncee.net/virtualeconomics.html.

eSN announces “top 10 ed-tech stories” of 2006
The editors of eSchool News, in a two-part special retrospective, highlight the ten most significant educational technology stories of the past year. On December 20, eSN featured stories 10 through 6, covering the use of cell phones, one-to-one computing, video games, 21^st century learning, and social-networking web sites. See: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=6743.

Part 2 was posted the following day and featured the top five issues affecting educational technology in 2006 which include online learning, video-sharing web sites, Education 2.0, disaster planning, and new Democratic majority in Congress. See: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/PFshowstory.cfm?ArticleID=6745.

T&L announces 2006 Awards of EXCELLENCE winners
Nearing its quarter century mark, the Technology & Learning (T&L) Awards of EXCELLENCE program once again is recognizing outstanding products that play a central role in transforming education and inspiring a generation of students and educators. This year's more than 100 entries were tested by educator judges and T&L editors who looked at quality and effectiveness, ease of use, creative use of technology, and suitability for a school environment in making their decisions. The bottom line: each award winner represents a best-of-breed offering or a breakthrough use of technology for teaching, training, or managing in an education setting. This year's trends in part respond to NCLB's AYP requirements, with a strong showing by core curriculum products in language, math and science, as well as several new resources for assessment and diagnosis. Balancing this is the record number of presentation and productivity tools as well as collaboration and communication offerings, which reflect the growing power of student-shared expertise, online community-building, and other Web 2.0 functions as essential components of the 21st century classroom. See: http://www.techlearning.com/issues/2006AOE.php.

NASA launches Google collaboration
NASA, seeking to give the public easy access to its massive trove of images and data about Earth and outer space, has entered into a formal agreement with Google to post material from the agency’s many missions on the Internet. As the technology improves and the collaboration grows, officials said viewers could one day be treated to live video from the moon, Mars, and beyond. See: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/18/AR2006121801119.html?referrer=mail.

What Works Clearinghouse releases reports
ED’s What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) has released a series of new reports on findings from evaluations of education interventions in seven topic areas. Newly released reports include:
Beginning Reading, Character Education, Dropout Prevention, Early Childhood Education, Elementary School Mathematics, English Language Learning, and Middle School Mathematics. WWC will continue to release reports on intervention studies in the next few months. Also available is “A User-Friendly Guide for Evaluators of Educational Programs and Practices” to provide researchers, and those who sponsor and use research, with clear, practical advice on reporting the results of "impact" studies. See: http://www.whatworks.ed.gov/.

WEBSITES OF INTEREST

Penny Packet
A continuation of the “Peter Packet” activity site developed by Cisco to teach young students about technology, demonstrates to middle school girls that there are many types of careers in technology and how the Internet transfers packets of information. For the activity sheet and link to the site, visit http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/digital_divide/gender/GirlsTech/downloads/pdf/penny_packet.pdf

Free Podcasts from National Geographic
Download the latest nature and science news, eye-opening photography, audio travel guides, classic video clips, world music coverage, and wild animal adventures with National Geographic's free podcasts. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/

Snowflake Science
Take advantage of that “teachable moment” with this web site from Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht, expert in the science of snow and professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology. Dr. Libbrecht’s snowflake photography is featured on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Holiday Snowflakes Stamp Set. Visit http://www.snowcrystals.com/ for information about snowflakes, and the USPS site http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10152 for information about the stamps.

Blue Zones Quest
The Quest Network will begin a no-charge, three week, inquiry-based online adventure project beginning January 29, 2007. Named the Blue Zones quest, the project is designed to cover longevity and healthy living issues. Sponsored by Allianz and Davisco Foods, the quest has a curriculum guide for teachers, also at no charge. The curriculum guide is for students in grades 4-8. Additional activities at the Blue Zones Web site include a four-week challenge health and fitness program that is open to students and families from around the world. An iPod shuffle is among the prizes being offered in the challenge section. Other sponsors include the National Institute on Aging and the National Geographic Society. http://bluezones.com/pages/index.php

From YouthLearn http://www.youthlearn.org/
YouthLearn has compiled quite an interesting list of the “100 Big Things in Youth, Education and Technology.” Newsline will be featuring parts of the list for the next several months. Future lists will be from “What’s Happening Online…” “The New Learning Landscape…” “Youth as Media Makers and Innovators…” “Other Folks Who Make Big Changes Happen…” “What We’ve Been Up To…”. If you can’t wait, and want to see the complete list, check out YouthLearn's 100 Big Things in Youth, Education and Technology http://www.youthlearn.org/resources/newsletter/issue100.html.

