A New School/Academy

A Proposal to Create A New School/Academy

On Becoming a Cybrarian
Creating the Community

This curriculum outline which follows might be used to create a new school called A New School/Academy. It will adhere to the State Standards. The essence of this new academy is to augment an existing curriculum of any high schools and to provide the students of any high school with a unique opportunity to invigorate their own education through the use of a technology rich curriculum. They will do most of their work with computers. This is a school which will be providing an opportunity to maintain the strengths of the traditional educational environment while partaking in the promise of the emerging constructivist educational environment. It is the best of both educational models. Ideally the students would have their own desks and the teachers would move around from student space to student space.

The staffing would be crucial for the success of this project. A commitment must be made, the parties involved should be cognizant of the workload involved before committing to this project. The year's project will be to create the curriculum for this school, with these teachers as the teachers teaching the courses which will begin the following September. They will be learning some basic software like Office, WordPerfect, etc; Computer Assisted Instruction CAI Software; and Internet software. This core of teachers will in turn begin the process of training more teachers in their respective schools as computers become more common in all schools. Matters of greatest import will be to determine the actual teaching units and the time to be devoted to these tasks. The individual members will determine the material to be covered at the Academy and also determine the smoothest methods of transition back to their home schools for their afternoon sessions. Finally, the team will have to determine methods of assessment such as portfolio and state tests. Much of the work to be done now must be locally especially by the new team.

I have given each class an Internet user related name to help identify where we expect our scholars to be at each stage of their development and will help to define them through their work. Freshmen will be Newbies, Sophomores will be Hacker-Geeks, Juniors will be Websters, and Seniors will be Cybrarians. Time needed to teach students technology may steal time from academics, but once technology skills are realized and employed the academic tasks will be achieved with better results. See Technology Projects, Student Proficiency, and the Time Factor and Technology Proof to begin reading relevant articles and research to support this project. The expectations of the students will be stated at the end of each curriculum outline.

A crucial element which will be dealt with ease because of the technology foundation will be community involvement and communications. Perhaps one of the great benefits to having an online class is its total exposure to the community of the scholars work. By community, I mean the global one and the local one which includes state officials, local school boards, school superintendents, parents, and community leaders. I have written a research paper, Education and the Community which points out the need to bring the community into the business of education without having to clog the school corridors. It can be done virtually. Parents can see exactly what their children are doing, school officials can verify that the curriculum and standards are in fact being met, school boards can oversee the projects and justify spending, and the global community can be tapped for their expertise as they serve as telementors. This use of technology makes education interactive. The community can interact with the students just as the students can interact with the community. Education becomes a two-way street in this environment. Thus the stigma of communicating with the community is eliminated since everything is exposed on the Internet and everyone has a stake and a voice in the process. It makes for healthier, honest, easy communication between school and the community. In addition the students in this academy can begin a project which aids the community, especially in their own homes, in coming online and being connected to the Internet. Making the surrounding communities a wired community can be a long range goal of the school. There are models of this happening across the nation. Total community involvement is a crucial element in successful learning as stated in the idiom: "It takes a village to educate a child." This is a major point in my own essay titled: My Personal Vision: The Cybrarian which discusses many of these points.

Mission Statement

We expect our students to use their academic and social skills to seek and generate information that enables them to be contributing members of and problem solvers in our democratic society.

We believe students learn to be such citizens when they 1) are active in their own learning both as individuals and in groups, 2) seek meeaning and understanding beyond simple facts, 3) connect their learning across content areas, and 4) apply what they know and are to do in our community.

To inform and continuously improve our efforts, we will create ways for students to publicly demonstrate their level of mastery of our expectations.

RELATED LINKS

The following annotated outline shall provide the direction into which each teacher may begin an individual journey as online resources and links are searched and reviewed for the teacher's use in creating the customized courses.

