Newsline

  Instructional Technology Update 

FY04 Technology Budgets and Grant Programs
State and Federal Funds/Programs:
Technology and Safe Schools Programs – (No news to report) 

TITLE IID – Effective September 30, Advanced Learning Technologies (ALTEC) at the University of Kansas, Center for Research on Learning and the Center for Research, Inc., was awarded the contract to manage the Missouri Title IID by-pass program. ALTEC’s proposal described the program as providing "a program of comprehensive and effective services to private and independent schools in Missouri known as PI*TEC -- the Private and Independent Technology in Education Consortium." [The High Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium (HPR*TEC) is one of ALTEC's programs.] 

FY04 Appropriations Update From Washington 
The Labor, HHS and Education spending bill appears to be headed down the road of becoming part of an omnibus appropriations bill. Even though the Senate and the House are not far apart on the amounts that they assigned to most programs funded through this bill, those charged with negotiating a final version of it have been unable to resolve one major policy issue: the Senate’s refusal to appropriate funds for the Department of Labor to implement controversial new overtime rules. For education technology advocates, the prospect of an omnibus bill (that is subject to amendment) may brighten prospects for more funding.  

Compared with FY02, where there was no across-the-board spending cut, the Senate’s version of this appropriations bill cuts the state education technology block grant program by approximately $4.6 million, the Star Schools program by $7 million, and the Community Technology Centers (CTC) program by $12.5 million. The Senate bill also eliminates entirely the $62.5 million for the Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) program, thereby reducing education technology funding overall by nearly $80 million. The current version of the House bill cuts even deeper than its Senate counterpart, eliminating all three smaller education technology programs and sustaining the $4.6 million cut to the block grant. Therefore, the total federal education technology loss in the House version is $125 million.   

Aside from the block grant and the smaller education technology programs, the fate of funding for a new state database grant program also is in doubt. During Senate floor debate on the FY04 legislation, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and John Ensign (R-NV) managed to convince the Senate to include $80 million in funding for a new competitive program that would award grants to State educational agencies to develop statewide, longitudinal data systems to track individual student progress based on unique student identifiers, to more accurately capture and report student data - a) to comply with No Child Left Behind; b) to facilitate research to improve student achievement; and c) to be used for other purposes. Similar to the IDEA funds situation, the state database program money rests on shaky ground, as its new funding would be paid for through an offsetting reduction in the Department of Education’s administrative expenses. While efforts continue to protect this funding, likely Administration and Department opposition to the offset may prevail. 

Some past and current funding numbers for key education technology programs follow: 

 District Technology Plan Approvals  
Workshops
The Missouri Educational Technology Professional Association (METPA) will conduct workshops this month to help districts develop new education technology plans. Approximately 70 district education technology plans will have their state approval status expire in 2004. New and/or substantially updated plans are to be submitted to Instructional Technology by March 31, 2004. A panel of readers will review the plans in Jefferson City on April 15-16, 2004. Workshop details follow: 

• November 5 (9:00am - 12:00pm) – Marshall – Marshall High School Little Theatre, 805 Miami (Contact: 660-886-2244)
• November 7 (9:00am - 12:00pm) – Webb City -- SW Center for Educational Excellence, 600 South Ellis, Suite B (Contact: 417-673-7078)
• November 21 (10:15am - 1:15pm) – Ironton – Arcadia Valley Career Technical Center, 650 Park Drive (Contact: 573-546-9700)
  -- Connected to the following remote sites:
• St. Louis – Cooperating School Districts, 1460 Craig Road (Contact: 314-692-1258)
• Maryville – Northwest Missouri State University McKemy Center, Room 130 (Contact: 660-562-1995) 
  

Technical assistance
METPA volunteers will be available in January and March to provide technical assistance. Educators are invited to bring drafts of their plans to have them reviewed by trained evaluators. Opportunities for technical assistance will be provided in Jefferson City in January and at MOREnet’s spring technical conference in March. 

• January 15 (1:00 - 4:00pm) – Jefferson City – Truman State Office Bldg, Room 490, 301 West High Street (Contact: 573-751-8247)
• March 24-25  (Times to be determined) – Osage Beach – MOREnet Spring Technical Conference, Tan-Tar-A (Contact: 573-751-7736)

E-rate Program 
Funding Year 2003 
Wave 15 for E-rate funding for funding year 2003 (July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004) will be issued on Tuesday November 4, 2003. In this wave, the SLD will be committing over $47.5 million in 338 letters to school and library applicants. The funding associated with this wave included funding for priority 1 (telecommunications and Internet access) and for priority 2 (internal connections) at the 85% discount level. With this issuance of letters, the SLD has committed nearly $1.25 billion in 28,860 letters for funding year 2003. Additional waves will be issued every other week until the process is complete. Visit the E-rate website at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/default.asp. 

Funding year 2004
The Year 7 application window will open at noon on Wednesday, November 5, 2003, and close at 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, February 4, 2004.  

The SLD has released its new eligible services list, which contains new regulations on both new and old services. Cellular and paging service will be eligible for all school personnel. However, “dark fiber” (fiber optic cable for which the service provider has not provided modulating electronics) will not be eligible. Nor will voice/video over the Internet (“VoIP”). All applicants are advised to review the list at: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/data/pdf/EligibleServicesList101003.pdf.   

News from Washington 
There has been little activity during the past month. The three entities most likely to create news about the program, the FCC, the Schools and Library Division (SLD), and Congress, have remained silent and inactive. While many believed that the FCC would issue an order to resolve a number of Year 6 large city school district application rejections by the SLD relating to allegations that their competitive bidding processes had been compromised by their close ties with a vendor, the FCC has not yet rendered its decision. The FCC has also not promulgated any new rules on waste, fraud and abuse in response to its earlier Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that sought public comment on sanctioning applicants and vendors who repeatedly and willfully violate program rules. FCC action on the E-rate could come at any time. 

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which initiated an investigation of waste, fraud and abuse in the E-rate program early this year, has also not moved forward with rumored public hearings on its investigation. Initially, the Committee indicated that it would hold at least one hearing and then later indicated that it would hold two hearings during the fall. Overtaken by efforts to reach consensus on an energy bill, though, it now appears that the House has little time to work on other issues and recent information suggests that it will hold no hearings at all on the E-rate this year. 

