Kentucky Academy of Technology Education

Microsoft Reader

Instructional Illuminations

Are you looking for an instructional tool to help enhance students' reading abilities? Microsoft Reader is just what you need. Best of all it is a free download from www.microsoft.com.

Microsoft Reader enables you to download free or purchased eBooks to read or listen to on your desktop computer, personal computer, or handheld device. Although the program was originally created to simply enable you to read a book on your computer, its uses in the classroom go far beyond basic reading.

Microsoft Reader is a tool that can be used for students with disabilities, average performing students, as well as gifted students. It has a Text-to-Speech mode which will read the book out loud using a digitized voice. Students can follow along with the digital voice as the words are highlighted when they are read. Word recognition is often a problem when students are reading a piece that is challenging for their reading level. By downloading the Encarta Pocket dictionary to the Microsoft Reader library, students can click on a word they do not recognize and the definition will be displayed on the screen. The Microsoft Reader (RMR) add-in for Microsoft Word enables you to convert any Word document into a Microsoft Reader format eBook in just a few simple steps. Students and teachers can make their own eBooks. Performing research is a task many students have difficulty with doing. Using the annotation features in Microsoft Reader, students can highlight, bookmark, and make notes within the text creating virtual note cards. These are just a few of the features that make Microsoft Reader an instructional tool that every teacher can use.

Microsoft Reader and the Microsoft Reader Add-In are two FREE tools that will make reading easier, more fun, and interactive for your students.

Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941

Core Connections

December 7, 1941--"a day that will live in infamy" Japanese troops staged an all out attack on the American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. When the attack ended over 2400 soldiers had been killed and 8 American battle ships were sunk.

The attacks on Pearl Harbor cemented a divided United States into action and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a declaration of war. The Japanese had opened the door and World War II was under way.

The significance of the Pearl Harbor attacks is undisputed in American history. The United States ultimate victory in this war and its emergence as a world power has shaped international politics forever.

Sequencing of Events

Core Connections

by Jamie Felts, Mayfield Independent Schools

The sequencing of events can be used for any subject and in any classroom. It simply means putting content into the most logical order. Students even in early elementary should start learning about sequence of events. Putting objects in order and events in a story should be a priority even at a very young age. Sequencing can and should be addressed in multiple subjects.

In reading, sequencing requires students to consider why events happened when they did. Students need activities such as putting sentences in order using familiar stories such as fairy tales, as well as new stories. Older students should learn to be able to read and logically order the events in the story.

In science, sequencing could be addressed by studying pictures of very young animals or plants by putting them in order from youngest to oldest. In completing science experiments, students must know the correct procedure for the results to be accurate.

In math, students should be able to put numbers in order from least to greatest, greatest to least, and also find a number that is missing from a series. Order of operations is a key concept that must be understood to be successful in the math classroom.

The Intel Education Company uses an online teaching tool known as "Visual Ranking" to teach older students how to order and prioritize items in a list. It also allows them to analyze and evaluate information to make informed decisions and builds higher level thinking skills.

Sequencing helps students make sense of information and helps them look for ways to create information that is less confusing. Graphic organizers are also a valuable tool for teachers to use in teaching order of events.

Clicking In The Classroom

Instructional Illuminations

Classroom management, immediate feedback, interactive technology, instant assessment and scoring; these are buzz words in the education world today. How do we accomplish these in the classroom? Personal response systems seem to be the answer for many university and K-12 institutions.

Referred to as "clickers" the personal response system allows teachers and students to interact in a variety of interesting and inventive ways. Teachers have immediate feedback of what students have learned and what needs to be reviewed. Students learn in an interactive and meaningful environment. It seems like a win-win situation for both students and their instructors. Clicker systems come in a variety of shapes and formats but operate with the idea of giving students quizzes and reviews interactively with real time results. Check out this article for more information on available models and comparisons.

Lets' Be Thankful

Core Connections

On November 26, 1941, President Roosevelt signed a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. We all love to partake in a bountiful meal and spending time with family members, but do we really know why we celebrate this tradition?

November is month for students to make colorful cut out turkeys and dress up like pilgrims. It is the favorite time of the year for many people because of the beautiful colors and cooling temperatures. Share in this festive season with your students and inspire them with the true history of this event. According to the website Thanks-giving Square , "The First American Thanksgiving Began Long Before 1776". Use this site along with many others to add new ideas to your November unit on Thanksgiving.

