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My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me. In keeping with the theme of our newsletter, at this joyous time of year we are going to focus specifically on gifts. Teaching is a gift. For many of us, it was a gift revealed by a very special teacher who taught us. One who touched our hearts with a burning zest for knowledge. One whose love for living fanned a love for learning. One who saw in us more potential than we saw in ourselves. One whose spirit became part of ours - a spirit that we now pass on to our own students. One who never stopped believing in us, just as we must never stop believing in them. In addition to this newsletter, keep checking Rick’s Picks to learn more about these themes and many more. We are looking for you input! We are especially interested in learning about your own “Inspiring Story” related to the use of technology in your classroom. This month we also have some special gifts awaiting you and your students in the Activity section of the Mentor Center. Check them out, and if you have activities that you would like to see share with other teachers, please send them along. We'll make sure to post them immediately and to give you credit. Send your ideas to rick@vitalknowledge.com |
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Gifts From Around the World Normally we focus on different sites when making our Global Connections. Occasionally, however, there is a site that we come across, so worthy of note, that we will be exclusively concentrating on it. Such is the case this month. The students of Bernadotteskolen, The International School in Denmark, have our gifts all wrapped and waiting under their tree. Beginning December 1, why don't you consider unwrapping one each day with your students. A number of interesting surprises await you from Japan, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Norway, and many other countries. Although this site was developed as a project in 1995, it is still relevant today, especially when focusing on the theme of gifts. In keeping with the theme of this site, you might want to have your students wrap their own virtual gifts for organizations, businesses, clubs and people in their community who have done something special during 2000. What a wonderful way to both create interest in your web site and extend thanks to your community as people check in each day to see who is being honored. You can also make up a certificate (or use the one we have provided for an activity) to present to each recipient of this honor. |
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This month we wish to feature "The Pugglers". We have never met them and we know very little about them. Nevertheless, we are very impressed by the work they have been doing and, most importantly, by the new project they have begun. They come from Ottawa's St. Elizabeth School, the motto for which is, "One Spirit, Many Gifts." Their school captured a first place finish in CyberFair '99 with the internationally acclaimed "Students Against Land Mines". The Pugglers then followed that up with "The Rideau Canal", a project that was a national winner in the Canadian Grassroots Communities competition. This school obviously knows how to connect with its community by means of technology. Visitors to their school web site are told that Pugglers is a "newly coined word meaning a fighter with a gentle heart". They tell us that their mascot, a dragon named "The Puggler", looks vicious but is really soft-hearted underneath. We actually think that his gentle heart shines through his appearance! The Pugglers are basing this year's project on Martin Luther King's famous words, "I Have a Dream". Their mission is summed up as follows: We are the future. They are inviting all of us to become involved with this important
mission. You can do so by visiting their Web of Peace at: We want to wish The Pugglers much success with their project. We truly find their idea of using technology as a tool for peace inspiring. We know, like they do, that it is not the technology that will bring about the success of their mission. Rather, it is the people using that technology who will. People like their teacher, Ms.Naujokaitis, who not only loves computers and the Internet, but who also knows how to use technology to inspire and ferment the dreams of students. To each of them - the Pugglers and Ms. Naujokaitis - we extend best wishes for 2001. We especially wish them much success with a most worthwhile project! |
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World Peace 2000 What greater gift could we give each other than a day of peace? The United Nations invited the world to celebrate One Day In Peace, January 1, 2000 as the beginning of the International Year for the Culture of Peace! Now major plans are underway to celebrate One Day In Peace on January 1, 2001! The focus of this year's project is the "The Millennium Meal". It is proposed that we share a meal with each other on January 1 and reflect upon what we can do to help the cause of peace in the world. Consider having your students bring in donations for a local food bank as part of their celebration of peace. Many other suggestions are made at this site. Read with your students the book, "One Day in Peace". Perform the "One Day in Peace" play. Write a letter for peace. Remember, Peace is more than the absence of war. It is learning to respect ourselves, each other and the planet we share. And it begins with each of us. Peace on Earth. Goodwill to men. |
