Technology resources and
tips.
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Online
Resources: Agenda Creator
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The Agenda
Creator is designed to help MarcoPolo Field Trainers develop
an appropriate training agenda based on their specific needs. The online
form asks three questions regarding an upcoming training, then creates
a sample agenda with an attendee view and a detailed trainer view. A
list of global
considerations also is available to help integrate the type of training
with the experience and skill level of the attendees.
The Agenda Creator and Global Considerations
are available in the "Before
Training" section of the MarcoPolo Trainer Resource Center.
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Training
Tips: Preparation
Is Key |
"To prepare for a training session, I
revisit all the Partner sites again to see what topics are currently
highlighted on each site. I also go through my MarcoGrams and review
those featured lessons. From these resources, I prepare a list of model
lessons or features that I want the group to view together so attendees
can fully appreciate the benefits of utilizing MarcoPolo Internet
Content."
Sherry
Thomas
District Technology Resource Teacher
Christian County Public Schools
Hopkinsville, Ky.
"I begin my training preparation by inquiring
as to who will be in the audience. I ask questions about their grade
level and subject areas. Based on what I find out about my audience,
I select lessons, video clips and handouts that correspond to their
needs. Then, I review the MarcoPolo Partner sites for any updates.
I try to group my participants by grade level or subject area for my
training sessions."
Sandra
Hornig
Training Specialist
Technology in Motion
Auburn, Ala.
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Training
Tip: Adapting
Lessons for Special Needs Students |
"In my training sessions, I share examples
of Web resources that can be differentiated for special needs students.
Gifted and talented students generally require greater depth and added
rigor, while special education students require generalized information.
I usually ask the gifted students to search for and evaluate Web sites
that provide different levels of information and assessments, which
could be extended or modified for special needs students. Then, I bookmark
the sites for use by the students who have varied reading and activity
levels."
Catherine
Tannahill
Assistant Professor in Instructional Technology
Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic, Conn.
News from MarcoPolo and
the Partners.
MarcoPolo Unveils
New Web Site Design
Check out the new design of the MarcoPolo
Web site. Field Trainers can easily locate necessary training tools,
tips and resources in the Trainer
Resource Center, accessible from the Professional
Development section of the Web site. The Trainer Resource Center breaks
down a typical training into three sections: Before
Training, During
Training and After
Training. Use the detailed step-by-step outlines to plan, conduct and
complete a successful MarcoPolo Training Session. A fourth section
of Additional
Resources contains links to Rusticello, FAQ, Field Trainer Guidelines,
and more.
Become a Field Trainer of
the Month
The MarcoPolo Education Foundation
is proud to recognize Field Trainers who have demonstrated outstanding
effort in their training sessions and outreach. Field
Trainers of the Month are selected based on the cumulative average
score received though surveys of their session attendees. A minimum 4.5
out of 5.0 trainer mean score and survey reports from 30 or more attendees
are required to become a Field Trainer of the Month. Get in the running
by reminding attendees to complete a MarcoPolo
Training Session Survey after each training session.
Visit ReadWriteThink, MarcoPolo's
Newest Partner
The ReadWriteThink
Web site is the combined effort of MarcoPolo's newest Partners,
the International Reading Association and the National Council
of Teachers of English. The IRA and NCTE
combine their expertise in reading and
language arts education to develop K-12 lesson plans and other educator
resources for this joint Web site. This issue of the Field Trainer MarcoGram
features a customized ReadWriteThink lesson to use in your next training
session.
WorldCom Inc.
Supports the MarcoPolo Education Foundation
WorldCom Inc. has long recognized
that the MarcoPolo program is emerging as a national treasure
for education, one that requires diverse and multiple funding sources.
WorldCom Inc. will continue its core funding through 2002, and will
allocate funding beginning in 2003 to support core program components.
We are pleased to continue providing training services in 2003 and beyond,
but we must recognize and redistribute the costs. The MarcoPolo
Education Foundation will continue to provide updated Elementary and
Secondary Guides, the Field Training Kit and the Training CD-ROM through
our Web site, free of charge. As of January 1, 2003, we also will provide
a variety of training services based on a fee structure well within
competitive models. We wish to extend a heartfelt thank you for the
support we have received from Field Trainers and educators who continue
to use MarcoPolo resources.
New Web Site Registration
Process
Beginning in December 2002, the MarcoPolo
Web site will implement a new registration requirement to allow access
to certain areas of the Teacher Resource section and the entire Trainer
Resource section of the MarcoPolo Web site. One-time registration
is free of charge, and will provide the Foundation with vital information
about our audience, which will aid in the development of future resources.
Field Trainers will use the same username and password as assigned for
Rusticello, the database that allows Trainers to register their sessions.
Download Training
Materials and Updated Teacher's Guides
Updated Teacher's Guides and existing
MarcoPolo
training
materials will continue to be available online for trainers to download
and print free of charge for use in training sessions. Beginning mid-December
2002, hard copy training materials can be ordered online at cost.
How educators and Field Trainers
are using MarcoPolo.
Introducing MarcoPolo
to Teachers in Europe
"I presented MarcoPolo:
Internet Content for the Classroom at the European Council for International
Schools (ECIS) in Berlin, Germany, in November 2002. During my presentation,
I covered the basic elements of MarcoPolo, including the MarcoPolo
Search Engine; Partner sites with lesson plans and recommended Web sites;
and MarcoGrams with timely announcements on new and proven lesson plans.
