NEON is an e-newsletter provided by SEIR*TEC, Regional Technology in Education Consortium at SouthEast Initiatives, through the Instructional Resource Center (ITRC) at the University of Central Florida.

This West Coast Edition of NEON is made available to you through a collaboration of SEIR*TEC and WestEd RTEC. It is accessible to you by email and web page, and is published electronically once a month.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Resources for School-Based Staff Developers
2. Summer Field Study Program for Teachers and Students
3. PD opportunity for K-12 teachers supported by WestEd RTEC
4. A Free Online Class from SEIR*TEC/ITRC
5. Teacher Advisors Wanted

AWARDS & CONTESTS

6. NASA Science and Technology Scholarship Program
7. ThinkQuest for the Summer
8. Schools as Centers of Community

CLASSROOM RESOURCES

9. Preparing for College: An Online Tutorial
10. Vocabulary University

PUBLICATIONS

11. Television goes to School
12. Technology Counts 2004

CONFERENCES

13. NECC Update
14. Help Wanted
15. Upcoming Conferences

NETS RESOURCES
16. Information Literacy

RTEC RESOURCES
17. Classrooms@Work / Tools@Hand

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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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1. RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL-BASED STAFF DEVELOPERS

Increasingly more schools have turned to school-based staff developers as one strategy to increase student achievement. Several National Staff Development Council (NSDC) articles and resources for supporting school-based staff developers are listed at this site. NSDC services include a School-Based Staff Developers Learning Community.

Related URL: http://www.nsdc.org/library/schoolbased.cfm

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2. SUMMER FIELD STUDY PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

At Gray's Reef Marine Sanctuary in Georgia, 18 pairs of grade 9-12 students and their teachers will kayak to test water quality and hike to investigate the area's beach and dune ecology. Activities will include exploring the Sapelo Island estuary, discussing the area's history with native islanders, and boating to the reef. There will also be an opportunity to manually operate an ROV for a first-hand look at the world below the water's surface. The field study will take place July 23-28, 2004. Applications must be submitted by June 1, 2004. (Source: EdNet)

Related URL: http://www.ngsednet.org/profdev/workshop_details.cfm?w_id=8

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3. PD OPPORTUNITY FOR K-12 TEACHERS SUPPORTED BY WESTED RTEC

WestEd RTEC in partnership with Cupertino Union School District, Cupertino, CA, and Mt. Logan Middle School, Logan, UT is supporting four and five day professional development trainings to help teachers increase their proficiency in planning, implementing, and integrating technology in their classrooms. The unique research based professional development experience offers teachers an opportunity to:
* Explore a range of technology tools
* Observe and interact in model technology classrooms
* Receive practical hands-on help in implementing research-based instructional practices that meet the mandates of No Child Left Behind.
* Work one-on-one with facilitators to develop a curriculum-based technology for their classroom
* Discuss and reflect upon student-centered learning

Related URL: http://www.cupertino.k12.ca.us/tdc/ctta/default.html
Related URL: http://www.mlms.logan.k12.ut.us/wested.htm

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4. A FREE ONLINE CLASS FROM SEIR*TEC/ITRC

This free 5-week course lets you earn 20 staff development points from the comfort of your own Internet-connected computer! It's designed especially for those who have never taken an online course but want to give it a try. Learn to get the most from your home or classroom Internet connection - for you AND your students.

The course will introduce you to skills and tools you'll need if you take an online course for credit or for further professional development--now offered by many districts, universities, community colleges, states, government agencies, companies, and more.

Registration is open for the class that starts June 7.

Related URL: http://www.itrc.ucf.edu/classes/#cybertools

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5. TEACHER ADVISORS WANTED

Cable in the Classroom is looking for the most media and technology savvy educators in the country to work with them in an ongoing way as advisors, mentors, and project consultants. Cable in the Classroom wants your insight about trends and issues in education and technology and your ideas for using technology effectively in the classroom. They would like your wisdom and expertise so that the cable industry can develop education resources that lead to the best possible learning experiences for teachers and students.

The deadline for submitting applications and recommendations is May 31, 2004. Teacher advisors will be selected by mid-July and will serve a one-year term beginning September 1, 2004.

Related URL: http://taa2004.ciconline.org/home/


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AWARDS & CONTESTS
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6. NASA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Congress has recently approved the establishment of the NASA Science and Technology Scholarship Program. It is anticipated that this scholarship will provide full tuition leading up to a 4-year degree in Science, Mathematics, Engineering or Technology. Initial applications for this program will be taken during the summer of 2004.