Managing Your Money: Budgeting

Core Connections

Budgeting techniques need not be saved for the secondary level Business classroom. As early as 4th grade, students can begin to understand that financial literacy is an important part of a successful life.

Creating a personal budget is a task that most people (young people and adults alike) dread. However, financial planning, including creating a personal budget, is necessary to obtain financial security. The best way to start is to record your income and expenditures to determine where your money is coming from and where it is going. The easiest way to accomplish this task is to complete a "Record of Income and Expenditures" worksheet. The worksheet helps keep track of income and expenses for a specified span of time. View a sample "Record of Income and Expenditures" worksheet.

Preparing a budget can be done in a series of steps:

1. Estimate income (include wages, salary, tips, gifts, interest, dividends, allowance, etc.).

2. Decide how much of your income you want to save.

3. Estimate your expenses.

   • Fixed expenses: rent, utilities, insurance, car payment
   • Variable expenses: food, clothing, transportation, entertainment, gifts, donations)

4. Balance your budget. Your expenses and savings must not exceed your income.

The key to maintaining a budget is getting in the habit of keeping daily records; organization, consistency, and setting aside time to evaluate your budget on a regular basis. So, get started today and Happy Budgeting!!!

Budgeting templates:

Template 1

Template 2

Template 3

Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month

Core Connections

Each year since October 1993, National Arts and Humanities Month has given millions of Americans the opportunity to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives and has encouraged them to begin a lifelong appreciation for the arts. As teachers we have the responsibility to encourage our students to develop an active participation in the arts and humanities.

In towns and communities across America, arts organizations are planning and developing events, celebrations and innovative programming to highlight National Arts and Humanities Month. Throughout the month of October, special events will capture the spirit that the arts and humanities bring to everyday life.

Try some of the following with your students to peak their interest in National Arts and Humanities Month: Read a book aloud, engage students in a project like a play or mural, arrange a student art exhibition to be displayed at the school, a local business, the public library or city hall, arrange a field trip to a local arts events or choose from many other creative ideas.

Fitness Testing

Core Connections

Written by, Jeff Riley, Caldwell County Middle School

Fitness testing is an important part of any exercise program. Testing serves two purposes for the student beginning or participating in an exercise program. Fitness testing provides the tested with a beginning point. They know what their relative fitness level is based how they perform on certain criteria. The results can also be a very important measuring tool. Results can be used to set goals and determine success or making adjustment to exercise programs.

Fitness test should cover the 5 components of Physical Fitness. I recommend the Presidential Challenge standards.

Sample: Component Test

• Muscle Strength         90 degree Push-Ups
• Muscle Endurance      # of Crunches without stopping
• Cardio Endurance       Mile Run time
• Flexibility                   Sit-n-Reach
• Body Composition       Electronic Body Fat Analyze

Fitness testing is very important it establishes a beginning point and is a key measuring tool. Many people give up on their fitness plans because they lose motivation, good goal setting with achievable goals can help combat that. Fitness testing gives a person the ability to set realistic goals so they can see their progress. Positive results could result in continued motivation, and further participation in exercise programs.

Health and Physical Education Teachers can use many online sites to help them setup, complete and record results of student testing. check out the following links.

Leaders Make a Difference

Instructional Illuminations

Can the many challenges of the 21st Century be met by "good teachers" who are simply encouraged to "get the job done" on their own? With the pressures of accountability and the need to help every child achieve at very high levels, most educators (and politicians) feel that it takes a great deal more than leaders who keep the schools running, the technology going, etc. and then stay out of the way to meet national, state and local goals. Just like our world, the children we teach are changing. The Visions 2020 Report, used to provide background information for the national technology plan, heard the "voices of students" say very emphatically that they want to learn but they want learning to be anywhere, anytime and they want it to be real. Mark Prensky in a recent ASCD article described students as being fluent in the language of computers, comfortable with cutting-edge technologies and interested in learning through gameplay. Accountability has brought increased pressure to meet national and state standards as well as school achievement goals, greater demands for data, and a sense of urgency. Kentucky placed a great deal of emphasis on technology in the Reform Act passed in the early 1990s and is now placing an even greater focus by including three key ideas that frame the minimum technology competencies required of Kentucky students within the Program of Studies. Key components of the initial implementation included district and school leadership. An added emphasis has been placed on technology resource teachers who actively support instruction and on developing cadres of teacher leaders to provide models of best practice, as well as on building and district level administrators. The Kentucky Society of Technology in Education (formerly Kentucky Association of Technology Coordinators), the Kentucky Leadership Academy, the Gates Grant, and other ongoing initiatives provide valuable information and skills for administrators that enable them to review data and react appropriately to support student learning. Kentucky's Education Secretary, Virginia Fox, speaks passionately about the need for more leadership and suggests that teachers must become leaders.

