10/1/90 8:04:49 PM Opening "AED.LOG.9.30" for recording. Attendance: AFC Tooter AFA Bard BABZ001 AFL Gayle AFP TimB MAAM Ronna V -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFA Bard : Make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in the upright position. We'll be starting in a moment! AFL Gayle : Welcome to the Apple // Education Forum! Please toggle to your menu bar (Open Apple T) while I am talking. Pull down the menu called HotShot, and it will give you the schedule of chats being held in AED and the Macintosh Education Forum this week. When you use our Let's Discuss Message Board now, it will also scan the message boards in Direct Connect and our Special Interest Groups. This feature is still "under construction," so it isn't fully implemented yet, but stay tuned for this feature to be available for all of AED's message boards. Don't forget to read From the Forum Leader each week. It's at the top of the menu when you enter AED. There you will find the latest breaking news and a schedule of coming events. Plan now to enter your class in the America Online Academic Bowl. Students in grades 4-6 are eligible. The first one for this school year will be held October 26. Watch the message board for more details. Now to our topic... Let's talk about Using America Online in Your School! No protocol is used. Just be polite and don't step on anyone's toes. :) Free hours will be given away this evening to those people using the "secret words." You have to talk to win. :) OK. You may talk now. How are some of you using America Online in your schools? AFA Bard : MAAM.. how about you? Do you have access to AO at your school? MAAM : No, but I'm working on trying to get it! AFA Bard : It's well worth it! What about;you Babz, Ronna? MAAM : I'd very much like to participate in Tooter's Scrapbook project. Ronna V : Our school just purchased three modems and hooked on to the National Geographic BABZ001 : No modem 'til mid-October for us. I'll try to send from my house. Sorry to miss Oct. 2 on-line plans. AFL Gayle : Well, those modems will log you on to AO, too, Ronna. :) DougB5 : Well, I got a Shanghai Shakespeare tileset out of all that! :) Ronna V : telecommunications program. How do I go about making an AO presentation so they AFL Gayle : Toot, how about telling us about the ScrapBook Project? AFA Bard : Babz.. don't worry. You can jump in again, soon! Ronna V : will be as thrilled with it as I am? AFC Tooter: I just got dumped. Storm approaching. AFL Gayle : Ronna, who do you want to make the presentation to, your faculty, PTA, BOE or whom? BABZ001 : I'm interested in Ronna's question as well. Faculty and teacher/class situation for me. Ronna V : It would have to be to the administration. That's where the funding would come Ronna V : from AFA Bard : Ronna... I like the "live" demonstration. Tell us and we'll try to help you out online! :) AFL Gayle : Yes, I was about to suggest what Bard said. AFA Bard : Also.. you might download some of the Scrapbook stuff from last year and show it to them. :) GMTA Gayle! AFL Gayle : Map out the areas you want to present before you go online. Tell us as soon as you know, so we can be online to help you demonstrate the chatting features of AO. Gerry has even gotten some of the administrators to come to her house on a Sun. night to see this chat "live." AFA Bard : An LCD viewer also makes for a nice presentation to the faculty. :) Ronna V : I can see the many uses of AO for the upper grades but what about the primary Ronna V : grades? AFL Gayle : What grades are we talking about, Ronna and Bab? Ronna V : Grades k-2. BABZ001 : Grades 7-12 for me. MAAM : Is AO any closer to special billing and/or rates for schools? BABZ001 : Grades 7-12 for me. AFL Gayle : MAAM, Tom is working on that now. I don't really know how close we are to it yet. Tom is the producer of the Teachers' Information Network here on AO. AFA Bard : Ronna - Through Scrapbook, your kids can write stories or learn about other kids everywhere. Ronna V : What is scrapbook and where is it? AFL Gayle : OK. Good opening for you, Toot. How about telling us about the ScrapBook Project? AFC Tooter: There are 2nd graders AO ScrapBook now. MAAM : Thanks. Yes, I know Tom and I've added my 2 cents o the folder on it. AFC Tooter: System VERY sluggish. Not sure I can talk. AFL Gayle : That came through, Toot. Keep going. :) AFC Tooter: We have one class of 2nd graders in this round of Scraps. We need more!!! If you haven't looked at the StoS board with the description