Zines

Technology Counts 98 EdWeek Annual Report on technology in schools/
Child Power Seymour Papert
CMC Magazine John December's brilliant education magazine. A must for all educators.
From Now On AKA Educ Tech Journal - an education journal.
Grazing the Net: Raising a Generation of Free Range Students.
Technology Source
Well Connected Educator
Technos Quarterly Technology on Board
Institute for the Transfer of Technology to Education
A Case Study of Ted Nellen's "Cyber English" Class by Liz Cushman Brandjes.
New Software Checks Essay Content an article on assessment.
A Year and a Half Later, a Wired Neighborhood Looks Back an article about a wired town.
Samples of Courses online
Technology lessons First rate from Oregon State U education department filled with tutorials. A model program!!!
Computers in the Classroom College course at Arizonia State University.
Cyber School A virtual high school.
Virtual high school Another Virtual high school.
Edison Project private manager of public schools.
Teaching with Electronic Technology collection of online teaching resources.
K-12 Sources - Curriculum - Lesson Plans
Integrating the Internet Integrating the Internet into curriculum Guide.
Distance Learning En 102 An online course to serve as sample.
NCATE Teacher Training.
Online Courses taught by James Morrison
Education with New Technologies: Networked Learning Community
OnLine Resources for Teachers
Technology and Learning Portfolio great articles and resources from a wide range of educational decision makers.
Kid Wide Web A Guide to the Internet for teachers.
Links galore! Large collection of Internet resources for teachers.
Needle in a Cyber Stack Large database of Internet resources.
Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators useful for enhancing curriculum.
Janice's Outpost K-12 resources for teachers.
Global Schoolhouse Premiere site for teachers by teachers.
Pathways to School Improvement A regional laboratory to teachers using technology. NCREL.
Prisoners of Time
THE INTERNET TOURBUS The original virtual learning program.
The Role of Leadership in Sustaining School Reform: Voices From the Field
Multiple Intelligences
Thornburg Books Transforming Education for the Next Century.
Instructional Resources on the net.
Creating a Learning Society Initiatives for Education and Technology. Funding Technology and Training Teachers Can Help to Overcome Barriers to Creating a "Learning Society. "
Educom Review: Teaching & Learning Index articles from the Educom Review, sorted alphabetically by author, that pertain to Teaching & Learning issues.
AFT Educational Research and Dissemination Program a union-sponsored, research-based professional development program. Collaboration between practitioners and researchers to encourage classroom educators to improve their practice and their students' achievement by becoming users of research.
ERIC Clearinghouse on Teaching and Teacher Education The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) is a federally funded, nationwide information network designed to provide you with ready access to education literature.
Millennium project: As we approach the 21st century, those oncerned with the appropriate role of technology in education have found it increasingly important to discuss the future of our educational system.
The Millennium Project Library The Millennium Project offers this forum as an opportunity for discussion among policymakers, parents, teachers, students and others interested in the impact of te chnology on education.
West Virginia Reinventing Education
Contests
Think Quest Collaborative contest.
AT&T Virtual Classroom International collaborative contest.

