Director's Message
You know the end of the school year is on the horizon once spring break is past and required standardized testing has been completed. It's a wonderful time to reflect on successes and consider new technologies to try before the school year is over. With this issue of the Circuit, we hope to stimulate your thinking with a wide range of ideas. Perhaps we will plant some seeds that you would like to cultivate in your classrooms.
Our lead article, "Building 21st Century Collaborative Learning Environments" by Jeff Cooper, opens up a world of tools, resources, and opportunities. During his years as a high school teacher and education technology specialist, Jeff has used technology to facilitate successful collaboration. He offers practical ideas, resources, and applications that you can put into practice immediately. Mary Odenbach, who teaches at a small high school in Wyoming, shows how she used technology to support standards-based instruction and how technology used by her students created a "Body of Evidence" to reveal a clear picture of their knowledge and skills. In "Technology Supporting Standards-Based Instruction", Mary candidly describes the evolution of her process and the work of her students.
These two articles offer indepth approaches to effective technology integration. Where do you find these types of applications and how do you know if they are good? Judi Mathis Johnson, a national expert on software evaluation, guides you to outstanding sites and resources on software and online evaluation and offers a basic primer in "Evaluating Technology Tools for Your Classroom."
"What's New at NETC" announces the return of the Indian Reading Series: Stories and Legends of the Northwest. Developed during the 1970s, this is a collection of 140 culturally relevant stories written and illustrated by Native American artists for grades one through six. Out of print for many years, the series is now available electronically. Digitized by NETC and the Region X Comprehensive Center, the stories and teachers' materials are available for download, free of charge.
NETC has developed new resources related to distance education such as a new policy document on videoconferencing, Access and Opportunity: Policy Options for Interactive Video in K-12 Education. Get updates on these and other NETC products and services.
As needs for new resources and services arise, I encourage you to let us know how we can help you. Visit our Web site, http://www.netc.org; if you have questions about technology integration or would like to share how you use technology to support your work, please contact us at netc@nwrel.org or call 1.800.547.6339 x658. We look forward to hearing from you.
Seymour Hanfling, NETC Director
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