As we record this milestone of our 100th newsletter on the eve of our fifth year here at EDC, we thought it might be fun to try to identify 100 "Big Things" (innovations, opportunities, challenges, heroes, etc.) that have had an impact on youth, education, and technology in the past 5 years. As a disclaimer, this list is by no means intended to be definitive or remotely scientific, but perhaps a chance to think about what truly drives our work and how to influence it moving forward for another 5 years and beyond. YouthLearn

What's Happening Online...

19. Google The breakout innovation in the Internet sphere, giving users young and old a way to plow through the infinite breadth of Web resources. Of course, not everything at the top of the list is the "best," but then, we all know that, right? http://www.google.com

20. Wikipedia The collaboratively written encyclopedia that has become so famous, for its method and its vastness-available in a dozen languages. http://www.wikipedia.org

21. YouTube Can't you just hear Andy Warhol shout, "I told you so!"? Yes, the great repository of random (some would say, senseless) media, but a force to be reckoned with when a single website posting can take down a presidential contender. http://www.youtube.com/

22. Online Communities - Friendster, Facebook, Black Planet, Mi Gente, etc. Online communities, especially those designed to foster online relationships, have exploded over the past few years, supplying a new focus of activity for youth and people of all ages. Of course, none of them are as notorious as . . .

23. MySpace.com No single topic has generated more buzz (both pro and con) on our discussion list over the last five years than MySpace. Like it or hate it, the site is a cultural phenomenon that has changed the way young people define their identity. Even if it scares them, educators should spend some time trying to understand just why young people find it so compelling. http://www.myspace.com

24. PBS Kids website Leveraging the wide portfolio of characters on its TV shows, PBS offers children free games and activities at its website, as well as resources for educators and parents. This site is hugely popular in youth centers and afterschool programs around the country given the safe, educational nature of the content. http://pbskids.org/

25. Online Advertising Targeting Children Online advertising is a sleeping elephant that folks at YouthLearn are continually worried about. Just see how quickly a young person can go from Barney's homepage on PBS Kids to ChuckECheese.com. http://pbskids.org/barney/

26. Online GED Instruction Once strictly delivered in a traditional classroom setting primarily by alternative schools, GED instruction is now often supported by online instruction approaches. http://www.gedforfree.com/

27. NYDIC/YouthLearn Survey on Blended Learning Last year, YouthLearn worked with the National Collaboration for Youth to poll youth workers on their interest in and comfort with professional development experiences that blend online and face-to-face experiences. The support was surprisingly strong. http://www.nydic.org/nydic/documents/Prof_Series_ENews_4.pdf#4%20REV.pdf

28. Apple Learning Interchange A free resource from Apple and other partners to help teachers more effectively harness media in the classroom, with opportunities for peer exchange, posting of lessons learned, and curriculum-specific links. http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/

29. Blogging, MoveableType and RSS Web-based publishing and the syndication of online content has revolutionized posting to the Internet, not to mention the way we create our YouthLearn newsletter. http://news.youthlearn.org/

30. SurveyMonkey.com It's never been easier to get a sample of what people are thinking. SurveyMonkey has defined online data collection, and while their survey tools alone won't guarantee a rigorous evaluation approach, it is great to see folks from all walks of life thinking about what they're learning. http://www.surveymonkey.com

31. Blue Web'n This site continues to be a great place to find top-notch learning resources on the Internet. http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/