What instructional-leadership practices make a difference? In Education Week's 2005 study, funded by the Wallace Foundation, training for teachers and principals on using performance data was ranked as the practice that superintendent's feel is most important. The Kentucky Department of Education list of essential conditions required to implement the new Program of Studies and ensure that effective use of technology for student achievement includes several areas that will require skilled leaders:

• Leadership with vision and support of technology
• Educators skilled in technology integration and the use of digital content for teaching and learning
• Student-centered approaches to lifelong learning
• Professional development that supports standards-based instruction
• Varied assessments on the effectiveness of technology for learning
• Anywhere, anytime access to contemporary technologies, e-learning, robust data systems and networks
• Technical assistance for maintaining and using technology resources
• Community partners who provide expertise, support, and real-life interactions
• Ongoing financial support for sustained technology use
• Policies and standards supporting enriched learning environments

There are many examples across the nation and in Kentucky of successes such as improved scores, decreasing dropout rates, etc. in schools/districts that can be attributed to the hard-working leaders--superintendents, chief information officers/district technology coordinators, instructional supervisors, principals, school technology coordinators, technology resource teachers, classroom teachers/teacher cadre leaders, community and parent volunteers, etc.

Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons

Core Connections

By Melissa Quertermous, teacher at Crittendon County High School

Best practices in the classroom call for student engagement. Exposing students to Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon era can achieve this principle and much more. By incorporating history, technology, media, and other avenues, teachers can create enthusiasm and excitement in learning about the Anglo-Saxons.

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of introducing this unit of study to students is its universal appeal. Themes that we find in modern entertainment, such as bravery, heroism, conflict, and stereotypes, can all be found in Beowulf and the history of this time period. Recognizing the fact that "some things really don't change" allows students to make connections among cultures and time periods.

Additionally, students (both struggling and gifted) can be actively engaged in this learning process by incorporating technology into the lessons, and interactive websites are a great tool in this process. The BBC's website is a great interactive site that will teach students about the history and also allow them to interact with the history through on-line games. I have also included other links to various resources on the web, including information about the time period and the epic and example lessons.

Easy Lab Experiments

Core Connections

by Amanda LeClere, teacher at Hickman County High School

Conducting laboratory experiments in a classroom setting can be both time consuming and expensive, depending on the lab. With technology expanding rapidly in both society and education, there are alternatives to spending a lot of time and money on lab equipment by utilizing the resources available.

There are many websites that contain virtual labs and interactive activities that teach students the same concepts as doing the experiment in the classroom. One such instance includes performing the titration of an acid using a base. In the classroom, this technique requires fine tuned skills and is costly, the burettes costing approximately sixty to one-hundred dollars each. This same lab can be conducted on the computer, without using corrosive chemicals and expensive burettes. This is not to say that students should not do this in the classroom setting as well, in order to obtain lab skills. However, the virtual version can be used to introduce students to the procedure and help students understand the basic principles behind the titration process.

This is just one example of using technology to enhance the science classroom. Check out many other interactive science classrooms at the following links:

What is Probeware Anyway?

Instructional Illuminations

As teachers in today's education society, we are constantly trying to find ways to engage our students in higher order learning activities. One way for math and science teachers to accomplish this goal is through the use of probeware. What is probeware anyway? Probeware consists of measurement probes, software, and hardware (also known as data loggers) that are used to gather information such as temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity to promote scientific inquiry.

Data loggers are an example of a piece of instructional technology that has measurable benefits for students and teachers alike. The use of probeware transforms a student's task from simply collecting data to synthesizing and analyzing the information. Students get real-time data and can instantly associate the information they are collecting with the science concepts that are being taught. Probeware is a great way to get visual and kinesthetic learners involved in science. Often science concepts are abstract and hard to understand for many students. Data loggers and external probeware provide the means to perform hands-on experiments that will help students to understand these concepts and be able to make predictions and decisions based upon collected data.

