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. Improving Achievement
2. A New Resource from SETDA

AWARDS & CONTESTS
3. Are You a School of Distinction?
4. AlphaSmart Launches AlphaGrants Program
5. Searching for Grants?
6. Beaumont Foundation of America extends its Letter of Interest deadline in CA

CLASSROOM RESOURCES
7. A Literacy Opportunity for Children
8. Confusing Words
9. Visit the Interactive Museum of News
10. The Encyclopedia of Educational Technology
11. An Online Resource for Kids and Parents

PUBLICATIONS
12. Current Research on the Digital Divide
13. What They Saw

CONFERENCES
14. Upcoming Conferences
15. Save the Date - Tell an Administrator

NETS RESOURCES
16. The Safe and Healthy Use of Technology Resources

RTEC RESOURCES
17. Technology Coach Handbook

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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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1. IMPROVING ACHIEVEMENT

SchoolsMovingUp, a WestEd initiative, helps schools and districts address the immense challenge of raising student achievement in low-performing schools. In an interactive Web format, SchoolsMovingUp offers practitioners the knowledge and expertise they need to make sound decisions and take tangible action in their school reform efforts. It provides high-quality resources, proven services, and powerful tools that education professionals can use in their work with low-performing schools nationwide. Resources include profiles of schools from across the country that have improved student achievement, easily implemented or replicated school and district tips to assist in school improvement efforts, and articles, books, and abstracts offering practical ideas and models for school improvement. SchoolsMovingUp also offers practical information about the sweeping reform of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Related URL: http://www.schoolsmovingup.net
Contact Info: schoolsmovingup@wested.org
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2. A NEW RESOURCE FROM SETDA

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) has released Profiling Educational Technology Integration (PETI): Resources for Assessing Readiness and Use. It is available to all stakeholders including states, districts, schools, and other organizations, and free of charge.

SETDA developed the framework, instruments, and protocols in conjunction with the Metiri Group with support from the U.S. Department of Education. The tools available in PETI include:

· Framework for assessing educational technology

· NCLB Matrix - linking the questions, indicators, and questions to NCLB goals

· Instruments - District, Building (Administrator and Teacher), and Classroom Observation Tools

· Methodologies and Protocols

Related URLs: http://www.setda-peti.org/
http://www.setda.org/content.cfm?SectionID=258


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AWARDS & CONTESTS
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3. ARE YOU A SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION?

Intel Corporation, Scholastic Inc., and Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Inc., are conducting a search for elementary, middle, and high schools that demonstrate excellence in any of ten categories - from Academic Achievement to Technology Excellence. In addition to prizes consisting of equipment, software, and services, winning schools will receive $10,000 - and two schools selected from these winners will be designated as "Best of the Best." These schools will receive an additional $15,000!

Applications must be submitted by December 1, 2004.

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

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4. ALPHASMART LAUNCHES ALPHAGRANTS PROGRAM

AlphaSmart, Inc. announced AlphaGrants, a philanthropic program designed to help schools implement classroom technology solutions that improve the teaching and learning environment in math, science, and language arts. The company's goal is to assist educators as they strive to improvevinstruction, student performance, and achievement through the effective use of AlphaSmart products and services.

AlphaSmart is accepting applications for the first AlphaGrant cycle through November 15, 2004.

Related URL: http://www.alphasmart.com/alphagrants/

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5. SEARCHING FOR GRANTS?

Care to look for your own awards and contests? Visit Technology & Learning's web site to search through their database. You can search by type of contest or by keyword. You'll find some for educators, others for students, and still more for schools.

Related URL: http://techlearning.com/resources/grants.jhtml

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6. BEAUMONT FOUNDATION OF AMERICA EXTENDS ITS LETTER OF INTEREST DEADLINE IN CA

The Beaumont Foundation of America (BFA) is pleased to extend its 2005 Education Letter of Interest deadline for California schools to November 4, 2004. The Foundation will award state-of-the-art wireless technology equipment to public, private, parochial, and charter schools serving high poverty populations.

California schools that meet BFA's eligibility requirements are encouraged to create a Letter of Interest online at. The Foundation will accept online Letters of Interest from California schools until November 4, 2004. The Letter of Interest is a short description of your school and project.

Related URL: http://www.bmtfoundation.com/2005_CA/
Contact Info: 1-866-546-2667 (toll free) or info@bmtfoundation.com

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CLASSROOM RESOURCES
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7. A LITERACY OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN

BookPALS' Storyline, sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), is an online resource for elementary grades. Be sure to listen to members of SAG read selected books and take a few minutes to review the related activities. Need a reading list? Take a look at the Bookfinder section of the web site. (Source: The Teacher List)

Related URL: http://www.bookpals.net/storyline/

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8. CONFUSING WORDS

Many of us, including our students, have trouble with words that are easily confused with other words. This web site was designed by teachers to help students get and keep these words straight. Use the search box to find one of the befuddling words. Their database returns the confusing words and their definitions, along with examples of proper usage.

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

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9. VISIT THE INTERACTIVE MUSEUM OF NEWS

Newseum features exhibits of Pulitzer Prize winning photos, front pages from over 300 papers in 39 countries, editorial cartoons, war stories, and much more. Teachers can download lesson plans addressing freedom of speech, ethics in journalism, and lessons on student rights.

