June 5 - Teachers.Net Tip of the Day:
The Teachers.Net Tech Center
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For the fifth Day of Teachers.Net, we present the Teacher Tech Center, a collection of specialized teacher chatboards designed to help teachers effectively implement technology into their curriculum.
In 1996, Teachers.Net was founded by San Diego teacher Tony Bott, who watched with excitement and some trepidation as the Internet and other powerful technologies emerged and challenged teachers to adapt and advance. Growing at an incredible rate, the Internet and the brand new World Wide Web offered teachers a almost incomprehensible storehouse of information, and confusing tools, systems, and software.
How could teachers effectively navigate the information systems developing on the Internet, and safely and effectively harness web technologies for communicating with students and parents, and as an educational tool?
Birth of a Notion
Tony had a brilliant idea - he'd jump headfirst into the blinding light of emerging technology, and create a "website" which helped teachers everywhere work together to tackle emerging technologies. In March, 1996 Teachers.Net was born!
Tony's website was minuscule by today's standards, but for 1996 it was a giant in its field. Tony's humble start included just a single teacher chatboard, where teachers could discuss building classroom webpages, and such daunting 1996 problems such as using email. Almost immediately, teachers began spreading the news by word of mouth, about this web community where teachers could find help with the Internet and technology. Within months, Tony's website was delivering tens of thousands of views monthly, then hundreds of thousands - and then, millions. Clearly, teachers were eager for tools to help them master Internet technologies for use in their classrooms.
Teachers.Net's Mission, into the 21st Century
Over a decade later, Teachers.Net now offers almost 200 diverse forums, where teachers can share ideas and answers about challenges they face day to day. But we never forgot our mission or our humble roots, and today the Teachers.Net Tech Center offers seven focused chatboards designed to help teachers optimize the challenges and promise of technology.
The Seven Chatboards of the Teachers.Net Tech Center
Computer Teachers
The Computer Teacher Chatboard is an active forum designed to connect teachers who teach the subject of computers and computer technology.
Internet Security and Safety
The Internet Security and Safety Chatboard helps teachers work together to effectively harness the promise of the Internet for their students, while avoiding the perils that await unsuspecting educators. Topics commonly discussed include web filtering for the class and campus, server security, protecting student terminals from accidental or intentional student "modifications," and all issues related to safe use of Internet and educational software. Tech administrators are encouraged to bookmark this resource, to participate fully, and help allow classrooms everywhere to safely and effectively tap into the promise of technology.
Web Authors
One of our oldest tools, the Web Authors Chatboard (formerly "Webtalk") is a web community designed to help teachers build websites for their school or classroom, and for other educational purposes.
Computer Whiteboards
Our newest offering in the Tech Center is the Computer Whiteboard Chatboard. This forum covers use of "Smartboards" and other computer whiteboards and related presentational software and hardware.
Apple/Mac Classroom
Teachers.Net was originally built exclusively on Apple computers, and we recognize the tremendous impact Apple technology has had in the classroom over the decades since the Apple first emerged as the educator's choice for the classroom computer. This chatboard offers teachers a place to exchange ideas and discuss ways to use the Apple technologies to empower their curriculum.
Educational Software
This forum lets teachers discuss the mountains of software programs and systems designed for educating students. From the simplest of calculators and web demonstrations, to most ambitious of pedagogical systems, the Educational Software Chatboard is your one place to discuss any and everything related to educational software.
Library/Media Specialists
One of the most active and vital communities on Teachers.Net, the Librarians/Media Specialists Chatboard connects specialists in the Media Arts around the planet. At the forefront of the technological revolution, the members of this community zealously push the envelope, and foster the spirit of growth through innovation.
So there it is, in a nutshell - the Teachers.Net Tech Center embodies the core mission of Teachers.Net, to help teachers tame the daunting challenges of the Internet, and achieve excellence through technology. Please join us on these chatboard communities, and help Teachers.Net in our mission, and help empower teachers to touch the future, with the greatest efficiency and confidence!
Bob Reap
Site Developer
Teachers.Net
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