TECHNOS

February 4, 2012

Technos e-Zine

May 2005—Vol. 2, No. 4

Welcome to the technos.net e-newsletter, published by AIT’s Technos Press. You’ll find valuable information here about AIT products and services and other noteworthy news from the world of education. Please let us know what you think, or what you’d like to see here, by emailing us at: editor@ait.net. Thank you!

Featured Interview

21st Century Community Learning Centers

The U.S. Department of Education sponsors the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) through its Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality Programs. The 21st CCLC grant program is a key component of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, re-authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Act.

According to the 21st CCLC Web site, “the focus of this program is to provide expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low performing schools. Tutorial services and academic enrichment activities are designed to help students meet local and state academic standards in subjects such as reading and math. In addition, 21st CCLC programs provide youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, technology education programs, art, music and recreation programs, counseling and character education to enhance the academic component of the program.”

Each state conducts its own 21st CCLC. In the state of Indiana, it is called the Indiana 21st Century Community Learning Center and Partner Network. AIT’s staff asked leaders of the Network two questions: What are the most important qualities inherent in the program? and What are your biggest concerns? Read their responses here.

What’s New at AIT?

Wisconsin Educational Communications Board/Wisconsin Public Television/AIT Begin Work on New Reading Comprehension Series

Set The Agency for Instructional Technology announced it has begun production of a new series to teach youngsters how to interpret, recall, and retain their reading. Nine research-based learning strategies will be presented: using prior knowledge, making connections, questioning, visualizing, inferring, summarizing, evaluating, synthesizing, and using strategies together. Ultimately, the strategies will be depicted in nine 15-minute programs for students and nine 10-minute corresponding teacher professional development videos. The series is scheduled for Fall 2006 release, with a pilot program to be completed soon.

Dr. David Gudaitis, AIT’s Executive Producer, is coordinating video production, with Wisconsin Educational Communications Board as the lead agency on the project. AIT is providing the writer for the series, Bob Risher. Bob and David previously worked together on AIT’s award-winning series Workplace Readiness and Economics at Work.

AIT is also designing and implementing project evaluation, as well as marketing and distribution of the completed series.

Wisconsin Public Television is providing crew and editing expertise. Wisconsin Educational Communications Board (ECB) designed the instructional components, contracted the production, and maintains an active role in the formative evaluation of all components of this project. The project co-directors Marta Bechtol and Peggy Garties are guided by the most current reading comprehension research and an advisory committee of elementary and college educators, and reading and library media specialists. ECB is also developing extensive Web-based learning modules that explore the key concepts modeled in the video series. This multimedia project utilizes interactive Web learning, print materials, and the video series to take best advantage of the attributes of each medium.

“Given the national priority on effective reading instruction in the primary grades and the need for professional development, the time is right for reinforcing these strategies in the classroom. The [reading project] will accomplish this in an engaging way for both students and teachers,” states Wisconsin Educational Communications Board Executive Director Wendy Wink.

“Reading comprehension is a foundation skill that is critical to students’ academic success,” notes AIT Executive Director Chuck Wilson. “We’re very pleased to be working with our esteemed partners in Wisconsin on this vital project, and we’re certainly committed to providing AIT’s strengths to deliver materials that ensure students understand and retain what they are reading.”

Look for more on this project, including a glimpse at the pilot program, in Fall 2005. For more information, contact Elaine Larson, AIT’s Director of Education, at 800-457-4509 or elarson@ait.net.

Featured Article

NCLB Funding Continues to Boost Title I-type Programs for Kids

While educators navigate through the tangled challenges of dealing with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, the genesis of Title I’s blueprint remains solid—bona fide, positive impact to our children’s long-term well-being. Title I programs, many of which now fall under the auspices of Title IV, Part B, of NCLB and are therefore eligible for continued funding, promise a repository of educational aid to our country’s disadvantaged children. The focus of this legislation is to provide expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low performing schools. Programs in core subjects of reading and math; youth development activities; drug and violence prevention programs; technology education programs; art, music, and recreation programs; counseling and character education all fall under the Title IV heading.

In fiscal year 2005, the U.S. Congress in reauthorizing the NCLB Act appropriated $991.07 million for after-school programs such as those currently under the auspices of the 21 st Century Community Learning Center Program (21 st CCLC). NCLB converts the 21 st CCLC authority to a state formula grant, so funds will flow to states based on their share of Title I, Part A funds and the states will use their allocations to make competitive awards to eligible entities.

It means that tutorial and homework assistance, organized class sessions—in short, anything under the umbrella of after-school, before-school, or summer-school academic enrichment—must reflect the standards and benchmarks of the home state. Without question, NCLB legislation sends a clear message that curriculum material must be built, delivered, and evaluated from each state’s composite standards of learning. A lofty goal? Hardly, when we realize that accountability is the path to continuous improvement based on solid research and development. AIT programming already does this.

