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"Teachers believe they have a gift for giving; it drives them with the same irrepressible drive that drives others to create a work of art or a market or a building." It’s September! A new school year is beginning. Classroom doors are being swung open to new students and subjects. New challenges bring with them fresh opportunities. At Vital Knowledge the new school year brings new GIFTS that will be virtually “unwrapped” for you each month. We hope that our GIFTS will be useful tools in supporting exciting and innovative learning in your classroom. Why GIFTS? For a number of reasons:
Ultimately, we hope to work with you, discovering together how technology can be used to open classroom doors to exciting journeys of exploration and discovery. We invite your input! Please e-mail us at learnit@vitalknowledge.com. |
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The countdown is on for the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. The official opening ceremonies are scheduled for September 15, and events will run until October 1. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, therefore, to learn that Australia is our featured Global Connection this month. Grade 2 students at Warranwood Primary School in Victoria provide information about another interesting Australian community at their web site: http://www.warranwood.vic.edu.au/community/index.htm They were also CyberFair 2000 finalists. So were the students at Robina State Primary School who have put together a site
that gives you a glimpse into the spirit of Australia: All of the Australian CyberFair sites are great examples of how global interactions can create closer local community connections. Make sure you read the narrative of each project. It is there that students and teachers share the discoveries they made, and the outcomes they met, when using technology to enhance their curriculum. Make sure that you also take time to take an interactive tour of Tasmania at: Make time to also learn about the platypus at |
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Allan was a Grade 6 student who struggled as a writer. He always experienced frustration whenever a writing assignment was given. He was reluctant to share his “best” piece of work, because, in his mind, he never produced a good piece. Then he discovered the Internet. Upon realizing its global potential, Allan began writing. He had a story to tell the world. He wasn’t assigned that story. He did it himself. He wanted to tell everyone about his brave young brother. Allan is proud of his story. It won him $75.00 in a regional literary competition. His pride didn’t stem from the financial reward, however. He is most proud that his story has captured the dynamic, courageous spirit of his younger brother, Adam. Adam died on June 23, 1997. He was a remarkable person, always giving of himself to others, even when it hurt. Always living life to the fullest. We’re sure you’ll agree that Adam’s spirit lives on through Allan’s story. It was a
story inspired by the global potential of the Internet. Allan could tell the whole world
about his remarkable brother. It is a story that continues to live there today. You
can find it at: |
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The excitement for the Sydney 200 Summer Olympics is building! Tap into that excitement at the official Olympic web site ( www.olympics.com ). All the information you will need about the athletes and events at this year’s games can be found there…as well as much, much more. In particular, make sure you spend time in the “TEACHERS” zone. It is there that you can pick up activity sheets, notes and other valuable resources to help your students prepare for the September 15th launch of the Olympics. These resources are directly related to four interesting student zones:
Other sites that provide great resources for teachers include:
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Normally, web sites will be highlighted here. However, since it’s September, we will ease out of the summer reading “mode” by featuring two web sites that are supported by well written books – “Growing Up Digital” (pedagogical) and “Project Cool” (technological). “Growing Up Digital”, by Don Tapscott, was first published in 1998. It remains a “must read” for every teacher, whether you are “tuned in” or “tuned out” to technology. It’s not about technology. It’s about teaching and learning “with” students who “are so bathed in bits that they think it’s all part of the natural landscape”. (Tapscott, p. 1) Tapscott argues that we, as teachers, can no longer broadcast information to students. We must explore and discover information “with” them! In other words, a teacher can no long be “the sage on the stage”. He or she must become the “guide on the side”. (Better yet, we at Vital Knowledge are trying to enable the teacher to become the “mentor at the center”!) Tapscott’s statements are challenging: “For the first time in history, children are more comfortable, knowledgeable, and literate than their parents about an innovation central to society.” (Tapscott, p. 1) “School officials are grappling with the reality of students often being far smarter on cyber-issues and new ways of learning than the teachers.” (Tapscott, p. 2) “This shift from broadcast to interactive is the cornerstone of the N-Generation. They want to be users – not just viewers or listeners.” (Tapscott, p. 3) And these quotes are only taken from the first three pages of “Growing Up Digital”. At the same time, Tapscott is inspiring, especially for those teachers who are having fun making the transition from the broadcast to the interactive style of teaching: “It is important to realize that shifting from teacher-centered to learner-centered education does not suggest the teacher is suddenly playing a less important role. A teacher is equally critical and valued in the learner-centered context, and is essential for creating and structuring the learning experience…No one would suggest, for example, that the best way to learn the piano is the discovery mode.” (Tapscott, p. 144) You can order the book and get a preview its material at the accompanying web site: http://www.growingupdigital.com. This site is well worth checking out, even if you are not interested in purchasing the book, because Tapscott continually features innovative web sites that are being developed by students. If you’re a teacher who is more technologically inclined, check out Project Cool at http://www.projectcool.com. It has everything online for web designers, from the novice to the expert. It’s a great resource for anyone just beginning to have ideas about creating a web site. It’s also supported by three books, the first of which, The Project Cool Guide to HTML by Teresa A. Martin and Glenn Davis, is an excellent resource for beginners. Martin’s “Future Focus” at the web site, has many interesting archives that allow us to see how quickly technology has evolved since 1996. Unfortunately, she printed her last article in August, having decided to move on to a “totally different life, on a different coast, in a different time zone.” We’ll have to see what the future holds for this site. In the meantime, “Future Focus” holds some interesting clips of the past. Also, make sure you take time to periodically check out “Sightings” which provides regular insight into the most innovative web sites currently being developed. (Your technologically inclined students should also be informed about this site!) |
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In keeping with Don Tapscott’s book, “Growing Up Digital”, featured in Teaching Discoveries, let’s look at the two sites that form the basis for a lot of Tapscott’s research – Freezone http://www.freezone.com and GlobaLearn http://www.globalearn.com. Both are produced in collaboration with kids. (In fact, you can’t even get into the “nuts and bolts” of Freezone unless you’re 17 or under!) Both are carefully monitored. Both promote collaborative learning by means of interactive activities. Both contain resources for parents and teachers. Both are well worth the visit…especially by students! GlobaLearn, in particular, might open up some interesting doors of learning for you and your students this year, especially if you’re a Social Studies or Geography teacher. |
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HOW TO WRITE GOOD My several years in the word game have learnt me several rules:
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