The Alabama Supercomputer Authority (ASA) has been receiving federal E-Rate funds for Internet access services for K-12 schools and libraries since the E-Rate Program began in 1997. The discounts are based on the number of students eligible for the National Free Lunch Program and geographic location. Applicants must apply for these discounts on a yearly basis, and a strict timeline and application process is enforced. ASA serves as the lead in a consortium of participating schools and libraries and uses a portion of the allocation appropriated by the Alabama Legislature as a match for the E-Rate application. Through this program, ASA has received $2.00 in federal funds for every $1.00 of state funds. On February 5, 2003, ASA submitted the E-rate Year 6 (2003-2004) application that included all 128 K-12 school systems, the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, and the Department of Youth Services. The application was for approximately $6M of Internet services, with ASA spending $2M and the SLD E-rate Program providing the remaining $4M for Internet services for Alabama school systems. On October 21, 2003, ASA was notified that it had been awarded $4,404,595.76 in E-rate funds. The E-rate program has provided schools in Alabama with an opportunity to play on a level playing field with other states. ASA appreciates the support of the Alabama Legislature and its annual appropriation to the Alabama Supercomputer Authority.
READING ABOUT EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Internet Access Soars in Schools, But "Digital Divide" Persists While improvements have been made in providing computer and Internet access in schools, minority and poor students lack computer access outside of regular school hours, according to 2 reports. http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2003/10/10292003a.html
The Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) and Laboratory for Student Success launched e-Lead, a free, web-based resource dedicated to providing states and districts with guidance about and information on the professional development of school principals. e-Lead has identified six principles, anchored in current research, which should guide principal training: focused, driven, conducted, anchored, designed, and evaluated. The site also houses a searchable database of existing quality programs. http://www.e-lead.org
Twenty Years of Technology Policy A new report from the Center for Children and Technology (CCT) synthesizes the findings of more than 25 major studies and policy papers. "A Retrospective on Twenty Years of Education Technology Policy" was commissioned by The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology as part of the development of the National Education Technology Plan. http://www.nationaledtechplan.org/
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), a national nonprofit organization that promotes the use of information technologies and the Internet in K-12 education, has introduced “Emerging Technologies Report: A Guide to Wireless LANs in K-12 Schools.” The report, from CoSN's Emerging Technologies Committee, examines the implementation of wireless LAN technologies in K-12 schools and identifies challenges, options, and lessons learned. The report is $19.95 for CoSN members and $24.95 to non-members and can be downloaded from their website. http://www.cosn.org/store
EDUCATION AND THE INTERNET
THIRTEEN NEW LEARNING RESOURCES in arts, science, and social studies have been added to FREE and are listed below. The Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) website makes it easy for teachers, parents, students, and others to find learning resources from more than 40 federal organizations.
Arts
The Age of Watteau, Chardin, and Fragonard: Masterpieces of French Genre Painting is the first comprehensive exhibit devoted to paintings of scenes from daily life, real and imagined, in French art of the 18th century. An online brochure presents 13 pieces from the exhibit and a narrative describing each painting and artist. The paintings include lyrical pastorals, Paris street scenes, and dignified representations of bourgeois life. http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/frenchgenreinfo.htm
The Art of Romare Bearden presents more than 30 works from a comprehensive retrospective of Bearden's work. Known primarily for his collages, Bearden (1911-1988) also produced paintings, drawings, murals, and theater sets and costumes. He was among the preeminent artists of his generation. His pieces represent places he lived and worked. Religious subjects, rituals, jazz clubs, and history and literature are overlapping themes in his work. A children's guide is provided. http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/beardeninfo.htm
Picasso: The Cubist Portraits of Fernande Olivier displays 16 portraits of Picasso's companion, Fernande Olivier. They're from a series of 60 portraits Picasso created of Olivier between spring and fall in 1909. This series is virtually unprecedented in its devotion to a single subject. The exhibit, which shows 50 of the works (through January 18, 2004), reveals Picasso's exploration of cubism and his reformulation of human physiognomy. http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/picassoinfo.htm
Photographs from the Chicago Daily News: 1902-1933 provides more than 55,000 images of urban life captured by photographers employed by the Chicago Daily News, then one of Chicago's leading newspapers. The photos illustrate the variety of topics and events covered in the newspaper. Most were taken in Chicago or nearby towns, parks, or athletic fields. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpcoop/ichihtml/cdnhome.html
Science
Ecybermission is a web-based math, science, and technology competition for teams in grades 6, 7, 8, and 9. Each team proposes a solution to a real problem in its community and competes for regional and national awards (such as U.S. savings bonds). Last year's winning 8th-grade team devised a 2-digit key code system to speed the handling of 911 calls. Registration is open through December 15. http://www.ecybermission.com/
Modeling for Understanding in Science Education offers instructional units in earth-moon-sun dynamics and natural selection. These units were produced though a collaborative project involving university researchers, high school teachers, and students. Each unit contains extensive information and materials for use in middle or high school. http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/ncisla/muse/
Social Studies
American Notes: Travels in America, 1750-1920 provides 253 narratives describing travels in the colonies and the U.S. The collection includes works by authors not widely known as well as by Matthew Arnold, James Fenimore Cooper, Dickens, Washington Irving, Sir Charles Lyell, Robert Louis Stevenson, and other major figures. The collection is searchable and can be browsed by not only by author and title, but also by subject. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/lhtnhtml/lhtnhome.html
