If you are a K-12 teacher in the United States, you are invited to participate in a study titled “Teacher Perception of Technology Integration in the Workplace: A National Study.” If you teach in a teacher education program, please feel free to forward this invitation to any graduates that you think might be interested in participating in this study. If you already filled out the survey, thanks for your assistance and please dismiss this message.
Purpose of the Study: The purpose of the study is to investigate teachers’ perceptions of technology integration in the workplace as it relates to their self-confidence in computer use, their preparation in formal and informal technology courses in teacher education programs from which they have graduated, and administrative and technical support in their workplace.
Benefits: The findings could be used by teacher educators to revise technology courses and by K-12 school administrators to reconsider necessary support of technology integration for teachers’ practices. The benefits to you in participating in the study are receiving a copy of a summary of the study results.
Procedures to be Followed: You as a teacher are invited to participate in the study by completing a web-based survey. You will also be asked about your willingness to participate in a possible telephone interview. You do not have to agree to being interviewed in order to complete the survey.
If interviewed, you will be asked more detailed questions about your opinion on the type of experiences you had regarding technology integration during your teacher preparation program, whether you feel that you were adequately prepared, how you have used technology in your classroom, and your perception of the administrative and technical support that you have at your school.
Duration: The survey will take approximately 20 minutes of your time. The interview, if conducted, will take approximately 30 minutes.
Risks: There are no risks in participating in this study beyond those experienced in everyday life.
Compensation: There is no compensation for participating in this study.
Voluntary Participation/Alternative: Your participation in this project is voluntary. You have the right to withdraw at any time. You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to answer. The alternative is not to participate.
Statement of Confidentiality: Your responses will be confidential to ensure that they cannot be linked to you personally. Any personal information you provide that is linked to your name will be held in strict confidence when the data are presented in a written report.
Right to Ask Questions: If you have any questions, now or later, you may contact us at the numbers below. If you have any questions about your rights as a human subject, please contact the University of South Dakota Institutional Review Board at 605-677-6184.
Please assist us in our research and complete the survey by going to [link removed].
Thank you for considering participation in our survey.
Tzu-Yi Hsu Co-Project Director Technology for Education & Training University of South Dakota Phone: 605-677-8889 Email: [email removed]
Susan Santo Co-Project Director Technology for Education & Training University of South Dakota Phone: 605-677-5489 Email: [email removed]
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: Congress in the Classroom® 2005
DEADLINE: March 15, 2005
Congress in the Classroom® is a national, award-winning education program now in its 13th year. Sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center, the workshop is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about Congress.
Congress in the Classroom® is designed for high school teachers who teach U.S. history, government, civics, political science, or social studies. Forty teachers from throughout the country will be selected in 2005 to take part in the program.
You will gain experience with The Center's educational Web site, CongressLink - [link removed].
Throughout the program you will work with national experts as well as colleagues from across the nation. This combination of firsthand knowledge and peer-to-peer interaction will give you new ideas, materials, and a professionally enriching experience.
In sum, the workshop consists of two types of sessions: those that focus on recent research and scholarship about Congress (and don't always have an immediate application in the classroom) and those geared to specific ways to teach students about Congress.
The 2005 program theme will be "Our New Congress -- the 109th." Confirmed session titles are:
* A View from Capitol Hill * The Importance of Teaching Democracy Appreciation * George W. Bush's Second Term: What's in Store for Congress? * Congress Has a Humorous Side * How Congress Members Decide (Hint: It Looks Like a Game of Billiards) * Teaching Congress Through Visuals * The Struggle to Reform Congress and Its Consequences * The Civil Rights Act of 1964: Using Document Analysis to Tell the Story * How to Get Your Point Across to Congress Members * The Dirksen Center Web Suite as a Resource for Teachers * Congressional Insight: A Computer Simulation of a Member's First Term in the House of Representatives, and more.
The workshop will take place from Monday, July 25 through July 28, 2005, at the Radisson Hotel in Peoria, Illinois. Teachers who are selected for the program will be responsible for (1) a non-refundable $135 registration fee (required to confirm acceptance after notice of selection) and (2) transportation to and from Peoria, Illinois. Many school districts will pay all or a portion of these costs.