Also on hold for the time being is the release of the SLD’s Waste, Fraud and Abuse Task Force report that is supposed to make recommendations on program changes designed to deter waste, fraud and abuse. Among other suggestions, the report’s final version most likely includes controversial recommendations that the discount matrix for internal connections applications be adjusted so that the top discount level would be 80% rather 90% and that a ceiling be placed on the amount each applicant can receive in a single year. The last summary of the task force’s positions on these and other issues appears online at: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/taskforce/. While the Task Force has released its report to SLD, SLD has not yet released the report to the public. So, for the time being, the information online may be the only public window into the Task Force’s deliberations. 

Ed Tech Publications, Awards, Announcements
US Department of Education Releases Two Reports on Computer and Internet Use
Source: email from John Bailey, US Department of Education 

Highlights from "Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994-2002."  In 2002:

• 99 percent of public schools are connected to the Internet.
• 94 percent of public schools are connecting to the Internet using broadband.  The largest growth in broadband adoption between 2000-2002 was in the lowest income school districts (75 percent - 95 percent or an increase of 27 percent).
• 92 percent of instructional rooms had Internet access.
• 23 percent of public schools with Internet access used wireless connections.
• 7 percent of public schools provided hand-held computers to students or teachers for instructional purposes.
• 8 percent of public schools lent laptops to students.  

Highlights from the "Computer and Internet Use by Children and Adolescents in 2001" report.  In 2001: 

• About 90 percent (47 million) of children between the ages of 5-17 used computers. 
• 59 percent (31 million) of children between the ages of 5-17 used the Internet.
• 72 percent of Internet users age 5-17 (42 percent of all youth in this age range) used the Internet to complete school assignments. 
• One of the more fascinating findings is that students report accessing the net more frequently at home than at school (78 percent compared to 68 percent).  This is even more striking when compared to the other report's finding that 99 percent of schools having Internet connectivity.  

The report also explores the topic of the digital divide but it doesn't explore the growth rates or the reasons why various groups use computers and the Internet. There are two additional reports which explore these issues and serve as a useful backdrop when interpreting the data about access:   

• "Connected to the Future: A Report on Children's Internet Use." Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 2002. <http://www.cpb.org/ed/resources/connected/>.  One of the findings was that biggest gains in Internet usage occurred among African-American and low-income children (205 and 96 percent growth, respectively).
• Horrigan, John, et al. "The Ever-Shifting Internet Population." Pew Internet & American Life Project. 16 Apr. 2003. <http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=88>. This fascinating report explores why certain people are not part of the online revolution.  Some 56% of non-Internet users do not think they will ever go online mainly because they have no need or desire to use the Internet.

Below is the press release with additional information related to "Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994-2002" and "Computer and Internet Use by Children and Adolescents in 2001" including the websites where the reports can be found.  

INTERNET ACCESS SOARS IN SCHOOLS, BUT "DIGITAL DIVIDE" STILL EXISTS AT HOME FOR MINORITY AND POOR STUDENTS
Two New Reports Look at Computer and Internet Use in Education  

While public schools have made huge improvements in providing computer and Internet access, minority and poor students lack computer access outside of regular school hours, according to two new reports released today by the department's Institute of Education Sciences (IES).  

"The pace of technological change is truly astounding and has left no area of our lives untouched, including schools," said U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige.  "These reports are good news and show how much progress has been made in connecting nearly every school in the nation to the Internet.  But there are still big differences in home computer use that need to be addressed before we can declare the digital divide closed.”         

"We need to address the limited access to technology that many students have outside of school.  There is much more we can do.  Closing the digital divide will also help close the achievement gap that exists within our schools."       

The No Child Left Behind Act continues to support enhancing education through technology and helps to support those students who need it most.  Approximately $700 million has been appropriated for educational technology programs in 2002 and 2003.       

The first report, "Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994-2002," is an annual department survey conducted to report on the availability and use of technology in schools.  Among its findings:  

• In 1994, 3 percent of classrooms in U.S. public schools had access to the Internet; in the fall of 2002, 92 percent had Internet access; in 1994, 35 percent of schools had access; and in fall 2002, 99 percent had access. 

• In 2002, the ratio of students to instructional computers with Internet access in public schools was 4.8 to 1, an improvement from the 12 to 1 ratio in 1998 when it was first measured.

• In 2002, the ratio of students to instructional computers with Internet access was higher in schools with the highest poverty concentration than in schools with the lowest.  Despite this gap, in schools with the highest poverty concentration, the ratio improved from 6.8 students per computer in 2001 to 5.5 in 2002.

• In 2002, 53 percent of public schools with access to the Internet reported that they made computers available to students outside of regular hours (96 percent after school, 74 percent before school, 6 percent on weekends).

• Eighty-six percent of public schools reported that they had a Web site or Web page (75 percent in 2001). 

• Eighty-seven percent of public schools with Internet access indicated that their school or school district had offered professional development to teachers in the schools to help them integrate the use of the Internet into the curriculum in the 12 months prior to the survey.

• Schools used various means to control student access to inappropriate material on the Internet.  Ninety-six percent used blocking software, 91 percent reported that teachers monitored students' access, 82 percent had a written agreement that parents have to sign, 77 percent had contracts that the students had to sign, 41 percent had honor codes and 32 percent allowed access only to an intranet.

To access the report, visit http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2004011.        

The second report, "Computer and Internet Use by Children and Adolescents in 2001," shows that computer and Internet access has become an important component of schoolwork, but that a digital divide still exists:    

• Many children use technology to complete schoolwork:  44 percent use computers and 77 percent use the Internet for their assignments.

• The digital divide still exists in homes: 41 percent of blacks and Hispanics use a computer at home compared to 77 percent of whites.

• Only 31 percent of students from families earning less than $20,000 use computers at home, compared to 80 percent of those from families earning more than $75,000.

• White students are more likely than black and Hispanic students to use computers for completing school assignments (58 percent vs. 28 percent vs. 27 percent).

• However, racial and ethnic differences in the use of computers seem largely to be a function of home access.  No significant differences in usage to complete homework assignments were detected between racial/ethnic groups who had computer access at home.

This report can be downloaded at http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2004014.  

CMSU and UMR Receive NTIA Public Telecommunications Facilities Program Grants 
Source: Letter from William Cooperman, Director, PTIA Program

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce has announced additional Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) grants for fiscal year 2003. 