of the project, I recommend it as a starting point. Then, just send me e-mail and I'll help you get started. We have 12 to 16 schools involved and preparing to exchange papers in late October. AFA Bard : Welcome Jeannie!! AFC Tooter: System failing - thunder, lightening, storm, power-outs, sluggish computer I'm signing off. Gayle and Bard will have to tell the rest. Ronna V : O.K., Toot Thanks, I will. AFL Gayle : OK. The StoS area that Toot mentioned you can find by using the keyword AED. AFA Bard : How about the LOGISTICS of using AO at school... anyone had experiences with that? AFL Gayle : Then choose the Special Interest Groups. Then The Education Connection. Then you will see a message board called School to School. In there, there are several folders about the project. MAAM : I'm interested in that too, Bard. AFL Gayle : Also, in that same area, you will find a library with ScrapBook files from last year's project. OK. Any more questions about ScrapBook or does anyone have any response to Bard's question of logistics? Welcome, Leonard. :) AFL Biblia: I just did, Bard! AFL Biblia: Hi all! AFA Bard : Hiya Leonard! AFL Gayle : Has anyone here used AO in their school yet? AFA Bard : Logistically.. we opted for a non-dedicated modem line. That is, we had the phone company install a switch so that we could temporarily lock out incoming calls. It works very well. Also.. we used a Password Protection desk accessory, available here on AO in the AUT area, to protect unauthorized access to the modem. As far as online use... AFL Gayle : Hi, Gerry! :) AFL Biblia: Gerry!] AFA Bard : I co-founded the Scrapbook USA program with AFC Tooter a year ago. I've "swapped writings" with GerryR5 : HI!! Sorry I am late..a meeting ran over.. AFA Bard : 4 other schools online. I'm also participating in the US-Soviet bridge project. (You can find info. on that project in the Special Interest Group area of AED). AFL Gayle : Welcome, Rick! :) AFA Bard : Hiya [Gerry!!!] Hiya Rick! RTAFT : Hi Gayle, Bard and everyone else! AFA Bard : Welcome Charles! AFL Gayle : Gerry, how about sharing with us how you have used AO in your school? Ronna V : It sounds so great. I hope I can talk my school into it. CharlesFMN: Hi! Call me Charlie! GerryR5 : HI Rick! WELCOME Charles...He is A friend of mine, group!! :) Jeannie4 : HI, THIS IS JEANNIE 4 FROM ALASKA. WE WANT TO USE AMERICA ON LINE IN OUR SCHOOL, HOW CAN WE? AFA Bard : Go for it Gayle! GerryR5 : Gayle, why don't you answer Jeannie first?? :) AFL Gayle : Jeannie, what grades do you want to use AO with? One way we've already discussed was getting involved in the ScrapBook Project. That can actually be done with all grades. I don't know anyone who has tried it yet, but I could even see older students helping Kindergartners put their Scraps in a text file. Ronna V : A new ?. If I spend my time and energy into preparing a presentation to the ... Ronna V : administration and then training staff to use it, what's in it for me? AFA Bard : Welcome Pest!!! AFL Gayle : Welcome, Vernon! :) What's in it for you, Ronna? Your students will have access to students from Pest II : Hi all, Hi Bard, Gayle AFA Bard : Welcome PSP! AFL Gayle : all over the country. You will be able to show them the "cutting edge" of telecommunications. :) CharlesFMN: I gotta say that, no matter how much work it takes, there is something in it for us all! Education! MAAM : I'm afraid I have to sign off. That same storm that got Tooter is hitting here MAAM : now. AFL Gayle : Thanks for coming, MAAM. :) AFA Bard : Nite MAAM! Ronna V : See ya MAAM. AFL Gayle : Right, Charles! :) GerryR5 : Gayle, it just makes teaching a whole lot more FUN too!!! :) Pest II : One of the great things about telecommunications is that it often serves AFA Bard : Don't forget another use for AO in schools, too.... GerryR5 : Hi Ragen! :) Pest II : as a good impetus for kids to write AFL Gayle : Another excellent promotional tool is the Academic Bowl. It's for grades 4-6, AFA Bard : Hiya Ragen!!!!!!!!!!!!! CharlesFMN: The problem I face is getting non-computer users to ADMIT that it is easy and has merit. AFL Gayle : but Bobalooo, who coordinates the Bowl, said he might consider grade 7, too. GerryR5 : Right, Gayle!!! MY school can't WAIT for the next one..Oct. when????? RagenT : HI! Sorry I'm late, I had company. AFL Gayle : Charles, the best way to do that is to SHOW them how easy it all is. :) Pest II : I think that one way to do that Charles is by demonstration Pest II : (what Gayle said) AFL Gayle : You missed that in the macros, Gerry. Come on time and you would know. ;) GerryR5 : October 26.... RagenT : My school is very interested in the BOWL. AFL Gayle : However, I will repeat it. :) It's on October 26 at 1:30 pm. EDT GerryR5 : Sorry, Gayle....wish I could split me in half sometimes... AFL Gayle : Stay tuned to the AED Message Board for more details. :) Ronna V : I definitely agree to all the benefits of AO in the classroom and I'm pretty AFA Bard : What a scary thought, Gerry. :) GerryR5 : Ragen, the excitement is hard to picture till you are there...even the reluctant students have a glow Ronna V : sure that my school will go for it, but I think there should be an AO rep to GerryR5 : in their eyes..and are THINKING!!!!!!!!!! :) Ronna V : sell it to the school, not me. GerryR5 : I know, Bard..you couldn't take TWO of me could you? LOL!!! RagenT : I have gotten permission and the 5th and sixth grade teachers are excited! AFA Bard : Right Ronna. We can definitely help! Also remember that there's a GREAT tutoring service (have you AFL Gayle : Ronna, you need to post those kinds of comments in the Customer Service area of AO. AFA Bard : all checked out the teacher pager yet?) and an online encyclopedia! Ronna V : O.K., I will. GerryR5 : Ronna, in a more perfect world there might be, but right now we are them..and we are the most excited AFL Gayle : We can convey them to the "powers that be," but it carries more weight when GerryR5 : ones anyway..;) AFL Gayle : lots of users communicate that to them. :) RagenT : Are you speaking of telecommunications in general or just AO? GerryR5 : the tutoring service helped my daughter through math a year ago..now she is all caught up, and doing AFL Gayle : Well, the topic tonight was using AO in your school, but if you want to expand GerryR5 : well. :) RagenT : I had some very good experiences last year with teachers, students and local BBS AFL Gayle : the discussion, Ragen, that's fine. ;) Tell us about it, Ragen, please. Pest II : I'm the Apple section manager of a BOE run BBS here in New York RagenT : The local consortium set up a Mac in Middleboro Ma and the local schools hooks RagenT : up. We had a weather service and made a newspaper. We tried surveys and let RagenT : kids who competed against each other in sports chat and become friends. At the RagenT : end of the year we had a BBS picnic and all the kids met other kids who RagenT : they had been talking to online... Real fun! Pest II : the great thing about doing something like that is that many kids find that GerryR5 : Great idea, Ragen! That is one of the fun parts of meeting at computer shows too..even adults like to Ronna V : Sounds great! About how many kids were involved? GerryR5 : meet those they have talked to online..:) Pest II : they have things in common with people they might not have bothered to Pest II : talk to otherwise GerryR5 : EXACTLY, Pest!!!!! :) AFL Gayle : Vernon, tell us a little bit about your BBS, please. How is it used by teachers RagenT : Lots. The picnic was at my school and there were close to 40 kids. AFL Gayle : for educational activities? RagenT : But many more kids participated. We also played Battleship online. Pest II : I only manage the Apple section of the BBS, but mostly NYCENET is used as a Pest II : teachers resource, for "class projects" and for homebound students Pest II : Teachers have their students log on for various projects, but as I'm not AFL Gayle : Is the BBS open to others? If we wanted to look around there, how would we Pest II : a teacher I don't know the specifics. I think one linked NYC students with AFL Gayle : contact NYCNET, Vernon? Pest II : students from Russia though Pest II : Ah, Gayle if only you'd asked before! The BBS now only allows logins on an Pest II : application basis. I can imagine that it's not difficult to get access if you Pest II : are an educator though. If anyone's interested in how to apply send me Pest II : mail and I'll get you the address AFA Bard : Wow, sounds GREAT, Vernon! What were some of the class projects you did online? Pest II : They had to go to applications when the system became very large... Pest II : Again, I'm not in on the specifics because I'm a volunteer. Mostly I think that Pest II : schools are linked up to each other and lots of students write each other and Pest II : get to know each other better. There was also an online Groliers Encyclopedia Pest II : at one time which people could use as a resource too Pest II : There is also a "students" board -- run by a student -- the best feature of that Pest II : t is the online "never ending story" which is silly...but the kids like it Pest II : and it gets them writing AFL Gayle : OK. It's about time to close now. However, don't run away! I still have to announce our winners for this evening. :) Ronna V : That's a great idea for primary grades! AFA Bard : Hi Betsy! AFL Gayle : Ronna V wins 2 free hours. She said the secret words "Bowl" (as in Academic :) Pest II : As Apple section manager I get to answer people's questions about Apple compute AFL Gayle : and "telecommunications." :) Pest II : ours and other people occasionally jump in too BetsyF : Hi Bard. AFL Gayle : Oops, correction! That was RagenT who said those words and won 2 hours. :) RagenT : I'm embarrassed! AFL Gayle : Don't panic, though, Ronna. :) You won one free hour for saying "modem." :) CharlesFMN: Easy come, easy go, Ronna! Pest II : (cheering) speech...speech! GerryR5 : Congrats, Ronna!!!! :) AFL Gayle : No need to be embarrassed, Ragen.Congratulations! :) Pest II : oops RagenT : It made my weekend though because last night our override fell thru and I RagenT : LOST my job!. I have 30 days.... Ronna V : Thank you, all. RagenT : So thanks for the good news and nice evening out! AFL Gayle : Gosh, that's too bad, Ragen. :( Good luck in finding a new position. AFA Bard : You seem VERY talented, Ragen. Wanna move South? :) CharlesFMN: AAARGH! Hang in there, Ragen! Come to MN! AFL Gayle : You're welcome, Ragen. We're delighted you came. :) Ronna V : These chats are always so interesting! Pest II : ooh, that's bad Ragen. I hope some lucky employer scoops you up! AFL Gayle : JanF has also won some free hours for having the most talked about upload in RagenT : Thanks, we may be looking elsewhere... Who knows. AFL Gayle : our library. It's a HyperStudio Stack dealing with the Middle East. Be sure Ronna V : hang in there Ragen, something will come along. BetsyF : I missed the co., but am wondering if there are files here about using AO in the classroom. and check it out in the New Files Library of AED if you haven't already. AFA Bard : Great!!! Jan's MIDEAST STACK is professional and really shows off HS's great features! CharlesFMN: G'night all! Thanks for the inspiration! AFA Bard : Nite Charles... thanks for stopping by! AFL Gayle : Betsy, the log from tonight will be posted in the New Files Library later this Pest II : bye Charles BetsyF : Thanks Gayle. AFL Gayle : week. AFL Biblia: 'night all! Ronna V : Thanks Gayle and good night all. Pest II : 'night Ronna AFA Bard : Nite Leonard, Ronna! AFL Gayle : Good night, Leonard and Ronna. :) Jeannie4 : JEANNIE IN ALASKA WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO USE AMER ON LINE IN HER SCHOOLS AFL Gayle : Welcome, Don! :) AFC DonB : hi! AFL Gayle : Jeannie, what grades do you work with? RagenT : My brother just went there for his honeymoon and LOVED Alaska! Jeannie4 : Jeannie works with k-12 AFL Gayle : Welcome, Mark! AFA Bard : Hiya Mark!!!!!!!!!! Pest II : Hi Mark Mark1001 : Hiya! AFA Bard : Howdy Don! AFL Gayle : Oh, wow! Then you can use everything we have suggested. :) Jeannie, we have a project online called ScrapBook U.S.A. You can read about it by choosing Special Interest Groups; then The Education Connection; then GerryR5 : HI Mark!!! :)\ AFL Gayle : School to School. This is all after you've entered the AED menu. There is also Mark1001 : Hiya Ger! AFL Gayle : a library there that has ScrapBook files from last year's project. For specifics about the ScrapBook Project, come to this room on Wed. at 9:30 pm EDT AFA Bard : Jeannie, you can download the LOG of tonite's conference. It will be posted in AED's NEW FILES very soon! Also, your 4th-6th graders can participate in the Academic Bowl online. That BetsyF : Gayle, is the Scrapbook project appropriate for Macs, too? AFL Gayle : will be held on Oct. 26 (That's a Fri.) at 1:30 pm EDT. AFL Gayle : Yes, Betsy. They are all textfiles, so any computer can read them. AFA Bard : (You Bet, Betsy! Everything's ASCII!) BetsyF : Great, Bard! AFL Gayle : Stay tuned to the AED Message Board for more details on the Academic Bowl. Jeannie4 : we would like to sell our board on using amer on line in all of our schools,we are very remote AFL Gayle : Betsy, that area of the message boards is connected directly with the Mac Education Forum, too. AFA Bard : Jeannie... do you know JoeRR1? He's online from Nome. AFL Gayle : Great idea, Jeannie! :) Collect some of the files and messages to show them