DPI Instructional Services: Computer / Technology Skills

GIS in Education

GIS in Education Community-

We're happy to announce the publication of the Rural STEM GIS activity
collection for AEJEE and ArcGIS. This collection of 12 activities (authored
by Barbaree Ash Duke, edited by me and classroom tested by teachers around
the country) focuses on middle school science and social studies. Each
activity comes with student instructions and worksheet, teacher notes, an
answer key and all relevant data. The activities are referenced to relevant
national standards. Each activity can also be easily modified for younger
or older students. Each activity can be used by itself or in conjunction
with one or more of the other activities. We hope teachers in a variety of
settings will find these activities of use.

All the activities can be accessed at
http://www.isat.jmu.edu/stem/curriculum.html

We've categorized the activities into three groups by GIS experience:

]]> Level 1 - suitable as a first-time GIS experience
Bats in the Neighborhood: Friend or Foe?
Hunting for the Best Cabela's Location
Invasive Species: Attack of the Animals
Invasive Species: Attack of the Plants

Level 2 - best after a prior introduction to GIS
We are the World: A Look at Demographics
Production and Consumption: The Give and Take of Energy
Disaster Strikes
Should You Drink the Water?
Watersheds: Why bother?

Level 3 - best after more than one experience with GIS
What's Your Carbon Footprint?
Can You Grow Money?
Survivor: The Agricultural Challenge

This work is supported the Center for Rural STEM Education at James Madison
University and funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Please feel free to contact us with comments and questions.

Bob Kolvoord

Bob Kolvoord, Ph.D.
Professor, Integrated Science and Technology and
Educational Technologies
Co-Director, JMU Center for STEM Education and Outreach
James Madison University
MSC 4102
Harrisonburg, VA 22807

+1 540/568-2752 (o) -2768 (f)
kolvoora@jmu.edu

http://gisined.blogspot.com
Barbaree Ash Duke
Educational Consultant Curriculum Integration and GIS in Education

Regional Writing Across the Curriculum Workshops

Regional Workshops
The Department of Public Instruction is planning a series of regional workshops designed to help teachers in all content areas, grades 5-9, learn how to incorporate writing into their teaching of the NC SCOS. Strategies provided will encourage students to develop as writers. Teachers will be given a document that will guide them through the development of the writing process in all disciplines.

]]> Each school system within each region is invited to send a team of 3-5 members that may include content area teachers in grades 5-9, literacy coaches and/or administrators. It is expected that team members will share information they receive from this professional development with other educators in their respective LEA’s. Registration will be $30 to include breaks and materials. Lunch is on your own. Participants will need to bring their own laptop.

Announcement Download file

Registration Download file

Agenda Download file

Progress Energy to Fund Projects

North & South Carolina Teachers: Progress Energy to fund up to
$75,000 in hands-on energy education projects this year!
Welcome back to school Carolina teachers! This year, Progress Energy
will fund up to $75,000 in energy-related project requests in the
Carolinas. See the attached flyer for ideas on the types of requests
that Progress Energy is interested in funding. Download file

]]> No special action is required to qualify! Simply log into your
DonorsChoose.org account and submit one or more project requests for
tools that will help your students learn about energy.

Submit your request(s) by October 15th for your best chance at funding.

Here’s a link to our Progress Energy blog post:

http://blog.donorschoose.org/blog/2008/09/05/north-south-carolina-teachers-progress-energy-to-fund-up-to-75000-in-hands-on-energy-education-projects-this-year/

__________________________________________
Alexandra Cerkovnik
Associate Director, Atlantic Region, DonorsChoose.org
212 South Tryon Street | Suite 1610 | Charlotte, NC 28281

p: 704.344.6841 | c: 919.389.6312
alex@donorschoose.org

Information for Media and Technology Programs

A sampling of good info for media and technology programs from AASL Hotlinks:

1. Banned Books Week 2008 is September 27 through October 4. According to ALA, in 2007 more than 400 books were banned.

Read about what your school library media program can do to fight
censorship in your community and educate your students on intellectual freedom at:
http://www.bannedbooksweek.org

]]> AASL provides support on intellectual freedom at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslissues/issuesadvocacy.cfm

2. Best Buy Rewards School's Interactive te@ch
Programs

The Best Buy te@ch program rewards schools for
successful interactive programs they have launched
with available technology. Winning te@ch programs
focus on kids using technology to learn a
standards-based curriculum, rather than on teaching
students to use technology or educators using
technology that children are not able to use hands-on.
Accredited K-12 public, private, parochial, and nonprofit
charter schools in the United States are eligible to apply
for the $5,000 maximum award before October 12, 2008.

