Middle School: MysteryQuest World Geography in Feb. & March

I have dates available now for MysteryQuest World Geography, a project designed for middle school geography students.

This project is designed for middle school students studying world geography. Through video conference technology students are able to meet other students while learning about cities and countries in the world.

Prior to the video conference each classroom will create a presentation wit= h clues about their ONE mystery country and city. The other classrooms, using maps, the Internet, textbooks, and other resources, will try to discover th= e mystery location presented by each participating classrooms.

All the details on the project, flyers and handouts for your teachers, openings, and online registration form are here:
http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/MysteryQuest/

Spots disappear quickly, so sign up online right away!

Janine Lim
Instructional Technology Consultant
jlim@remc11.k12.mi.us
Ph: (269) 471-7725x101
Fax: (269) 471-1221
Berrien County ISD
Berrien Springs, MI 49103
Web: http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl
Blog: http://bcisdvcs.wordpress.com/

TWICE Board Member
ASK Coordinator 2007-2008 http://www.twice.cc/
RAP Verification Coordinator 2008 http://www.twice.cc/read/
TWICE Collaborations Around the Planet http://projects.twice.cc/
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Grade 3-6: Polycom Special Event Partnerships: Sue Stauffacher, Nothing But Trouble

Polycom is offering a Special Event with author Sue Stauffacher and her book Nothing But Trouble, the story of Althea Gibson. There are 3 slots open in the 12:00 EST session and 1 slot in the 1:30 EST session.

Go to the web site below, scroll down to Special Events and click there to register.
http://www.polycom.com/usa/en/solutions/industry_solutions/education/programs_resources/programs_resources.html

March 12, 12:00-1:00 EST (Group 1)
March 12, 1:30-2:30 EST (Group 2)

ASK (“Authors Specialist and Knowledge”) is an organized process that provides students with the opportunity to interview an author or a subject specialist in the topic they are reading about in a novel. The program uses excellent literature, journal writing and interviewing to promote reading for understanding.

Required Book: Nothing But Trouble

Register by completing the online form. Please make sure you can commit to the work necessary to prepare for this program before registering your class. Questions? Email sporter4@comcast.net.

ASK Information

• What is ASK?


• Step-by-Step Process for Teachers


• Making Your ASK Connection a Success


• To request a free 15 min. video about the ASK process, email Jim Wenzloff at jwenzloff@misd.net.


• Or view online. QuickTime 30M. QuickTime 50M. (If this doesn't play, right click and choose Save Target As..., save the file to your desktop and play it from there.)


• Books: You are responsible for acquiring copies of the book(s) for your students

Sue Porter
CAPspace Coordinator
RAP Coordinator
Polycom Special Events Coordinator
Email: sporter4@comcast.net
Email: sue@twice.cc
Phone: 616.874.6599

Grade K-8: African American Read-In

Exploring the wonderful world of children’s literature with African American authors and readers!

The 2007 African American Read-In will be held on Monday, February 4th. The event begins at 10:00AM EST and concludes at 3:00PM EST.

Cambria Area Reading Council, Alpha Beta Beta Chapter, Kappa Delta Pi, & Saint Francis University/CERMUSA invite any and all schools and institutions to participate in this year's event. The Read-In is endorsed by the National Council of Teachers of English, the International Reading Association, and happy readers from 49 states and many countries around the world!Press Coverage...
The conference was covered by this and other media outlets (Click to see
coverage):
WTAJ, Altoona, PA
The Johnstown
Tribune-Democrat

The entire Holiday Traditions program was captured and is availiable
over Internet streaming. To view the stream, please follow the instructions
below. Viewing the stream requires a broadband connection to the Internet.

1. Go to http://commonsvcg.oar.net/MAGPI
(Note: you must use Internet Explorer and temporarily turn off any pop-up
blockers).

2. You will be presented with a list of archived conferences. Click on
"SFU Holiday Traditions" (it may be on the second page of the
results screen).
3. Click on "Video: 384 kbps" to view the stream in either
Windows Media Player or Quicktime.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to download the neccessary video
codec and view the stream.
5. You will need to fast-forward to the 55-minute mark in the program
to get to the actual start of the video.

If you have difficulties connecting to the stream, please see the information
in MAGPI's
Streaming Policy.-->Our registration page is now availiable
and students or teachers interested in presenting are encouraged to complete
a registration. The registration deadline for presenters is November
20th, 2006. A full program will be published on this site as
the date approaches.