I. Ninth Grade - Newbie

     A.   Computing Basics  - sample
          1.   Office I
               a.   Keyboarding
                         sample 1
                         sample 2
                         sample 3
                    (1)  dictation DDC
                    (2)  transcription DDC
                    (3)  computer simulations                         
               b.   Word
                    (1)  letters, memos, 
                    (2)  reports
                    (3)  resume
               c.   PowerPoint
                    (1)  oral presentation
                    (2)  directions
                    (3)  persuassion
          2.   HTML 
               a.   code
               b.   programs
                    (1)  email
                    (2)  ftp
          3.   Computer Science  Skills
               a.   DOS/MAC
                    (1)  edit
                    (2)  DOS commands
                         (a)  format, etc for basic troubleshooting and autonomy
                         (b)  batch files
               b.   minor repair skills/troubleshooting
                    (1)  installation of hardware/software
                    (2)  maintenance of hardware/software
                    (3)  learning basic Utilities
     B.   Academics
          1.   English
               a.   lit genres 
                    (1)  poetry
                         (a)  read
                         (b)  create
                    (2)  short story
                         (a)  read
                         (b)  create
                    (3)  novel
                         The Rationale of Novel Courses
                         Teaching the Novel
                         (a)  read
                         (b)  create
                    (4)  essay
                         (a)  read
                         (b)  create
                    (5)  drama
                         (a)  read
                         (b)  create
                    (6)  literary terms
                         (a)  read
                         (b)  create
               b.   Roots
               c.   Peer Review
          2.   Social Studies
               a.   Geography, cartography
               b.   HISTORY
          3.   Science
               a.   Earth Sciences
                    Earth and Moon Viewer
                    (1)  Weather station, pollution, acid rain 
                    (2)  River Project
                b. Health 
                    (1) @Yahoo
                    (2) @Excite
                    (3) @Lycos
                    (4) @Infoseek
          4.   Math
                a.   Swarthmore
          5.   Foreign Language
                a.   Sanskrit? 
               Sanskrit Graphics Software
               Sanskrit Religions Institute
               Sanskrit is the classical language of the Indian subcontinent
               Sanskrit Teacher: Dr Satyanarayana Sastry
                b.   Greek/Latin Tap UMASS 
               On-line Courses and Course Materials
               Teaching Greek: There's got to be a Better Way
               This is Catiline's Home Page
               ANCIENT GREECE
               Princeton Classics Web Project
               Classics is Ancient Greek and Roman Civilisation
               Department of Classics of the University of North Carolina
               Preparation and Training for Teachers of Latin
               Why Use Latin Grammar to Describe English?
               Classics at Virginia
               Department of Classics
               Latin Textbook: STUDY GUIDE TO WHEELOCK LATIN
               Professor of Classical Studies
               Classical Latin Course
          6.   Assessment
                a.   Webfolio
                b.   Presentations - PowerPoint
          7.   College

Expectations:

Each student will meet and exceed the ermont standards for the ninth grade year. The ninth graders will immediately develop a web page and various forms of performance assessment which will serve as each student's webfolio/portfolio for the next four years. During the ninth grade solid foundation building will occur in th academic disciplines which will follow and adhere to the State standards as well as prepare each student to be active and adroit users of technology. The technology use will enhance and build upon the work they each do in their respective high schools. Technology is a tool and the students will begin to understand this and learn how to use it to their advantage. The technology will augment their academic study.

The basic skills of web design, and Microsoft OFFICE applications will prepare the student for future needs of technology is researching, preparing, and presenting reports in their academic disciplines. Skills will be learned by doing the applications, becoming with the technology, and in a keen adherence to the accomplishment of satisfying the state and local school matriculation demands. Scholarship will be emphasized as technology is used to manifest and assist in the achievement of these goals.

An advantage technology lends to the classroom is customized instruction to meet the needs of individual students through the use of CAI software programs. Students are not isolated and will be connected to their parents, their schools, to telementors, and to their classmates through the use of technology.

The ninth grade year will be spent in understanding the basics of their academics, technology, and global/local communications as they begin the process of being educated by the village. They will meet the state assessment requirements as well as the portfolio requirement of The School/Academy.