On September 30, NTIA funded 110 applications for a total Federal award of $14.1 million. These grants are for television digital conversion and equipment replacement, radio, and nonbroadcast projects. In April, NTIA awarded $25 million in PTFP grants for digital television awards to assist public television stations meet the FCC deadline of May 2003. 

A complete listing of the awards is provided on the PTFP website at http://www.ntia.doc.org/ptfp. In Missouri, grants were awarded to: Central Missouri State University Broadcasting Services KTBG, 90.9 MHz, Warrensburg and University of Missouri System, KUMR, 88.5 MHZ, Rolla.

Webcast of USDOE Rural Ed Tech Virtual Town Hall now Available
On September 25, U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige hosted educators from across the country for a virtual town hall meeting on how rural communities are using technology to meet the goals of No Child Left Behind. Four communities in Iowa, Montana, New Mexico and West Virginia were showcased during the discussion using videoconferencing technology.  Joining Secretary Paige for the event were Acting Deputy Secretary Eugene Hickok and U.S. Rep. Steve King, of Iowa. This event was organized by the Secretary's Rural Education Task Force, which Secretary Paige established in April 2003 to help identify challenges faced by rural states and school districts and to work on finding solutions. For the archived Webcast, visit: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=17351.  

Update on 21^st Century Skills Project
There has been an overwhelmingly positive response from education and business community leaders to the 21st Century Skills Project Report, "Learning for the 21st Century," which was released at the NECC conference last summer. The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Education. More than 80,000 copies of the report have been distributed and requests continue from school districts and education leaders for the Milestone (MILE) Guide and report for use in teacher in-service programs and conferences.  The October issue of Technology & Learning Magazine features a cover story on the Project Partnership and furthers the national dialogue on the knowledge and skills that all 12th graders should master. The Partnership hosted a panel entitled, "How to Use the MILE Guide for 21st Century Skills" at the NSBA conference on October 23 in Anaheim. As JES & Co. (Tucson) begins working on a second year of research for the project; they are in the process of collecting and documenting standards pertaining to various subject areas from all fifty states. Reports can be downloaded, but for hard copies call Carrie Smith-Dent at (202) 585-0258.  See: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

Update on Maine's Laptop Experiment
Maine's experiment to give all of it middle-school students and teachers laptops continues to fascinate the nation's press, and most writers raise the same question: "Will it improve student performance?" Maine became the first state to provide laptops for all of its seventh graders; this fall, the $37.2 million program was expanded to include eighth graders. Currently, some 33,000 students and 3,000 teachers in 241 schools have state-supplied laptops. This is happening at a time when the state is experiencing a $1 billion state budget shortfall over the next two years. However, according to Seymour Papert, professor emeritus of education and media technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, "By giving all kids access to a computer, Maine is creating conditions for the development of a radically different way of thinking about education." A study conducted by researchers from the University of Southern Maine found that students using the laptops did more homework and misbehaved less than in previous years. States and districts that move in this direction can't go back. Students get used to having their own computer. A second pioneering state, Michigan is committing $22 million to provide laptops or hand-held computers to sixth graders across the state, as long as participating schools contribute $25 per student.
See: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/elearning/articles/03computer.htm

Beaumont Foundation Announces 2004 Education Grant Opportunity
Source: Letter from W. Frank Newton, President and Chief Executive Officer 

The Beaumont Foundation of America awards state-of-the-art Toshiba-branded technology equipment to educational institutions serving low-income populations in grades K-12. This year, eligible states are Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Additional grants will be available in subsequent years.

Education grants, which will be open and competitive, will be available for schools that meet all eligibility criteria and with a minimum of 50 percent of students qualifying for the national School Lunch Program. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit http://www.bmtfoundation.com/grants/ to determine eligibility. Letters of Interest from qualifying schools will be accepted online beginning in November 2003. 

For additional information, contact Daryl Ann Borel, Executive Director of Grants Administration, by calling 409-838-1812 or via email, dborel@bmtfoundation.com. To learn more about the Foundation, visit the website http://www.bmtfoundation.com. 
 

  ISTE Recognizes Products That Align to National Educational Technology Standards
http://www.iste.org/standards/nets/product-review 

Several educational resources have recently been awarded seals of alignment from the International Society for Technology in Education.  The seals recognize products, services and resources that are in alignment with ISTE’s mission and its National Educational Technology Standards (NETS).  The  Product Review Program was developed by the NETS leadership team in conjunction with key ISTE partners:  Intel Innovation, Microsoft, and PBS TeacherLine. 

The following six products or services have received this acknowledgement:

1. Microsoft Office Specialist XP Track learning materials

http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/officespecialist/default.asp

2. Intel Teach to the Future

http://www.intel.com/education/teach

3. Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification

http://www.certiport.com

4. MarcoPolo Training CD-ROM, Online Course, Trainer Resources and Teacher Training Kit

http://www.marcopolo-education.org

5. International Education Collaborative Foundation (IECF) and Information Technology Curricula Bermuda Technology Education Collaborative (B.TEC)

http://bermuda.stanford.edu

6. The International Computer Driving License (ICDL-US) Assessment

http://www.icdlus.com

Source:  T.H.E. Newsletter (October 22, 2003)
 

 Two Missouri Educators Awarded Milken Award 

Two Missouri educators are recipients of the 2003 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.  Each winner will receive an unrestricted cash award of $25,000.  The recipients are: 

Karen LaFever, eighth-grade science teacher, Parkway Central Middle School, Parkway School District, St. Louis 

  Linda Sarver, seventh-and ninth-grade English and eighth-grade social studies teacher, North Daviess High School, North Daviess School District, Jameson

The Milken Educator Award is given to classroom teachers, principals, and other public school professionals who are providing exemplary leadership in their schools and communities and working to promote excellence in public education.   

Missouri has participated in the Milken Education Award program since 1996.  This year, 100 outstanding educators in 47 states and the District of Columbia were notified of their selection in October.
 

 Four Districts Awarded Federal Grants to Upgrade School Libraries 

Four Missouri school districts have been awarded federal grants for their library media centers for the 2003-04 school year.  

The Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education.  The program is designed to increase student reading achievement by improving schools’ library services and resources.  Nationwide, 73 grants were funded with the average award totaling $165,000. 

The four Missouri recipients are:

• Ava School District, Ava ($150,000)
  Through Project READ, the district plans to update its book collection and media materials for all three of its schools, which serve more than 1,500 students.  Library hours will be extended to increase access.
  