"Although I had no Internet
access in the room where I presented, the conference center had an Internet
café where I was able to download Partner Web sites and examples
of lesson plans from each site for elementary, middle and high school levels.
I used the downloadable applets from Illuminations to show the portability
of program elements. My greatest challenge was to simulate the search engine
and how it works without having a live Internet connection, so I used the
MarcoPolo
PowerPoint presentation to illustrate the choice of subject, site or grade
level when using the search engine. I also showcased the lessons and resources
available on the new ReadWriteThink site. As a follow-up, I posted the
MarcoPolo PowerPoint presentation and the brochure on the ECIS Web
site for participants to download after the conference.
"The participants were amazed
at the depth of the MarcoPolo resources. To them, the obvious benefits
were the quality of the lesson plans and Web resources hosted at the Partner
sites. While some of the materials in the social science department link
too strongly to American curriculum objectives, the math and science resources
are the most universal in terms of value to the international educational
community of teachers."
Camilla
Gagliolo
Director
of Information Technology
Rock Creek
International School
Washington,
D.C.
This lesson appeared in the December
2002 classroom edition of the MarcoGram, which featured lessons and
resources on reading, literature and creative writing.
Leading
to Great Places in the Elementary School Classroom
(Grades 3-5),
ReadWriteThink, International Reading Association
and the National Council of Teachers of English
Background
to the Lesson
This lesson examines the elements of leading
sentences in children's literature, and how authors use setting, action,
character, reflection, event and dialogue to grab the reader's attention.
Students are asked to read selected stories, discuss the style and attention-grabbing
qualities of the leads, and then generate alternate leads for a read-aloud
book.
During the training session, ask attendees
to review and analyze leading sentences. Then, discuss the effectiveness
of lead sentences when determining which books to read. Attendees can use
the MarcoPolo Search Engine to locate Partner-reviewed Web sites
that provide free electronic texts of books, plays or poems.
Preparing This Lesson for
Your Training Session
-
Ensure the availability of a word-processing
program for each computer.
Using This Lesson
in Your Training Session
-
Walk the attendees through the lesson, highlighting
various resources and reading requirements.
-
Open with a discussion about how authors use
attention-grabbing sentences to "set the stage" for their stories. The
quality and style of the lead sentences can either persuade or dissuade
a reader from continuing the story.
-
Distribute the Great
Leads handout and ask attendees to read the lead sentences to themselves.
Did the author use dialogue, reflection, description or action to "set
the stage"? Can the genre of the book (mystery, horror, science fiction,
coming of age) be determined simply by reading the lead sentence(s)? Which
of the selected leads would most likely persuade students to continue reading
the book(s)?
-
The second part of the lesson requires students
to compose their own leads for a story they have read together in class.
What type of instruction would the attendees use to guide the students
in composing their own leading sentences?
-
Ask attendees to search the Internet for Web
sites that offer partial or full texts of published books, plays or poems.
Two great sites to start with are the MarcoPolo
Search Engine (type "electronic texts" in the search field) and the
Internet
Public Library. Mention that while classical texts are easily found
online, many contemporary books and articles are not available online due
to copyright restrictions. Attendees should capture the Web site URLs in
a word processing document to share with others and take home for use in
the classroom.
Follow-up
Hold a discussion about using Internet
resources to teach reading skills. Ask attendees to share their experiences
with having students read texts from a computer screen versus in print.
What are the benefits or drawbacks of asking children to read text online?
Would they rather have students read a story as homework, or together in
class? What are some accommodation strategies that teachers can integrate
for their special needs population?
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Bookmarks
Quick
links to the resources you need most.
MarcoPolo
Trainer Resource Center
Field
Trainer MarcoGrams
Four
Steps to a Successful Training (PowerPoint)
Online
Training Materials
Register
a Training Session Online
Rusticello
Login
FAQ
about Field Training
MarcoPolo
Search Engine
The classroom edition
of the MarcoGram features warm-up activities and links to lesson plans
and resources based on a monthly theme.
December
2002
Reading:
It Takes You Places
November
2002
Double
Take: There Are (At Least) Two Sides to Every Story
October
2002
Money
Matters: Become a Financial Wizard
Read
past issues
Subscribe
to the classroom edition
Share Your Ideas
and Win MarcoPolo Goodies!
Congratulations
to Sherry Thomas,
Sandra Hornig,
Cathy Tannahill and
Camilla Gagliolo. Their training
tips are featured in this month's Field Trainer MarcoGram. Each will
receive a classroom set of MarcoPolo mousepads and pens.
Tell
us your "best practices," detailing in 300-500 words how you conduct
a successful Field Training. If we publish your idea on the Web site
or in a future Field Trainer MarcoGram, you'll receive a free classroom
set of MarcoPolo mousepads and pens -- great to use in your training
sessions!
Suggested topics
include:
- How have you
perfected your training sessions to maximize both resources and time?
- How do you teach
your favorite lesson?
- How have you
successfully integrated your state's educational standards into your
training sessions?
- How do you follow
up with your attendees after the training is over?
Submit
a Field Training tip
The deadline for
the next Field Trainer MarcoGram is February 3, 2002.
The Field Trainer
MarcoGram is produced by
MarcoPolo: Internet Content
for the Classroom
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The MarcoPolo Partnership
grants permission to reprint and distribute this Field Trainer MarcoGram
for use in a training session or classroom, or on Web sites devoted
to the field of education or professional development. All Web addresses
and links must be maintained in their original form as used in the published
MarcoGram.
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