------------------------------ KIDPLAN SITEK936 - 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: Iceland - Akureyri (see KIDPLAN SITEK935) Iceland - Reykjavik (Hagaskoli) (see KIDPLAN SITEK935) Iceland - Villingaholt (see KIDPLAN SITEK935) ** South Africa - Grahamstown ** USA - Bethany Connecticut USA - Mt. Belvieu Texas ** No Report Available USA - Mt. Belvieu Texas ----------------------- Date: 16 May 1993 20:56:46 -0500 (CDT) From: Barbara Hunter Subject: Feedback Annual Celeb Site: Mt. Belvieu, Texas USA Children participating: About 30 different 5th graders (ages 10-12) Set up: One modem, one PC, no overhead viewing at school, same at home. Enough for need, but a better set-up could involve so many more children. Hopefully, at least a projection panel for next year, and better organization on my part. Maybe a special phone line I could have for the entire time, and completely rescheduling of classes for 5th graders for the days would help. Had to telnet - no local IRC [Client] I did do a little e-mail with sites listed in SITEINDX, both in USA and abroad. No faxes, and probably no hope for any next year. (With the state school funding the way it is, we don't even have a job for next year yet!) I LOVED the SITES files, and SITEINDX file. All were helpful to me because I was so new. But, I liked them, and plan on using them to 1)plan for next year, 2) communicate with the sites next year , 3) ammunition for new equipment in our district. I pulled up three of four different versions of the SITES file updates. I think the KIDS IRC chat was fun for the kids. I did witness some foul language, and unfortunately it was while another teacher was observing some of her students chatting. She took it to the principal, but I used the siteindx file, pulled up the regular phone number for the school (here in the USA), and she (the principal) personally called the other principal. Seems the children there were supposedly on break, and a few rascals had sneaked into the library and got into it. My principal was satisfied, and this one event will not hinder next year. The one thing that really impressed my students was that children in other countries could converse so well in English. It made every one of them aware of what they should be doing, just in the way of learning a foreign language. If that isn't global awareness, I don't know what is. The documentation was great. Speaking of documentation, the new revised KIDS General file I read yesterday (vs. the one I pulled up last week) is absolutely superb! The little items the new one contains so much better explains the whole project. I know when I first read about this last fall, I was too overwhelmed to even join. Then, I got brave in April. If I had read the revised file last fall, I would have not hesitated to join then. I was completely cut off from the Chat from noon Friday, May 7th until about noon Saturday, May 8th. It just meant fewer children at school could be involved, and my daughter and friends Fri. night couldn't talk. But, those things probably will always happen. I certainly wouldn't fret too much over it. I really like KidBot. As some comments have already indicated, if there were any way to expand it, I would. I certainly did not plan far enough ahead. Of course, I joined late. I want to start at least by Feb. next year: study of time zones, languages in other cultures, practice writing questions (to use my scope and sequence of touch typing and wp), maybe having the kids develop spreadsheets/data bases themselves (small scale) with last year's siteindx vs. this years, and on and on. Actually, I will probably start about Oct.! Don't do different, just continue to be supportive to newcomers! I think the password discussion is necessary, due to what little I experienced. Unfortunate, but if the children are to be left on their own talking, this may be a problem What did the kids think? Probably the most exciting thing that has happened in this little town of semi-rural rice fields and middle-income chemical plant workers! More than half of these children never leave the area, and most never even get to Houston (25 miles). They at least know a little more about the world - I did manage to throw together a wall world map and some children got the sites plotted. They also believe me more when I tell them that computers and modems will be their lives! --- end of SITEK936 ---