• Southern Reynolds County School District, Ellington ($31,000)
  The Bridge to Literacy program will serve 300 elementary students, pre-kindergarten through 6th grade.  The program will entail training for the library media specialist and teachers, new literature and resources, computer-related activities for teachers and students, and opening the library media center before-and after-school and during the summer.
  

• Pulaski County School District, Richland  ($112,000)
  The district will implement Project SAIL (Students Achieve Increased Literacy) at two schools, serving 675 students.  The project will provide new reference materials, nonfiction books and visual materials to the elementary and high schools.  The library media center will extend its hours to after school, weekends and summer.
  

• St. Louis Public Schools ($181,000)
  The district's School Library Literacy Initiative will focus on increasing reading achievement of students in third, fourth, and fifth grades.  The district serves nearly 22,000 students at 73 elementary schools.  The project will provide new books, multimedia resources and software to supplement the elementary curriculum.

  2003 Missouri Educational Technology Conference:  Teacher-Driven Technology Report
 --Submitted by Eric Nicklas, Program Manager, K-12 Technology Network Program, MOREnet

The 14th Annual Missouri Educational Technology Conference: Teacher-Driven Technology was a great success. Over 700 attendees learned from 103 presenters and roamed among 92 vendor booths.  The conference was held at Tan-Tar-A October 19-21, 2003.    

Nine groups of students — as young as second graders — also exhibited their skills and experiences with educational technology and emerging global classroom communities. Our congratulations to those students and their technology-based projects…well done. 

Four sessions earned very high marks from conference attendees. With the presenters’ permission, the conference staff is making the information provided at these sessions available to all educators. 

• NASA Science and Electromagnetic Spectrum
  Presenter: David Beier, Lee's Summit School District

The Electromagnetic Spectrum will "be seen in a new light" by your students using FREE NASA resources and technology. NASA worked in concert with GEMS of UCAL Berkeley to create a series of classroom activities to help students better understand the Invisible Universe around us. This session explored several of the GEMS activities and looked at the NASA support that has been developed for teachers to enhance teaching and learning. (POWERPOINT ATTACHED TO MESSAGE) 

• STEPS: Technology Staff Development
  Presenter:  Marilyn Terry, Brenda Giessman, Carol Huttegger, and Greg Southard, Pattonville R-III School District

STEPS stands for Spreading Technology Education in Pattonville Schools. The STEPS program provides a structure for teachers and support staff to receive technology training. This presentation shows its design and implementation, as well as some of its results. http://morenet2003.psdr3.org/ 

• MAP It Out!
  Presenter: Pam Lowe and Treena Murray, Poplar Bluff R-1 School District and Gayle Cantrell, MOREnet

This MAP presentation introduces technological tools and resources to enhance MAP instruction with a focus on open-ended constructed response questions. http://schoolweb.missouri.edu/poplarbluff.k12.mo.us/lowe/MAPItOutPresentation.html 

Also go to http://schoolweb.missouri.edu/poplarbluff.k12.mo.us/lowe/MAPpe.html for a performance event/task presentation featuring templates and directions for writing performance events/tasks and curriculum alignment. 

• Technology Throughout the Year
  Presenters:  Sara Pock and Chrissy Martin, Branson Primary School, Branson School District

Do you feel like technology gurus are knocking down your door? Are you constantly being challenged to think up new ways to incorporate technology into your daily routines? If you're interested in technology projects ready to take to your primary classroom for each month of the school year, this workshop is for you! In addition, get great suggestions for getting organized along with math and science ideas using Microsoft Word, Publisher and Kidpix.

http://www.branson.k12.mo.us/primary/teachers.htm (MOREnet presentation)

http://www.branson.k12.mo.us/school_links/primary/morenet/tech_throughout_the_year.pdf 

Mark your calendars now for the 15^th annual Missouri Educational Technology Conference: October 3-5, 2004. 

  Show-Me TechKnowledge Day—February 18, 2004
--Submitted by Sally Burnett, 2004 Show Me TechKnowledge Day Chairperson 

Do you work with students and technology in innovative ways? Would you like to showcase your students and district for policy-makers throughout the state? If so, we want you!  

A grassroots organization, Show-Me TechKnowledge, helps identify and support students as they exhibit effective and innovative uses of technology. State leaders, policy-makers, and others are invited to the Capitol Rotunda to view the exhibits, talk to the students, and learn how education technology positively impacts teaching and learning. 

Last year, 13 districts from across the state, grades K-12 participated in the event.  Show-Me TechKnowledge 2004 is now accepting applications from prospective student/teacher exhibitors. This year’s event will be held on February 18, 2004. The deadline for submitting applications is December 5,  2003. Join us in celebrating your students’ success – submit an application today.  Show-Me Application;  Show-Me Committee Cover Letter

  METPA News
--Submitted by Andy Hall, METPA vice-president and Technology Director at Wellington-Napoleon School District 

Another fall MOREnet/DESE technology conference has come and gone.  I returned home from Osage Beach after two days visiting with hundreds of other people with the same priorities, interests, and concerns.  I always come home from these conferences with my batteries recharged and with a new vigor for my job.  I can think of very little more helpful than sitting down with my peers and sharing ideas and concerns.   

The Missouri Educational Technology Professionals Association (METPA) had several jobs at the conference.  First, was our table near the registration area, where both new and returning members could join the organization, be given a membership card, sign up for a committee, and visit with a colleague manning the table.  If you didn’t get a chance to stop by the table, you should have received a membership form in your conference packet, with an address.  A new emphasis this year at the METPA table was committee memberships.  If you signed up for any committees, thank you.  If you didn’t get a chance, please take a minute to visit the METPA website (www.metpa.org), see what  committees are listed, and volunteer to help.  All members’ help is both needed and appreciated.  Committees this year will be much more active and productive than in previous years. 

Our second enjoyable job at the conference was the presentation of METPA’s annual awards for outstanding websites and professional development programs.  Doug Allen made the announcement prior to the keynote speaker Monday morning.  This year’s award winners were:

Web page:
First place
Forensic Science Class at Pattonville HS
http://phs.psdr3.org/science/forensics/index.html  

Honorable mention
Gasconade County R-2 Schools - district web pages
http://owensville.k12.mo.us  

Northwest R-I School District web pages
http://www.nwr1.k12.mo.us/  

Best Practice Award:
First Place
Learning with iAdventures
Warrensburg R-VI 

Honorable Mention
tExcercising Online
Holden R-III School District 

STEPS - Spreading Technology Education in Pattonville Schools
Pattonville School District 

Congratulations to all the winners.  Nominations for next year’s awards will be accepted in the spring of 2004, with the awards being presented during the fall 2004 MOREnet/DESE technology conference.  METPA would like to thank Doug Allen for spearheading this project and the conference organizers for allowing us the time to make the presentations and recognize the achievements of these districts.