The Center pays for three nights lodging at the headquarters hotel (providing a single room for each participant), workshop materials, local transportation, all but three meals, and presenter honoraria and expenses. The Center spends between $25,000 and $30,000 to host the program each year
Those teachers who are not selected for the program will have an opportunity to register for the Web-based Congress in the Classroom course.
The deadline for applications is March 15, 2005. Enrollment is competitive and limited to forty. Selection will be determined by The Center. Individuals will be notified of their acceptance status by April 1, 2005.
Take a look at The Dirksen Center Web site- [link removed].
If you are interested in registering for the Congress in the Classroom® 2005 workshop, you can complete an online registration form found at: [link removed].
Learn About One of the Best-Kept Secrets of American History: The I&M Canal
Five-day teacher workshops exploring the themes of immigration, transportation, western expansion and city building through study of the U.S. Canal Era, using the Illinois & Michigan Canal as a case study for the canal experience. Made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the workshops are for K-12 teachers across the U.S.
Workshop highlights include • $500 stipend for each participant • Discounted graduate credit available • Presentations by noted canal historians, scholars and authors • Field visits to sites throughout the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor • Access to I&M Canal Archives at Lewis University Library • A wealth of resources, including unpublished primary source documents • Development of a curriculum project for classroom use
The workshops will be held at the Gaylord Building Historic Site, 25 miles from downtown Chicago and on the I&M Canal.
Choose from one of three sessions: June 27-July 1, July 12- 16 or July 25-29, 2005.
Application deadline: March 15, 2005. Go to [link removed].
Sponsored by Canal Corridor Association and Lewis University. Made possible by a grant through the Landmarks of American History program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
A group of dedicated teachers and school administrators from Europe and across North America come together to form a volunteer team to deliver the seminar. We are looking for others to join with us and help. In particular, we need specialists in French Language Arts, Writing, Math, Social Studies (all levels), conflict resolution, and kindergarten.
Proyecto Campanario Campanario, begun in 1990, is a conservation initiative in the Osa Peninsula dedicated to protecting what remains of the lowland tropical rain forests of the region. Campanario is actively involved in sustainable development efforts in the region and offers environmental education workshops, courses, and vacations to national and international students of all ages. Campanario will be overseeing the natural history and research component of the course. Please view the Campanario web site at: [link removed]
PROJECT CAMPANARIO focuses on conservation and community activities conducive to and promoting sustainable living and development. The founders of PROJECT CAMPANARIO know that the Osa Península's natural endowment is unique and worth conserving for present and future generations.
Proyecto Campanario's second mission is to promote environmental education to all who spend time at Campanario, both local and international visitors. Campanario offers 4 basic programs to accommodate different age levels, interests, and different lengths of stay. Please select the program best suited for you:
Ecological Tourism Expeditions for the adult or family group. Rainforest Conservation Camps for families and/or middle and high school students. Tropical Ecology Student Courses for university, high school, and middle school students. Tropical Ecology Teachers' Programs.
RAINFOREST CONSERVATION CAMP The Ultimate Field Trip for Teachers
New schedule for 2005: 19/June - 24/June 26/June - 1/July 7/August - 12/August 14/August - 19/August
Contact Us As Soon As Possible.
What Rainforest Conservation Camp is all about. . .
You will have a week of adventure exploring the tropical forests: highland páramo, mangrove, and lowland primary, secondary, and successional rainforests. You’ll also be visiting nearby protected areas, recording observations, exploring tide pools, participating in lectures and discussions, performing your own investigation, and learning about the pressures affecting this area. There will be time for swimming, snorkeling, and just relaxing. You can expect to be challenged in your treks through the rainforest, to get wet, dirty, and tired, to experience a corner of the world few people know, and to have a great time.
Where You’ll Stay. . .
The Campanario field station is rustic, but comfortable, with all the basic necessities: large kitchen & dining hall, screened-in bunkrooms, tiled bathrooms, clothes washing sinks, library, study / lab tables, and a large front porch looking out to the beach. Solar panels provide a bit of lighting in the evenings. Trails start at the front door and the secluded beach is just a stone’s throw away.