For more information, visit:
https://bestbuyteach.scholarshipamerica.org
3. U.S. Census Bureau Provides Downloadable Maps

The U.S. Census Bureau has downloadable maps that
are available online for classroom use.

Find the maps in the Geography section at:
http://www.census.gov

The resources from the U.S. Census Bureau don't stop
there! Find more resources for students and teachers at:
http://www.census.gov/dmd/www/teachers.html

4. The US Federal Government Once Again Provides
Valuable Resources for the Entire School Community
As you begin the new school year, check out the
federal government's Web portal, which has posted a
collection of Web sites with resources for students,
parents, and educators.
Find out more at:
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Back_to_School.shtml

5. ChunkIt! Helps Make Searching the Web More Efficient
ChunkIt! is a safe add-on to your Web browser
that searches and extracts the valuable bits of
information often hidden within hyperlinks that
comprise the Web. By entering keywords in the
search box, ChunkIt! guarantees that valuable
information from the Web will become much easier
to find.
Download ChunkIt! at:
http://www.tigerlogic.com/ChunkIt

Gerry Solomon, School Library Media Consultant
Instructional Technology Section
K-12 Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Division
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
6364 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
Raleigh, NC 27699-6364
(v) 919/807-3286
(fax) 919/807-3290
http://www.ncwiseowl.org/Impact/div_it/

3 High Quality Online Workshops

Through a partnership with EdTech Leaders Online (ETLO), a project of
Education Development Center (EDC), the 1:1 Learning Collaborative is
offering three high-quality online professional development workshops:

*Differentiated Instruction to Accommodate Learning Styles
*Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0 Tools
*Finding the Best Educational Resources on the Web

]]> These workshops are for teachers, technology specialists, curriculum
specialists, professional development specialists, or other school
personnel interested in learning how to incorporate 21st century learning
strategies in their classroom instruction. Workshops start September 22
and run through November 7. Each workshop includes six sessions and an
overview to learning in the online environment (seven sessions total).
Each session contains online readings, multimedia resources, interactive
activities, and focused discussions. Workshop sessions are designed to
take approximately two to four hours to complete. All workshop content is
provided online via the workshop website. Workshop facilitators will
provide supplemental material for 1:1 computing environments.
Participants will be required to actively participate in all sessions, the
online discussion forum; complete weekly readings and assignments, and
develop a final project. There is a nominal registration fee of $25 per
workshop. Participants will be eligible for Continuing Education Units
(CEUs). You have until September 16, 2008 to register. Register Early -
Space is limited! If you have any questions, please contact Verna
Lalbeharie (verna_lalbeharie@ncsu.edu).

For detailed workshop descriptions and the online registration form go to:
http://www.fi.ncsu.edu/1to1/workshops/

Math and Science Teachers

"An announcement for math and science teachers in North Carolina
http://blog.donorschoose.org/blog/2008/07/21/calling-all-math-science-teachers-in-north-carolina/>
of an initiative by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to fund $25,000 in inquiry-based science and
mathematics projects through DonorsChoose in the coming school year."

http://scienceblogs.com/ethicsandscience/2008/07/classroom_teachers_get_a_jump.php

David F. Warlick
The Landmark Project
919-571-3292
For Teachers: http://landmark-project.com/
For Clients & the Curious: http://davidwarlick.com/
Blog • http://2cents.davidwarlick.com/
Podcast • http://connectlearning.davidwarlick.com/