But the unique NCLB programs highlighted in our Featured Interview section cut to the chase of what is important. As you read the comments by the interviewees in our May issue, you’ll see that the rallying cry is funding, funding, and funding! But take a careful look at the warmth and dedication that leaders amongst Indiana’s 27 grantees (and unsung heroes) personify. We see a grand pooling of talent and no vacillation from unequivocal devotion. While that is something money can’t buy, proper funding can raise the bar, especially when harnessed in the specific venues that U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings espouses.

Local educational agencies; community- and faith-based organizations, be they public or private; or consortia of such groups are eligible for funding under the reauthorized NCLB. AIT is committed to partnering for the deployment of technology in schools, youth and career centers, and virtually any environment where learning takes center stage. We hope you will join us in these efforts as we garner support for the growing embedded base of best practices in each state, especially within educational sources that house rich content and rich delivery methodologies.

Tech Notes

Play It Smart with SmartSystem® and AIT Video Libraries

If you’re like most of the population, you just want your computer to work when you need it—and the less hassle, the better. If you’re a teacher or media librarian, you haven’t got time to learn how it all works.

Good news, folks: AIT has partnered with Dukane Communications Systems and its SmartSystem® to make your life as an educator much easier. You don’t have to take a course in computer programming to use digitized instructional materials to their fullest. Can you use a remote control? You’re in the System!

The SmartSystem is a complete digital storage and distribution method that allows access to any and all materials stored on its hard drive, at the click of a remote-control button. No need to get the students in your classroom or media center to handle the “A-V” situations for you.

To make it even easier for educators, AIT has developed a stellar Digital Video Library of three Collections that provide a total of 135 programs of its instructional videos to be utilized with the SmartSystem. In addition, professional development videos to support each level of Collection are available.

The Digital Video Collections are carefully selected for all grade levels and subject areas and are correlated to state curriculum standards. AIT’s videos are created by teachers for teachers, they are instructionally sound, and they are complete with printable teacher guides.

The Elementary Collection includes videos on writing, phonemic awareness, fractions, measurement, percentages, earth science, physical science, life science, early U.S. history, cultures, health, and art.
The Middle Grades Collection includes videos on writing, percentages, ratios, math at work, physical science, life science, U.S. history, government, and fine arts.
The High School Collection includes videos on composition, life science, physical science, general mathematics, U.S. history, government, economics, geography, and fine arts.
The Professional Development Videos for each Collection provide techniques in reading instruction, managing the disruptive classroom, respecting diversity, conflict resolution in schools, and planning response to crisis situations.

Your entire school district, or a group of buildings, or just one building can network the SmartSystem to utilize all the videos in the Video Collections to their fullest potential at any time. For more information about Dukane’s innovative SmartSystem, contact your local Dukane Distributor. For more information about AIT’s Video Collections, contact AIT’s Sales/Marketing Department at 800-457-4509, ext. 263.

etc. (News You Need)

The School ReDesign Network at Stanford University has issued an important report about the positive effects in the classroom of requiring teacher certification, “Does Teacher Preparation Matter? Evidence about Teacher Certification, Teach for America, and Teacher Effectiveness.” According to Linda Darling-Hammond, whose colleagues conducted the research, “Like many other studies, these data show that poor and minority students are most likely to be assigned unqualified teachers and are most like to be harmed by their lack of knowledge and skills. The study suggests that investments in well-prepared teachers are critically important to closing the achievement gap and improving learning.”
The UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families, and Communities sponsors an informational Web site, the National Center for Infant and Early Childhood Health Policy, which has released a series of 15 reports and corresponding policy briefs all geared to helping states develop their own initiatives for optimizing health, development, and well-being in early childhood. The series is available at: http://www.healthychild.ucla.edu/NationalCenter/default.asp.
From the April 26, 2005, Learning section of The Christian Science Monitor, an article by Toni Weingarten: “When Quiet Kids Get Forgotten in Class.” Sometimes naturally quiet children are viewed as slow or lacking in social skills and are even ignored by teachers who are more involved with aggressive, loud children.
With the Best of Intentions: Lessons Learned in K–12 Education Philanthropy was a conference sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research on Monday, April 25, 2005. It examined key aspects of K–12 philanthropy, including donor strategies, accountability, and effectiveness. Read the presentations here: http://www.aei.org/events/eventID.959/event_detail.asp.
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement has published the sixth in a series of free online resources detailing how schools systems across the country are working to implement the No Child Left Behind Act. Previously released titles are: "Creating Strong District School Choice Programs," "Creating Strong Supplemental Educational Services Programs," "Successful Charter Schools," "Creating Successful Magnet Schools Programs," and "Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification." The most recent is "Innovative Pathways to School Leadership."

AIT Products & Services

In keeping with our focus for this month, on NCLB’s 21st Century Community Learning Center programs, we remind our readers of AIT’s excellent early childhood products, especially our reading series. For more information about the following products, including pricing, follow the links to the AIT online catalog included with each description.

