When Assigning Online Homework

Those of us who love technologies come up with many wonderful ways to enhance our teaching  and the learning of our students. There are so many sites and applications that fit perfectly with course content. This is perfect for our classrooms that have access to the sites, digital equipment, and applications we want to use. It’s not always fine for homework. That’s why we must keep reminding ourselves that not all students have the same access, digital equipment, and software at home as they do in school. Sure, some may have better access, but think of those who share a family computer, aren’t allowed online, may not have an up-to-date computer, may not have fast Internet access, may not have a working computer and/or printer, may not have the applications or tech equipment needed, etc.  We’ve all heard excuses such as, “I couldn’t print my paper because my printer was out of ink”, “I couldn’t email it to you because our Internet was down”, and “I didn’t have any way to record the sound or do the video.”  It’s always difficult to tell whether these are legitimate excuses, whether students are too embarrassed to tell you that they don’t have what they need at home, or whether they blaming technology is a good way to avoid penalties for not doing assignments. So what’s the answer? Send us your ideas.

Free Swine Flu Resources

Reading a-z offers free resources to help you and your students’ parents with learning about illness and prevention. Ready for pdf download are leveled readers on influenza and microbes. Reading activities to download are: How to Stay Healthy, History of Vaccines, Map of Swine Flu, Body Wars, Influenza Word Search, Coping with Illness, and Fact & Activity Resource Packet. With these resources, your students can better understand how flu is spread and how to keep it from spreading.

Why Aren’t There More Women Scientists?

While women are moving ahead in most fields, there is a “dearth of women scientists”, especially in physical science, engineering, and math.  A book forum in November 2009 tackled the topic of why there aren’t more women in science. Participants discussed the book “The Science on Women and Science” (Christina Hoff Sommers, Rosalind Chait Barnett and others) by addressing topics such as gender bias, women’s interests, women’s life circumstance, and women’s cognitive strengths. In the Sommers’ book some contributors say that the problem is gender stereotyping rather than ability or motivation. Others write that biological factors such as the way brains work in males and females may be the answer and that we should look more carefully into innate differences rather than to gender stereotyping.

Pennies for Peace Toolkit

If you’ve read Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea, you may be familiar with Pennies for Peace. It’s a service–learning program of the Central Asia Institute designed to help students learn about other cultures and how they can help those in need.  The Institute, together with the National Education Association and the Pearson Foundation, have created a toolkit (complete with videos, stickers, information sheets, templates, maps, curriculum guide) to help teachers implement the Pennies for Peace Program and to stimulate creative thinking among their students. You can access the kit online or sign up to receive a free DVD.

I Am Powerful: Care Virtual Field Trips

Care, the humanitarian organization, in its work to fight global poverty, offers a series of virtual field trips to help students learn more about other countries and areas of the world.  The series includes multi-day virtual excursions to Guatemala, Peru, Ghana, Bolivia, Haiti, Kosovo, Nepal, Mali, Ecuador, Honduras, and Madagascar. On a trip to Peru, for example, your students will follow 10 high school students through journal entries, photos, maps, and background information. They’ll journey to Peru’s Green Mountains, Villa Hermosa, the Inca Baths, Lima, and Machu Picchu. The trips focus upon what Care is doing in these areas of the world but also introduce students to valuable cultural information.

Special Needs Students & Design Programs

Elementary age special needs students in Calcasieu Parish Public Schools in Louisiana are putting Serif Design Suites’ media tools to work.  Using the tools has given the students “growing independence” and “self sufficiency” accorded to Mary Beth Sonnier, School Board Technology Facilitator. Some parts of the Suite are being used to help students with organization, to help non-verbal students keep on track, and to work with developmentally-delayed students.  The success of the programs may be not only because of the types of tools offered by Serif (photo editing, drawing, animating, desktop publishing, Web designing) but also because students quickly master how to use the tools.  As of November 2009, information about this case study was not posted online, but other case studies are on the Serif site.

Can We Teach History Through Games?

John Gaudiosi, in his Washington Post piece, “Academics Hope History in Video Games Spurs Interest” highlights some of the video games that balance and mix facts with fun. These include Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed II” in which students interact with a young Leonardo da Vinci or games in which students’ take on the Crusades or World War II adventures.  The games can bring history alive and help students learn more about the lives of everyday people during historical periods.  About 10% of video games sold are based on history, and the connection between learning and games is recognized by the American Library Association. In fact, a National Gaming Day was held at U.S. Libraries in November 2009.  If you are a history teacher, let us know how you are using video games or other types of games to stimulate student interest in historical study.

Your Ideas Wanted by ASCD Express

ASCD Express is looking for short practical articles of about 600 words. You can submit articles based on your experience such as advice for classroom teaching, ideas for school improvement, and your opinion about national standards. Research-based articles are also of interest to ASCD. Some of the upcoming themes for November 2009 to January 2010 are: Believing in and Motivating Every Student, Health and Learning, Helping ELLs  Acquire Academic Content, A New Curriculum for a New Century, and Turning to National Standards. Articles should be emailed to ASCD.

Are Your Students in the Here & Now Only?

At the Annual Conference for the Association of Independent Maryland Schools, several of the sessions focused on students and their use of technologies.  Discussion during the sessions addressed problems students face and/or students cause when using the Internet, computers, and digital devices. The consensus was that students are so focused upon “the here and now” that they don’t take time to consider how their actions online may cause problems in the future. For example, why do many post inappropriate photos online, when they’ve certainly been told that these photos can damage their reputation, attract those they don’t want to attract, and stand in the way of their college admissions or job opportunities? Why do some students continue to bully others when they have to know that this behavior is unacceptable? Is it about looking good in front of peers? Is it about social acceptance and wanting to make oneself look better than others? Is it about students asserting their independence from the adults in their lives—students trying to grow up and be noticed and accepted? As educational professionals we know that kids’ problems, which sound silly to us often seem like “life and death” dilemmas to them. How do we find ways to give kids what they need so that they will feel safe enough with their “here and now” to do what’s right for their future?

Oceans Away at Stationery Studio

Rays, sea turtles, baby marine mammals, seals, polar bears, walruses, fish and whales are ready to motivate your students to write with Stationery Studio. You’ve got to see these beautiful designs that will get your students thinking science. But it’s not just science writing that your kids will love. Think fairy tales, folk tales, sports and exercise, and holidays and seasons.  Would your students like to write  notes on Seven Dwarfs paper, gymnastics paper, or scarecrow paper? How about April Fool’s Day paper? It’s all so whimsical and fun, but of course it is because it’s designed by Peggy Healy-Stearns and Peter Reynolds.  You can download  a product demo page. If you are not familiar with Stationery Studio, it’s a wonderful writing tool for Grades K-5, but older students and teachers love it as well.  One license costs $49.95 and the add-on modules are $14.95. For pricing for school and district licenses, call: 1-888-240-3734.