Pest II : Jeannie, you might also call AT&T I hear that they have a special project BetsyF : Oh, I see. Thanks, Gayle. Jeannie4 : we need more info than is in the brochure Pest II : in which they connect schools from across the country. AFL Gayle : what can be done on AO. Also, as Bard said, check the New Files Library of AED for the log from this chat. That will tell you more details. Vernon, they do, but that project is VERY expensive and serves only a limited number of students for your $$$. AO doesn't limit how many students you can Pest II : really? Bummer AFL Gayle : upload files from. :) GerryR5 : Jeannie, we would love to have you online with us!!!!! We have some great projects going on here. :) BetsyF : I don't suppose AO give prime time discounts to schools? AFL Gayle : Not yet, Betsy. :( Mark1001 : don't suppose so... AFA Bard : But compare to C$erve or GTE.. we're a bargain! :) BetsyF : (no budget) AFA Bard : And we've got QUALITY! Pest II : and great Forum leaders RagenT : I can vouch for that! GerryR5 : sure do!!!!! :) AFA Bard : And great users! Pest II : and a great interface! AFA Bard : And one HECK of a teacher's information network! Pest II : Hey, Bard...they should hire us as "evangelists"! Jeannie4 : can someone tell me whats happening in Nome as far as computer educ. and online America? AFA Bard : Say Amen, Vernon! :)))))))))))))) AFL Gayle : Yes, Jeannie. I can. GerryR5 : afk..hurt child downstairs..:( RagenT : Hurry! AFL Gayle : Joe, the person that Bard mentioned, works in the public library in Nome. He has a special exchange project going with people in Russia. You can find more about that project in The Education Connection/The Soviet/Am Bering Bridge area online. There is a message board and files that have been shared from USSR to the US in a library there. AFA Bard : My students REALLY enjoyed sending the first batch of letters... they're learning about the USSR too! Pest II : There was a similar project on our local BBS Jeannie4 : are there any other schools in Alaska that are members of America online Pest II : And all this says nothing about how AO is a potentially great source of BetsyF : Jeannie, is North Pole Alaska anywhere near you? Pest II : information for teachers AFL Gayle : Jeannie, there was a school last year that participated in one of our projects, but I can't recall the name offhand. Sorry. School in Alaska, that is. RagenT : Don't tell me. Santa Claus? AFA Bard : Currently, the MEMBERSHIP directory lists 66 members with Alaska in their information.. you might check that directory for some information! Jeannie4 : North Pole is about 400 air miles from us GerryR5 : Back.....yes, Pest..it IS a great way for teachers to exchange ideas too. :) BetsyF : No, it really is a place, Ragen. I have a teacher friend there that just got dozens of computers. AFL Gayle : Just recalled it. Sitka was the name AFA Bard : Membership Directory can be reached using Keyword: MEMBERS. :) RagenT : Wonderful!!! AFL Gayle : Yes, Bard, but only those who have a Mac can search by state. AFA Bard : Oops. Sorry. :) BetsyF : Too bad it's so far, Jeannie, I don't think he has AO. Jeannie4 : what specificallyt are you guys doing with AO in k-6 AFL Gayle : Jeannie, those in all of the grades can participate in the ScrapBook Project. Those in grades 4-6 can participate in the Academic Bowl. In the ScrapBook Project, they write about their area and share it with other students across the nation. The full name of the project is ScrapBook, USA. The intent is to have "Scraps" from every state in the nation. Jeannie4 : has any one done anything with music and midi AFL Gayle : Jeannie, Greg Dibs is the consultant for the Music and Sounds Forum here on AO. He is a music teacher who is very involved with using MIDI and music in his AFL Gayle : classroom. His screen name is ElectMusic. GerryR5 : screenname is Electmusic GerryR5 : GMTA!!! :) Pest II : gmta? AFL Gayle : Great Minds Think Alike, Vernon. Pest II : <-------(not so great mind) Jeannie4 : thomas brock has just joined me. he travels to his schools by plane and teaches everything. he is also Pest II : Well, I have got to move on...nice "seeing" you all! AFL Gayle : Welcome, Thomas! :) AFA Bard : Gotta run folks! See you folks online! JEANNIE... I look forward to working with you on Scrapbook!! Nite Vernon! AFL Gayle : Thanks for coming, Vernon! :) Pest II : night Bard Pest II : see you Gayle RagenT : I need to leave too, but Jeannie has had me captivated... Jeannie4 : great with computers. he