How You’ll Get There. . .
Getting to Campanario is an adventure in itself. You’ll travel by chartered bus south from San José, visiting various life zones, winding through banana and oil palm plantations to the river village of Sierpe. There you board a boat to travel down the Sierpe River, spending some time in the dense mangrove forest before heading out to the ocean at high tide and down the coast to Campanario. Once in the Campanario cove, everyone hops out into the warm water to carry the cargo to the field station
HABITATS AND CULTURE OF COSTA RICA 2-week session and 3-week session
New schedule for 2005: 14 Day / 13 Night Course: 3/July - 16/July 24/July - 6/August
21 Day / 20 Night Course: 26/June - 16/July
Contact Us As Soon As Possible.
Course Description:
Habitats and Culture of Costa Rica offers an environmental overview of present day Costa Rica that emphasizes the natural history of its diverse landscapes as well as the language and customs of the people. You as a student, journey across Costa Rica’s extraordinary geography: from coral lagoon to once-glaciated peaks of volcanic rock, experiencing cloud forests, lowland rainforests, and mangrove swamps. Along the way, you will learn about typical menus, rural schools, and the practices of tropical agriculture. You will receive instruction in the rudiments of conversational Spanish, participate in a service project, and investigate the flora and fauna of different eco-systems. Your goal is to gain an understanding of Costa Rica’s environment within a cultural context.
Several days of residence at the remote Campanario field station on the Osa Peninsula anchor the course and provide a setting for learning to conduct simple field investigations.
Course Formats: Two course formats are offered: a two week course and a 3 week course. Credit is offered at two levels (see below): (1) Professional Development and (2) Degree Applicable. Academic credit is given through Lewis and Clark College in Oregon.
Two week session: The 14 day session gives 2 semester hours of credit: 1 credit hour in science education and 1 credit hour in social studies education. The course is basically split between classes and trips with the San José area and the field experience in the Campanario Biological Station.
Three week session: The 21 day session gives 4 semester hours of credit: 2 credit hours in science education and 2 credit hours in social studies education. This longer session allows for a further study of the tropical dry forests of Guanacaste.
Note: 2 semester hours is the equivalent of 3 quarter hours of credit. Write to us for the course numbers and for instructions as to how to register.
(1) Graduate credit for Professional Development is designed to respond to the ongoing educational needs of practicing professionals. These credits are generally not applicable to a degree program but typically meet licensing requirements and staff development needs. A Credit/No Credit evaluation will be given.
(2) Degree Applicable graduate credit is offered through the Graduate School of Education at Lewis and Clark College. This option demands additional work during the course and high expectations for reading, writing, and presentation of work for evaluation. A letter grade for the course will be given.
Participating Organizations: Institute for Central American Studies (ICAS) ICAS was founded in San José, Costa Rica in 1982 and seeks to disseminate accurate and reliable information about political and socio-economic development in the region and to provide education about the language, history and politics of Central America. ICAS will be overseeing the Spanish language learning and San José cultural aspects of the course. Please view the ICAS web site: [link removed]
Lewis and Clark College Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education is offering the course for academic credit under the approval of Dr. Charles Ault. For many years, Dr. Ault has offered “Ecoscapes: Costa Rica”, a similar course leading to a Masters in Education. He is now happy to offer the benefits of this course to non-degree and non-Lewis and Clark students through “Habitats and Culture of Costa Rica”. Please view the Lewis and Clark College web site at: [link removed]
Write – E-mail – Call us for an application and information on course outline, itinerary, fees, and instructions for obtaining academic credit.
Other Information You Should Know
Security and Safety. . .
There is a first aid kit at the field station, a boat is ready in case of emergencies, and a cellular phone is available for necessary communication with the outside world. The water is potable, and the dining hall & dormitories are completely screened. Meals, while not gourmet, are nutritous & plentiful, with lots of fruits & veggies. Each participant must have travel insurance which will be adequate for remote locations like Campanario. Insurance should cover med-evacuations, just in case.