In the meantime, you can check out our 2005
program and view some of the great presentations we had last year!

For more information, please contact
Dana M. Friedman
Technology Coordinator
Saint Francis University
PO Box 600
117 Evergreen Drive
Loretto, PA 15940
Phone: 814-472-3389
Fax: 814-472-3377
Email:dfriedman@cermusa.francis.edu
http:\\www.cermusa.francis.edu

Grades 6-12 Civil Rights and the Philadelphia Connection

INSIDE THE STRUGGLE: CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE PHILADELPHIA CONNECTION

January 22, 2008 ; 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. (Grades 6-8)

January 22, 2008; 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. (Grades 9-12)

Requirements for Participation: There are 10 spots available in each videoconference program for schools with connectivity to Internet2 and H.323 videoconferencing capabilities. Description:
The African American Museum of Philadelphia and MAGPI present INSIDE THE STRUGGLE: Civil Rights and the Philadelphia Connection. Navigating the Jack T. Franklin Photographic Collection along side Dr. Martin Luther King, students will examine African American cultural, political and economic history in Philadelphia.

By combining the assets of the museum’s civil rights photographs of the Jack T. Franklin Collection, schools have access to not only photography movements unique to the African American community, but also extraordinary events that unite and bond individuals into a cohesive whole. In addition, it allows access to object-based teaching strategies connected to middle school and high school curricula to enhance the achievement and success of middle and high school students, demonstrating the power of the object to: 1) deepen the learners’ understanding of subjects, themes, and ideas across disciplines, 2) engage inter-generational learners through personal narrative, and 3) foster connections between the museum and schools.

These outcomes should enhance the performance of the students participating in this distance-learning program, while deepening their level of engagement in learning by adding value to their in-school experience. Through examination of the griot tradition (storytelling) and concept, it creates a connection with the Jack T. Franklin Collection to the Social Studies curriculum because photographers are visual storytellers. They exemplify our place in society, documenting our dreams and preserving powerful memories.

Students will have an opportunity to interact with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (portrayed by living history actor Gary Giles) as part of this engaging, and exciting, videoconference event.
More information/Registration: http://www.magpi.net/programs/civilrights.html


* * * * * * *
Heather Weisse
Applications Coordinator
MAGPI
3401 Walnut Street, Suite 233A
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6228
Email: hweisse@magpi.net
Phone: 215-573-6417

Grades: 9-12 Youth and Violence: A Global Perspective

MAGPI is working with the Multicultural Youth Exchange on a program entitled, Youth and Violence: A Global Perspective. Our hope is to engage young adults (high school age and college age) in a dialogue about risk factors and symptoms of youth violence, and then talk about student-driven solutions through student-created anti-violence media. Students engaged in this workshop will talk with one another during multi-site videoconferences led by MYX facilitators and will then create their own anti-violence digital media projects to share with one another. A videoconference with documentary filmmakers will compliment the student project phase of this three-month endeavor, which concludes with a student digital media virtual festival.

We’re currently looking for national and international partners for this project and would like to cordially invite you and your students to participate. More information about the program can be found below and at: http://www.magpi.net/programs/youthviolence.html. All videoconferences will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. EST. If you are interested in this program, please register through the website.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Best,

Heather

* * * *
Youth and Violence: A Global Perspective

Youth and Violence Discussion (Videoconference)

Friday, February 29, 2008

8:30 a.m. ET - 10:00 a.m. ET

Exploring Digital Film Making (Videoconference)

Friday, April 4, 2008

8:30 a.m. ET - 10:00 a.m. ET

Youth Violence Awareness Digital Projects

April 4, 2008 – May 8, 2008

Digital Project Virtual Festival (Videoconference)

Friday, May 9, 2008 8:30 a.m. ET - 10:00 a.m. ET

Target Grade Levels: 9-12
Requirements for Participation:
o US Participants (3 spots): Must have H.323 videoconferencing capabilities and be on the MAGPI network.
o International Participants (3 spots): Must have H.323 videoconferencing capabilities and be connected to their National Research and Education Network
This workshop will culimate in the creation of original youth violence awareness commercials. Therefore students must have access to a digital camera or digital video camera and PowerPoint, iMovie, or other video software.