32. Gaming and Education When the Departments of Education and Defense began promoting gaming as the new educational frontier, you knew it had made its way out of the lowly realm of the arcade. But, young gamers are more likely to be setting the agenda in the years ahead. http://www.annenberg.edu/projects/project.php?id=114

33. Global Kids Online Game Project Can young people design a game that's got some real world substance to it? At Global Kids the answer is "yes," and the Cost of Life game tests the boundaries of fun and social conscience. http://theCostofLife.org

34. Girls Creating Games Another program we're fans of--using simple Flash based games to engage young women in technology and personal exploration. http://programservices.etr.org/gcgweb

35. Second Life Second Life and Teen Second Life are virtual worlds which have become hugely popular as places where people can re-imagine their lives, start businesses, and even make real, as opposed to imaginary, money. http://teen.secondlife.com

36. YouthNoise A resilient effort to provide young people from the U.S. and beyond a forum to engage the issues and each other in substantive debate. http://www.youthnoise.com

37. Taking IT Global A truly international powerhouse with young people all over the world connecting around projects to strengthen their communities. http://www.takingitglobal.org

38. UNICEF Voices of Youth This UNICEF initiative reorganized itself as an international forum for youth to "explore, speak out, and take action." http://www.unicef.org/voy

We All Use Math Every Day program
Texas Instruments (TI) is leading this math education initiative based on the hit series "NUMB3RS." In partnership with CBS, and working in association with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), TI has created an educational outreach program promoting the many uses of mathematics and supporting math teaching. The program includes TI and NCTM-developed math education activities for teachers and students based on the "NUMB3RS" TV show. The activities are based on the mathematics presented in each episode.

The math used in each episode of NUMB3RS is based on real FBI cases. By tying the math used within each episode of NUMB3RS to classroom activities for teachers, teachers can increase student interest with these real-world examples. Each activity has been derived from the math used in the TV show and created by practicing classroom teachers and mathematicians especially for grades 9 - 12. For activities and guides, visit http://www.weallusematheveryday.com/tools/waumed/home.htm

NEWEST eTHEMES

Animals: Rabbits and Hares These sites are about rabbits and hares. Learn the similarities and differences between them. There is information on wild rabbits, their behavior, and economic importance to humans, and sites about how to care for domestic rabbits. There are videos, audio clips, and many pictures. Included is an eThemes Resource on farm animals. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001947.shtml

Aquariums These sites are about saltwater and freshwater aquariums. There are many photographs of fish and tips on setup and maintenance of aquariums. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001927.shtml

Author Study: Robert Frost and Modern American Poets These resources are about the poet Robert Frost and his contemporaries. Find biographical information, full-text poems, audio files, images, and lesson plans. Included are sites about other modern American poets such as Carl Sandburg, T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and William Carlos Williams. Included are three related eThemes Resources on poetry. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001939.shtml

Cultures: Japanese and Navajo Comparison Students can discover the similarities and differences between the Japanese and Navajo cultures by using these sites. There is particular focus on the native herbs, foods, and ceremonies of each culture. Some of the sites include information on the Navajo Code Talkers. Included are eThemes Resources on Japan, Navajo Indians, and world recipes. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001925.shtml

Famous Americans: Asian Connections These sites focus on famous Americans who have Asian connections. Learn about their contributions, achievements, and biographies. Includes photos, interview transcripts, and video clips. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001943.shtml

Genetics: Ethics of Genetic Engineering Students can learn about the ethics of genetic engineering using these sites. Learn about the "difference between human cloning, therapeutic cloning, and stem cell research." Included are eThemes resources on basic genetics, Punnett Squares, and DNA. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001926.shtml

Geography: Elevation These sites provide information about elevation and its effects on temperature and climate, and plant growth and animal life. Includes maps and information pages about elevation points in U.S. and the world. There are suggested lesson plans and activities for students. There are links to eThemes Resources on Geography: Landforms and Maps: Latitude and Longitude. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001921.shtml

Heroes in Literature and Music Students will learn about heroic composers and musicians who overcame challenges to keep their music alive. Included are eThemes Resources on Ayn Rand and Homer's "Odyssey." http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001941.shtml

