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The theme of our April newsletter is Earth Day. For the classroom teacher, the annual marking of Earth Day is not only useful for raising and discussing points related to the environment. In addition, as we show in this month's Integration Idea, Earth Day is a wonderful opportunity to draw students into a discussion of continuity, change, and where they stand in the stream of time. In line with these multiple themes, our Spotlight on the Web showcases a resource which emphasizes how one person can indeed make a difference to a large and complex system (in this case, the environment).
Talking about systems...has your school system's calendar been impacted by this past Winter's (yes, technically it has passed) weather? Our On the Horizon feature discusses how one district has started to use technology to address the "snow day" issue.
As always, don't forget our Fun Facts section. Contribute an idea to Fun Facts or any of our newsletter sections, and if we use it we'll send you a free Sun Associates gift!
Back issues of Sun Associates news are available online.
Please feel free to email any of the contributors of our newsletter with your comments and suggestions for upcoming issues. We are always looking for submissions and ideas to make Sun Associates News better and more relevant to your work.
I. THIS MONTH'S FEATURE -- Linking Technology Planning Goals and Evaluation
II. INTEGRATION IDEA OF THE MONTH -- Earth Day Timelines
III. SPOTLIGHT ON THE WEB-- Earth Day Resources Online
IV. ON THE HORIZON -- April Calendar Listings
V. FUN FACTS & TRIVIA -- Talking About Trash
VI. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE
I. THIS MONTH'S FEATURE: Linking Technology Planning and Evaluation -- Jeff Sun
Talk to any group of technology-using teachers, administrators, or technology coordinators and it isn't long before the discussion turns to the topic of "how do we know technology is making a difference?" At that point, the following issues will almost certainly be raised...
And so it goes in all too many districts, online forums, and technology conferences. Sound familiar?
Well, we hear this too and unfortunately find that these conversations, while valuable as reflective dialog, do little to answer the overriding question of how do educators show that technology is making a difference in teaching and learning. At a time when assessment and accountability are more than mere buzzwords, it becomes necessary to move from dialog to action. What are some concrete steps districts can take to assess and evaluate the impact of technology on teaching and learning?
This month's feature discusses the connection between your goals for technology and the subsequent evaluation of those goals. By focusing on goals for technology's impact -- and in many cases, the refinement of those goals -- it becomes possible to ground your investigation (evaluation) of impact in the actual intentions for what you want technology to do. With clear goals, impact is no longer an abstract concept but a clear target against which performance can be measured.
II. INTEGRATION IDEA OF THE MONTH -- Heather Hurley
Welcome to the Integration Idea of the Month. Each month we share a technology-enriched curriculum project that you can implement in your classroom. All lessons are designed for the one or few computer classroom, though a lab setting will work just as well.
April 21st marks Earth Day 2001. Earth Day is a day that is committed to raising awareness of the serious environmental problems we are facing today. Although Earth Day has been around for 31 years, environmental issues have surfaced throughout history under labels such as public health, conservation, preservation of nature, air pollution and water pollution. The word "environmental" is a recent term used to describe many of these longstanding concerns. This month's lesson is one that can be done to document important environmental issues that have happened throughout time.
"A generation which ignores history has no past and no future" - Robert Heinlein
For a detailed description, check out the lesson plan link for "Environmental Timelines" on the Sun Associates website.
If you have questions or suggestions for future projects, email Heather.
Happy integrating :)
III. SPOTLIGHT ON THE WEB -- Melissa Chatfield
Inspired by one man's concerns about the earth's environment, Earth Day is a prolific example of how individuals can make a difference for their planet. Celebrate Earth Day with your class by joining The GLOBE Program, a hands-on international environmental science program that links K-12 students to the scientific research community. The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment Program gives students an opportunity to conduct "real science" as they collect data and observe their local environment.