Our final responsibility at the conference was to continue our organization’s efforts to promote the district technology plan as a useful tool.  We had a well-attended session on Tuesday morning in which we discussed the need to keep our technology plans updated, even when funding isn’t readily available.  I know a lot of time and effort went into developing plans that truly reflected each individual district’s needs.  Keeping these plans current and sharing them with district patrons and our leaders in the state Capitol is one way to get educational technology funding the attention it needs. 

Approximately 70 school districts will have technology plans due for state review in April 2004.  Those districts received a letter in October regarding their plan status. METPA will be conducting technology plan writing workshops to help these districts, just as they did last year.  These workshops will be held throughout the state during the month of November.  Sessions are:

 November 5                  Marshall

 November 7                  Webb City

 November 21                Ironton (Remote sites at St. Louis, and Maryville) 

Technical assistance will then be available in Jefferson City on January 15 to review plans and make suggestions for improvement. Also, assistance will be available at the MOREnet spring technical conference in March. 

Again, METPA would like to thank everyone who makes this conference possible, including DESE, MOREnet, the presenters, and participants.  I hope you found it as useful as I did.  If you have any questions about our organization, please visit our website (www.metpa.org) or contact one of our officers.
 

  Team Encounter, Challenger Center Offer Students Lessons in Spaceship Building
 http://www.teamencounter.com 

Team Encounter, a provider of space missions for public participation, and the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, a nonprofit education organization, have announced the availability of the Classroom Space Travel Kit, including a new standards-based program for schools that allow students worldwide to participate in a real space mission while learning first-hand the scientific principals on which the mission is used. 

Team Encounter is currently constructing a spacecraft powered by a state-of-the-art solar sail that harness the wind at sea.  On board the spacecraft will be a payload comprised of millions of messages, artwork, and photographs available for discovery by a space-furring archeologist of a distant tomorrow. 

The Teacher’s Guide component of the Classroom Space Travel Kit provides lessons that leverage students’ interest in spaceflight by first teaching them the basics of solar sail flight, and then further developing their interest with participation in an actual space mission.  The classroom activities, available for K-2, 3-4. 5-8 and 9-12, are based on the National Science Education Standards and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards. Source:  T.H.E. Newsletter (October 22, 2003)
 

  2004 Citizen Activist Award
http://www.eschoolnews.com/erc/funding/opps.cfm#612 

The 2004 Citizen Activist Award honors those who have struggled to improve K-12 public education in order to give each child the basic education necessary to succeed in today's fast-changing world. The Gleitsman Foundation seeks activists, including professional educators or administrators, who work in creative and innovative ways to provide all children with a basic education. Deadline: Nov. 12, 2003.
 

  International Schools CyberFair 2004: Achieve & Unite! Take Action to Improve Lives & Connect Communities 
http://www.globalschoolhouse.org/cf/

International Schools CyberFair is an award-winning, authentic learning program used by schools and youth organizations around the world. 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. This White House endorsed program encourages youth to become community ambassadors by working collaboratively and using technology to share what they have learned. Students evaluate each other's projects by using a unique online evaluation tool.

CyberFair encourages youth to connect the knowledge they learn in school to real world applications. Youth are inspired to "take action" in order to improve their lives and unite their communities. Just as achievement is action reaching fruition, the best projects showcase people and programs that are actively providing solutions or solving problems. Now in its ninth year, CyberFair has been described as the largest educational event of its kind ever held on the Internet. This program has brought together more than one million students across 100 countries. View past winners and take a virtual journey around the globe to learn about people, programs and their communities. CyberFair now has affiliate projects throughout the US, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Poland, and Mexico.  Learn more at http://www.globalschoolhouse.org/cf/ 

Registration opens October 15, 2003
Projects due March 20, 2004
 

   Missouri Schools and Programs in the News

West Platte Co. R-II, Lee’s Summit R-VII and Kansas City 33
Three students from Missouri were recently in Washington, D.C.to compete in The Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, which brings forty young scientists from throughout the country to the nation’s capital to demonstrate their science projects. Among those taking part was 14-year-old Elena Oviatt of West Platte Co. R-II School of Weston.  Elena’s project purified apple cider through ozonation, rather than pasteurization.  The other Missouri students are sixth grader Austin Minor of Lee’s Summit R-VII, whose project dealt with paint recycling and fifth grader Ethan Roth of Kansas City who came up with what he claims is an easier way to solve math problems.  To find out more about the competition and student participants, check out http://www.schoo.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/finalists.html
 

  Copyright Question of the Month 

Q.  May an educator (e.g., administrator, classroom teacher, substitute teacher, or student teacher) other district employee, volunteer, or others create a copy of a purchased DVD in order to archive the original? 

      A.  No.  The only media that may be copied for archival or any other purpose is computer software.
 

  Mark Your Calendar

 
  Upcoming 2003-2004 Conferences 

 
  From the Mailbag
Link-Systems International
jbuckley@link-systems.com
http://www.link-systems.com

Link-Systems International provides high quality integrated distance learning, web publishing and content conversion solutions for organizations worldwide.  At the present time, Link-Systems is an integral part of several course management platforms and serves as the driving force behind the future development of those technologies.  They specialize in the communication of visual content including math, business, foreign languages, composition, science, and technical and medical materials.  In addition to clear advantages in the area of content coverage, LSI also enjoys a number of market advantages including: a low bandwidth requirement, an applet-based design (no application download is required), a product that is 508 compliant and meets the web-based requirements of recent ADA legislation as well as having the ability to interface with VOIP.  It will be operable on PDAs in 2004. 