Language: Spanish for Middle and High School Students can use these sites to become familiar with the Spanish language and culture. Many of these sites have audio files. Included are eThemes Resources on Spanish for elementary school and Spanish speaking countries. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001935.shtml

Library Skills: Copyright Law and Citation Styles
Students can learn about copyright law by using these sites. Proper citation methodology is also provided. Included is an eThemes Resource on information searching strategies. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001928.shtml

Literature: "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck These sites are about "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. Includes a biography, book summaries, discussion questions, suggested activities, and online quizzes. There is also a link to an eThemes Resource on the decade of the 1930s. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001946.shtml

Math: Visual Arts These websites are about the importance of math to the visual arts. There are many lesson plans and activities where students can create artwork based on mathematical concepts such as pattern, symmetry, geometry, and perspective. Included are eThemes Resources on pattern and tessellations. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001920.shtml

Teaching Tips: Fluency Teachers can use these sites to help students build fluency with their oral reading skills. Included are eThemes Resources on Reader's Theater, syllables, and phonemic awareness. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001937.shtml

Technology: Music Editing Software These sites provide information about audio editing software and tutorials for PC and Mac. Includes information about basic terminologies for audio editing, file format, and a lesson plan. There is a link to eThemes Resources on Audios for Podcasting. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001929.shtml

UPDATED eTHEMES

Genetics: Basics Learn about the basics of genetics and the father of genetics, Gregor Mendel. Find out what heredity is, what genotype and phenotype are. Learn about different types of crossing and breeding, traits, genes, and chromosomes. Includes animated movie, matching and concentration games, quizzes, and flashcards. There are links to eThemes Resources on Punnett squares, DNA, and blood types. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001486.shtml

Genetics: Genes and DNA Learn about deoxyribonucleic acid commonly known as DNA. Discover the importance of the DNA strand, chromosomes, and genes. Read about people who worked on discoveries in the past and what scientists are able to achieve today. Find out how many of the same chromosomes people share with each other and the rest of living creatures. Learn about the Human Genome Project. Includes online quizzes, interactive tours, 3D animations, and video clips. There are links to eThemes Resources on genetics and Punnett squares. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001485.shtml

Genetics: Punnett Squares Learn about the Punnett squares chart and how it is used for successful breeding and predictions of certain traits. Learn about incomplete dominance and codominance, dominant and recessive alleles, genotype and phenotype. Includes interactive Punnett's squares charts, quizzes, problems, matching, and concentration games. There are links to eThemes Resources on the basics of genetics, DNA, and blood types. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001476.shtml

Holiday: Christmas Around the World These sites explain how Christmas and winter holidays are celebrated in different parts of the world. Countries include France, Canada, Poland, England, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and many more. See how to say "Merry Christmas" in several languages and discover if people around the globe decorate trees or believe in Santa. There are links to eThemes Resources on Christmas traditions in America and Christmas crafts and games. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000501.shtml

Language: Spanish for Elementary School These sites focus on teaching Spanish words and include hands-on games, interactive exercises, pronunciation, bilingual translation, grammar rules, and some cultural notes. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000352.shtml

Reader's Theater Learn how to use Reader's Theater in the classroom to promote an interest in literature. There are tips on how to adapt stories to scripts. Includes many sample scripts. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on online stories that can be adapted into scripts, plus a link to drama for students. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000969.shtml

Solar System: Mars Exploration Learn about the current exploration of Mars by two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Read about the third-grader who named the spacecrafts. Design a parachute for the rovers on an interactive site or create a model of a rover using crackers and candy. Watch animated movies showing the rovers taking off and landing, plus view the images that they have transmitted back to Earth. There are links to eThemes Resources on Mars, space exploration, space living, and international space station. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001232.shtml

