------------------------------ KIDPLAN SITEK933 - 2 June 1993 ------------------------------ GET KIDPLAN SITEK93R for complete listing of available KIDS-93 SITE Report files. Send revisions, updates, or suggestions to Mark Hunnibell at: Internet: mark@kids.duq.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this file: ** Canada - Montreal (2 sites) USA - Guilford Connecticut ** USA - Long Island New York ** USA - Medford New York ** USA - Pine Grove Pennsylvania USA - Salisbury Maryland ** Report Not Yet Available. USA - Guilford Connecticut -------------------------- Date: Mon, 24 May 1993 10:21:00 -0500 (EST) From: BALDWINT@Venus.YCC.Yale.Edu Subject: Baldwin Middle School Site Report =================================== Big Days Report Baldwin Middle School Guilford, CT =================================== Baldwin Middle School students took part in the IRC several times during May 6 and May 7. Nine classes averaging 22 students each were online during their regularly scheduled computer classes. Another 12 students were online during the KidLink Club on Friday afternoon after school until 5 pm EDT. The total number of students from Baldwin who took part was approximately 210. Students took turns at the keyboard while others watched on their monitors through the video net feature of our Digicard Network. We also used our Sony Projection unit for large room viewing. Although only about 75 kids got to actually use the keyboard, all got to watch the event. We had one incident of a student responding to an inappropriate discussion with inappropriate language. He was reprimanded and required to write a letter of apology to KidPlan, which he did. His parents were informed by his homeroom teacher and were supportive of the punishment but were concerned that he was involved in an inappropriate discussion and was just responding in kind. I was glad that I had not invited any guests to observe as we are in the middle of a major budget fight for education and I would be hard pressed to justify telecommunication based on the events of the Big Days IRC. I personally responded to some of the email sent by the Peruvian kids because there were no students in our lab at the time and I wanted them to get some responses. If we take part in the Big Days next year, I think we will stick to direct email to students with whom we have established a relationship through various projects during the year. My personal feeling is that if the IRC is to continue, it should be more closely moderated by an adult who poses questions which could be contributed by the participants before the Big Days. If the kids pose the questions ahead of time, the KidBot or human moderator could then post the questions for discussion periodically thoughout the days and guide the discussion on that topic. I have to take responsibility for our lack of preparation on the level that it was done by others. I would have loved to have taken part in Patti Weeg's event. Obviously the successful Big Days Events were done by those who prepared carefully in advance and used the resources provided by Mark and others. I have great respect for those of you who managed the technology of the whole event and I think that is the glamour of the Big Days for you and is worthy of the press coverage. Probably careful programming of the KidBot would create a more positive and safe place for future IRC events. Mary A. Esborn Baldwin Middle School Guilford, CT 06437 BaldwinT@Venus.YCC.Yale.edu USA - Salisbury Maryland ------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 May 1993 23:52:37 +22348030 From: "Patricia A. Weeg" Subject: Site Report From Maryland ***************************** KIDLINK Big Days Celebration Site Report: Maryland ***************************** Date: May 6, 1992 May 7, 1993 Place: Delmar Elementary School East Salisbury School KIDLEADR: Mrs. Patti Weeg Mrs. Patti Weeg Delmar Students: 36 Chapter 1 Computer Students, ages 6-10 65 students from Grades 3-6, ages 8-12 East Students: 36 Chapter 1 Computer Students, ages 7-11 53 students from grades 5-6, ages 10-12 Physical setup: One very small computer lab located in a Delmar corner of the media center. One modem and one phone line shared with the office. Students rotated to the lab every half hour all day long. Food was setup outside the lab on the conference table. Physical setup: One very narrow computer lab (converted book East closet!) and a food table out in the corridor. One modem, one phone line (of two) shared with the office. Students came to the lab every half hour. Preparations: Early in the school year I placed 2 large maps on the lab walls. One is a map of the world while the other is a map of the United States. We have been placing flags on the maps to pinpoint our keypals all year long. During the month of April we began to make 'placemaps' for our table of goodies during the celebration. My students names were paired with their keypal next to a map of the country or state. Each child printed his/her own name. They enjoyed this activity quite a bit. Parents sent in goodies and several stayed to help during the festivities. Our area was decorated with banners and balloons. We had one big party all day long! Online Because the children could only stay with me Activities: for half hour intervals we spent most of our time on IRC. We went back and forth between the KIDS IRC and the other IRC server. There were occasions of inappropriate topics on IRC but I was able to conceal it from my students who were munching on goodies for the first half of their visit to the lab. After all...parties mean food! We met wonderful friends from many places including Iceland, Norway, Canada, Connecticut, South Carolina, Massachusetts, United Kingdom, Italy, Texas, Finland and many more places. My children thought we would be able to chat live with each keypal they had ever written to! The highlight was 'meeting' our friends in Mike Burleigh's class at Oldfield House School. Though my 7 year olds thought we would see Mike's face on the screen, it was great to chat with him and his students who have written to us during the year. Most of our time was spent on IRC because the children had such little time in the lab. On Saturday I exchanged e-mail with Oscar and his Big Days team in Peru. I sent Sheldon Smith and his students a little note about their fine poems for Big Days. Next year I hope to be more mindful of sites which do not have IRC. If I had had more time I would have used the site index files to identify those schools. I started with good intentions but became overwhelmed handling the activities in two schools all by myself. ============================================================= This is my first year in the KIDLINK family and I can honestly say that it has changed my life. I'd like to believe that I think in more global terms now. My students and I have met so many wonderful friends and shared lives across the networks. This is a growth experience that is so good for all of us. My Chapter 1 students are the 'modest achievers' of the schools. Their self esteem is low because they rarely meet with academic success. KIDLINK has made them proud! Receiving electronic mail makes them feel important. I have also included students from both of my schools who have identified learning disabilities. I dare you to pick them out! Telecom is such an equalizer. We are people with ideas expressed in text on a screen. Anything else we wish to share about ourselves is our choice. One of my students beamed as he realized during the IRC that his physical disability was invisible to the other participants. This is the magic of telecom! ...the magic of the KIDLINK family. While I speak of magic let me publicly thank the 'magicians' who weave the spell and make things run smoothly. You are a fantastic group! ...Odd, Claus, Dan, Mark, Lara, Mike, Oscar, Sally, Doug, those who have coordinated the projects and all those who participate with their students. Forgive me if I have omitted anyone! You do an excellent job and as I bring more Maryland teachers and students to KIDLINK you welcome us with open arms. Bless you all! Patti Weeg pweeg@source.asset.com ====================== -- end SITEK933 --