really wants AO in his schools. he needs to sell his staff on AO usage AFA Bard : Me too... I'm gonna STAY a bit longer! :))) AFL Gayle : Jeannie, are there any specific questions we can answer for you? RagenT : I hope I'll get to learn more about computing in Alaska in future AED forums! RagenT : Until then, I must leave. Thanks for the free hours! Good night, all. AFL Gayle : Bye, Ragen! Thanks for coming. :) BetsyF : Are there any lesson plans here that specifically involve AO use? (They might help Jeannie-& me, too) GerryR5 : Night, Ragen!!!!! :) Jeannie4 : yes. how do i keep this text so that i can use your comments for my report to our board? AFA Bard : I'll take that one, Gayle. AFL Gayle : Thanks, Bard. :) AFA Bard : Jeannie, I'll be glad to collect your comments and send them to you e-mail. In the future you can pull down your FILE menu and record conferences using the LOG function. AFL Gayle : I'd love to stay and talk, but I've got another meeting I need to get to. Jeannie, if you can, stop by here on Wed. at 9:30 pm EDT to hear more about the ScrapBook Project. Also, this log will be posted in the New Files Library. Bye, all, and thanks for coming! :) AFA Bard : I'll hand around a few minutes, Jeannie, to answer any more questions you might have. hand = hang! :) Jeannie4 : i think my district would be interested in having someone train its teachers in AO application. GerryR5 : Jeannie, what kind of computer are you using? That will make a difference in how you start a log. :) Mark1001 : thanks Gayle and Bard! BetsyF : Bard, did you see my question a while back? AFA Bard : Looking.. Aha! Yes, Betsy.. about the lesson plans... Jeannie4 : we have had people come up to serve as trainers with our computer curriculum. our program is BetsyF : Yes...it might really help. AFA Bard : You might find some lesson plans in the Teacher's Information Section -- keyword TIN. Also, in the GerryR5 : I agree, Betsy..have been suggesting that to the crew here..;) AFA Bard : Scrapbook area (EdConnection/Scrapbook) you'll find some specific information about scrapbook in a nice, neat package, ready to download! Gerry consider that a challenge! :) Let's write some lesson plans!!! Jeannie4 : very innovative. we have more computers than anyone in America. is anyone interested in coming? GerryR5 : Yes, Bard..that IS very helpful..that is what convinced our eighth grade teacher to enter the project BetsyF : OK, I'll check those out. If I go to the board looking for $, I have to be ***VERY*** convincing. BetsyF : (Broke school) :( AFA Bard : An online demo would do wonders. Also, if it will help, we can upload "letters of testimony" to you for distribution. :) I'm an expert at that! Jeannie4 : i am using a mac plus BetsyF : Bet it *would* help to have formal *result* info. GerryR5 : Sure, Jeannie...Bard & I will BOTH come..:) Actually, I think you need to approach Quantum on that..;) AFA Bard : Jeannie.. if you're on a MAC, you can use the SELECT ALL feature on your EDIT menu and COPY the chat's text into a file. I'd LOVE to some... and Gerry can knit me a MAJOR sweater for the trip! :))) GerryR5 : WE CAN meet you anytime you wish online and talk to your teachers that way though..just let us know when GerryR5 : when.. AFA Bard : some = come! (fingers tired!) BetsyF : Jeannie, how did you get the computers? GerryR5 : Bard..I quit knitting now that I am online...I don't have time anymore for anything except AO! LOL!!! GerryR5 : online AFA Bard : LOL! Jeannie4 : our superintendent is really committed to educ tech and its use with students. he has vision! BetsyF : Did you get a grant? AFA Bard : Great, Jeannie! Remember that the BEST reason to use AO is that you're opening up the WORLD to your relatively remote location. Going Global, so to speak. :)) Jeannie4 : no. our admin. saw the need for improved ways to help our students learn. computers are our window to Jeannie4 : the world. AFA Bard : Yep! BetsyF : How wonderful!!! We got ours through a grant, but it took two years of grant cycles to be awarded. GerryR5 : Right..fits in with the national commitment to global education...and is fun too;;) AFA Bard : And TEACHERS can directly benefit as well... all of this exchange really gets the creativity flowing! Jeannie4 : well i won't keep you. someone promised to send me this conf. text on e mail. will talk with you again GerryR5 : I like what it does for the difficult to reach student..they really seem to catch fire, and work hard. AFA Bard : Will do Jeannie! G'night everyone!