Related URLs: http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/
http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/stsp/
Contact Info: Mark Fischer
Program Manager
Texas Space Grant Consortium
3925 W Braker Lane, Suite 200
Austin, Texas 78759
512-471-8574
800-248-8742
512-471-3585 (Fax)

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7. THINKQUEST FOR SUMMER

This is a great opportunity to complete a project based learning activity during the summer for summer school, community activity center, boys and girls club, etc. Or get your team started so they can work on the project over the summer and finish it up when school starts in August. Teams must have 3 to 6 students who are between the ages of 9 and 19, and one adult Coach who is a teacher.

Now is the time to register your ThinkQuest team for the contest that started in April. Completed websites have to be uploaded to the ThinkQuest server by September 21, 2004.

Related URL: http://www.thinkquest.org/

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8. SCHOOLS AS CENTERS OF COMMUNITY

The KnowledgeWorks Foundation is seeking schools that reflect the emerging trend of designing educational institutions that serve as centers of community.

A panel of national experts, including former U.S. Secretary of Education, Richard W. Riley, will choose from those entries that best meet standards of high quality schools that serve as centers of community. The selected schools will then be highlighted on the Foundation's website. One among these will be chosen to receive a $5000 Award for Excellence.

Entries must be submitted by July 23, 2004.

Related URL: http://www.kwfdn.org/ProgramAreas/Facilities/builder.html


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CLASSROOM RESOURCES
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9. PREPARING FOR COLLEGE: AN ONLINE TUTORIAL

Many resources on the Internet can be used to help high school students with disabilities prepare for college, but they can be difficult to locate. This DO-IT publication guides students through a set of preparatory experiences. Some of the resources included are good for parents and teachers to take a look at as well.

Related URL: http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/cprep.html

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10. VOCABULARY UNIVERSITY

This free site allows students at upper elementary, middle, and high school levels, teachers, and life-long learners to acquire and retain vocabulary. Each free session has three levels. Each level has 3 puzzles with 12 words each (36 total words in a session) and contains seven (7) additional activities/exercises that help develop vocabulary. It is continuously updated.

Related URL: http://www.vocabulary.com/


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Publications
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11. TELEVISION GOES TO SCHOOL

This report focuses on key questions concerning the relationship of television to learning, and provides examples drawn from current television research to demonstrate television's effect on student achievement. A set of practical recommendations is also provided so that broadcasters and educators can maximize the effectiveness of video in the classroom.

Related URL: http://www.cpb.org/ed/resources/videoclassroom.html

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12. TECHNOLOGY COUNTS 2004

Education Week's seventh annual report on school technology presents an overview of technology in schools around the world, examining data, lessons, and trends in North America, Asia, Europe, South America, Africa, and the Australia/Pacific region. The report finds the United States among the leaders in providing access to school computers, but lagging behind other countries in frequency of school computer use and Internet availability at school.

The report also updates national trends in the use of educational technology, and provides snapshots of the steps states have taken to make more effective use of educational technology.

Related URL: http://www.you-click.net/GoNow/a15864a102966a163663200a29 (Requires free registration.)


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CONFERENCES
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13. NECC Update

Online registration is available until June 9. Register now or reaccess your registration to add workshops, tours, forums, etc.

NECC has also established some discussions on Blackboard to extend this year's NECC experience.

NECC is being held in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 20-23, 2004.

Related URLs: http://center.uoregon.edu/ISTE/NECC2004/
http://necc2004.blackboard.com

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14. HELP WANTED

FETC would like you to be a part of the their 25th Anniversary program by presenting an hour-long session on how you are successfully utilizing technology in your classroom, school, district, or state. Share with your colleagues the knowledge you've learned or researched by being on the cutting edge of technology in education. The application is available online and must be submitted by July 9, 2004.

FETC would also like help celebrating their 25th anniversary. Do you have photos from past years? FETC is looking for photos (digital or hard copy) of prior conferences to be used during the celebration.

FETC 2005 will be held the week of January 25-29, 2005, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Related URL: http://fetc.org/fetc2005/appinfo.cfm.
Contact Info: info@fetc.org

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15. UPCOMING CONFERENCES

National Educational Computing Conference (NECC)
June 21-23, 2004
New Orleans, LA
Related URL: http://center.uoregon.edu/ISTE/NECC2004

American Library Association Annual Conference
June 24-30, 2004
Orlando, FL
Related URL: http://www.ala.org/

Digital Generations: Children, Young People, and New Media
July 26-29, 2004
London, England
Related URL: http://www.ccsonline.org.uk/mediacentre/Events/main.html

AECT 2004 International Convention
October 20-24, 2004
Chicago, IL
Related URL: http://aect.org/events/Chicago04/call/default.asp?