Digital Document Conversion
A pioneer in the document conversion business since 1996, Link-Systems has developed several dozen proprietary processes that are utilized to convert a variety of print documents into materials that can be presented on the Web.  In addition to having the ability to quickly convert print documents to "web-ready" materials, LSI has also spearheaded the development of software which converts documents in a manner which provides for virtually error-free presentation and has allowed a number of scientific journals to be made available on the Web that would not have occurred otherwise.  In addition to abilities in specialized journal development, LSI has also developed expertise in conversion of courseware formats (Blackboard, WebCT, etc.) and has developed software that enables the conversion of content in an expedited manner.  Current and past customers for these services include:  John Wiley, APA, Cadmus, McGraw-Hill, Springer-Verlag, Thomson Learning and Prentice Hall.

Technology Development
Link-Systems has developed a fully synchronous, interactive whiteboard, which can be customized for any number of content areas.  The discipline-specific WorldWideWhiteboard(tm), is currently being used by a wide range of higher education institutions to allow mathematics professors to communicate on-line, live, and in "math-speak" with their students.  The WorldWideWhiteboard(tm) provides the proprietary technology "backbone" for the company's other products, including NetTutor(tm) and NetGroup(tm).  We also license the WorldWideWhiteboard(tm) to third parties for incorporation into course management software.  Current and past customers include: Bucknell, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Georgia Tech, SUNY, Iowa State, VCU, and JonesKnowledge.com.

Educational Services
Online Tutoring - We utilize our technology to provide on-line tutoring for students and professionals. The combination of synchronous and asynchronous tools allows us to create a platform that provide significant  supplemental learning opportunities outside of the classroom.  We have recently created a Mathematics Resource Center website, and have made it available to remedial math students in addition to continuing the company's long-standing commitment to quality instructional support through tutoring.  In addition to this resource center, we have also developed resource centers for science and accounting as well, all of which include the Live Tutorial function, Q & A, and Archive Center as well as being updated on a continuous basis.  For the Fall 2003 semester we are serving a universe of 14,000 math students, 10,000 science students and over 15,000 accounting students through our relationship with McGraw-Hill.

Content Development - Link-Systems is committed to serving the educational community with high-quality content solutions.  These content solutions can be packaged together with LSI's technologies and online tutorial services, then accessed online or processed for CD duplication.  LSI's content development division uses our Bernoulli(tm) Random problem generator (which, as discussed below is being licensed to outside users for the first time starting in 2004), and can work with our educational customers to create custom content as well.  In addition to the core services that we provide to our publisher customers, LSI also produces a wide-range of content products including: web projects, dynamic links, custom Java applets, worksheets, example generations, animations, flash cards and searchable glossaries.  A full explanation of all our content products can be found at  http://www.link-systems.com/ on the content development tab.

The technology team at LSI has developed a revolutionary development tool called Bernoulli(tm).  The Bernoulli(tm) authoring and delivery system provides the most sophisticated algorithmically generated question formats available today.  Each question can be created to include a static hint, a walkthrough of the specific iteration of that problem, and the opportunity for students to answer interim steps and the final solution.  Our system includes the ability to create randomized graphs on the fly, and a comprehensive answering component for students to enter the solution. Our SDK includes a comprehensive Application Programming Interface which allows for easy, seamless integration of Bernoulli(tm) into any other product or website.  We have worked with The Learning Company, Sofsource and publishers to develop content for math-based titles which utilize this engine, and will be licensing the product to interested parties beginning in 2004. 

Free E-rate Resource for Schools and Libraries
www.fundsforlearning.com 
As the sixth E-rate funding year gets under way, there's a new Web-based tool that's available for free to school and library leaders to help them manage their E-rate funding commitments. The tool, called E-rate Manager (http://www.eratemanager.com), is designed to help applicants track their funding commitments and how many dollars worth of approved discounts they still have available. Although more than $2 billion in E-rate discounts are approved annually for schools and libraries, each year several hundred million dollars go unused. E-rate Manager is designed to help ensure that applicants use as much of their approved funding as they can under program rules.  

E-rate Manager helps schools generate Form 486 applications and then communicate with their vendors about Service Provider Invoice Forms and Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) forms. It also can help applicants keep on top of the deadlines for filing Form 486 applications and invoicing paperwork so that they don't miss out on approved funding because they filed a form too late. It can also help schools re-create their E-rate history when they have had a change in the personnel who were responsible for their applications. E-rate Manager also helps you respond to requests from program auditors and helps prevent simple clerical errors that could delay your reimbursement for weeks or even months. 

The free tool was developed by Funds For Learning, an education technology consulting firm. Schools can access the tool by going to http://www.eratemanager.com  and clicking on the "applicants" icon. Then click on "Register" on the "E-rate Manager" icon to request an activation code to gain access to your funding commitments. The demonstration is available at http://www.eratemanager.com/services/applicant/info.html and scroll down to "demonstration". 

From GrantStation Insider 
http://www.grantstation.com/insider.asp

• "Read for Life" Scholarship Program
  IndiVisual Learning/Hewlett-Packard
  The IndiVisual/Hewlett-Packard "Read for Life" Scholarship Program provides computer workstations and software to K-12 schools in the U.S. valued at $25,000. Public, private, charter, parochial schools, and faith and community based programs throughout the country that demonstrate financial need, or a high ESL, ELL, or LEP population, and a staff dedicated in promoting technology-based education solutions are eligible. Recipients receive in-class computer-based reading workstations that include five Hewlett-Packard PCs, complete with three years unlimited student-use of IndiVisual Reading. Schools may apply online at the website above.

• Funds for Creative Projects
  The McKenzie Foundation
  The McKenzie Foundation has selected four initiatives that will shape its grantmaking for the next few years. These are early childhood development, education, the environment, and arts and culture. The Foundation believes that assisting families is one of the most effective and lasting ways to strengthen communities and therefore supports opportunities and experiences that enrich learning for all ages. There is no deadline for applications and grants range from $600 to $60,000. Letters of inquiry may be submitted online. Go to the website above for more information. 

Science Pioneers
www.spioneers.org
Students enjoy a rare opportunity to discuss future science projects with engineers, scientists and physicians during Meet the Mentor Day. There is no charge for this program, but pre-registration is required (816-460-2261).  Event will be held at KU Medical Center, Reike Auditorium.

National Gardening Association Grant Programs
http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp
National Gardening Association supports programs across the country that actively engages kids in the garden. To be eligible for the following grants and awards programs, your school or organization must plan to garden with at least 15 students between the ages of 3 and 18. 