Letter TV is a collection of 26 five-minute programs for emergent readers (grades Pre-K–1). The programs build basic phonemic skills and excitement about reading. The instructional design of the series incorporates key phonemic elements and models reading in context. Visit the Letter TV Web site for FREE ACCESS to the teacher guide, standards correlations, and on-line learning activities for kids. ©2000
Letter TV II: Consonant Combinations features the Letter TV Gang in 13 new five-minute episodes exploring consonant letter combinations, such as letter blends and digraphs. Each program features numerous opportunities for emergent readers (grades K–1) to hear the phoneme and to see the letter combinations highlighted on screen in context. ©2002
Letter TV III: Reading Rules focuses on phonemic rules for readers in grades K–2, mostly related to vowel combinations. The rules presented in each episode will help learners unravel the complicated web of reading, build confidence, and expand vocabulary. Rules are explored in detail, and the story provides a natural context for viewers to remember the correct application of the rule. A team-oriented explanation segment clarifies and simplifies the rule for learners, and a catchy song reinforces the concept. Viewers see the characters reading as part of the story, effectively modeling positive attitudes toward reading. For more information and to view a video clip, visit the Letter TV III Web page. ©2003
The ever-popular Storylords (with CD-ROM and Guide) is now available at the bargain price of only $35.96! The student becomes the Storylord apprentice with this engaging and rigorous set of interactive lessons. Designed to be used with or without the Storylords video series, this CD-ROM challenges students to apply reading strategies to improve understanding and comprehension. Each lesson is progressively more difficult, beginning with simple reading comprehension strategies like looking at pictures and thinking about the picture before beginning to read. Eventually, students advance to more complex strategies for decoding unknown words or developing an understanding of the story structure. As students complete a lesson, their progress is recorded so that both the student and the instructor can see which lessons have been finished. To see a sample demo of the Storylords software visit http://www.ecb.org/storylords/index.htm.
Mathematics Is Elementary uses real classrooms and real-life situations to involve students in contextual learning—mathematics is all around us! Through an interactive process, teachers and children encounter every aspect of the world of mathematics. Instead of passive viewing, the videos provide stop-point opportunities to discuss everyday problems and engage in activities that draw students directly into problem-solving. Thirteen 15-minute student programs for grades 2–4 and one 30-minute teacher program are included. ©1996
Head to Toe introduces the workings of the human body to children in early elementary grades. Develop students’ knowledge and the attitudes and practices needed to achieve and maintain good health. Encourage the avoidance of risky health behaviors, and reinforce existing positive health habits. Head to Toe builds upon children’s natural interest in how the body looks, works, breaks down, heals, and grows. Use this series to emphasize children’s personal involvement in achieving and maintaining their own good health. Fifteen 15-minute programs for grades K–3 and a 56-page teacher guide are included in this series. ©1994
Ningo Gikinonwin: Ojibwe Four Seasons. Before contact with Europeans, the Ojibwe, like other Native American tribes, practiced a seasonal cycle of hunting, fishing, and gathering in order to survive. Ningo Gikinonwin: Ojibwe Four Seasons is a series of four 15-minute videos targeting the K–3 age group that celebrates this circle of life. These programs are narrated by young Ojibwe children and are told through extraordinary reenactments at Waswagoning, a recreated 17th-century Ojibwe village located in Lac de Flambeau, Wisconsin. Students see how time has altered some Ojibwe customs and practices while others have continued into the present. Each program in the series focuses on one season, demonstrating how the Ojibwe learned about their heritage, gathered food, created crafts, and entertained themselves before European settlement in the northern Great Lakes region and today. This video series can serve as a springboard for lessons on aspects of Native American cultures, including their traditions, family structure, sense of community, and language—as well as provide opportunities to learn about time, continuity, and change as they affect culture. Four 15-minute programs for grades K–3. ©2004
Where Are We? With animations, other special visuals, and ordinary objects and situations, this series introduces viewers to key concepts—space direction, distance, size, shape, and location—as they learn about pictorial symbolization through geographical tools. Primary Grades. ©1988. This series is part of the AIT Classics collection.
Super Science Sleuth is a collection of short programs featuring master teacher Bonnie Mizell and her students as they explore the wondrous phenomena of science through outrageous experiments. This collection is a veritable encyclopedia of excellent science instruction covering a wide variety of topics. Episodes 1–5 contain three segments each; episode 6 contains two segments. Six 10-minute episodes for grades 4–8. ©2003
Club Write provides comprehensive, contextualized support for developing writing skills at the middle-school level. Episodes can be used within and across curriculum areas to support many different applications of writing, from lyrics to persuasion to technical reports. In each program, students are challenged to approach a writing assignment in a different way. Strategies for organizing information and structuring personal schedules to complete the assignments are depicted. Contextual real-life settings where different writing styles are employed are carefully woven into the stories. Fourteen 15-minute programs for grades 4–7. ©1999
Club Write Kids focuses on writing for pleasure. While the structure of writing is often daunting for young writers, good writing habits become intuitive with practice. Pre-writing and revising are two of the most difficult things for young writers to learn, and those activities are the focus of this series. In each program, Cassie and her friends experiment with several different forms of writing, each time using the writing process to help organize their projects. Real-world applications for writing are highlighted as the members of Club Write meet with a variety of people who rely on writing everyday. Twelve 15-minute programs for grades 3–4. ©2001

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