Used by NASA to monitor the temperature of an astronaut's extremities while in space, it may seem that data loggers are a piece of equipment that is out of reach for the average teacher. However, data loggers are available to the general public at reasonable prices. Visit this techLearning article compares six data loggers.

Don't Be a Dope When It Comes to Slope!

Core Connections

submitted by : Ben Duncan, Math teacher at Stewart County High School, Dover Tenn.

Slope is defined as the ratio of the vertical change of a line divided by the horizontal change of a line. It is a mathematical necessity that is evident in all forms of real-life applications. Whether it is an engineer constructing a new building, a surveyor preparing for a new highway, or even the grounds crew for a major football stadium,understanding slope is required for success in all of these activities. Slope is the gradient change in all straight line shapes, which we refer to in mathematical terms as linear, and is used to measure the steepness and flatness of these lines.

Even though it is often ignored and taken for granted, slope is very closely related to many of our everyday activities. Imagine if all buildings were constructed with flat roofs. Water drainage would definitely be a problem and damaging leakage would more than likely occur within the interior of the structure. All major highways built are constructed with slope taken into consideration. Highways are not flat and in most instances slope is referred to as the grade while being surveyed. Highways, being one of the most critical pieces of American infrastructure have slope assisting in drainage. So whether it is to serve as an assist in the navigation progress, for more simplistic cases such as water drainage, or even to enhance fun activities such as snow skiing or sledding; slope is a critical part of our everyday lives and is extremely visible beyond the classroom.

Fun, Instructional and Easy to Use!!!

Instructional Illuminations

Fun, instructional and easy to use, three things that teachers love to hear about a new application.

Photo Story 3 from Microsoft meets these categories plus many others. An important element for teachers is that it is FREE! Photo Story 3 allows teachers and students to take still photos and bring them to life in interesting and exciting presentations.

Teachers could introduce a unit or tour a site that you could not actually visit with your students . Students can use this technology to create a video of their summer vacation or a topic that they can share with other students. Photo Story 3 lets you create a presentation that includes motion, voice narration and music. Just import your photos, customize them, add pan and zoom effects and your ready to go.

This link is a Photo Story 3 example created by Gena Maley, Art Teacher at Murray Middle School in Murray Kentucky.

Self Assessment and Careers

Core Connections

Submitted by Emily Redden, Graves County Middle School

Teaching practical living and vocational studies can be challenging because of the variety of subject material. The four sub domains are divided into health, physical education, consumerism, and jobs and careers. Although there is a wide range of topics to be mastered, each area has certain characteristics to make the content exciting and challenging to all students. One way to do this is by adding technology in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of lessons.

One area in particular, jobs and careers, has a myriad of websites that offer teachers lesson plans, interactive activities, and career assessments to assist instruction.

When teaching students about different jobs and careers, one of the first components we discuss is how to conduct a self assessment to determine what types of careers are best suited for your personality and capabilities. The Internet is a great resource for this. Many websites offer free career assessment, aptitude tests, and personality profiles. These sites are great opportunities for students to learn more about themselves as well as determine their personality types. The connection between personality and career choice will be evident when completing activities such as these.

A Sweet Treat....National Ice Cream Month

Core Connections

From its early beginnings in ancient China to the first cone in 1804, ice cream has become an American obsession. American's spend approximately $20 billion a year on the delectable treat. President Ronald Reagan recognized ice cream as a "fun and nutritious" food and in 1984 he proclaimed July as National Ice cream month.

Ice cream is a dairy product and belongs in the milk group of the MyPyramid. According to the new dietary guidelines, we should consume 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk (or equivalent) every day. Nutritionally speaking, ice cream makes up 9% of annual milk consumption by Americans.

Google's Great Features

TechKnow

NOTE: Some features discussed below are only available to users with Google accounts. You can obtain an account free of charge at

Google has established itself as a dominant corporation in the computer world with foes ranging from Microsoft to PayPal. The possibilities for using Google in the classroom for teachers and students is expanding daily. With new features such as Google images, scholar, earth, lab and video; Google is leading the way for instructional classroom use.

LET FREEDOM RING!

Core Connections

On July 4, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was adopted, proclaiming the United States of America independent from Great Britain. The American Revolution brought forth a new nation and national symbols that serve as constant reminders of America's fight for Independence. This month look at the events that lead to the American Revolution, changes that took place with the birth of an independent nation, and learn about the history behind the national symbols of today.

