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Mrs. Alphabet - Welcome to Ken Leebow Author of 300 Incredible Things for Kids On the Internet! Thank you for joining Teachers.net tonight!
KenLeebow - Thank you for having me aboard. Hope I can assist with some Net questions.
Mrs. Alphabet - Ken, why did you write a kid's (Internet) book?
KenLeebow - After writing my first book -- 300 Incredidible Things to Do on the Internet, many people asked me to write a Kids version.
Mrs. Alphabet - What criteria do you use to include a site as "Incredible?"
KenLeebow - Since I have two kids 13 and 16, I jumped at the the opportunity.
KenLeebow - Well, the sites have to be either unique in some manner, fun or very informative.
Mrs. Alphabet - Can you provide a couple of Increible sites?
KenLeebow - For example: http://www.refdesk.com This site could keep you surfing to quality sites for a week! BTW, the site owner of this one is Bob Drudge.
KenLeebow - Father of the now famous -- Matt Drudge.
KenLeebow - Here's a few interesting ones:
KenLeebow - http://www.libraryspot.com
KenLeebow - http://www.eblast.com
KenLeebow - Ane perhaps my favorite and most engaging:
KenLeebow - http://www.ajkids.com Ask Jeeves
Mrs. Alphabet - Thank you Ken we can all go surfing later!
Mrs. Alphabet - Please tell us about your newest fund raising projects with the schools?
KenLeebow - Many schools are raising funds for computer and the Internet. We have recently started a program called: "Give a Kid the World"
KenLeebow - This allows schools the ability to use our book for fundraising purposes.
Mrs. Alphabet - Ken, what criteria do you use to pick these Incredible sites?
KenLeebow - The sites are picked based on usefulness for school projects, ones that are fun, unique and informative.
Sylvia/CA - How do you find these sites? Where do you search?
KenLeebow - I receive newsletters, visit many good sites that refer me to other sites. It does require much research once you get to a site to see if it is truly functional and "incredible"
KenLeebow - Yahoo has a weekly mailing, Net Happenings sends out many mailings each day -- it is excellent, but you must go through a lot of verbage to find great stuff. Of course, there are others.
Chris/MD - How does your fund raiser work?
KenLeebow - Our books sell for 7.95 and we offer schools and other organizations a 60% discount on the books.
Ben - PLease provide a list of newletters that you find useful in your search of the WEB!
KenLeebow - This is Yahoo's address for the newsletter -- http://www.yahoo.com/picks/
KenLeebow - Net Happenings -- http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/scout/net-hap/
Mrs. Alphabet - Ken, what books are you working on now?
KenLeebow - I have been contracted by America Online to rewrite my first book to make it work better for its customer base.
KenLeebow - I am also writing a Travel book, Golf book and am constantly updating the three books that I have already written. Each printing requires updated material.
Ben - What grade level or age group do think your book is aimed at?
KenLeebow - The book is geared for ages 10 - 18 and of course parents and teachers. I think at the Amazon site it states much younger ages.
Mrs. Alphabet - Do you have a rating scale for sites?
KenLeebow - I have stayed away from rating sites because it is my feeling that if they are in the book they are all A rated.
Sylvia/CA - Is this book written in Kid-friendly language?... or is it written for adults to share with kids?
KenLeebow - It is written for the Kids. I do start the book out with a chapter for parents, but it is for the kids. It also has cartoons by Randy Glasbergen. He has a major site on the Net. http://www.glasbergen.com
Mrs. Alphabet - How do you keep your book current?
KenLeebow - I have a Web browser that searches the sites to see if they are still active. And each printing, about once per month I add new sites to the book.
Mrs. Alphabet - Ken, how long have you been surfing the net?
KenLeebow - I've been surfing for about three years. I started with a weekly newsletter and that led to the writing of these books.
Mrs. Alphabet - Has there been an increase in children's sites?
KenLeebow - I think so. However, even though there are millions of sites out here, most are not worth visiting.
Mrs. Alphabet - Did you ever think of writing a book of Incredible sites for Teachers?
KenLeebow - I have been asked to do that. I would like to do it. It would be a major undertaking since there would have to be a different book for each grade level.
Mrs. Alphabet - What standards do you use to decide if a site is Incredible?
KenLeebow - The standards I use are: 1> The site must be very informative 2> Fun 3> or contains unique information
Ben/ON - I'm a Canadian Teacher! What specific areas, educationally and other, does your book cover that would interest students in the Age 11-12 area!?
KenLeebow - We have chapters for Geography, History, Language, research and more. It really covers all areas because many of the sites are resource sites.
Mrs. Alphabet - Ken, can you list a few of your favorites?
KenLeebow - My favorite search engine is http://www.askjeeves.com (there is a kids version too). It is fun and usually identifies some great information.
Mrs. Alphabet - Have there been any problems assuring that the book is "kid safe?"
KenLeebow - Yep. I'm learning too. We have a section for Fun and Games. I made the mistake of including a joke site that later turned out to be a little risque. We recalled and stickered 30,000 books.
Ben/ON - What reability level is your book geared to! I must admit to some ignorance here though I'm intrigued by what you've stated!
KenLeebow - Since I only know how to write in simple terms, the book's readibility is at a sixth grade level. All my books are written with a "sense of humor" and meant to be fun.
Mrs. Alphabet - Ken, what is your newsletter about?
KenLeebow - The newsletter is sites on the Internet and other Internet happenings. We encourage buyers of the book to subscribe, so we can give them updates to the sites.
Mrs. Alphabet - How do we sign up for your newsletter?
KenLeebow - Anyone can sign up by sending and e-mail to: Newsletter@MindSpring.com.
Mrs. Alphabet - Ken, tell us more about yourself on a personal level?
KenLeebow - I've been in the computer business for 20 years. I wrote my first book about two years ago and have self-published the book. It has been a great learning experience.
Mrs. Alphabet - As teachers how can we get our principal to use your fundraising idea?
KenLeebow - I think they have to have the desire to raise funds in this manner. We have had great response to it, however, I have seen resistance as well. Anyone can contact us at 800-909-6505 for additional information about the project.
Mrs. Alphabet - Thank you Ken for answering all our questions and good luck with all your new projects.
KenLeebow - Thank you and if anyone has any additional questions, feel free to e-mail me at Leebow@News-letter.com
Ben/ON - Ken, a comment may be appropriate! Ken thank you you for being a guest here! It's like jumping inot the lion's den and fighting like blazes! You've intrigued me and I think your book would be an excellent resource in my computer center for the kids to use as a reference and a resource tool in their desire to learn more about the net! You've sold me on its value!
KenLeebow - Ben, if you get it, I would be pleased to get your feedback.
Mrs. Alphabet - Thank you again, Ken from all of us at Teachers.net.
KenLeebow - My pleasure. Good evening!
SysAdmin - Thanks Ken! Best of luck with sales of your neat books! :o)