How You Sign Up. . .
Sign-ups should be made as early as possible (space is limited) and at least 30 days prior to the trip. We need a 50% deposit to secure your reservation. The deposit can be made with your trip coordinator or directly to us. Payment may be made by cash, travelers’ checks or bank checks made out to Campanario S.A., The remainder is due during orientation in San José and should be paid in cash at that time.
Should cancellation be necessary, 50% of the deposit can be refunded if you advise us in writing at least 30 days before the initiation of the trip. Sorry, we are unable to offer refunds on deposits after that date because preparations for the camp session will have gone into effect.
Once you’ve made your reservations, we’ll send you a list of things to pack and how to get ready for your trip. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. Click here for updated costs.
Return to Home Proyecto Campanario Tel: +506 - 258-5778 * Fax: +506 - 256-0374 [link removed]
Devereux is working on a research project that will directly impact the lives of many children around the country - we could really use your help!
We are asking parents and teachers of children in grades K- 8 to complete a short survey on positive behaviors exhibited by their child or student. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. In addition to helping contribute to this valuable research, Devereux is offering to donate $2.50 for each completed form to your choice of: the child's school, a Devereux treatment center, or to be reinvested into our research efforts.
You can help by doing any and all of the following things:
1. If you are a parent of a child/children currently in grades K-8, you can complete a survey online... use the link below.
2. If you are a teacher of grades K-8, you can fill out a form on 4 children in your class and/or you and we can talk about putting together a fundraiser for your school by getting other teachers to participate as well... use the link below.
3. You can forward this message along to your friends, family, and coworkers who are teachers or parents themselves, or who may be able to forward this message to parents and teachers all around the country.
4. If you have any connections to schools in your area, you can pass this along to them and send me their contact information so that we can talk about putting together a fundraiser for that school by getting teachers and parents to participate. (The fundraisers can be for other groups, too... such as scouts, teams, band, PTA, the possibilities are endless!)
To fill out a form (or up to 4 if you're able), you can either ask my research team to mail you paper versions of the survey OR you can simply fill it out electronically at: [link removed].
Please direct any requests or questions to Marisa at [email removed].
Thank you again so much for your contribution to this important cause!!
Sincerely, The Institute of Clinical Training and Research Team Devereux Foundation
The Manitoba Association of Secondary Teachers of At-Risk Students are hosting “Teaching Kids NOT Curriculumâ€, a one- day Educator’s conference on October 21st, 2005 in Winnipeg.
Topics covered will include “Solving the Puzzle of Boys' Under-achievementâ€, “Meanness in the Digital Age†(Cyber- bullying and Internet meanness) and “Kids Without Choices†(Undiagnosed mental health disorders in students). Big Daddy Tazz will provide the lunchtime entertainment.
The cost of the day is $64 for the conference, continental breakfast, served Roast Beef lunch.
We are in need of the following states still for our postcard exchange:
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, HI, ID, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC,ND, RI, SD,TN, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
If you are interested and your state is listed above please email me crutherford_308yahoo.com your: Full Name School Name School Address Grade email address
We are only having one participant per state. Let me know if you have any questions.
I thought some of you might be interested in my novel entitled "Soul of the South" which is being tentatively released for the winter of 2005. It is filled with action, romance, and intrigue, as my protagonist serves the South as a spy in Washington, as a diplomat in England and France, and as an officer in the Army of Northern Virginia. My protagonist is also adamantly against slavery, as he makes known to President Lincoln and Confederate President Davis. And, of course, there is much romance in my novel, as my protagonist William Lytham meets a beautiful woman from Virginia set against the backdrop of a beautiful woman he meets while in France as a Southern diplomat. Without giving away too many details, William marries one of them amidst much acclamation with a surprise individual as the best man. You are more than welcome to read a chapter excerpt and purchase the novel on my web site at [link removed].
We need you for our postcard exchange. Any grade level is good! If you are interested and committed to taking part in our exchange, email me. Be sure to send me an email address so I can contact you directly.
This project is no longer available. Please remove this
post.
Thank you,
Marisa Hilliard