This month, students, teacher, and researchers will participate in a global Earth Day Cloud watch. This collaborative project is a fantastic Earth Day activity as well as a great way to get your school started on The GLOBE Program. To learn more, click on School Collaboration to find this project as well as many other collaborative activities.
The CNN site developed a page for Earth Day in 1996. This page contains quite a few Earth Day resources and tips. Check out the fun facts as lesson or unit starter ideas!
Questions, comments? Email Melissa
IV. ON THE HORIZON -- Lara Buchko
Now that I've experienced my first winter in New England, I have witnessed firsthand how snow can impact everyone's day to day routine, especially in the school system. School cancellations and delays leave parents, students, and teachers wondering what the kids will do at home when there's a snow day.
In a recent article, Rebecca Weiner of The New York Times writes about a high school history teacher in Manhattan who encourages his students not to take the day off from learning, even if they're not actually at school ("When School is Held on Snow Days" by Rebecca S. Weiner, The New York Times, March 14, 2001). On a snow day earlier this month, John Elfrank-Dana posted an assignment on his class's web site and then emailed his students, offering extra credit to those who researched the topic and answered his online questions.
With schools across the country facing several days, or even weeks, of make-up days due to snow or other inclement weather conditions, the Internet is becoming an effective way for teachers to maintain contact with students and provide them with learning experiences even when they are away from school. Though students (and teachers!) will still cross their fingers in hopes of a day off, technology may soon enable teachers to keep their classrooms open, even when school is closed.
April Educational Technology Events
April 10-12, 2001
Savannah, GA
Georgia Educational Technology Annual ConferenceApril 17-20, 2001
Washington, DC
11th Annual e-learning Conference and ExpoApril 23-28, 2001
St. Louis, MO
19th International Conference on Magnet Schools: The Integration of Technology and CurriculumApril 26-27, 2001
Kalamazoo, MI
Fourth Annual Educational Technology Coordinators Conference
Congratulations to our Click on Success book winners:
Christy Carpenter -- Panama City, FL
Karen Taylor -- Lisbon, OH
Gilbert Hicks -- Austin, TXOur grand prize winner -- The Nassau (NY) BOCES -- will receive a free Sun Associates professional development workshop!
V. FUN FACTS & TRIVIA -- Jean Kim
Talkin' trash...
In 1987, Americans generated almost enough trash to fill a 24-lane highway one-foot deep from Boston to Los Angeles. Disposable diapers alone make up enough trash to fill a barge half a city block long, every six hours, every day! (source: "Save Our Planet," Diane MacEachern)
Answer to Last Month's Question:
When were women first allowed to compete in the Olympics? In what three events were they allowed to compete?
Answer:
Women were barred from competing in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. In 1900, women were allowed to compete in only three events: Archery, Golf and Tennis.
For more information and more facts, go to http://womensissues.about.com/newsissues/womensissues/cs/olympics/index.htm
This Month's Trivia Question:
What is this country's longest running weekly non-news show?
If you have an answer to this month's question, email Jean. The first correct answer received will win a Sun Associates prize!
VI. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE
We hope you enjoyed reading the ideas and information in Sun Associates News. If you have received this newsletter forwarded by a friend and would like to to receive your own copy, simply send an email -- with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject -- to us at newsletter@sun-associates.com. If you would prefer not to receive future issues via email please let us know by emailing to newsletter@sun-associates.com. Just put the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject of your email message.
Sun Associates offers this monthly newsletter as a service to educators interested in issues related to the integration of technology in schools. Our firm specializes in technology evaluation, planning, and professional development. We work with teachers across the country and bring this breadth of experience to all of our work. This newsletter is designed to share some of our recent findings and experiences.
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Information on this site that has been produced by Sun Associates is Copyright 1997 - 2006 Sun Associates and is available for individual, one-time, use by educators. Duplication is prohibited without permission. All other material is the property of its authors and Sun Associates makes no warranty for its use or accuracy.
Last updated, 4/2/01