Solar System: Mars Learn here about the fourth planet from the Sun - Mars. Read why people on Earth call Mars the Red Planet. Learn about similarities between these two planets. Find out whether there is or was life on Mars and what happened to Martian oceans. The following web sites contain images, simulating Mars movies, audio narration, worksheets, and quizzes. Also included are eThemes Resources on Rotation, Revolution, the Universe, and Mars Exploration. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001334.shtml

Transportation: Transcontinental Railroad Learn about the history, construction, and impact of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. Includes historic photographs, maps, and suggested classroom activities. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on trains. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000752.shtml

Writing: Poetry for Upper Levels These sites are about poetry and writing poems for upper grade levels. There are many examples of poetry, including audio recordings of poets reading their work or people reading and talking about their favorite poems, as well as textual resources. There are lesson plans and activity ideas. Students can write their own poems, write a poem collaboratively, or organize a poetry slam. Includes eThemes Resources on poetry for elementary levels, Robert Frost, and Maya Angelou. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001788.shtml

MY eCOACH RESOURCES
developed by Missouri Teachers

Veteran eMINTS Teachers Develop Classroom Activities and Resources in “My eCoach”
Over 50 Missouri eMINTS teachers who have completed their two-year professional development program have enrolled in a new program called eMINTS My eCoach. The program provides an online environment for teachers to participate in collaborative activity development and to create web resource lists (WRL). The following resources have been created recently by teachers participating in the program. Newsline will continue to share these resources as they become available. For more information about the program see: http://www.emints.org/programs/veteran/index.shtml.

Web Resource List for SMART Board Resources by Melissa Anderson, Chillicothe, MO
A list of some great interactive websites for all curriculum areas. http://my-ecoach.com/online/webresourcelist.php?rlid=9346

Oregon Trail Ecosystems: Learning about Ecosystems along the Oregon Trail by Trish Alexander, Sarah Nepple, and Amanda Collier, Valley Park School District
Students will investigate the different ecosystems found in the United States and focus on the ecosystems the pioneers traveled through. Project includes websites and scaffolding to offer support of activity. This activity is aligned to Missouri Standards. http://my-ecoach.com/online/activity.php?projectid=9471

Pluto's Not a Planet Anymore web resource list by Diana Dell, Valley Park School District
Asks students to research and discuss why Pluto is no longer a planet. The list includes questions like: What does it mean that Pluto lacked girth? What happened concerning Pluto in 1930's? Where is Prague, Who met there, When was the meeting? and Why is Mercury feeling hot? Many websites are included to help student research and answer these questions. Project http://my-ecoach.com/online/webresourcelist.php?rlid=9450

RECOMMENDED ONLINE PROJECTS
Find regular additions to the listing of online projects, a compilation of resources from eMINTS for educators used by eMINTS teachers or recommended by eMINTS staff members at http://emints.org/resources/projects/index.shtml.

Kidspired Frosty Readers (Elementary)
Project Begin and End Dates: January 1, 2007 – February 15, 2007
Project Summary: The goal of this project is to create and share literature-based learning activities. Students select a book with a winter theme, read it and participate in a response activity such as independent writing, modeled/shared writing, or interactive writing. Other interactive components are a project wiki and blog.
Project http://www.comsewogue.k12.ny.us/~ssilverman/kidspired2007/
Registration Instructions: Online at: http://www.comsewogue.k12.ny.us/~ssilverman/kidspired2007/?Project
Project Contact Information: Susan Silverman for Kids-Learn, susan@susansilverman.com

Flat Stanley Projects (Elementary)
Project Begin and End Dates: Ongoing
Project Summary: The Flat Stanley Project was developed based on the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. Stanley was squashed flat by a falling bulletin board, allowing him to visit friends by traveling in an envelope. Now students' written work goes to other places via mail and students participated in journal practices. This website has many success stories and examples of how the project works. You can participate for a year or just a couple of months.
http://flatstanley.enoreo.on.ca/
Registration Instructions and application form at http://www.flatstanley.com/application_form.htm or you will find it on the website.
Project Contact Information: Lorraine at lorrhawl@enoreo.on.ca