STLP Ideas and Activities

Instructional Illuminations

Student Technology Leadership Program or STLP is a very important part of every school. Through this project-based learning program, students become proficient with technology and learn to incorporate it into their learning. There are many new and exciting activities in which your school's STLP can participate. STLP offers students the opportunity to take part in state competitions, entrepreneurial projects, and summer camps, just to name a few.

STLP provides students with real world projects in three areas: community, instructional, and entrepreneurial. There are several ways to keep your STLP active within your school. Offer trainings for parents or teachers on using software and the internet. Use STLP members to troubleshoot hardware and software problems within the school. Allows members to work with the STC to maintain, install and hookup hardware. The possibilities are endless!

Happy Birthday Anne Frank

Core Connections

Anne Frank, born June 12, 1929 lived to be only 15 years of age but her legacy lives for students everywhere in the world today. Anne's short life has taught many students about World War II and the German occupation of the Netherlands in 1942. Her family turmoil and strife is traced in Anne Frank's diary, which gives a day by day account of their lives and relationships until August 1944.

Anne Frank surely had no idea what impact her words on living would have for years to come. "I want to be useful or give pleasure to the people around me yet who don't really know me, I want to go on living even after my death! And therefore I am grateful to God for giving me this gift, this possibility of developing myself and of writing, of expressing all that is in me!" Anne Frank, Saturday, March 25, 1944

It's Electric!!!

Core Connections

Whether it is lightning in a storm filled sky, a solar flare on the sun, the X-ray machine at your local hospital, or the toaster that toasts your bread in the morning, electricity is everywhere. In 1752 Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment to prove that lightning was electricity. He continued work with electricity and invented the lightning rod which is still used today to protect buildings from lightning strikes.

Students are engaged in learning about electricity because it is directly related to their daily lives. They have electrical outlets in their bedroom to plug in a television, batteries in their MP3 player; they shock each other on a winter day with static electricity, and depend on their computers to allow them to do research for their upcoming science project. What better way to get students involved in learning than to teach them how these electrical devices work?

Electricity is very important in everyday life, but it is often taken for granted. Just imagine what your day would be like without electricity. How would you cook, what would you do for entertainment, and how would you communicate across long distances?

SMART Classrooms....Using Interactive Boards

Instructional Illuminations

SMART Technologies introduced the first interactive white boards in 1991. Since that introduction the boards have made the single largest impact on education of this decade. Through the use of a projector and an interactive board, along with innovative software teachers have a new way to engage students. Through the use of interactive board the students can take charge of their own learning with more in class participation. According to Nancy Knowlton, president and CIO of SMART Technologies, the experiences of teachers is the proven reward. "Teachers have shared with us many strategies for using the interactive whiteboard to gain cooperation and attention. Here are two that put the fun into learning while meeting the needs of teachers and students:

• One child or a group of children can be responsible for getting the board up and running, and for shutting it down each day.
• If things are put away properly or everyone pays attention, the day might end with 20 minutes of Jeopardy or Speller, two fun games that can test students' knowledge.

One of my favorite expressions is "A mind is like a parachute. It works best when it is open." Igniting the will to learn in those open minds is the magic that elementary school teachers make every day."

Geometry in the Real World

Core Connections

Geometry is often the most feared math class of every high school student. It is a class in which most students are not able to see its applications for their everyday lives. However, there are many fun and exciting ways to discover geometry in every aspect of the "real world".

The most basic of all geometric concepts, shapes, can be seen from the time you open your eyes and look at a circular clock until we brush our teeth at night in front of a rectangular mirror. More complex three-dimensional shapes can be found even before we leave the house in the morning in a cylinder shaped coffee can and cube shaped tissue box.

Geometric principles are also the foundation for many careers. Architects use geometry as one of their guiding principles. Every time a building is constructed or a room is designed, geometry is used. Engineers also use geometry on a daily basis. It takes geometry to design every machine, bridge, and city. Geometry is in everything we see! The following article explains in depth reasons why teaching geometry is important in your curriculum.

Jazzing It Up in the Classroom

Core Connections

Jazz has been described as the music of the soul. Whether past or present music. Jazz is the only art form created by Americans and is an indelible expresssion of our genius and promise.

