Thousands of K-12 Educators Will Learn How to Integrate Technology in the Classroom

[John Walker]

Course Announcement:

How to Search the World Wide Web

A common sense approach to finding information on the Net.

Cost:           $15.00
Start Date:     1 May 98
Duration:       3 weeks

URL: http://www.networx.on.ca/~jwalker/csrch1.htm

This is a very popular course and space is limited.



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COUNCIL OF THE GREAT CITY SCHOOLS COLLABORATES WITH MICROSOFT,
COMPAQ AND COMPUTER CURRICULUM CORP. TO OFFER INTEGRATE '98
TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS TO TEACHERS

Special to The CSS Internet News

( this complete message may be forewarded to interested parties )
  

Thousands of K-12 Educators Will Learn How to Integrate Technology
in the Classroom

REDMOND, Wash. - April 7, 1998 - Continuing their commitments to
increase professional development opportunities in technology for
educators, Microsoft Corp., Compaq Computer Corp., Computer
Curriculum Corp. (CCC) and the Council of the Great City Schools
today announced a national teacher-training initiative, Integrate
'98. As part of Integrate '98, nearly 4,000 educators in 25 cities
will participate in free, hands-on workshops to help them discover
how to use technology in classroom activities to enrich learning.

Helping school districts show teachers how to use technology in the
classroom is a key focus for the Council of the Great City Schools,
an organization of the nation's largest urban public school systems,
according to Michael Casserly, executive director.

"Integrate '98 is offering urban educators access to exceptional
tools for making the promise of technology come alive," Casserly
said. "With these outstanding workshops, training materials and
technology books at their fingertips, teachers will be better able to
'integrate' technology into teaching." 

Council of the Great City Schools member districts can sign up for
the free professional development workshops in 25 pilot programs
across the country. The half-day workshops, which begin this month,
will be presented by current and former classroom teachers at
school-district locations and include hands-on lessons in fundamental
computer skills with examples that emphasize real-world classroom
activities. All attendees will receive materials to help them
practice and share new skills with colleagues.

"Great teachers are key to the effective use of technology in the
classroom," said Kathryn Yates, director of Microsoft K-12 programs.
"Microsoft is committed to working with other education technology
leaders to offer teachers the professional development and
information they need to make PCs, great software and the Internet
part of every aspect of the curriculum." 

As the primary sponsors of Integrate '98, Microsoft and Compaq are
providing software and PCs for the hands-on workshops as well as the
educator-instructors and take-away materials.  CCC is sponsoring the
Internet-focused breakout session, providing educator-instructors
for these workshops and helping to design the reference materials.

"Compaq recognizes the challenges teachers face in maximizing the
benefits of technology in their classes. It's important teachers
receive training on how to use these new tools as well as how to
teach with them," " said Don Weatherson, vice president, government
and education, Compaq Computer.

"Integrate '98 is one example of how Compaq is leading the charge in
providing teachers with quality staff development. Through our
collaboration with Microsoft, Computer Curriculum Corp. and the
Council of the Great City Schools, teachers now have a forum to
learn how to incorporate technology in teaching and learning."

Integrate '98 Helps Teachers Develop Technology Strategies for the
Classroom

At the Toledo School District in Ohio, 300 to 400 teachers
participate in the district's quarterly technology workshops, but
educators are always clamoring for more. The Integrate '98 workshops
presented an opportunity for the district to reach even more
teachers.

"We are particularly excited about Integrate '98 because it focuses
on developing strategies to enhance the curriculum, rather than just
how to use the software," said Richard Brunt, executive director of
instructional technology, Toledo School District. "Getting our
teachers to use technology in every aspect of instruction is a high
priority for our school district, and Integrate '98 will help us
achieve that goal."

Integrate '98 Helps Educators Make Internet Connections

When administrators in the El Paso Independent School District in
Texas learned about Integrate '98, they saw a unique opportunity to
expand the district's Internet training for teachers and signed up
to participate. This district is currently upgrading its Internet
access with T1 lines, so teachers need to learn how to use the
Internet in the classroom to reap the educational benefits of these
new connections. One of the Integrate '98 breakout sessions is an
interactive presentation that teaches attendees how to tap into the
unique instructional features of the World Wide Web by allowing them
to practice basic Internet browsing skills and demonstrating
techniques for using Web resources in classroom activities. 

"In addition to overall technology and curriculum software training,
educators need professional development that specifically addresses
the instructional application of the Internet," said Lori McBride,
vice president of new media markets for CCC. "CCC is pleased to be
contributing to the Integrate '98 series in this area and helping
teachers tap into the many unique learning opportunities the Web
offers through online resources, communication, collaboration and
publishing." 