2007 Iditarod Project (Grades K-8)
Project Begin and End Dates: 12/01/06 - 3/31/07
Project Summary: Iditarod Project is to extend the Iditarod experiences for the winter. Students study the trail and mushers and select one team to follow online for the 2007 race.
Registration is December 1, 2006 - January 5, 2007.
Project http://surfaquarium.com/eIDITAROD/
Register online at http://surfaquarium.com/eIDITAROD/
Project Contact Information: Walter McKenzie at: walter@surfaquarium.com

Culture Boxes Scavenger Hunt and Exchange (Middle and High School,ages 13 - 21)
Project Begin and End Dates: 1/1/07 to 12/31/07
Project Summary: Collaborate with high schools students across the United States and around the world to exchange culture boxes. Teachers exchange boxes and clues inside boxes given to students help them research and locate classrooms.
http://www.globalschoolnet.org/GSH/pr/getdetail.cfm?pID=3142 Registration Instructions: email Gary Horton, Alleghany High School, Sparta, North Carolina, United States
Project Contact Information: Gary Horton hortongary@hotmail.com

Doors to Diplomacy (Middle and High School)
Project Begin and End Dates: Current – March 15, 2007
Project Summary: Doors to Diplomacy is a collaborative project, where small teams are formed consisting of two to four student members and up to two adult "coaches." Research can be conducted both online and offline, and then the findings are assembled to produce an educational web project. Students are also encouraged to become spokespersons for their projects.
http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/doors/aglance.html?Project
Contact Information: Online Project with Global School Net
Registration Instructions: Online at: http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/doors/_cfm/timeline.cfm?Project

Cyber-Fair (Middle and High School)
Project Begin and End Dates: October 24, 2006 – March 15 2007
Project Summary: Youth conduct research and publish their findings on the Web. Recognition is given to the best projects in each of eight categories: local leaders, businesses, community organizations, historical landmarks, environment, music, art, and local specialties.
Registration Instructions: Online information http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/cf/

Communication Across the World (Grades 1-5 - ages 6 - 12)
Project Begin and End Dates: 1/16/07 to 8/10/07
Project Summary Students in first through fifth grades will write and share letters via email with other students from across the world. Students will also meet online once a month in a chat room and if possible through video conferencing. The goal is to create a global classroom of sharing, exchanging and learning.
Registration Instructions: email Evan Scherr, coordinator, ebscherr@interact.ccsd.net William V Wright Elementary School Las Vegas, Nevada
http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/pr/getdetail.cfm?pID=3164

Westward HO! The Journey of 2007 (Ages 5 – 19)
Project Begin and End Dates: 1/16/07 to 2/16/07
Project Summary: Back for its fifteenth year, this simulated journey west allows classes to travel the trail as part of the Westward HO! Wagon Train. In classrooms across the country, collaborative families, based on real families from America's past, make daily decisions (travel and fate scenarios are provided) that will influence their safe arrival in Oregon. Class wagons meet weekly in online Trail Meetings (chat), to make crucial decisions for the wagon train and to have a rollicking good time! Teachers meet in Campfire Meetings (chat) to ask questions and share successful curriculum and strategies with other participating educators. Thematic learning activity and the online project go hand in hand. Reading lists, suggested projects (e.g.. wagon construction, quilting, cooking) and learning activity (e.g.. fine arts, Physical Education, core curriculum) are provided by moderators and collaborating teachers. As we travel the trail, classes will engage in RESEARCH using pre-selected websites and print/media classroom resources (What is the best cure for snake bite? How do you calk a wagon?); PUBLISHING (classroom diaries, journals, newsletters, online want ads, announcements and webpage museum projects); and COMMUNICATION/COLLABORATION within the classroom and with the national wagon train (through the student/pioneer bulletin board, Trading Post and Museum, and teacher/scout Fireside Stories). Culminating celebrations occur in classrooms across the nation, and occur, globally, in our online Reunion, after the wagon train's safe arrival in Oregon.
Registration Instructions: Registration is accepted through submission of the form on the project website, only. Follow the link from the project's main page to "Register." The registration form will be "live" until January 12, 2007. Please be sure to fill in all fields of the form.
http://www.cyberbee.com/wwho/wwho_reg3.html
Project Contact Information: Leni Donlan, ldonlan@comcast.net Cyberbee, Alexandria, Virginia