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Christmas is a great time of year to warm up by a fireplace with a hot chocolate and a good book. It is with this thought in mind that we steer away this month from the normal routine of including web sites for your perusal. Instead, we thought you might appreciate seeing 12 books suggested by Oprah Winfrey for gift giving (for yourself or others). They are: Mother of Pearl: A wonderful story with original characters; revolves around the themes of identity and the true meaning of family. Tuesdays With Morrie: From acclaimed sports writer Mitch Albom; his magical, touching last assignment with his mentor. Midwives: The trial of a Vermont midwife. A Map of the World: How one event--the drowning of a child--can forever change the lives of everyone involved. The Poisonwood Bible: Oprah's June 2000 pick. Jewel: A haunting tale of heartbreak and the redemptive powers of love. While I Was Gone: Sue Miller's novel of love, betrayal, and forgiveness that asks what it means to be a good wife. Drowning Ruth: Oprah's latest pick; astunning portrait of the ties that bind sisters together and the forces that tear them apart. River, Cross My Heart: A novel of tragedy and triumph in the life of an African American family in Georgetown, circa 1925. Where The Heart Is: Follow the fortunes of a pregnant and destitute 17-year-old woman, Novalee Nation. I Know This Much Is True: A novel on mental illness, narrated by a man whose twin brother, a schizophrenic, amputates his hand as atonement for his sins. White Oleander: When a woman murders a former lover and is imprisoned for life, her daughter must navigate a new reality. |
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Digital Dave This month we’re going to look at the use of technology in the classroom through the eyes of a student – David Froy. David is a grade 12 student who works each day from 3:00 – 5:00 doing computer programming with Vital Knowledge. His story gives us a perspective on what it has been like to grow up digitally. The first computer that he ever owned was received as a Christmas gift when he was in Grade 7. It was a Pentium 133. However, living in the digital age, he had already had a wealth of experience with computers by that time. David recalls becoming interested in computers when he was three. He remembers playing Mario Brothers games on Commodore 64 and Amigo 2 computers. He says that his father had computers around the house a lot. David was in grade 6 when he first started to become involved in programming. He found a book about basic programming on the Amigo computer. He didn’t have the necessary program but, having the book, he read it anyway. He then began to do some basic programming with his friend, Jeff, on some old machines that his school had discarded to the back room of a storage area. With his knowledge of GW Basic, he could program a computer to draw lines and print out a test after it had received some very basic input. He then discovered books on other computer languages and started to read them. He also learned "html" from his technology teacher, Mr. Breau, and with that knowledge began his first personal web page. It was when he entered his high school, James M. Hill, that he really started to become personally motivated to learn as much as he could about programming. The administration of this school had made an application to have classroom walls taken out so that a series of computer labs could be introduced for some innovative learning. A multi-media lab was developed, some courses were put online, and the use of technology was greatly encouraged. It was then that David decided that he wanted to create computer games. When asked to explain how he has used computers to assist in his learning, David replied, “I use the word processor a lot because I’m a poor speller. I have also used Encarta and the Internet to research information.” David says that with technology the teacher can become a more valuable resource as a “guide on the side”. In other words, he likes the idea of being empowered to try to solve his own problems. However, he is quick to state that it is important for the teacher to be nearby for assistance and to be able to give direction to the learning. In other words, he does not foresee computers replacing teachers. He would like to see, however, more teachers becoming more knowledgeable about he potential of technology. He notes that in many of his classes the students know more about technology than the teachers. David says that there is a lot of “self-directed” learning occurring at James M. Hill. Learning modules have been developed for history courses. More and more students are participating in online courses like physics. Some are actually working on projects with students in other parts of the world. It’s interesting that for many of us who have been teaching for a “few” years, one concern that we’ve always had is that computers will eventually take control (if they haven’t already done so) of some facets of our lives. David, however, a member of the digital generation, says that the thing he likes most about computers is being able to control them by means of his programming skills. In his book, Growing Up Digital, Don Tapscott says, “Typical N-Geners have a strong sense of independence and autonomy. This trait is derived largely from the active role they play as information seekers rather than the passive role of information recipients.” This trait of independence, coupled with his strong personal motivation to find work in the area of computer programming, is probably responsible for David’s job at Vital Knowledge. He just didn’t give up. He delivered at least four different resumes, each time making a personal visit to the company to find out if there were any job prospects. Then, when he got the job, he not only worked hard, but he added many innovative ideas to projects that were undertaken. His work was so well appreciated that after having worked here during the summer, he was immediately offered the opportunity to work part time throughout the year. David’s future plans are to go to university and obtain a Bachelor of Computer Science degree. Not surprisingly, he would then like to spend the rest of his life developing computer games. An interest in Mario Brothers at aged three could spark a whole new generation of multi-media games. We wish David all the best in his future quest and we look forward to giving (and receiving) some of those games that we’re sure David will be helping to produce. |
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Gift Giving by Parents: Twas the night before Christmas The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds, "Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there! |
