NewsWatch, October 2000


	October 2000 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

Technology in Schools Report
The “2000 Report on the Effectiveness of Technology in Schools,” a 135-page study from the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), highlights the results of more than 300 recent surveys on education technology from professional journals, doctoral dissertations, and other qualified sources. The report demonstrates that education technology has increased student achievement, enhanced student self-concept and attitude about learning, and improved interaction involving educators and students in the learning environment. Among the variables identified in the study that influence the effectiveness of education technology are attributes of the student population, software design, the educator’s role, student grouping, educator training, and the level of student access to technology. The leading variable was found to be educator training—students of teachers with more than 10 hours of training significantly outperformed students of teachers with 5 or fewer training hours. The report also outlines the challenges involved in technology integration and training in the educational environment. The report is available at a cost of $40 to SIIA members, $99 to non-members, and $40 to educators (teachers, school boards, etc.). SIIA, 202/452-1600 or http://www.siia.net/.

Technology Reference Materials
School Technology Best Practices: 2000 Edition, updated four times a year, provides information on methods for creating, implementing, and managing a successful technology program. The information package includes hundreds of real-world case studies, special reports, and practical articles that identify, analyze, and advise on issues relating to technology planning, technology funding, technology procurement, and technology management. The package, contained in an updatable loose-leaf binder, is available by annual subscription at a charter price of $195 for the complete 720-page set or $50 per section. After October 15, the cost increases to $395 for the complete set or $99 per section.

The School Technology Funding Directory, 2nd Edition, provides information designed to help schools locate and win technology grants to improve and broaden student learning opportunities. The new directory provides details on more than 500 grants and funding sources for technology expenditures such as classroom computers, Internet access, technology learning environments, and more. The book offers proven grant-seeking strategies to help schools compete more effectively for funds: funding
contact, application, and deadline information; geographic areas where grants are awarded; eligibility requirements and restrictions on the use of funds; financial information such as the amount each fund will donate; and the highest and lowest grant awards. 200 pages. $169.

The 2001 School Technology One Book provides information on K-12 school technology, including the full range of computer and connectivity solutions, software applications, and support services, Web portals, technology consortia, funding sources, state and federal agencies involved with school technology, associations, publications, case studies, and best practices. Designed as a single source reference tool to support technology planning, funding, and management, the book lists more than 15,000 suppliers, product listings, funding sources, and planning tools; product locators for nearly 9,000 vendors across more than 200 product and service categories; detailed profiles of more than 3,500 software, hardware, connectivity, and support vendors; and more than 500 listings of Web sites, professional associations, publications, educational technology consortia, government agencies, training and professional development suppliers, and other resources. 700+ pages. $129 before October 15, $199 after October 15. eSchool News, 301/913-0115 or http://www.eschoolnews.org/.

Calendar Watch
The National School Board Association (NSBA) will host the Technology + Learning Conference October 25 - 28, 2000, in Denver, Colorado. NSBA, 703/838-NSBA or http://www.nsba.org/t+l/.

The Florida Education Technology Conference (FETC) springs to life earlier in the year than usual. Look for it January 11-13, 2001, in Orlando, Florida. FETC, 850/219-9600 or http://www.fetc.org/.

The National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) will be held June 25 - June 27, 2001, in Chicago, Illinois. NECC, http://www.neccsite.org/.

USEFUL TOOLS

Video Editing on the Mac
Director’s Cut, a hardware link, allows users to connect VHS or 8 mm video equipment to Macintosh computers. The hardware peripheral connects a camcorder, one or two VCRs, a television monitor, and headphones to a computer. Priced at $289, the studio-quality device converts composite, S-Video, and stereo audio to and from FireWire. Operation is completely automatic through iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and other video-editing software. Power R Inc., 800/729-6970 or http://www.powerr.com/.

HELPING HANDS

3M Salute to Schools Winners
A total of 70 U.S. middle and high school library media centers have been selected by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) as the recipients of 3M Salute to Schools awards. Each school will receive up to two 3M detection systems for the entrance/exit of its media center, a supply of 3M Tattle-Tape Security Strips for marking materials and materials processing accessories—a package with an average value of approximately $15,000. The overall donation from 3M Library Systems totals more than $1 million. AASL selected the recipients on the basis of applications that reflected financial need, demonstrated support for a strong library program, and commitment to the project as explained in a statement of need. Only schools with full-time certified school library media specialists were considered. AASL is a division of the American Library Association. AASL/ALA, 800/545-2433 or http://www.ala.org/.

