Teacher Feature
Dinosaur Project Uses WebCams at Main Street School

By Dianne Thompson, Technology Coordinator, LSS & MSS

 Exchanging information between students took on a new dimension this spring at Main Street School. Students from Janet Boggess’s kindergarten class and students from Nina Baillargeon’s classes used webcams (Kritter USB digital video cameras purchased from their AT&T grant for $129 each - http://www.irez.com ), iVisit software (a free program available at http://iVisit.com ,  and the school network to teach each other about dinosaurs.

 Second grade students became the “experts” about different kinds of dinosaurs. They used the Internet, software, books, and other resources to learn about the habits and physical characteristics of specific dinosaurs. Then students in the kindergarten classes formulated questions.

 Each day there was an exchange, kindergarten students would line up in two rows facing the new Destination computer that Janet received from an AT&T grant. The child who was asking the questions would sit on a desk just in front of the computer so that they could talk into the microphone. In Nina’s classroom, students were arranged around her iMac with the “expert” sitting at the computer. Janet and Nina arranged the exchanges so that at a certain time they would have both classes available. When the second graders appeared on the screen in the kindergarten room, there was a cheery greeting to each class. Then the questioner asked questions that the second graders answered with facts from PowerPoint presentations and from information they had gathered. It took a lot of coordination, but students in both classes benefited and LOVED the project. NH State Curriculum Frameworks and Standards were met for both grade levels in the areas of language and science.

 Jane McCaffery worked with Nina and Janet to coordinate this project as part of their AT&T grant. You can see it in action on BookTalk the week of June 5. Check out the URL for the BookTalk schedule at: http://www.exeter.k12.nh.us/lss/lssbooktalk.htm

 Here is a list of things we ALL learned from the experience:

• Try it out ahead of time and be sure to check the microphones you are using.

• You need to be sure to check and see what your IP addresses are.

• Check your clocks to make sure they are the same.

• Talk with students about how to ask questions well.

• Talk with your classes before about the experience so they will be ready to be good listeners.

• Macs and PCs work just fine together!!

Highlights from Stratham Memorial School
By Mary Jo Spencer, Technology Coordinator, SMS

How do elementary school students use technology?  Here is a listing of a few of the many new types of activities that have taken place in the computer lab during the 01-02 school year.  Thanks to the SMS staff  for their support of the SMS Technology Program

Kindergarten:  Using a Mouse, Opening Programs, Drawing, Counting and Math Activities, Alphabet Blocks, I Spy, Making Patterns, Dr. Seuss ABC, Sammy's Science House, Baily's Book House, Penny Penguin, and Kid Pix.

Grade 1:  Traveling to Japan with Ozzie, Math Practice, Writing Books, Learning Money Math, Learning about Animals, Drawing, Number Maze, Math Blaster, Carnival Countdown, Money Town, I Spy, Kidworks Deluxe.  Learning about Geometry with Rodeo Annie as well as Venn Diagrams with Carnival Cars.

Grade 2:  Traveling around the World to South America, Africa and Australia, Learning about Bats, Typing Rhyming Words, Rain Forest Posters, Biography Cover Pages, Making Bat Books, Learning Math with Money Town, Math Blaster, Number Maze and Carnival Countdown, Using Kid Pix for drawing. 

Grade 3:  Learning about Animals, the Universe, the Solar System, and Simple Machines, Developing Thinking Skills with the Logical Journey of the Zoombinis, Learning to Type, Using the Children's and Nature Encyclopedias, How Things Work, Drawing with Kid Pix, Traveling to Europe and working with the Europe Map Puzzle game.

Grade 4:  Real World Math in Math Shops Deluxe, Learning Electricity from the Talking Components, Making Circuits, Practicing Keyboarding, Working with Microsoft Word, Investigating the Circulatory and Respiratory Systems, US Geography with Map Puzzles, Using Kid Pix for Earth Science Projects, Learning CyberSafety, Research Projects, Reading Counts, Scholastic Reading Inventory, Using Encyclopedias and The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis.

Grade 5:  Following in the Footsteps of the Explorers, Researching Scientists, American Revolution Slide Shows, Biomes and Ecology, Real World Math with Math Shop Deluxe, Additional Typing practice, Research Projects, Traveling the Oregon Trail, Learning about Weather, Using Kid Pix and Microsoft Word, 3D  Molecules, Matter, and CyberSafety.  Yearbook:  It started out as a simple idea: to have students use the school's scanners and computers to make their yearbook pages.  Our SMS 5th Graders are to be commended on the utterly fantastic job they all did on their individual pages with complex layouts and numerous pictures.  Such creativity and hard work!  Soon we will have them back from the printers!!!