NBC News Launches Free Online Learning Community

NBC has launched a free, collaborative learning community for students ages 13 and up that incorporates gaming, discussion, and video resources in a safe online environment. Created by NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, the site name--iCUE-- stands for Immerse, Connect, Understand, and Excel. Its learning platform uses a patented technology, based on research from the MIT Education Arcade, called the CueCard; its a combination media player, flash card, note-taking tool, and trading card. This "flip-card" technology allows users to warch streaming videos from NBC News and then "flip" the CueCard over for additional information. Users can "snag" CueCards and store them in personal resource libraries or CueCard "stacks"), customize them using the "jot" feature to writer thoughts and opinions, and exchange comments about content with their icue friends. MIT is conducting a study to find out how iCue can help students learn and build critical thinking skills and 21st century communications skills. The websites launch has a politically themed collection of games and activities highlighting the 2008 presidential race. A U.S. History course has been added and is operational. Over the summer U. S. government and politics, and English language and composition will be added. All content is aligned with the education standards for Advanced Placement courses. ...from June 2008 eSchool News

"Censorship in Schools and Libraries" Exhibit

"Censorship in Schools and Libraries" exhibit available for Banned Books
Week - September 27 - October 4, 2008.

The Long Island Coalition Against Censorship is an association of 22
educational and community organizations (16 are public libraries and
professional library organizations). The purpose of the Coalition is to
defend challenges to the First Amendment rights of public and school
libraries when there are efforts by individuals or groups to censor
books and other materials

]]>
In planning an exhibit for Banned Books Week in the fall or at another
time in 2008-2009, you might wish to consider displaying the new edition
of our exhibit, “Censorship in Schools and Libraries.”

The exhibit presents 32 illustrations of censorship each one
approximately 11" x 14" with accompanying text that is 11" x 14." The
history of censorship in public libraries and schools highlights
incidents of censorship that have occurred nationally during the last
150 years. Included are descriptions of the censorship of Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn, In the Night Kitchen, The Catcher in the Rye, and the
novels of Judy Blume and Chris Crutcher. The censorship of Susan
Patron’s novel, The Higher Power of Lucky, which was awarded the
Newberry Prize in 1997 is in the new edition. U.S. Supreme Court
decisions (including the landmark school case in the Island Trees School
District) and lower court decisions are an integral part of the exhibit.

The 2008 edition includes efforts to censor the popular Harry
Potter’s children's books (Harry Potter books were burned in
Alamogordo, New Mexico). Besides new cases, there is an update of
censorship incidents in libraries and classrooms that have occurred
since 1990. Quality copies have been reproduced which may be readily
presented on posters or bulletin boards in your library or classroom and
then retained by you as a reference source. If your space is limited, we
suggest that you rotate the incidents of censorship during the time the
exhibit is on display. Excerpts from the exhibit are on our web site
www.the-licac.org. Click on Exhibits, "Censorship in Schools and
Libraries" (for a description of the exhibit) and then Selected Cases.
You may order the exhibit by e-mail or sending a purchase order to the
LI Coalition Against Censorship, PO Box 296, Port Washington, N.Y.
11050. The cost of the exhibit including mailing charges is $40.00
postpaid by check. If you need further information our e-mail address is
coalcen1@verizon.net or call (516) 944-9799.

Donald Parker, Co-coordinator, LI Coalition Against Censorship

Gerry Solomon, School Library Media Consultant
Instructional Technology Section
K-12 Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Division
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

21st Century and Future-Ready Schools

21ST CENTURY SKILLS POLICY - The North Carolina State Board of Education adopted policy to bring the infusion of 21st century skills to scale across the state. The P21 (Partnership for 21st Century Skills) framework was used to rewrite the state mission and goals.

]]>
“The guiding mission of the North Carolina State Board of Education is that every public school student will graduate from high school globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and prepared for life in the 21st century.”
Download file

Pay Attention

Pay Attention
Speaks Volumes to all educators
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=40c570a322f1b0b65909

The Live Monarch Foundation (501c3) Educator Outreach Program

The Live Monarch Foundation (501c3) Educator Outreach Program is providing funding for 4,600 teachers throughout the United States to enroll into the National Campaign: to bring Monarch Butterflies into the classroom.