Virtual Field Trip Web Site (Ages 5 – 21 - projects will be organized according to grade level)
Project Begin and End Dates: 1/2/07 - 12/31/07
Project Summary: The purpose of this project is to create a web site that will house digital media presentations that are completed by students of their cities from around the world. Students will be engaged in creating a virtual website of their city and these will be accessible to be used by teachers to virtually visit cities from around the world.
Registration Instructions: http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/pr/getdetail.cfm?pID=3166 or contact Evan Scherr ebscherr@interact.ccsd.net William V Wright Elementary School Las Vegas, Nevada

Inside this Issue

DESE Budgets / Grant Programs Note the following updates, including upcoming FY08 dates and deadline, for the Safe Schools and Title II.D competitive grant programs.

2007

January 30

February 1 or 2

eMINTS Winter ConferenceCourtyard by Marriott, Columbia, MOParticipants should select just one of the two days to attend (content will be the same both days).Visit www.emints.org/events

February 26-28

The Midwest Education Technology Conference 2007 (METC) St. Louis, MOhttp://www2.csd.org/metc2007.htm

March 6-7

The Seventeenth Annual Southwest Education and Technology Conference (RCET-SW)Missouri State University, Springfield, MOhttp://www.rcet.net/ (watch website for details)

March 28-30

MOREnet Spring Technical Conference: Connections 2007Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO http://www.more.net/conferences/connections/index.html

March 29-30

HELIX 2007 Advancing Technology: Pushing BoundariesTan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO http://www.more.net/conferences/helix/index.html

June 18-20

Teaching and Learning Institute IColumbia, MO

Deadline

Grant

Ongoing

UPS Foundation Education Grantshttp://www.community.ups.com/philanthropy/grant.html

Ongoing

Build an Outdoor Classroom at Your Schoolhttp://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/outdoor/index.html

Ongoing

Adopt a Classroom Grantshttp://www.adoptaclassroom.com/

Ongoing

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s Education Grants Programhttp://www.hewlett.org/

Ongoing

Educational Foundation of America Grantshttp://www.efaw.org/

2007

January 5

Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07514/nsf07514.htm

January 11

2007 Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learninghttp://www.inspiration.com/scholarship

January 15

IRA Teacher as Researcher Grant http://www.reading.org/association/awards/research_teacher_as_researcher.html

2007

January 2

Newsline published online

January 30

DESE Budgets / Grant Programs
Note the following updates, including upcoming FY08 dates and deadline, for the Safe Schools and Title II.D competitive grant programs.

eMINTS Winter Conference
Courtyard by Marriott, Columbia, MO
Participants should select just one of the two days to attend (content will be the same both days).
Visit www.emints.org/events

The Midwest Education Technology Conference 2007 (METC)
St. Louis, MO
http://www2.csd.org/metc2007.htm

The Seventeenth Annual Southwest Education and Technology Conference (RCET-SW)
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
http://www.rcet.net/ (watch website for details)

MOREnet Spring Technical Conference: Connections 2007
Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO
http://www.more.net/conferences/connections/index.html

HELIX 2007 Advancing Technology: Pushing Boundaries
Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO
http://www.more.net/conferences/helix/index.html

Teaching and Learning Institute I
Columbia, MO

UPS Foundation Education Grants
http://www.community.ups.com/philanthropy/grant.html

Build an Outdoor Classroom at Your School
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/outdoor/index.html

Adopt a Classroom Grants
http://www.adoptaclassroom.com/

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s Education Grants Program
http://www.hewlett.org/

Educational Foundation of America Grants
http://www.efaw.org/

Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07514/nsf07514.htm

2007 Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning
http://www.inspiration.com/scholarship

IRA Teacher as Researcher Grant
http://www.reading.org/association/awards/research_teacher_as_researcher.html