Benjamin Franklin explores Franklin's life as a writer, inventor, diplomat, businessman, musician, scientist, humorist, civic leader, international celebrity, abolitionist, and genius. This companion website to the PBS documentary includes information on his experiments, role as a founding father, his diplomatic work, and his community work. Lesson plans, a timeline, interactive science experiments, a kite building exercise, and other resources are also available. http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/
The Nineteenth Century in Print: the Making of America in Books and Periodicals presents digitized books and periodicals published in the U.S. during the 19th century. The collection includes 23 popular magazines and more than 1,500 books that illuminate themes central to American life in the mid- to late 19th century, including the Civil War, slavery and abolition, religion, education, self-help and self-improvement, travel and westward expansion, and poetry. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpcoop/moahtml/ncphome.html
Students
FBI Youth invites students to take the "special agent challenge," spend a day in the life of an FBI employee, follow a case through the FBI lab, learn about investigations throughout the world, see specially trained dogs that locate bombs and drugs, and read about the history of the FBI. http://www.fbi.gov/kids/6th12th/6th12th.htm
High School Environmental Center is a portal to environmental resources. It organizes sites by topics: air pollution, climate change, global warming; conservation of energy, soil, and water; coral reefs, forests, watersheds, and other ecosystems; drinking water, waste water, ground water; asthma, lead, pesticides, sun protection, and other health issues; waste and recycling; and local data and maps. http://www.epa.gov/highschool/
Panoramic Maps. The panoramic map was a popular cartographic form used to depict U.S. and Canadian cities and towns during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Known also as bird's-eye views, perspective maps, and aero views, panoramic maps are nonphotographic representations of cities portrayed as if viewed from above at an oblique angle. Although not generally drawn to scale, they show street patterns, individual buildings, and major landscape features in perspective. You will need to download the MrSID applet from the site to truly appreciate the detail in these maps. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pmhtml/panhome.html
The Nobel Prize During his lifetime, Alfred Nobel was known simply as the inventor of dynamite. After his death in 1896, he gained worldwide recognition when he requested in his will that his fortune be used to recognize those who "conferred the greatest benefit on mankind." Awarded each December, the Nobel Prizes in literature, physics, chemistry, medicine, peace and economics often are viewed as the most prestigious awards in the world. This month, the MarcoGram features activities, lessons and resources about Nobel Prize winners as well as the prize-winning fields of study. http://www.marcopolo-education.org/MarcoGrams/Dec2003.html.
Science News for Kids NASA's Kids Science News Network (KSNN) is a research-, inquiry-, standards-based and technology-focused program that utilizes the Internet, animation, and video. Designed to be used for both formal and informal learning, NASA's KSNN uses animated characters (for grades K-2) and web and video technology (for grades 3-5) to help to children, parents, and educators understand the everyday phenomena of our world, correct misconceptions, and answer frequently asked questions about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/
NEWS YOU CAN USE
THE SEVEN DISCIPLINES FOR STRENGTHENING INSTRUCTION Politicians and media pundits tell us that America's schools are "failing" and need "reforming." The implication is that educators once knew how to educate all students to higher standards and have just gotten lazy or forgetful. But after 20 years of reform efforts that have yielded few improvements, it is becoming clear that the overwhelming majority of school and district leaders do not know how to help teachers better prepare all students for the higher learning standards now required for future learning, work, and citizenship in a "knowledge society." And so the real challenge in schools today is not just to get more students to pass more tests, but to create new knowledge about how to improve the level of instruction for all students. According to Tony Wagner, more testing, alone, will not improve teaching. We must understand clearly all of the elements of a more systemic approach to strengthening teaching in every classroom. In this Education Week commentary, Wagner outlines a brief blueprint for reform. http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=11wagner.h23
In 1997, Virtual Field Trips Site came into existence and over time, virtual field trips were created and added by educators. This site was developed as a free resource to K-12 educators everywhere. The site includes numerous trips and resources that are grade specific on topics from Endangered Species to Bread Baking.
Classrooms of the 21st Century This site features three sections: Teaching and Learning (research-based and classroom-based educators integrate curriculum), Technology in Education (teachers and innovators use technology as a science teaching tool), Science Education Reform (teachers connect with authors and practitioners of teaching reform strategies). http://www.accessexcellence.org/21st/
The Knowledge Loom provides educators with a place to: review research that identifies best practices related to various theme; view stories about the practices in real schools/districts; learn to replicate the success of these practices; add stories, knowledge, and questions to the collections; participate in online events and discussions; discover supporting organizations and resources. http://knowledgeloom.org/index.jsp
Securing Your School Network Interested in knowing more about cyber security in the school environment? Check out CoSN’s new “Cyber Security for the Digital District” for a great, vendor-neutral resource for technology leaders. Sign up for the free e-mail newsletter to receive the quarterly update. Schools exist to facilitate student learning, the Initiative notes. Security is a necessary precondition, but not an end in itself. Therefore, it is vital that security policies and strategies be designed in ways that don’t significantly undermine the learning process. http://securedistrict.cosn.org/