NewsWatch, May/June 2002


	May/June 2002 Copyright © Information Today, Inc.
by Kathie Felix, News/Reviews Editor

News of the latest products and technology for K-12 may be sent directly to Kathie Felix at 5746 Union Mill Rd., PMB 605, Clifton, VA 20124 or to kfelix@infotoday.com.

NEWS

ISTE Teacher Education Awards
Six educational programs across the U.S. have been chosen the winners of the 2002 National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Distinguished Achievement Awards, which are sponsored by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). The awards recognize institutions that exemplify successful integration of the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS*T) into teacher education programs. The recognized school programs are Arizona State University West, College of Education, Early Childhood Program; Hope College (Michigan), Education Department, Teacher Education Program; Ohio State University—Mansfield, Department of Education, Elementary Education Program; University of Texas, UTeach Program, College of Education and College of Natural Sciences; University of Virginia, Curry School of Education, Secondary Education Program (Math, Science, English, and Social Studies); and Wake Forest University (North Carolina), Department of Education, Teacher Preparation Programs. Information on the National Educational Technology Standards can be found online at http://cnets.iste.org/. ISTE, 800/336-5191 or http://www.iste.org/.

NSF Awards Technology Education Grants
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded two grants totaling more than $600,000 to develop resources and educational strategies for deaf students in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET) fields.

A grant of $430,000 was given to the Classroom of the Sea (COS) project based at the University of Connecticut and conducted with staff and faculty from the American School for the Deaf (ASD), the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut, the National Undersea Research Center (NURC) at the University of Connecticut, and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at the Rochester (NY) Institute of Technology (RIT). The project focuses primarily on "communication access" and will identify scientific terminology important to teaching marine science along with prototypes of technical signs in the context of American Sign Language (ASL). A lexicon of scientific signs is being developed to identify existing signs and to determine the terms for which no signs currently exist. The project also includes deaf high school students apprenticing with marine scientists and taking oceanic excursions to gain hands-on experience.

A grant of $199,000 was given to the NTID to develop the "Clearinghouse on Mathematics, Engineering, Technology, and Science (COMETS): A Comprehensive Resource in the Education of Deaf Students." The Clearinghouse will establish a network connecting deaf students, teachers, parents, and support providers through a centralized Web site where participants will exchange information on the best educational methods in the SMET fields. The COMETS Web site is located at http://www.rit.edu/~comets/. Classroom of the Sea, http://www.ap.nurc.uconn.edu/cos/. Rochester Institute of Technology National Technical Institute for the Deaf, 585/475-6700 or http://www.rit.edu/NTID.

LIBRARY NEWS

AASL at ALA
The American Library Association (ALA) 2002 Annual Conference will be held June 13-19, 2002, in Atlanta, Georgia. The American Association of School Libraries (AASL) has scheduled special events, educational programs, and meetings during the conference. The program will include opportunities to meet authors, get ideas for programs and services, and practical tips on collection management. Sub-tracks include collection management, digital libraries, issues and updates, administration and management, and programming and services. ALA/AASL, 800/545-2433 or http://www.ala.org/aasl/.

Follett Updates Library Automation Software
Version 5.0 of Follett's library automation and information access system improves access to patron information, collection management, cataloging of bibliographic records, and expanded searching capabilities. The new release includes Circulation Plus, Catalog Plus, WebCollection Plus, and Alliance Plus Online for Windows and Mac OS. Features allow users to track vendors, funding sources, orders, line items, and print orders; view percentages of remaining budget dollars with new acquisitions functionality; reserve items for a future date; give patrons access
to their circulation information, allowing them to place items on hold, view and print their checkouts, holds, reserves, and fines; expand Circulation Desk to full screen size for easier viewing; and add or edit patrons directly from the Circulation Desk or Patron Maintenance. Additional features improve maintenance, provide easier cataloging, and expanded searching. Follett Software Co., 800/323-3397 or http://www.fsc.follett.com/.