II. Tenth Grade - Hacker-Geek

     A.   Computing Basics 
          A How-to Guide for Web Junkies
          Make Your Own Home
          1.   OFFICE II
                a.   Access
                b.   Excel
          2.   Advanced
                a.   Frontpage or here
                b.   Pagemill
                c.   Homesite 
                d.   Netscape
          3.   Computer Science Skills
                a.   Windows
                b.   troubleshooting
     B.   Academics
          1.   English
                a.   Bible - 
               BIBLE AS LITERATURE
               Bible As Literature 2
               Bible as Literature 3
                b.   Mythologies
                c.   Classical
          2.   Social Studies
                a.   Ancient History
               Mr Donn's  Ancient History
               Index of biographies
               Ancient History
               Who Needs Ancient History Anyway?
               How to Teach Ancient History: A Multicultural Model
               JENNIFER A. SHERIDAN
          3.   Science
                a.   Greek to  present
                b.   Biology/health/parenting
          4.   Math
                a.   Geometry
          5.   For Lang
                a.   Greek/Latin 
               On-line Courses and Course Materials
               Teaching Greek: There's got to be a Better Way
               This is Catiline's Home Page
               ANCIENT GREECE
               Princeton Classics Web Project
               Classics is Ancient Greek and Roman Civilisation
               Department of Classics of the University of North Carolina
               Preparation and Training for Teachers of Latin
               Why Use Latin Grammar to Describe English?
               Classics at Virginia
               Department of Classics
               Latin Textbook: STUDY GUIDE TO WHEELOCK LATIN
               Professor of Classical Studies
               Classical Latin Course
          6.   Assessment
                a.   Webfolio
                b.   Presentations - PowerPoint
          7.   Start College admissions thinking, which colleges?

Expectations:

Each student will meet and exceed the state standards for the tenth grade year. The tenth graders will continue to develop their webfolio/portfolio begun in their ninth grade year. In the tenth grade students will begin developing skills in collaboration and using their newly acquired technology skills to develop skills in collaboration and team building. The sophomore year will be a year in which the students will repeat many of the lessons learned in their freshman year, but will now actually learn and adopt these skills. Repetition and redundancy are important learning skills in the matter of long term memory. The time spent with acquiring technology skills in the ninth grade at perhaps the expenses of some academic skills, will now be reversed. As the technology skills which will be key in acquiring knowledge have been fine tuned, the acquisition of any lost academic skills will be caught up and because of these newly acquired technology skills more academic skills will be acquired and learned in this year. The sophomores will exceed the state Standards in academic acquisition.

The foundations set in the freshman year will provide a proper spring board into fulfilling academic demands while making the smooth transition from the traditional classroom into the constructivist environment. The students comfort level with this cultural paradigm shift will set in during their sophomore year and any uneasiness felt in their freshman year will be replaced with confidence and a new sense of empowerment. This will be a year of gaining confidence and recognizing the self. Although technology has been criticized for not fostering these qualities, we will find just the opposite begins to happen. Because the process of emersion will take time, the students will proceed in a logical and well planned pace to come to their own equilibrium in this environment.

Continuation of any customized instruction will occur to meet the needs of individual students through the use of CAI software programs. Students will be taking conscientious advantage of their environment and will recognize they are not isolated and will continue to take advantage of being connected to their parents, their schools, to telementors, and to their classmates through the use of technology.

The tenth grade year will be spent in taking advantage of the technology, to enhance their academics and to tap into the global/local village to further their own place in this village. They will meet the state assessment requirements as well as the portfolio requirement of the Academy.

III. Eleventh Grade - Webster

     A.   Computing Basics 
          1.   Advanced HTML
               a.   CGI/Perl
          2.   Computer Science Skills
               a.   UNIX
               b.   NT
               c.   Webshare
               d.   Build Computer
          3. Webmaster
               a.   WebMaster School a high school club in Michigan.
               b.   World Organization of Webmasters
     B.   Academics 
          1.   collaboration
          2.   team work
          3.   LINKS:
          Research practices begin by integrating each of the disciplines around a common theme.  
          Learning with the World
          4.   English
          5.   Social Studies
          6.   Science
          7.   Math
          8.   Foreign Language
          9.   Assessment
               a.   Projects
               b.   Contests
          10.  Serious college admissions work
               a.   College applicatiosn should be started
               b.   College visitations should have been begun or at least scheduled

Expectations:

Each student will meet and exceed the state standards for the eleventh grade year. Eleventh graders will further develop their collaborative skills acquired in their tenth grade year and will cultivate skills in independent learning. Taking the skills learned in previous years, the students will begin working independently and on projects. Time management and self directed study will begin in the eleventh grade. Showing initiative and self-motivation will be the hallmarks of this years skills acquisition. Interacting and collaborating on projects with students in other schools will demonstrate mastery of skills developed and begin the process of independent projects. The juniors will exceed the state Standards in academic acquisition.