In the film JAZZ - A Film By Ken Burns, Ken describes jazz music the following way:

Jazz has offered a precise prism through which so much of American history can be seen - it is a curious and unusually objective witness to the 20th Century. It is the story of two world wars and a devastating Depression - the soundtrack that helped Americans get through the worst of times. Jazz is about sex, the way men and women talk to each other, and negotiate the complicated rituals of courtship; a sophisticated and elegant mating call that has all but disappeared from popular music in recent times. It is about drugs and the terrible cost of addiction and the high price of creativity. It is about the growth and explosion of radio and the soul of great American cities - New Orleans (where the music was born), Chicago, Kansas City and New York (where it grew up). It is about immigration and assimilation and feeling dispossessed and the music that came to the rescue. It is about movement and dance and showing your behind. It's about entertainment - the frequently dismissed but sacred communion between artist and audience. It's about solitude and loneliness and the nearly unbearable burden of consciousness. It's about suffering and celebration - it's hugely about celebration - and tapping your feet.

Ken has used his study of jazz and brought it into the classroom for todays teachers to be able to teach students about this wonderful art form.

http://www.pbs.org/jazz/classroom/

PDA's In The Classroom

Instructional Illuminations

Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) were once viewed only as an organizational tool for busy executives. Today they are becoming a staple in many classrooms. As the prices of PDA"S become more reasonable for classroom use, school systems are seeing them as an alternative for the One Computer Classrooms. The following is just one example of a teacher taking advantage of this evolving technology.

Twice a month, with PDAs in hand, Ruth MacLean's sixth- and seventh-grade Life Sciences classes at the King Middle School hit the streets of Portland, Maine, to conduct valuable pollution research for the community. Using their Palm handhelds, donated through the Palm Education Pioneer Program (PEP), equipped with GPS locators, cameras, and temperature gauges, the children gather real-time water-temperature data from precise locations around the city, where runoff water from the streets is directed into streams.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,15154,00.asp

Black History

Core Connections

The study of Black American History has often been limited to people such as Booker T. Washington, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and other Civil Rights Leaders. However, several Black Americans have contributed to other parts of United States History. This month help your students discover the lives and accomplishments of these other Black Americans along with the more familiar names.

Listening from California to Connecticut

Instructional Illuminations

Project based learning and technology for the classroom is ever changing and growing. Podcasting is a example of an emerging technology, a way to record video or audio and allow it to be accessible over the Internet. A podcast's content can be anything conveyed by an audio or video file: a recorded lecture, a foreign language lesson, a demonstration of biology principles. Instructors can easily create a podcast of daily assignments and lectures from class, and publish it for all of their students. Students can likewise create and publish content and deliver it to their teachers or to other students.

This new type of technology could connect classrooms from Texas to Taiwan. This form of project based learning will allow students to learn about the material and to design a Podcasts at the same time. The steps are as follows:

1. Research the project
2. Design the project
3. Post the project

These steps allow the students to learn hands on in the classroom and share their learning through a new form of technology.

For more information listen to the following podcast.

Check out the article for more information:

Technology for Special Needs Students

Instructional Illuminations

Assistive Technology can provide students with special needs the tools necessary to overcome challenges they face when using technology in the classroom. There are several different types of hardware and software available to help students achieve success when using technology. Some examples of accessibility aides include, but are not limited to, screen readers, talking web browsers, printed text readers, Braille translators, screen magnifiers, special computer keyboards and speech recognition software.

By using these assistive technologies, students with special needs will be able to fully participate in classroom activities involving technology. Speech recognition allows students who are unable to write their thoughts down on paper to communicate through dictation. Screen readers allow students who have sight disabilities to use their auditory skills to navigate through the various windows and menus. Special keyboards allow students to select keys using pointing methods such as a foot operated mouse, head mounted pointing devices, and eye tracking systems.

A computer can be a very interesting and adaptable assistive technology device. With the right software or hardware, students with special needs can effectively communicate with teachers and peers in the classroom.

Instructional Web Pages

Instructional Illuminations

Creating your own Instructional Web Page is a great way to integrate the World Wide Web into your lesson delivery. It also can be an incredible tool for extending your classroom outside of the traditional concept of what a classroom is. By creating instructional web pages you can provide extra learning materials to reinforce or enhance a lesson with real world information. provide up-to-date information for learning.

provide extra help for students when they are away from the classroom.

increase motivation for certain skill development tasks.

focused materials that allow for a more efficient learning environment.

encourage creativity for students and staff.

provide parents with information about what their children are learning and allow for more interaction from parents in their child's education.