Description:
Youth violence is a social problem that effects many different countries and cultures around the world. The root causes of youth violence, such as poverty, domestic and sexual abuse, war and other contributing factors like drug use and predjudicial beliefs vary from country to country. However, the resulting symptoms of youth violence are universal - feelings of alienation, frustration, and hopelessness are experienced to some extent by both youth offenders and victims regardless of race, gender, religion, nationality or sexual orientation.
This workshop will identify the risk factors and symptoms of youth violence and then explore, in more depth, various forms that youth violence takes worldwide. Workshop participants will examine how these events effect all young people and ways to break the cycle of violence.
Students and teachers will work together to create a Youth Violence Awareness ad, using various modes of technology. Each classroom will compile original photography and/or video, art, and text to produce a 2-5 minute video or automated Powerpoint commercial, driven by an original message of tolerance and youth violence awareness. The completed student commericals will be featured in a virtual "film festival" and "broadcasted" online to share with an international audience.

Teacher's will be able to download a Teacher's Guide that will provide them with pre- and post-videoconference lesson plans. All preparation activities listed in the guide are required in order for students to take part in this project.

This project is made possible through partnership with MYX: Multicultural Youth Exchange.
More Information/Registration: http://www.magpi.net/programs/youthviolence.html


* * * * * * *
Heather Weisse
Applications Coordinator
MAGPI
3401 Walnut Street, Suite 233A
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6228
Email: hweisse@magpi.net
Phone: 215-573-6417

www.magpi.net

Megaconference Jr. 2008

General and Interactives Registration Open for Megaconference Jr. 2008

Don't miss this exciting opportunity on February 21, 2008 from 7am EST to 7pm EST (UTC -5) to interact with schools from around the world. The schedule of presentations is now posted. Join over hundreds of sites from countries all around the world including Portugal, Australia, Canada, Japan, Malta, Great Britain, Slovenia, the US and more in the upcoming Megaconference Jr. 2008!

You'll also have a chance to win exciting prizes from our vendor sponsors so far - Royal Botanical Gardens, Center for Puppetry Arts, Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration, COSI Columbus, Cranbrook Institute of Science, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Institute of Music, Vu Ports, and Tandberg. Keep checking the prizes page for the most up to date list of new sponsors and prizes.

Join us from sun up to sun down all around the world for this special 5 Year Anniversary Annual Megaconference Jr. global event
General and Interactives Registration open now at: http://www.megaconferencejr.org//

Please go to: http://www.megaconferencejr.org/ and review the posted schedule and presentations prior to completing your registration. Again this year you have the ability to interact live with one of the scheduled presentations. Once you have read the schedule and know which session you would like to interact with, go to the "register" link and complete the form. You will be asked to make your selection towards the end of the registration form. When you have completed all fields click the "Submit" button. You should then receive an email confirmation. NOTE: If you already registered and would like to sign up to be an ineractive for another presentation (or if you are presenting and would like to update your title or abstract) you can do so by using the email and password you used to register originally to log back in and select your interactive session (or update your presentation information). Don't forget to click "submit" when done.

The interactive registrations with presenters are on a first come first serve basis. Once we have three for each presentation, interactive registration will be closed.

Deadline for Interactive Registrations: Jan. 18, 2008
Deadline for General Registrations: Feb. 1, 2008

Contact Jennifer Oxenford - 215.898.0341 - jmacdoug@magpi.net

Grade 5: The Great Race

The Great Race
5th Grade Project

Goal: Student will race from Historic Jamestown, VA to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA in shortest amount of time, spending the least amount of money and traveling through the most states.

Objectives:
Students will learn about various infrastructures (Bridges, Roads, Railroads & Waterways) and geographical locations
Students will learn to budget and calculate money
Students will measure distance and time
Students will track weather
Students will discover famous landmarks, artifacts, historical facts and locations

Disciplines: Social Studies, Science, Math and Language Arts

Videoconferencing: There will be three videoconferences. The first will be a kick off to the race. Second, will be to see where the teams are in their travels and the final connection students will share their logs and details of there trip.

Program Description: Your students can work as one large team or you can break them down into a couple of teams. Each team will have a name. They can make their trip by land and water but they are not allowed to fly. They will be given handouts to track the infrastructures by which they travel. They will also be given handouts for budget expenses, distance, time, weather and for landmarks and historical sites. Each handout will describe what they need to track or journal. For example, on their “Time” journal they will have to include the time zone. Students will also be asked to identify supplies needed for the trip.

Website: Students will be able to post and blog information about their travels.

Please visit the website from last year's race at
http://pd.ncoesc.org/greatrace/

Deadline to sign up is Monday, February 4th.
Thank you
Katrina

Katrina Moore M.Ed.
Columbiana County ESC
Distance Learning Consultant
216.346.2651