CLASSROOM RESOURCES

Turner Learning in May
From May 7-9, CNN Student News presents Oceans: Going to Great Depths, a multi-part series examining the development of underwater technology and how robo-cams and mini-subs are used to locate objects ranging from shipwrecks to deep-water organisms studied for use in medicines. From May 6-10, CNN Student News presents UN Special Session, a week-long look at the state of children and young people around the world, focusing on health, welfare and education, and youth involvement. CNN Newsroom is broadcast weekdays at 4:30 a.m., eastern time on CNN. Enrolled schools receive free taping rights to record each day's program and may choose to receive the daily educator guide via e-mail. Each CNN Newsroom special is accompanied by a free educator's guide available online. Turner Learning/CNNstudentnews.com, http://www.CNNstudentnews.com/.

Preparing Teachers to Use Technology
National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers—Preparing Teachers to Use Technology, edited by M.G. Kelly, Ed.D., outlines models for standards-based integration of technology for teacher education. The book includes 32 demonstration lessons covering math, science, social studies, and language arts in early childhood, elementary, middle school, and secondary programs; eight demonstration lessons for foundation courses; and separate chapters devoted to model strategies, assessment, student teaching/internships, first-year teaching, and staff development. 374 pages. $44.95, ISTE members. $49.95, non-members. Volume pricing is available. ISTE,800/336-5191 or http://www.iste.org/.

The Director in the Classroom
The Director in the Classroom, a book by Canadian filmmaker Nikos Theodosakis, explores how the classroom use of digital video can engage learners in the curriculum. Theodosakis has worked with students and teachers from kindergarten to college and has developed a "classroom to community" approach that has earned awards on the local and national levels. The book explores the process of filmmaking, examines how filmmaking engages learners, and investigates how every step in the process fosters the development of personal, social, and higher-order thinking skills. Also included are strategies for assessing video projects, dealing with copyright issues, and project ideas. A CD-ROM accompanies the book and provides more than 30 forms and checklists in PDF format and links to Web resources for filmmaking, digital video production, and software and hardware resources. $54.95, single copy. $44.95 each—10-19 copies; $34.95 each—20-49 copies; $29.95 each—50-99 copies. Call for pricing for 100+ copies. Tech4Learning, Inc., 877/834-5453 or http://www.tech4learning.com/.

Technology in the Classroom
Weaving Technology into Your Teaching, by David A. Dockterman, Ed.D., shows K-12 teachers how to apply the power of technology to teaching practices and administrative tasks, providing more time for interaction with students. The text offers ideas for using technology inside and outside of the classroom, and includes an appendix with step-by-step walk-throughs of software, including Microsoft Excel, Inspiration, and TimeLiner. The book features access to a supplemental Web site with links to free trials, activities, and Internet sites. Dockterman, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School for Education, has designed several award-winning software products, including Science Court; Decisions, Decisions; and The Great Ocean Rescue. $19.95. A free excerpt of the book is available online. Tom Snyder Productions, 800/342-0236 or http://www.tomsnyder.com/.

HELPING HANDS

SMARTer Kids Product Grants
The SMARTer Kids Foundation will provide a total of $65 million in product discounts as SMARTer Kids Grants for NEC visual presentation products for the 2001-2002 school year. Successful applicants will receive a SMARTer Kids Grant for qualifying NEC products, including data projectors and multimedia displays, worth up to 39 percent of the suggested retail price. All public or private, accredited, not-for-profit educational institutions involved in K-12, higher education, vocational and technical instruction, or administration are eligible to apply. Not-for-profit museums, libraries, and science centers involved in K-12 or higher education are also eligible. Grant recipients must be located in the U.S. or Canada. Applications must be received by midnight, August 31, 2002. Grants must be used by September 30, 2002. Applications are available from the Foundation office or online. SMARTer Kids Foundation, 403/228-8565 or http://www.smarterkids.org/.

Information Today Home Page

Home Page

Current Issue

Top