NewsWatch, March/April 2002


	March/April 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

Maine Middle School Computer Initiative
The Maine Department of Education has signed a 4-year, $37.2 million contract with Apple Computer, Inc. to supply the technology, training, and support to equip all of the state's 7th and 8th grade students and teachers with one-to-one access to notebook computers and the Internet. The contract, believed to be the largest single purchase ever of personal educational technology, will equip 33,000 students and 3,000 teachers with iBook notebook computers, wireless networks, training, and technical support. A professional development program for teachers in the state's 241 middle schools will be launched to assure the effective use of the new technology. Extensive continuing technical support also will be available. The Maine learning technology plan will equip all 7th grade students and teachers with portable computers in the Fall of 2002. The following year, both the 7th and 8th grades will have the equipment. The middle school technology program is the initial phase of a larger plan to extend one-to-one technology access to all Maine high schools. The Maine Learning Technology Endowment will provide the funding for the project. Maine Department of Education, 207/624-6600 or http://www.state.me.us/.

Learning Summit in Boston
The Microsoft Anytime Anywhere Learning Summit will be held March 18 - 21 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. The conference was developed to help teachers, administrators, faculty, and professional IT staff to use technology to create dynamic learning environments for K-12 schools. The Summit demonstrates the success of laptop learning with discussions on topics such as building laptop communities and ways that schools are using notebook computers in one-to-one access environments. Registration is $449 per person. Four registrations are available for the price of three for individuals from a single school or district registering on the same day. Microsoft, http://www.microsoft.com/education/.

LIBRARY NEWS

School Library Media Month@Your Library
April is School Library Media Month. Find as many opportunities as you can to thank your friends in the library for all of their hard work throughout the year. A full list of American Library Association Activities (ALA), including information on the observance of National Library Week, is posted online at the ALA Web site. American Library Association, 800/545-2433 or http://www.ala.org/.

MARC Magician in Cataloging Software
Follett Software Company is integrating MARC Magician library record cleanup into version 5.0 of Catalog Plus. The new feature will allow library media specialists to clean up machine-readable catalog (MARC) bibliographic records more easily by seamlessly transferring them between their Catalog Plus database and MARC Magician's automated record cleanup application. Catalog Plus for Windows helps create and maintain premium MARC 21 records with built-in cataloging tools, giving students quick and safe access to the best possible database resources. MARC Magician maximizes student or patron search results by combining automatic MARC record repair, comprehensive global editing, and error checking without requiring the memorization of MARC codes and rules. Follett Software Co., 800/323-3397 or http://www.fsc.follett.com/.

CLASSROOM RESOURCES

AppleWorkshop Books
The AppleWorkshop Book series offers a how-to series for educators, written by author and teacher Janet Caughlin. The series includes three books that help integrate AppleWorks software across the K-12 curriculum. Each contains step-by-step lessons to help teachers meet their curriculum objectives and help students produce a variety of projects. Also included is a CD-ROM with clip art, templates, and sample projects by teachers and students. The books in the series include AppleWorkshop for Teachers; AppleWorkshop for Students, Grades K-6; and AppleWorkshop for Students, Grades 7-12. Each costs $29.95. Caughlin is a teacher with more than 25 years of classroom experience and is the author of the "Office Workshop" book series. Tom Snyder Productions, 800/342-0236 or http://www.tomsnyder.com/.

HELPING HANDS

Teach to the Future
The Intel Teach to the Future teacher technology development program is now open to all experienced K-12 teachers and pre-service faculty in the U.S. Created by teachers, the program trains teachers on how, when, and where to incorporate technology tools and resources into their current lesson plans and align them with district, state, and national standards. The training consists of 40 hours of hands-on instruction delivered in 10 curricular modules. The project enables teachers to train other teachers to develop a complete collection of themed lesson plans that engage students in the use of technology to conduct research, compile information, and communicate with others. Internet use, Web page design, and productivity software are used to encourage higher-order thinking and creativity from students. Launched in 2000 in a limited number of states, the program helped more than 200,000 teachers worldwide integrate technology more effectively into their classrooms to enhance student learning. The program is on track to provide free training to 500,000 teachers in 24 countries, including 100,000 in the U.S., by the end of 2002. Intel, http://www.intel.com/education/.

The Excellence in Teaching Cabinet
Curriculum Associates will honor three educators who exhibit excellence in teaching practices with an appointment to The Excellence in Teaching Cabinet. As members of the Cabinet, the educators will receive a $1,000 implementation grant for a submitted project, up to $500 worth of Curriculum Associates materials, the ability to provide feedback and field test products in the classroom, and a mechanism for sharing their success stories with other educators via the Curriculum Associates Web site. Educators apply for a grant by submitting proposals for innovative teaching projects that exemplify excellence in K-8 teaching practices encompassing a range of media, including print and software. The grant program is open to all educators teaching grades K-8 in the U.S. and Canada. Submissions of the 500-750 word project proposals are due by March 15, 2002. Winners will be notified on or about May 31, 2002. Official rules are available by fax (978/663-0521) or online at http://www.curriculumassociates.com/cabinet/. Curriculum Associates, 800/225-0248 or http://www.curriculumassociates.com/.

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