Design the Puffs Box
Students in grades K-6 are invited to create a design for Puffs tissues that illustrates the theme “What I Like Best About School.” The Back-to-School Design the Box Contest offers the grand-prize winner nationwide display of the winning box design on a new back-to-school line of Puffs in the year 2001, a $25,000 savings bond for college (value at maturity), a Gateway personal computer, and a digital camera for the classroom. In addition, three first-place grade-category winners will receive a personal computer. All winners receive a year’s supply of Puffs. The Year 2000 winning box design—by 7-year-old Gail Gustavson of Green Bay, Wisconsin—is currently on store shelves. Entries must be submitted on an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of plain paper and can be drawn in crayon, marker, pencil, pen, chalk, or paint. All entries must be received by December 1, 2000. Entry forms are available online. Puffs, 800/77-Puffs or http://www.puffs.com/.

CLASSROOM RESOURCES

CNN in October
CNN offers a variety of programs for students in October. The Electoral Process airs October 24 during the Democracy in America program on CNN Newsroom. The Faces of a Hero (October 2-6 on CNN) examines the definition of a modern-day hero, looks at heroes from mythology and literature and the way they relate to the heroes of today, and features interviews with modern-day heroes—including the famous and the not-so-well-known. Vikings (October 9-11 on CNN) reports on the 1,000th anniversary of Leif Eriksson’s landing in America with an exploration of the Vikings, their lifestyle, their maritime accomplishments, the places they explored, their ship designs, and a profile of Gunner Marel Eggerston, who intends to recreate Eriksson’s journey. Hispanic Heritage Profiles (October 13 on CNN) takes a look at Hilda Solis, a California state senator known for fighting for the underdog, and Bel Hernandez, the founder of Latin Heat, an entertainment industry magazine. Turner Learning, http://turnerlearning.com/.

TCM By the Book
TCM By the Book provides commercial-free, cost-free access to films for classroom use, as well as accompanying classroom materials. Scheduled air dates for October include Madame Curie (10/1 at 6 a.m., 10/4 at 12 p.m.), The Story of Louis Pasteur (10/2 at 6 a.m., 10/5 at 12 p.m.), Young Tom Edison (10/3 at 6 a.m., 10/6 at 12 p.m.), Lust for Life (10/4 at 6 a.m., 10/1 at 12 p.m.), Abe Lincoln in Illinois (10/5 at 6 a.m., 10/2 at 12 p.m.), and Tennessee Johnson (10/6 at 6 a.m., 10/3 at 12 p.m.). TCM will also re-air selected films from the TCM By the Book programs Novel to Film, Stage to Screen, and English Literature at 6 a.m. weekdays during the month of October. (All listed times are eastern time.) Turner Learning, http://turnerlearning.com/.

LIBRARY NEWS

Wilson Select Plus on FirstSearch
Wilson Select Plus, a new database that offers approximately 500 more full-text titles than the Wilson Select database, is now available on the new OCLC FirstSearch service. Wilson Select Plus will replace the current Wilson Select database in the FirstSearch Base Package with Full Text and the General Reference Collection subscription packages. By June 30, 2001, all Base Package with Full Text and General Reference Collection subscribers will have access to Wilson Select Plus. The Wilson Select database will continue to be available to libraries that prefer the smaller file. OCLC, 800/848-5878 or http://www.oclc.org/.

Instructional Technology
Classic Writings on Instructional Technology, Volume II, by Donald P. Ely and Tjeerd Plomp, presents 15 seminal papers considered to be foundations in the field of instructional technology. This second volume in a series continues to document the history and conceptual growth of the field, while offering a substantive grounding for its principles and procedures. The articles and book excerpts are arranged in four parts: Definition and Conceptual Background, Design and Development Functions, Delivery Options, and The Profession. Key works include “Objectivism Versus Constructivism: Do We Need a New Philosophical Paradigm?” by David H. Jonassen, “Who Needs Computers in Schools, and Why?” by David Hawkridge, and “Distance Teaching and Industrial Production” by Otto Peters. Bibliographic essays introduce each section of classic works and bibliographic lists of relevant works conclude each article. 280 pages. $60. Libraries Unlimited, 800/237-6124 or http://www.lu.com/.

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