]]> This program provides education and materials to strengthen the Monarch’s 3,000 mile migratory route within North America by creating self sustaining butterfly gardens and refuges. Current extreme weather has eliminated early milkweed growth...your participation is critical.

This program will give you, your students and their parents an exciting, personal, educational and hands on experience. Materials will be provided for each participant to raise a virtual butterfly and start a real butterfly garden with professional instruction on each level of its maintenance and care, with insight into the shared responsibility of each person to protect our fragile environment one backyard at a time.

Each participant will receive all the tools necessary to make a visible difference in their community and the support necessary to keep the benefits growing. Recognition for personal results, group efforts, and community involvement are all part of the structured program, as is access to proven Free fundraising programs, materials, curriculum and discounted supplies if desired. You control the integration with your teaching objectives and personal goals.

Your email was added during the past year to the contact list for possible inclusion into this program through many students, other teachers and organizations whom we have reached. If you choose not to participate or if this message has been misdirected, nothing is required of you. Your email will automatically be removed from future mailings within 1 week unless you confirm your interest below and complete the registration to follow. If you need to change your email addresses or wish to nominate another educator for inclusion into this program just go or send them to www.LMF-Educator-Award.com/index.html and have them sign up. To learn more about us just follow the links on that page.

Current funds will be allocated to the first 4,600 registrants; additional registrants will be added in order to the wait list to await additional funds. All registrants will receive updates and our monthly newsletter. Register today and start whenever your schedule permits.

< Please do not delay >

Please confirm your interest in this program, award updates, monthly newsletter, Free educational materials and special discounts by clicking the link below or copying and pasting it into your browser. There is no fee or obligation to join.

We need to determine what parts of our program you would like to participate in, and what materials are best suited for you and your students. Please go to www.LMF-Educator-Award.com/index.html to enroll and later choose your goals, interests and discounted materials you would like to receive. Please send your friends to this page as well for inclusion in our National campaign.

Thank you,

Live Monarch Foundation Staff
www.LiveMonarch.org
“One seed can change the world, we need you to plant it.”

North Carolina Test of Computer Skills

Most current information from Accountability Services about the North Carolina Test of Computer Skills

NCDesk http://cuacs8.mck.ncsu.edu/nccs/

ISTE Refreshed NETS*S

The Refreshed The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
http://www.iste.org/inhouse/nets/cnets/students/pdf/NETS_for_Students_2007.pdf

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
Student Profiles http://www.iste.org/inhouse/nets/cnets/students/pdf/NETS-S_Student_Profiles.pdf

Essential Conditions http://www.iste.org/inhouse/nets/cnets/students/pdf/NETS-S_Essential_Conditions.pdf

]]> The primary goal of the ISTE NETS Project is to enable stakeholders in PreK-12 education to develop national standards for educational uses of technology that facilitate school improvement in the United States. The NETS Project will work to define standards for students, integrating curriculum technology, technology support, and standards for student assessment and evaluation of technology use.

http://cnets.iste.org/

New NETS*T
Rapid advances in technology are putting new demands on educators and students. ISTE launched a refresh of the NETS•T in 2007 and unveiled the new NETS•T in 2008. The refreshed ISTE NETS will provide a framework for educators to use as they transition schools from Industrial Age to Digital Age places of learning.

2008 NETS*T

Partnership for 21Century Skills in North Carolina

Partnership for 21Century Skills Resources
ICT Literacy Maps

Resources for NC Educators

K-12 Computer/Technology Skills and Information Skills Standard Courses of Study address many 21st Century Learning Skills, when integrated with content areas by all teachers, students develop the knowledge and skills to process information, use research tools, evaluate information and information resources, and use technology tools to communicate their findings to peers and others. In this environment students become active participants in their own learning. http://www.ncwiseowl.org/Impact/div_it/resources.htm#personnel

]]>
These Instructional Resources and activities listed below use problem-solving tools (e. g., spreadsheets and databases) to support and encourage integration of Computer/Technology Skills and Information Skills with content areas in a real world context.
Datafiles
==============================
NC DESK Datafiles