During the pilot program, participation in Integrate '98 is open to
Council of Great City Schools member districts only. For more
information about Integrate '98, send e-mail to
Integrate98 at compaq.com.

About the Sponsors 

The Council of the Great City Schools

The Council of the Great City Schools, an organization of the
nation's largest urban public school systems, represents K-12
education in inner-city schools. The Council serves as the voice for
urban educators and students, and provides a forum for sharing ideas
and resources among urban school leaders. Visit the Council of the
Great City Schools Web site at http://www.cgcs.org/.

Compaq Computer Corp.

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corp., a Fortune Global 200
company, is a worldwide information technology company. Compaq is the
fifth-largest computer company in the world and the largest global
supplier of personal computers. With worldwide sales of $24.6
billion in 1997, Compaq develops and markets hardware, software,
solutions and services, including industry-leading enterprise
computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions,
networking and communications products, commercial desktop and
portable products, and consumer PCs. Compaq is a leading provider of
PCs and servers to the education marketplace, offering a broad suite
of technology solutions and services. For more information about
Compaq's education products, partnerships and programs, please call
(800) 88-TEACH (888-3224) or visit Compaq's Web site at
http://www.compaq.com/education/.

Computer Curriculum Corp.

Computer Curriculum Corp. is a leading provider of educational
software and services to K-12 schools and a unit of Simon &
Schuster. CCC software is installed in more than 16,000 schools and
has been used by more than 10 million students worldwide. The company
provides a comprehensive line of educational software, as well as
interactive projects for students on its award-winning Web site,
CCCnet, at http://www.cccnet.com. CCC is committed to professional
development and to helping teachers integrate technology in the
classroom. Simon & Schuster, the world's largest educational
publisher, is the publishing operation of Viacom Inc.

Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft's participation in Integrate '98 and its overall
commitment to helping teachers use technology to improve teaching and
learning are part of continuing efforts to help create a global
"Connected Learning Community" in which all students and educators
have access to technology and information online to support learning
today and for a lifetime. For more information about Microsoft in
K-12 education, visit http://www.microsoft.com/education/k12/.Founded
in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed
with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to
take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

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Also in this issue:

-  MICROSOFT COLLABORATES WITH COLLEGES AND STATE DEPARTMENTS OF
   EDUCATION TO TEACH EDUCATORS INNOVATIVE WAYS TO USE TECHNOLOGY
   IN THE CLASSROOM
- E-MAIL BEATS TELEPHONE AS TOP MEANS OF WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION
    NEW YORK, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Electronic mail has overtaken the
    telephone as the primary means of business communication, according
    to a survey of more than 400 Human Resources executives attending the
    American Management Association's (AMA) annual Human Resources
    Conference and Exposition here.
- Seeking Surfers to Sail the Seven Seas
    The British navy launched a recruitment drive Tuesday to net surfers
    on the World Wide Web.
- Judge rules domain fee illegal
    update A federal judge today ruled that a government fund with more
    than $50 million collected from domain name registrants is an illegal
    tax because it was never approved by Congress.
- CyberSurvey: Heavy Internet users want AT&T to leave them alone
    People love their Internet.
    With AT&T preparing to charge its users extra for staying online more
    than 150 hours a month, we asked if people actually spend that much
    time online outside of work. More than two-thirds (71 percent) don't,
    but those who do aren't happy about the idea of paying more. Here are
    some responses:
- Education Department announces web-site for learning
    WASHINGTON (AP) - Children, parents and teachers can gain access to 
    historical documents, math problems, paintings and other educational
    materials from federal sources at a single web site, the Education
    Department said Wednesday.
- States lash out to protect residents' privacy on-line
    Bronti Kelly, whose identity was stolen by the man whose picture he
    holds, lost his home when no one would hire him.
- New Alliance to Develop Public Internet Terminals
    [April 9, 1998] KING Products signed an agreement with Canada
    Payphone Corporation of Burnaby, British Columbia, and ATCOM/INFO of
    San Diego, CA to develop new public Internet terminals.
- The Net as a force in politics? Not in Asia
    BERKELEY, Calif. (Wired) - Despite censorship efforts worldwide, the
    Internet has evolved into a conspicuous billboard and forum for
    political and other forms of controversial speech. But what's the net
    impact of all this political posting in the real world?
- New Lists and Journals
    * TeEnZ - for all teens on this world.... :)
    * SARAH - Discussion of actress Sarah M. Gellar
    * Euphorbias - tender Euphorbias houseplants



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