NSBA's T+L2
October 27 - October 29
Colorado Convention Center in Denver
Related URL: http://www.nsba.org/T+L

E-Learn 2004
The World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, & Higher Education
November 1-5, 2004
Washington, DC
Related URL: http://www.aace.org/conf/elearn/

GaETC
Georgia Educational Technology Consortium
November 10-12, 2004
Macon, GA
Related URL: http://www.gaetc.org/conference.htm

Sloan-C International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks
November 12-14, 2004
Orlando, Florida
Related URL: http://www.aln.ucf.edu/


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NETS RESOURCES
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Each month, we take a look at one of the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS) at http://cnets.iste.org/teachers/t_stands.html and identify resources for helping teachers meet those standards.

16. INFORMATION LITERACY

NETS for Teachers - Standard II(B): "Teachers apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning environments and experiences."

Related Resource Sites:

ACRL Institute for Information Literacy
http://www.ala.org/ACRLTemplate.cfm?Section=ACRLs_Institute_for_Information_Literacy
The Institute for Information Literacy (IIL) website provides visitors with a place to learn more about IIL, IIL programs, and information literacy.

Big6 Skills
http://www.Big6.com/
The Big6 Skills provide a systematic approach to information problem solving that relies upon critical thinking skills. The Big6 Skills can be used by librarians, teachers, and information specialists to help learners attain information literacy. Archives are searchable.

Information Literacy
http://goose.ycp.edu/~gszczyrb/vlib/
This website contains an annotated list of links to sites dealing with information literacy issues.

Media Literacy Online Project
http://interact.uoregon.edu/MediaLit/HomePage
Media literacy is concerned with helping students develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of the mass media, the techniques used by them, and the impact of these techniques. This site at the University of Oregon provides links and interesting information.

Process Models Comparison Chart
http://www.wlma.org/Instruction/processmodels.htm
Compares the various steps of the Kulthau Information literacy model with Eisenberg/Berkowitz and Pitts/Stripling.

TILT - Texas Information Literacy Tutorial
http://tilt.lib.utsystem.edu/
This interactive library tutorial, sponsored by the University of Texas System Digital Library, will prepare you to explore and research in the online library.


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R*TEC RESOURCES
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The Regional Technology in Education Consortia (R*TEC) program at http://www.rtec.org/ supports the integration of technology into K-12 environments and other educational settings. In each issue of NEON, we will explore some of the free and/or inexpensive resources being provided to educators by this program.

17. CLASSROOMS@WORK / TOOLS@HAND

This project of the Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (NETC) is a set of online and offline tools that provide a comprehensive, inside view of classrooms that work using technology. CD and web-based multimedia provide electronic access to everything teachers and students in the project classrooms use and produce. The multimedia material stands alone but is enhanced by videos, tying classroom processes and materials together just as an actual visit to a classroom would.

The Classrooms@Work website is also distributed on CD. The CD and videos are distributed free to schools throughout the six-state NETC service region of the Northwest United States and at a small fee for other educators.

Related URL: http://www.netc.org/classrooms@work/


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NEON (News for Educators Online Now! - the West Coast Edition) is designed to disseminate educational technology announcements and news. NEON provides a way for YOU to let others know what you are doing.

To submit an announcement of national interest, use the online form at http://www.itrc.ucf.edu/neon/archives/submitstory.html OR send email to ucfitrc@orion.itrc.ucf.edu. To submit an announcement of interest for West Coast educators, send an email to klarsen@wested.org. Each announcement should be sent separately and MUST include an email address or URL for people to go to for more complete information. We will use as space allows.

The IRTC staff reserves the right to determine which announcements will be used in NEON based on content, length, and timeliness. The ITRC staff also reserves the right to edit information provided.

The Instructional Technology Resource Center (ITRC) at UCF
University of Central Florida
Dr. Donna Baumbach, Director
Kathy Katz, NEON Editor
http://www.itrc.ucf.edu
ucfitrc@orion.itrc.ucf.edu
(407) 207-4962

SEIR*TEC
Elizabeth Byrom, Ed.D., Principal Investigator
http://www.seirtec.org

WestEd RTEC
Kurt Larsen, Principal Investigator/Director
http://www.westedrtec.org

DISCLAIMER: We do our best to verify the information in NEON, but we do not guarantee accuracy nor agree with every opinion expressed.

The Instructional Technology Resource Center (ITRC) at UCF is a partner in the SouthEast Initiatives Regional Technology in Education Consortium(SEIR*TEC). SEIR*TEC & WestEd RTEC are funded by the U.S.Department of Education under grant number R302A000011, CFDA 84.302A to support the integration of technology in education. The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Education, or any other agency of the United States government.