Employee Computer Purchase Plan
By Michelle Colgan, Director of Accounting, SAU 16

 We have had a number of inquiries recently about the Employee Computer Purchase Plan. Exeter School District and The Exeter Region Cooperative have offered this program to all regular employees for several years with great success. Two years ago the program was extended to all SAU 16 employees and a number of people took advantage of the opportunity.  Many of you are not aware of the program. This is a perfect time to fill you all in on what I consider to be a terrific chance to ease on to the Information Super Highway; or for those already cruising along, to make those upgrades you have been dreaming about. It could not be easier; all that we require are that you follow a few bureaucratic rules.

1.   The first step is to go shopping! Do your research and find the system you want.

2.   Ask for a Pro Forma invoice (that is just a list of equipment and prices which looks like a bill but is not an obligation), or proposal with exact pricing.

3.  You must make your purchase between June and August to enable us to process the paperwork for payroll deduction on the first payroll of the School Year.

4.  You may purchase your computer from any retailer (on-line or in town) who will accept a School District purchase order. If your chosen vendor will not accept a P.O., you may pay with a credit card and be reimbursed by the School District on the next regularly scheduled manifest.

5.  Bring your pricing document to the Business Office in the SAU 16 building to Michelle Colgan if you are a Co-op or Exeter employee or Peggy Meyer if you are with any of the other SAU 16 Elementary schools. Calling first is a good idea so that you won’t have to wait.

6.  At the Business Office you will fill out a Purchase Order for your equipment and sign an agreement to allow 22 equal deductions from your paychecks. You will get back a copy of the contract and two copies of the P.O. The signed white copy of that P.O. authorizes your purchase and you can then go pick up your new computer.

7.  Once you have had your computer for a few days and are satisfied that it is in working order, you will send in the yellow “Ok to Pay” copy of the P.O. to the Business Office which authorizes payment.

That is all there is to it, the Payroll Department will automatically pay the invoice and begin deductions on the first school year pay period.

Here is the “fine print”: The equipment will be considered the property of the school District until all payments are made. You must agree to keep the equipment in good repair and to pay any balance due directly to the District if for any reason you employment is terminated. The School District in no way warrantees or guarantees the purchase or subsequent repairs but we will provide documentation of purchase if necessary. The equipment is intended for your personal use and you must agree not to resell or use it for commercial purposes. Other than that, have fun and don’t forget to join us for the workshops being offered to enhance your computer experience.

If you have questions please call Michelle Colgan at 775-8669. 
Reprinted from Summer 2001, SAU 16 TechLetter

No-cost Alternative to Microsoft Office

Do you own a computer that does not have Microsoft Office installed?  You could purchase a discounted copy of Microsoft Office Academic Standard Edition for $159 or the Professional Edition for $199 (http://www.microsoft.com/catalog/display.asp?list=2&subid=22).  However, there is a free alternative to MS Office!  OpenOffice 1.0 is a free software suite which includes a spreadsheet, wordprocessor, presentation program, charting utility, webpage editor, and drawing program.  OpenOffice 1.0 is completely compatible with Microsoft Office applications.  For example, you can open a Word document, edit, save, and continue using the document as a Word document at work.  Also, you could create a PowerPoint presentation in OpenOffice and then play the presentation using PowerPoint. 

You can download OpenOffice 1.0 (approximately 50 MB) from the following website:  http://www.openoffice.org/

Website Spotlight
No Child Left Behind

Educators throughout the State of New Hampshire are asking questions about the recently adopted reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as "No Child Left Behind."  A website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education has a wealth of information on this legislation (click on the "No Child Left Behind" picture to access the website).
Answers to common questions	The Facts FAQs
Department of Education Presentation:  Closing the Achievement Gap in America's Public Schools	Individual pages:  http://www.nochildleftbehind.gov/next/closing/index.html PowerPoint presentation:  http://www.nochildleftbehind.gov/next/closing/closing-the-gap.ppt Adobe Acrobat Reader format:  http://www.nochildleftbehind.gov/next/closing/closing-the-gap.pdf
Implementation dates	Key dates:  http://www.nochildleftbehind.gov/next/key/index.html

Future Technology

Tiqit Computers has developed a new type of computer that merges the convenience of a handheld with the power of a desktop computer.  Called the "eightythree," this computer is as powerful as a laptop and can run all applications such as Micrsoft Word, Excel, and e-mail.  It will also be able to use current and future wireless technology.  The price is projected to be similar to a laptop and may be available in stores by the end of 2002.  To learn more about this amazing technology go to: http://www.tiqit.com/index.html

SAU 16 Website Update
New SAU 16 Domain Name:  www.sau16.org

Have you ever wanted to tell someone how to get to your school's website, but you can't seem to remember the address?  Well, the SAU 16 website now has a new domain name which should remedy this problem.  All schools in SAU 16 can be accessed through the link bar at the top of the SAU 16 website.  So, for example, if you'd like to link to East Kingston Elementary School, just type "www.sau16.org" in your browser's address bar and click on East Kingston when the page loads.   

Professional Development 

There are many new technology  workshops available to SAU 16 staff on our  Summer Professional Development page. 

A number of organizations offer technology training in our area.  To find more information about these opportunities, visit the following link:  Regional and Local Professional Development.