April+-+May+2011


 * __ Virginia Department of Education Update __**

**__ Reminder: New Thinkfinity Excellence in Teaching Award Competition (May 30 deadline) __**

The DOE has received a new grant to support a competition to select 8 teachers (one from each Superintendent’s Study Region) who use Thinkfinity resources to teach content and 21st century skills. The purpose of the contest is to reward teachers who consistently use Thinkfinity resources in creative ways. Contestants need to submit 8 lessons plans (single-day lessons, or very short lessons, not whole units). Winning contestants will be recognized at an awards event (expenses paid for winner and two guests); $1,000 to attend and present at a local, regional or national conference; and an iPad. One of the 8 winners will also be named Thinkfinity Teacher of the Year and will receive $1,000 in cash. See the [|Superintendent's Memo] for more information.

**__Resources __**

//Footnote // Footnote is an online library of more than 70 million historical documents and images. []

//iCivics // iCivics is retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's online initiative to engage students with civics education. iCivics uses a mix of online curriculum (including lessons and materials), Web Quests, and high-quality Flash games to support teachers and students learning about government. Chandler Sansing (csansing@k12albemarle.org) had indicated a willingness to do some professional development support for this site. We are still working out details. Please visit the Web site or contact Chandler. []

//STEM Report // Download the report, Transforming STEM Learning through Technology in Elementary Schools, from the Center for Digital Education, published March 31, 2011. STEM is a very big issue in Virginia, as well as the rest of the country. []

//Update from Feb. /March DOE Report //: New Professor Garfield Lessons on Character Education []

//Blog // This blog is an ongoing collection of interesting ways to use technology in the classroom; includes tips from teachers gathered together in slideshow presentations. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">[]

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Congressional Briefing of the Speak Up! // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">[]

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Internet Safety/Digital Citizenship // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Two interesting reports about media use have recently been published. One on teens and one on younger children. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">US Teen Mobile Report <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Always Connected: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">[]

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">New Guidelines from Board of Education // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Please review the technology section of the Guidelines for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and Abuse in Virginia Public Schools, which was approved by the Board of Education on March 24, 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">See the Supts. Memo: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">[]

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Copyright and Fair Use: // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This article describes a challenge made to fair use that may set a very interesting legal precedent: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">[]?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Thanks to Joe Showker for the following great link to a Copyright and Fair Use video: []

**__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Professional Development __**

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Thinkfinity Community // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Thinkfinity is planning to invite educational figures to discussion events. Who would you like to connect with in the Thinkfinity Community? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Provide your answer at [].

// Educational Technology Leadership Conference // // No updated website is available yet, but the Educational Technology Leadership Conference dates for 2011-2012 are November 7-9, 2011. // //** __ Enhancing Education Through Technology Program Funding Ends __ **// // Email sent to technology directors in April announcing end of federal funding. Funding for 2010-2011 school year is potentially covered by use of funds from 2009 and 2010 grant allocations. Funds from 2010 grant allocations are available for 2011-2012 if the school division has not used the funds already. //