The eleventh grade year will be spent in taking advantage of the technology, to enhance their academics and to tap into the global/local village to further their own place in this village. They will meet the state assessment requirements as well as the portfolio requirement of the Academy.

IV. Twelfth Grade - Cybrarian

This year will be an intensive year of production. Each student will be producing a
personal, group, and class portfolio. Research projects will have the students creating
web based projects which will in turn become resources for other students. Topics would
be cross curricula and would have a holistic hypertext design while maintaining details of
each discipline. This would join the resources of the Academy Cyber Library.

The students will be involved with Distance Learning. They will be collaborating with
students in colleges and other high schools, both domestically and internationally. The
projects will be student generated with specific schools, derived from contests, or as part
of larger participatory projects.

A. Computer Basics
1. Advanced HTML
a. Director from Macromedia
b. own manuals
2. Computer Science Skills
a. Build Networks
(1) wiring
(2) software integration
b. Build Server
B. Academics (seemless, integrated, inter-disciplinary)
Distant Learning:
Virtual University Gazette an electronic newsletter for distance learning professionals.
Distant Education Clearinghouse
Distant Learning Links
Training Tools and Technologies links from Geo Geller.
Learning on the Web
Contests:
ThinkQuest
Global SchoolHouse network
AT&T Virtual Classroom
Research:
Links
Build a Cyber Library
1. English
2. Social Studies
a. participation in govt
3. Science
4. Math
5. Foreign Language
6. Assessment
7. Complete college admissions process

Expectations:

Each student will meet and exceed the state standards for the tweflth grade year. The twelfth grade year will be an important year in the transition into independent study and partaking in college level courses for credit while completing their senior year in high school. The projects begun in the junior year may be continued and larger collaborative and international contests will enhance their academic curriculum while utilizing the technology skills learned in the last three years. The cultivated skills of independent study will be capitalized this year. Seniors will select projects for independdent study and compete in international projects. Time management and self directed study will continue in the twelfth grade. Showing initiative and self-motivation will be the hallmarks of this years skills acquisition. Interacting and collaborating on projects with students in other schools will demonstrate mastery of skills developed and begin the process of independent projects. The seniors will exceed the state Standards in academic acquisition.

The twelfth grade year will be a culminating year and will demonstrate their mastery of the technology. This year will also demonstrate the power of the village in educating the child. They will meet the state assessment requirements as well as the portfolio requirement of the Academy.







Bibliography:
Amazon would be a good place to read a synopsis of a book.

     Philip Agre: Technology and Privacy: The New Landscape
     William Allman: Apprentices of Wonder
     Thomas Armstrong, Awakening Genius
     Thomas Armstrong, Multiples Intelligences in the Classroom
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     Howard Gardner, Multiple Intelligences: The Theory in Practice
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     Ted Nelson: Computer Lib/Dream Machines
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     Neil Postman: Technopoly
     Neil Postman: Amusing Ourselves to Death
     Gregory Rawlins: Moths to the Flame
     Howard Rheingold: Tools for Thought
     Howard Rheingold: Virtual Community
     Kathryn Schellenberg: Computers in Society
     Douglas Schuler: New Community Networks: Wired for Change
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     Frank Smith, Insult to Intelligence
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     Alvin Toffler: The Third Wave
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     Sherry Turkle: Life on the Screen
     Sherry Turkle: The Second Self: Computers and the Human Spirit
     Victor Vitanza: CyberReader




Prepared by Ted Nellen 10/98