Union Technologist #44
February 2000
Local 795 member, Judi Wolf, recently retired from an illustrious career in the district, supporting the integration of technology into the curriculum. She is a proponent of collaborative projects and has helped many students and teachers use the Internet to create meaningful learning experiences. Judi was one of the prime movers of the PS21 concept in our elementary schools.
Even though she has left us physically, her desire to help our teachers and students continues in the form of a database of outstanding web links. Judi has compiled what she calls her WOW List of exemplary education sites, emphasizing activities that students can do while on-line.
I guess I would have to say that The Scholastic Network is my favorite website as it has something for everyone, from the youngest student to high school. It is also an invaluable site to be used as a resource for teachers.
I use Kathy Schrock¹s Teacher Page , Education World, or Blue Webn¹ - great for webquests.
For more comprehensive searches, I use Altavista, Metacrawler, Google, Yahoo and Yahooligans. Type in the instructional concept or subject (as specific as possible) and hit on some great background material and/or instructional content information that will help me to design a lesson.
Being retired has some great advantages. I am enjoying the flexibility that I have with time and work places. However, I am really not retired as I am continuing to keep very actively involved in trying to ³spread my passion² about the place for technology in the classrooms of the 21st. century. I have spent my days reading even more than I did while I was employed. I am very concerned at what little progress has been made with regard to school reform and the place of technology in the schools. I see the state wide mandates for testing overriding any energies that could be put on classroom teachers realizing the benefits of technology. Through the time afforded to me as a retiree, I am on a mission to become more involved than ever in ³converting² teachers little by little. I am involved in several projects already, teaching at JCU,
We also were blessed with a new granddaughter, Lexi Shayna Sussman, on January 16th., and we spent the last four days marveling at her and enjoying her 21 month old brother, Noah.
There are currently 50 Professional links in Judi's database, including PBS Teacher Source. There are over 1400 lessons and activities searchable by grade level and subject. Although geared toward supporting specific PBS TV programs, many of the ideas and interactive resources can be used without seeing the programs. Educational Resources (371-7400 or www.chuh.org/video/) owns many PBS programs and will consider purchase of program not currently owned.
There are currently 100 High School links including Exploring Data. This site collects lesson plans, web sites, and the math standards related to statistics and interpreting data. The ideas can be used in almost any subject area to give students experience analyzing data related to the content they are studying. Using a spreadsheet, students can manipulate graphs and try our ³what if² ideas to really improve understanding. Databases can help make patterns more obvious.
There are currently 133 Middle School links including North Carolina Computer Skills Lessons (www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/computer.skills/lssnplns/sstoc.html#ssg6). The Link is to Spreadsheet Computer Skills for 6-8 student in many subject areas but there are lesson plans, activities and other resources for all grade and subject levels.
A trick to finding the main page for a web site area is to remove the words to the preceding backslash. You can remove ³computer.skills/Issnplns/sstoc.html#ssg6" to get the curriculum matrix home page (www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/).
There are currently 171 Intermediate links including National Geographic Map Machine. Type in a place and the map will appear. US and World maps displaying physical, ecological, political, cultural, weather and climate features can be interactively selected with multiple levels of detail. Printable views can be selected.
Three are currently 120 Primary links including Project Primary. It is a collaboration of Ohio Wesleyan science professors and Ohio K-3 teachers to produce hands-on activities for the teaching of science. These activities are appropriate for children in grades K-3, but may be easily adapted to other grade levels.
Judi's WOW List is part of a larger project the district is creating to help integrate technology into the curriculum. There are additional web sites links, and related links to proficiency outcomes and technology standards. Check the main site, www.chuh.org/standards/.