Lowe’s Charitable and Education Foundation
http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=frameSet&url=www.easy2.com/cm/lowe/foundation/intro.asp

Founded in 1957, the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has a long and proud history of contributing to grassroots community projects.  The Foundation considers large-scale requests and in order to address issues of importance to local communities, looks for support by local store and district management when reviewing proposals.  The Foundation provides funding only to 501(c )(3) organizations in cities where Lowe’s operates.  Its primary philanthropic focus areas are:

• Education
• Community improvement projects (examples include projects at parks and other public areas, housing for the underprivileged and innovative environmental initiatives)

Teaching Web Accessibility Online Courses
http://www.access-board.gov/news/508courses.htm
FREE registration for this site to either take the online course or to use course materials that can be downloaded and instructor-taught. 

Have you visited Starfall.com?
Starfall.com, is a family friendly website where your students can have fun while learning to read. This site contains a wide variety of materials designed to help the emergent reader. It is based, in part, on research by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development about how children learn to read.  The energy behind Starfall comes from Dr. Stephen Schutz, PhD in physics and a successful publisher and artist and his wife poet Susan Polis Schultz 

The Starfall Method promises to improve reading acquisition by using the Internet to help make it fun for the children and easy for the educators. If you are a teacher, you may request the free printed materials that go along with the website for classroom use. 

From NEON
NEON (News for Educators Online Now!) is a project of the Instructional Resource Center (ITRC) at the University of Central Florida in partnership with the SouthEast Initiatives Regional Technology in Education Consortium (SEIR*TEC). NEON is designed to disseminate educational technology announcements and news.   

NEON is available to you by email, web page, and handheld file, and is published electronically once a month. To access NEON through the web, go to http://www.itrc.ucf.edu/neon/  For a handheld version, go to http://www.itrc.ucf.edu/neon/handheld/ 

·         Smithsonian Launches New Education Website
http://www.SmithsonianEducation.org/

The Smithsonian Institution has launched Smithsonian Education, an exciting new website for educators, families, and students. The site features content from 16 Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, and the Smithsonian's world-class research centers. Content is aligned with national education standards, developed with input from teachers, and based on Smithsonian scholarship. Educators can quickly download lesson plans or search by subject or grade level for nearly 1,000 publications, websites, field trips, and other teaching tools. The site also lists professional development opportunities, special events for teachers, and a step-by-step guide to planning field trips to the Smithsonian and other museums. 

• Evaluating Websites
  http://wizard.imsa.edu/evaluate 

The Evaluation Wizard helps students learn how to evaluate Internet sources for validity and reliability. An evaluation process is needed because Web pages do not undergo the same rigorous selection process that is typically applied to information that appears in published books, magazines and newspapers. This tool is offered as part of the 21st Century Information Fluency Project website. 

• Try Textmapping
  http:///www.textmapping.org/index.html

Textmapping is a graphic organizer technique that can be used to teach reading comprehension and writing skills, study skills, and course content. 

This site is a free resource for teachers and education researchers. This site provides lesson guides, opportunities to network with other teachers and education researchers, links to research on reading comprehension skills instruction, and free teacher training resources for teacher-trainers, workshop presenters, and schools of education. 

• Kids’ Internet Radio
  http://www.openlearner.org/kirp/

The Kids' Internet Radio is a free, easily-accessible broadcast medium which allows students and educators to air their voice to eager listeners. Therefore, project content is constructed entirely by the listening audience, submitted for "over-the-air" publication, edited by Project Staff into a radio show, and then broadcast. Free membership is open to students and educators. 

From SBC’s Blue Web'n Library 
http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/bluewebn/

• Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics
  http://mathworld.wolfram.com

MathWorld is a comprehensive and interactive mathematics encyclopedia intended for students, educators, math enthusiasts, and researchers. The site is continuously updated to include new material and incorporate new discoveries. There is a subject index and an alphabetic index. Each entry includes reference links. Contains LiveGraphics3D interactive Java applets that allow 3D solids to be viewed inside your browser window. MathWorld is a free service for the mathematical community provided by Wolfram Research with additional support from the National Science Foundation.  

Grade Level:  Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adult/Professional 
Content Area:  Technology (Applied Science) (Manufacturing) [Dewey #670] 
Application type:  Other Resources, Web Based Activities
 

• Mysteries of the Nile
  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/egypt/

Want to see the Sphinx close up? Clamber inside the Great Pyramid? Visit the magnificent tombs and temples of Luxor? Simply click on the images and enjoy a self-guided QuickTime tour through the Land of the Pharaohs. There's so much here, it's easy to get lost. Use the Site Guide to see the list of everything available. Classroom resources (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/egypt/classroom.html) section helps you customize your own lesson plans, check out their lesson plans, or get started with ideas to energize your students. 

Grade Level:  Early Childhood (K-2), Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Adult/Professional 
Content Area:  Community Interest (Regional Information), History & Social Studies (Anthropology / Archaeology), History & Social Studies (Geography & Cultures) [Dewey #301] 
Application type:  Unit & Lesson Plans, Other Resources, Web Based Activities

• Times 100
  http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/index.php

The Times 100 is a free educational resource for students, teachers and lecturers of business studies. The Times 100 brings business studies theory to life with case studies on real companies, written by leading business studies textbook authors and linked to all exam specifications.  

Each business case study expands on basic business studies topics using real world examples to help your understanding. Select any of the logos to the right to view a summary of that case study. Developed in the UK but applicable to U.S. issues and even covers some U.S. businesses. Resources include downloadable study guides, a glossary, and a quiz. 

Grade Level:  High School, College, Adult/Professional 
Content Area:  Business (Management), Business (Marketing) [Dewey #658] 
Application type:  Unit & Lesson Plans
 

  Internet Sites of Interest

Digital Kids from Adobe
http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/
Here at the Adobe Digital Kids Club—a special site created for teachers, students, and parents—you’ll find the essential digital photography resources you need to unleash the creative freedom that digital cameras can offer.  Now it’s easy to bring digital photography into your classroom activities and into projects at home.

Max’s Thanksgiving Turkey
http://www.bethanyroberts.com/TurkeytoColor.htm  http://info.riverdeep.net/Key=38669.DCp.S.HpY27v
Which turkey most appeals to Max? Print out copies of this mini-book with a Thanksgiving theme for your kindergarten students to assemble and read.

Tiny Titles Thanksgiving Books
http://www.billybear4kids.com/TinyTitles/Thanksgiving.html 
This printable Thanksgiving book offers students in grades one and two a chance to write their own Thanksgiving sentences--try a theme of what they are thankful for, or what traditions they look forward to.

