TWTW Teaching with the Web	The Instructional Technology Journal of Greenwood School District 50 http://www2.gwd50.org Volume 3, Number 07 November 15, 2007
BrainPOP 11/15/07 Good news for students and teachers: the district renewed BrainPOP and added BrainPOP, Jr., and BrainPOP en Español! Now there is something for all students! Even more good news is that the district also purchased an unlimited license. Teachers, this means that you can access BrainPOP at home on nights and weekends - whenever you are doing your planning! BrainPOP is educationally sound, correlated to South Carolina Standards, and an excellent way to integrate technology. Note: the username and password are the same. If you don’t remember, ask a neighbor. If your neighbor doesn’t remember, email me!	Important Teacher Notes eProficiency · Teacher Technology Proficiency (Proviso 1.25) http://ed.sc.gov/agency/offices/tech/teachprofprov/index.html “Teachers must demonstrate proficiency with technology for these reasons: to ensure South Carolina students receive instruction from technologically proficient educators; and to ensure that state money spent on technology is put to good use. Districts must adopt teacher technology standards that are aligned with ISTE standards.” · District 50 is working with the State Department of Education to synchronize teachers’ recertification date and technology proficiency recertification date. (One is not dependent upon the other.) · ePortfolio is the management system purchased by the State to assist districts in the management of teacher technology proficiencies. · District information about ePortfolio: http://www2.gwd50.org/hughesc/Hughes1_eProficiency.htm. Expect an email soon with dates for ePortfolio training.
Spotlight on Reference: § Fact Monster This free reference site for students, teachers, and parents offers homework help and facts on thousands of subjects, including sports, entertainment, geography, history, biography, education, and health. http://www.factmonster.com § Internet Public Library: Reference Here's the place to go for all your general reference needs! There are links to dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, and other sites for homework help or just looking things up. http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/browse/ref00.00.00 § Bartleby.com Combines contemporary and classic reference works into a comprehensive public reference library. http://www.bartleby.com/reference/ § Martindale's Reference Desk Links to reference resources includes language centers, calculators, maps, science tables and various countries. http://www.martindalecenter.com § LibrarySpot.com A collection of reference resources available online as well as a directory of public, academic, and special libraries worldwide. http://www.libraryspot.com § Refdesk.com Refdesk is a free and family-friendly web site that indexes and reviews quality, credible, and current web-based resources. http://www.refdesk.com	Site Survey: Websites that Educate, Enlighten, Entertain, and Engage · Louisa May Alcott: the real woman who wrote Little Women http://www.alcottfilm.com/ The Louisa May Alcott people think they know was a New England spinster who wrote popular children's books. The real Louisa Alcott wrote hundreds of works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. · Mark Twain’s Mississippi http://dig.lib.niu.edu/twain/ This site examines what the Mississippi Valley meant to people in the 1800s and how these meanings influenced Twain's writing. Learn about economic development, politics, race, religion, culture, and the idea of "the West." It also provides a fully searchable and indexed digital library of some of Samuel Clemens' publications under the name of Mark Twain, placing special emphasis upon Twain's Mississippi novels and reminiscences. · Computing Life http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/computinglife/ Learn how scientists use computers to advance our understanding of biology and human health. Learn how computers are used to simulate the spread of flu through a school, the movement of cells in our bodies, and the beating of a heart. Find out how computers help in the search for gene variations that could lead to disease.
	The Laptop-and-Projector Project Website Tech Project: http://www2.gwd50.org/TechPlans/TechPlan2006.htm Instr. Resources: http://www2.gwd50.org/TechPlans/StaffDevResources.htm Previous TWTW Issues: http://www2.gwd50.org/techplans/TWTW-Index.htm Instructional Technology Specialist: http://www2.gwd50.org/hughesc/Hughes1.html Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and enjoy your time with your family. Cindy