Where Do I Start?

PLAN

The very first thing you should do is plan. Develop an outline or some other idea of what you want to deliver via your web page. Do this on paper or a word processor and revise it until you are certain that you have plan that you can handle. Keep it focused and always keep in mind that your time is limited. If you try and do more than you have time for you will end up with outdated materials that won't serve your visitors in an effective manner.

A sample outline might look like this:

Students

Lesson Materials

Homework Help

Exceptional Work

Parents

Current Events

Calendar

Of course yours may look completely different than this depending on your target audience. Basically this outline will determine your file structure and what pages you will have to create and, most importantly, it will act as a guide for the creation of the materials you will provide.

You should also decide where you will house your web pages. The very best place for instructional web pages to be housed is on your school's web server. Providing web space for teachers is neither a daunting task nor expensive so districts should have little trouble in providing the space needed for your web site. If the school will not provide the space you will need to look into places that provide web hosting services.

RESEARCH

Get on the Internet and look around for ideas of what you want to provide. While doing this keep an eye open for useful resources to which you can link. This will save you from having to take the time to design when you can simply link to an effective site.

DESIGN

This can be the hardest part but it doesn't have to be. There are plenty of software programs out there that can make the design process rather easy. Which one do you use? It depends on your budget, your school's existing technology and your knowledge of technology.

Some people prefer to actually write the code themselves. HTML code is rather straightforward and can be learned rather quickly. Writing code also gives you great flexibility and control over the look of your web pages. Writing HTML code can also be time intensive and leave you with a less than aesthetically pleasing layout.

Education World provides a pretty good list of some of the software that is available for the creation of web materials. This is by no means a complete list. BEFORE YOU BUY be sure and check to see if your school already provides software that can be used to create web pages. I will say that you should avoid using word processors or publishing software (used to make flyers and advertisements) for designing web pages if it is at all possible.

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens

Core Connections

Education for citizenship in a constitutional democracy has been a long-standing goal of schools in the United States. To achieve this goal, students must learn their civil rights and responsibilities in a free society. This ERIC Digest discusses (1) the importance of teaching about the responsibilities of citizenship, (2) deficiencies in learning about responsible citizenship, (3) how to improve learning about responsible citizenship at home, (4) how to improve learning about responsible citizenship at school, and (5) where to obtain information and materials about how to teach responsible citizenship.

Technology in the Business Classroom

Instructional Illuminations

Technology can improve student learning not only in the general education classroom, but also in the Business education classroom. Two types of technology that are effective in the classroom are SMART technology and the use of a desktop computer. SMART technology allows you to have interactive lessons which engage the students in a fun and interesting ways. It includes galleries, templates, as well as a notebook feature. Each of these can be incorporated to enhance the quality and effectiveness of daily lessons.

Desktop computers can also be used in the Business classroom to help students acquire skills that will be beneficial in the business world. There are many tools that can be used on the desktop computer including: the Internet, word processing, spreadsheet, database, web editor, email, publishing, and presentation software. One of the many benefits of the Internet is the vast array of products and resources available to educators such as the Intel Innovation in Education website. This website allows teachers to facilitate the development of higher-order thinking skills through its Thinking Tools.

Virtual: Field trips, Museums, and Exhibits

Instructional Illuminations

Open your students to a whole new world. Bring the world to your students when you can not take them to exciting places yourself! This can now be accomplished by traveling virtually. The contents of these tours can be almost endless in all subject areas. These tours can be achieved by a simple search on the Internet. The resources provided below will help you start to search for tours.

Tours from these websites can be used as a resource in lesson plans and classroom activities. When using this type of visual aide in the classroom students who are visual learners can grasp this material easier.

A good example of a website that provides links to topics of all sorts is Virtual Field Trips.

Women in History

Core Connections

Only in the past century have important efforts been made to make sure women's contribution to history have made the text books. As Maya Angelou says, "How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!" Using these resources and lesson plan links, take some time this month to help your students recognize the "she-roes" of American history. Too often the words and lives of women are only background noise in the study of our history. It is important for our youth to know what amazing contributions women like Susan B. Anthony and Jane Addams made to our society.