Newest eThemes  

Native American Culture
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001123.html
Learn more about the cultures of various Native American tribes. Some sites emphasize that these are "live" cultures because there are more than a million American Indians living today. Watch videos of a powwow, read biographies of famous Native Americans, and view paintings and photographs. Includes population statistics on the largest tribes and information about the controversy over the use of Native Americans as school mascots.

Literature: "Freckle Juice" by Judy Blume
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001131.html
These sites are about the book "Freckle Juice" by Judy Blume. Includes discussion questions, activity ideas, author biographies, and book reviews. There is also information about what causes freckles.

Literature: "Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001130.html
These sites are about the book "Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume. There are book project ideas, review questions, author biographies, book reviews, and an online Jeopardy game. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on turtles.

Author Study: Edgar Allan Poe
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001127.shtml
Learn more about American Gothic author Edgar Allan Poe. Includes full-text versions of his stories and poems, plus information about his life. There are lesson plans and suggested classroom activities.

Author Study: Cormac McCarthy
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001136.shtml
Read biographies about Cormac McCarthy and learn about his Southern Gothic novels. There is also information about his famous Western novel called "All the Pretty Horses." Includes discussion questions, book summaries, and suggested activities.

Holiday: Columbus Day
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001173.shtml
Learn about explorer Christopher Columbus and his four voyages to the New World. Find out what group of people discovered this land before him. Includes biographies, timelines, maps, and information about the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. There are also craft and activity ideas for celebrating this holiday.

Decade: 1960-1969
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001124.shtml
These sites are about the major events of the 1960s including Woodstock, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and anti-war protests. Learn about this decade's popular fashion, TV shows, and baby names. There are links to eThemes Resources on Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Decade: 1970-1979
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001125.shtml
Learn about the major world and national events of the 1970s by scrolling through several timelines. There are also sites about popular culture during this time period. Topics include TV shows, pop music, fashion, dancing, and hippies. Includes many photographs and primary documents. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on Richard Nixon.

Decade: 1980-1989
Learn about the political climate and the popular culture of the 1980s. Includes information about the Challenger disaster, Rubik's Cubes, George Bush, the invention of computers, and more. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on Ronald Reagan.

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

Math: Rounding
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001157.shtml
These sites include the rules for rounding whole numbers and decimal numbers. Includes many examples, plus online games and quizzes. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on place value.

Microbes: Fungi
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001132.shtml
Find out how fungi spread and how they can be both beneficial and harmful to humans. Includes online quizzes, games, an animated movie, and hands-on experiment ideas.

Fossils: Lucy
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001170.shtml
Read about Lucy, one of the most famous skeletons in the world. Lucy belongs to the hominid species called Australopithecus aferensis, which lived on the earth millions of years ago. Watch a video that explains how Lucy became a fossil and explore several interactive sites that show how humans have evolved. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on fossils.

Grammar: Subjects and Predicates
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001177.shtml
These sites have definitions and examples of subjects and predicates. Learn the difference between simple and compound. Includes exercises, online quizzes, games, a PowerPoint presentation, and an animated movie.

Microbes: Bacteria
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001186.shtml
These sites are about bacteria, where they live, what they look like, and why they can be harmful to humans. Find out who is credited with discovering bacteria. Includes online quizzes, movies, and hands-on experiments. There are links to eThemes Resources on germs and fungi.

Technology: Dreamweaver
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001139.shtml
These sites offer tutorials and tips for creating a Web site using Dreamweaver MX. Teachers who have previously created their pages using Netscape Composer can open their existing files in Dreamweaver and resave them. Topics include text editing, image editing, tables, rollovers, style sheets, and more. Learn by watching videos and Flash presentations or reading step-by-step instructions. There are also school page templates available to download for free. Includes a link to an eThemes Resource on creating a Web site

Updated eThemes

Animals: Life Cycles
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000167.html
These sites focus on the stages animals go through as they mature. Learn how insects, fish, amphibians, birds, mammals, and humans develop. See videos of animals when they are developing embryos. Watch a chicken hatch from its egg. Also includes more advanced information on genes and physical growth. 

Geography: United States
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000369.html
These sites are about America's 50 states. Play various games and quizzes and try to recognize the shape of the states. Includes labeled and unlabeled maps. There are links to eThemes Resources on the different regions of America. 

Technology: Computer Basics
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000148.html
These sites are designed to help learn about basic computer operations and parts. Find out about the Internet, mouse, keyboard, and floppy disk drive. Includes information about the history of computers. eThemes on keyboarding skills, Internet safety, and Excel are linked. 

U.S. Presidents
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000030.html
These sites include biographies of the presidents of the United States and their wives. Includes information about election trivia, debates, and inaugural addresses, plus some online games. There are links to eThemes Resources on the executive branch and some presidents.

Literature: "As I Lay Dying" by William Faulkner
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000734.shtml
These sites are about Nobel Prize winner William Faulkner and one of his novels, "As I Lay Dying." Includes plot summaries, discussion questions, online quizzes, character analyses, and classroom activity ideas. Take a virtual tour of Faulkner's home, Rowan Oak. There is also a link to an eThemes Resource on the 1930s.

Literature: Mystery Books
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000551.html
Read all about different mystery books and their authors. Books include "Who Stole the Wizard of Oz," "Encyclopedia Brown," the "Cam Jensen Mystery" series, "The Hardy Boys," "Nancy Drew", and "Bunniculla." Includes classroom activity ideas and some interactive quizzes.

Writing: Mysteries
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000286.html
These sites are about the genre of mysteries. Includes activities for writing mystery stories and samples of stories written by students. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on mystery books.

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

World War II
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000327.shtml
These sites cover the events of World War II (1939-1945). There are several first-hand accounts in text and audio from people involved in the war effort. Other topics include life on the homefront, the role of women, and the type of airplanes and weapons used. Includes biographies, letters, images, posters, video, and audio clips.

Orphan Trains, 1854-1929
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000381.shtml
Read historical accounts of the orphan trains that brought children from New York City and the East Coast to the Midwest. Includes personal accounts, took photographs, and booklists. There are also photographs of New York City at the beginning of the 20th century.

Writing: Memoirs
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001109.shtml
These sites explain how to write memoirs and include ideas for getting started. There are also some writing examples and lists of recommended children's books that use this form of writing.

DESE 3370-10 11/03