[eMINTS] Weekly Update 5/5/08

Mon May 5 17:28:03 CDT 2008

eMINTS and eMINTS4All Teacher Input Requested: The eMINTS National
Center works continuously to improve the professional development
experiences we provide. One important component of our program is
helping participants develop higher skill levels in the use of various
pieces of software. We are seeking input from current and veteran eMINTS
and eMINTS4All teachers from all states regardless of who your trainer
is/was through an online survey about how software skills are taught in
eMINTS professional development programs. The information collected from
this online survey will be anonymous. It will be used only to improve
our programs and not for any research purposes. The survey will take
about 20 - 25 minutes to complete. It will be open through May 9, 2008.
If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes and provide
your opinions at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=i0_2b1Kr5N7mSrHdus1eN7Zg_3d_3d
Make sure the link does not break when text wraps as it might in some
browsers by copying and pasting the entire URL into your URL address
bar.

Call for Presenters at MOREnet 2008 Conference: MOREnet welcomes
presentation proposals for the 2008 MOREnet Instructional Technology
Conference (MITC). The conference brings together educators interested
in maximizing the opportunities for technology in Missouri schools In
addition to the conference focus on Web 2.0 technology, attendees will
have access to other topics in the areas of technology integration:
SMART Boards, distance learning, administration, leadership and many
more. Presentation proposals are being accepted online through May 16,
2008. Please go to www.more.net/conferences/mitc to complete the online
submission form. Notification of proposal acceptances will be made no
later than June 13, 2008.

Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) Article Authors Needed:
Become a published author. Share your experiences and suggestions with
other Missouri educators through the regular 'technology' column with
focus on educational strategies and technologies for Missouri educators
in K-12 classrooms. You will receive support from eMINTS Communications
specialist as you write and refine your article. If interested, send
email to emints-info at emints.org with your name, district, grade/subject
taught and article you are interested in writing. Articles should be
800-1,000 words in length. MSTA membership is required for author and
required for any teacher named or quoted in article (unaffiliated is
OK).

Topics and deadlines:

1. Fall 2008 Topic: Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers (Deadline to eMINTS -
July 15, 2008)

How to become more interactive in your classroom and work environment.
Beyond blogs, wikis, social networking and Open Office - incorporating
them and more applications (Flickr, Meebo, Slideshare, del.icio.us,
more) to make your class more interactive. 

2. Winter 2008 Topic: Online Student Safety in Web 2.0 Classrooms
(Deadline to eMINTS - Oct. 1, 2008)

What does a Web 2.0-enabled classroom look like/feel like? What does it
mean for AUP, use/misuse of resources and consequences, filtering, 21st
Century literacy and life-long learning skills?

3. Spring 2009 Topic: Green Classrooms: Does Technology Enable or
Prevent Eco-Friendly Classrooms (Deadline to eMINTS - Dec. 15, 2008)

What is the effect of technology use on greening classrooms? What is the
true cost of technology use in classrooms? Does the savings in paper and
text books offset increased energy costs? Can virtual field trips be
taken more effectively? 

4. Summer 2009 Topic: Mashups (Deadline to eMINTS - March 15, 2009)

What are they? Where do you find existing mashups; how can you use them
in the classroom? How can you create your own, without programming -
information from different sources mashed together into a whole new web
application?

New and Updated eThemes for the Week of May 5, 2008

Newest eThemes

Country Life

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002325.shtml 

These sites provide information about life in the country. Learn about
country life in the past and present and compare living in the country
and city. Includes clothing, music, scenic pictures, houses, and more.
There are also links to eThemes resources on Comparing Communities:
Urban, Suburb, and Rural, Farm Animals, Amish People, Life, and Culture,
and Transportation: Covered Wagons.

Literature: "Pirates Past Noon" by Mary Pope Osborne

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002330.shtml 

These sites are about the book "Pirates Past Noon" by Mary Pope Osborne.
There is information about the author's biography, works, and interview
transcripts. Includes book reviews, study guides, lesson plans,
activities, vocabularies, and questions to go along with the book. There
are also links to eThemes resources on pirates and counting money.

Literature: "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002315.shtml 

Here are web resources about the short story "The Fall of the House of
Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe. There are study questions, background
information, an audio recoding of the story, and a quiz. Included is an
eThemes resource about the author.

Updated eThemes

Author Study: Edgar Allan Poe

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001127.shtml

Learn more about American Gothic author Edgar Allan Poe. Includes
full-text versions of his stories and poems, plus information about his
life. There are lesson plans and suggested classroom activities.
Includes an eThemes resource on the short story "The Fall of the House
of Usher."

Calendars

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000190.shtml

These sites are about calendars. Learn about days, weeks, months, and
years. Includes information about ancient calendars from the
Babylonians, Egyptians, Aztecs, and Romans. Convert dates into Roman and
figure Easter Sunday. There are also links to eThemes Resources on
telling time and calendar creators.

Maps: How to Use Them

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000116.shtml

These sites cover various maps skills and vocabulary words related to
using maps. Compare and contrast different maps. Includes links to other
eThemes Resources on maps.

Monica M. Beglau, Ed.D, Director

eMINTS National Center

University of Missouri

103 London Hall

Columbia, MO  65211

573-884-7202

FAX: 573-884-7614

Email: beglaum at emints.org