Many thanks to Stanley County Team of Susie Austin, Gayle Russell, Lisa Thompson and Maureen Davis, who spent time at NCCAT manually creating files using NCDesk using data from files they had. We appreciate your hard work and willingness to share. http://comptest.scs.k12.nc.us/

==================================

POSTERS Computer/Technology Skills
Vocabulary, Related Terms, and Concepts by Strand by Grade Level
Elementary and Middle School Sets NOW available from NCDPI Publication Sales.
Product Number and Pricing:
IP106 K-5 – posters two sets per $10.00 package
IP107 6-12 - poster two sets per $10.00 package (grades 9-12 on same poster)
Download MS Word documents legal size @
http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/tech/archives/2006/07/resources_for_n.php#more
Kindergarten Terms & Concepts by Strand
Download file

Grade 1 Terms & Concepts by Strand
Download file

Grade 2 Terms & Concepts by Strand
Download file

Grade 3 Terms & Concepts by Strand
Download file

Grade 4 Terms & Concepts by Strand
Download file

Grade 5 Terms & Concepts by Strand
Download file

Grade 6 Terms & Concepts by Strand
Download file

Grade 7 Terms & Concepts by Strand
Download file

Grade 8 Terms & Concepts by Strand
Download file

============================================
*Website and instructional materials developed by Diane Walters at West Millbrook Middle School, Wake County Public Schools West Millbrook Middle School
------------------------

* Catawba County Schools webpage Go to the webpage below to locate resource information and files.

* Marco Polo

* North Carlina Museum of Natural Sciences

* Websites for NC Educators
========================================================
Lesson Plans, Assessments, Web Resources
link
* Discover NC!
Discover NC! is a guide to local educational resources throughout North Carolina for field trips, classroom use, and student research. On LearnNC.org.

* Learn About NC NC at Your Service

==================================
21st Century Learning Skills & the Computer/Technology Skills
July 2007
Download file

==================================
Web-resources and activities developed by the Instructional Technology Division/NCDPI

NC Wise OWL
http://www.ncwiseowl.org/

Kaleidoscope
http://www.ncwiseowl.org/kscope/

eBistro http://www.landmark-project.com/ebistro/

==========================
Nortel LearniT
http://www.nortellearnit.org/

This technology communication skills training portal provides FREE,
web-based resources for teachers & students. Lesson plans across the
curriculum include related resources, assessment tools, & can be edited in your word processor. View the technology skill-building videos for your own professional development or use them to train other teachers or students. Share "Kids in Action", it showcases student-produced
multi-media projects, and "Career Bytes", explorations of next
generation jobs, with your K-12 students. Monthly Webinars are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 4:00PM.
=======================
Research Process
Links to Big 6 on Learn NC http://www.learnnc.org/bestweb/big6model
=========================
NCTA Federal Demonstration Projects:
Clear Link Exists between Technology,
Quality Teaching and Student Achievement
http://www.qtlcenters.org/k12/News/NCTA.htm
==========================

AAM
Adventure of the American Mind Online Education Program Online Lessons for 3rd - 12th grade students developed through a grant from the Library of Congress to teach K-12 educators to integrate digital resources into their curriculum. Free and Always Availablehttp://www.aamonline.org

=========================
ISTE Educator Resources
Various tools for assessing technology Literacy for students, teachers, and administrators
http://www.iste.org/Template.cfm?Section=Assessment&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=23&ContentID=3833&CFID=11065423&CFTOKEN=65312413

Societal Issues: Safe and Responsible Use

The North Carolina K-12 Computer/Technology Skills Standard Course of Study addresses Safe and Responsible Use of information and information resources in every grade level. It is incumbent upon NC educators to model and use the knowledge and skills to insure that students have the understandings and knowledge needed to be safe, responsible, and effective users of online resources.
]]> There are a variety of Internet Safety materials for classroom use. Please become very familiar with these websites and use most appropriate resources with your students. NC Wise OWL Resources