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

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10. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Sponsored by San Diego State University, the Encyclopedia of Educational Technology is home to multimedia articles on topics including cognition, design, development, and much more. Students can learn to represent data, teachers can review a variety of instructional strategies, and everyone can brush up on their web design skills.

Related URL: http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/

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11. An Online Resource for Kids and Parents

Math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org is a directory of hundreds of articles and resources to help parents and children make informed decisions about school related issues. Although the articles in this site are primarily written for a parent audience, there is also a Just for Kids section created specifically for children.

Related URL: http://math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org/

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PUBLICATIONS
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12. CURRENT RESEARCH ON THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

This issue brief, "Children, The Digital Divide, and Federal Policy," includes new research findings and reviews the latest information on wiring the nation's schools and libraries, including points of access, the speed of connection, and what children are doing online. The report also examines current Federal policies and policy ideas that could address the new digital divide.

This is the tenth in a series of reports and fact sheets on topics related to children, media and health that pull together the most relevant research on such issues as TV violence, teens online, media ratings, and children and video games. (Source: GLEF Edutopia News)

Related URL: http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia091604pkg.cfm

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13. WHAT THEY SAY

The EyeTrack III project studied the eye movements of 46 people as they looked at news-related web sites. Applying some of these lessons in your web design class or on your school web site may have excellent benefits in terms of web site usability and visitor satisfaction. There's a lot to read and a summary is available.

Related URL: http://www.poynterextra.org/eyetrack2004/index.htm


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CONFERENCES
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14. UPCOMING CONFERENCES

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

TechLearn 2004
November 14-17, 2004
New York, NY
Related URL: http://show.techlearn.com/techlearn/V40/index.cvn

I/ITSEC 2004
Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference
December 6-9
Orlando, FL
Related URL: http://www.iitsec.org/

College Teaching and Learning Conference 2005
January 3-7, 2005
Orlando, FL
Related URL: http://www.ciberinstitute.org/tlcmain.htm

TAM 2005
Technology and Media Division of Council for Exceptional Children
January 19-22, 2005
Orlando, FL
Related URL: http://www.tamcec.org/

FETC
2005 Florida Educational Technology Conference
January 26-28, 2005
Orlando, FL
Related URL: http://www.fetc.org/fetc2005/

CALIFORNIA COMPUTER USING EDUCATORS (CUE'S) ANNUAL CONFERENCE - 2005
March 10-12, 2005
Palm Springs, California
Related URL: http://cue.org

15. SAVE THE DATE - TELL AN ADMINISTRATOR

Southwest Leadership Academy
Systemic School Improvement through Technology Integration
March 24-25, 2005 * Mesa, Arizona

*Attention*
Superintendents, Administrators and School Leaders:

You're invited to participate in a powerful professional development opportunity in

Mesa, Arizona, March 24 and 25, 2005.

The Southwest Leadership Academy: Systemic School Improvement through Technology Integration is a collaboration of the WestEd Regional Technology in Education Consortium (RTEC) serving Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah; and ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education, home of the National Educational Technology Standards, and NECC, the world's premier Ed Tech event.

During the Academy, you will learn:

* How to prioritize, plan for systemic school improvement and engage your team in deep technology integration across the curriculum
* How to develop a shared vision for educational technology among school personnel, parents, and the community
* How data-driven decision making and technology-rich curriculum can significantly increase student engagement and help you meet local and national mandates
* How you can increase your personal productivity and administrative practice through emerging tools such as handhelds and blogs
The Academy is designed for administrators, but please consider coming with a technology coordinator or teacher leader as your partner to extend the value and reach of this professional development opportunity.

Details to come via e-mail for online registration, which opens November 17.
The Southwest Leadership Academy will be held at the lovely Phoenix Marriot Mesa close to spring training baseball, golf, and beautiful desert touring. Mark your calendars NOW!

Contact Info: 1.541.434.8919 or write to profdev@iste.org

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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. THE SAFE AND HEALTHY USE OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

NETS for Teachers - Standard VI(D): "Teachers promote safe and healthy use of technology resources."

Related Resource Sites:
Cornell University Ergonomics Web Site
http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/default.asp
CUErgo has many links to information about using a computer workstation to avoid injury. Take a look at the School Program Guidelines to learn the truth about ergonomic design, the importance of taking breaks, and the special needs of children. CUErgo includes pictures to help students understand safer positions.
NetSmartz
http://www.netsmartz.org/
With sections for children, teens, parents and educators, NetSmartz offers a colorful web site with real-life stories, statistics, tips, definitions, and games designed to encourage smarter, safer online behavior.

Working Well Ergonomics Information Web Site
http://www.working-well.org/at_school.html
The Working Well website hosts useful information on computer workstation design for both children and adults. The site also suggests simple and quick exercises to keep computer users healthy and productive. They feel great, too! Don't forget to look at the archived articles and FAQs.

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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. TECHNOLOGY COACH HANDBOOK

The Appalachian Technology in Education Consortium has developed a Technology Coach Handbook to help educators integrate technology into K-12 curricula. Sections of the handbook include templates, handouts, lesson plans and additional resources.

Related URL: http://techcoach.memphis.edu/handbook_frameset.htm
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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.
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