11/17/91 7:58:04 PM Opening "Chat Log 11/17/91" for recording. AFL Gayle : Well, let's get started. Our guest tonight is ACOTGina. ACOTScott, better ACOTGina : Hi everyone. This a real free for all, isn't it. I don't know exactly how to go about the presentati MaryEz : Hello, How are you all? AFL Gayle : known as Thelma, will introduce Gina. :) AFL Gayle : Hi, Jock! :) AFA Bard : Welcome Jock! JOCKGILL : Greetings from Chilly Medford! AFL Gayle : We'll get the free for all sort of under control soon, Gina. Don't worry. :) AFA Bard : And from warm Atlanta! ;) Panda4 : Ditto from B'ham, Bard:) LavonneS : Gayle, does it ever really get under control ?? ACOTScott : Hello, everyone. We are happy tonight to have with us, ACOTScott : Gina Maria Funaro AFL Gayle : :), Lavonne. :) ACOTScott : She is the External Project Manager, for the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow ACOTScott : Ms. Funaro has been involved in education and technology for nine years. JOCKGILL : I've posted a few notes on the ACOT BBS. Any feed-back? AFL Gayle : Hmmm... Murray, who is with Thelma, says Thelma is having some technical AFL Gayle : difficulties, so we'll continue. Jock, would you tell us what you've said AFL Gayle : on the message board, please, so that the ACOT people can respond? AFL Gayle : Welcome, Dave! For those who don't know, BE stands for Blue Earth, another AFL Gayle : ACOT site. JOCKGILL : Well that has taken hours of time, but the issue is how can layer technology on a failing foundation. ACOTScott : She completed her Masters degree in Interactive Educational Technology at Stanford University ACOTScott : in 1984. She taught programming to the Masters students at Stanford ACOTScott : during the following year. IBM hired Ms. Funaro to field test, evaluate and redesign ACOTScott : educational software. Upon completion of the courseware, she continued with ACOTScott : IBM to train teachers and school administrators to integrate technology into their classrooms. ACOTScott : She has been working for the Apple Computer Corporation for the past three years ACOTScott : as an education innovation project specialist for a research and development group ACOTScott : called the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT.) Currently, Ms. Funaro manages approximately ACOTScott : 20 external research and development projects for ACOT and concentrates ACOTScott : her efforts on the issue of technology transfer. ACOTScott : We are glad to have Gina with us tonight. AFA Bard : Welcome Gina! ACOTScott : We will now let her tell us about her work ACOTScott : Gina, it s all yours!!! ACOTGina : Thanks Thelma. ACOTGina : I'd like to give you an overview of ACOT's ACOTGina : goals and how we're structured in order to achieve those goals. ACOTGina : ACOT's mission is to change the way people think with and use technology for learning. ACOTGina : I'd like to begin by distinguishing two different types of learning environments. ACOTGina : The first is characterized by the transfer of knowledge from the teacher to the student; ACOTGina : therefore, the teacher is at the center of this model. ACOTGina : Students learn by listening to the teacher explain new concepts, ACOTGina : by working individually at their desks, reading texts, completing work sheets, practicing skills. ACOTGina : Students are assessed by the number of facts they have learned. ACOTGina : The learning model is an additive one in which each new fact ACOTGina : is added to a bank of knowledge already collected in the student's brain. ACOTGina : The second type of learning environment is one characterized by students ACOTGina : constructing their own knowledge. The environment, whether it be a classroom, ACOTGina : a courthouse, or a canyon is a learner centered environment. ACOTGina : The teacher acts as a facilitator in setting a stimulating context for students ACOTGina : to learn different strategies for solving new problems. ACOTGina : Tools help students collect information, analyze information, ACOTGina : work collaboratively with fellow students, and represent their knowledge ACOTGina : from varied perspectives. These actions help students establish relationships ACOTGina : and thus understand complex concepts. ACOTGina : The emphasis is on the depth of knowledge as opposed to the quantity of facts. ACOTGina : ACOT's goals include the development of learning environments based on the constructivist model. ACOTGina : We support and instruct teachers to become expert at guiding students ACOTGina : to construct their knowledge. We research and develop those ACOTGina : technology tools that make student inquiry possible. ACOTGina : We observe and document the effects of the teaching methods and technology tools on learning. ACOTGina : We disseminate our findings to educators, policy makers, ACOTGina : parents and other stakeholders in the education process. ACOTGina : Finally, our experience puts us in a good position to advise ACOTGina : Apple developers on building systems for learners of all ages. ACOTGina : We have designed a unique structure for accomplishing these goals. ACOT consists of ACOTGina : Longitudinal Research Centers and Experimental Learning Centers. ACOTGina : The Longitudinal Research Centers are classrooms within three schools: ACOTGina : an elementary school in California, a middle school in Arizona, and a high school in Ohio. ACOTGina : Teachers and students in these classrooms use a variety of advanced technologies and are ACOTGina : involved in long term research on the effects of high access to technology on teaching and learning. ACOTGina : Experimental Learning Centers are partnerships among technology developers, educational researchers, ACOTGina : and teachers focused on developing and integrating one particular new tool. ACOTGina : We also develop technology internally. ACOTGina : Educational researchers investigate both the cognitive impact of the tool ACOTGina : as well as the appropriatation process of the teacher. ACOTGina : Information about the appropriation process is key in helping us transfer the tools ACOTGina : when they become stable products to the longitudinal research centers. ACOTGina : This cycle of events means that the environments in the longitudinal research centers ACOTGina : are always changing, staying about three to five years ahead of a typical U.S. ACOTGina : classroom and ACOT is constantly thinking about new tools internally and looking for ACOTGina : external developers who are working on tools which we feel will benefit ACOTGina : the learning process in the future. ACOTGina : One of our experimental projects involves building curriculum which enables students ACOTGina : to investigate new areas of interest utilizing digital image processing software. ACOTGina : Students have access to a variety of images from planetary images to x-rays ACOTGina : of the human body. Sixty teachers are actually involved in this project. ACOTGina : We will be concentrating our research efforts in only two of those ACOTGina : classrooms. However, all of the teachers are using America Online to develop an expert subculture ACOTGina : on curriculum utilizing digital image processing. ACOTGina : Groups of about five teachers are holding monthly AOL conferences and each teacher ACOTGina : is posting a monthly summary of their classroom experiences, problems, ACOTGina : and accomplishments in the Image Processing Library. ACOTGina : External experimental learning center projects range from simulations ACOTGina : to multi-media composing environments. In choosing experimental projects, ACOTGina : I look for tools which enable students to pursue their own knowledge in a unique way ACOTGina : and which stimulate teachers to rethink their traditional instructional roles. ACOTGina : An example of our internal development projects is the use of wireless portable computers ACOTGina : with software which allows students to analyze information in the same place they collect ACOTGina : it while collaborating with fellow researchers. ACOTGina : Other projects involve tools to enhance the use of simulations and interactive television. ACOTGina : To summarize, ACOT believes that technology alone won't have a dramatic effect on classrooms. ACOTGina : Technology must be coupled with a different view of learning. ACOTGina : With powerful tools, teaching methods which make school relevant to student's lives ACOTGina : as well as structural changes which give teachers the power and ACOTGina : independence to innovate that we have been talking about giving our students, ACOTGina : motivated, independent thinkers will be as prevalent as the number of dropouts today. ACOTGina : I'd like to ask members of the ACOT community who are online to add ACOTGina : their personal comments at this time. AFL Gayle : OK, Dave, Music, and others. Any comments? ACOTScott : Jim, why don't you tell us first? ACOTScott : Jim is with the new Image Processing group that Gina mentioned. AFL Gayle : OK. Great! Go for it, Jim! :) Tell us about the new IP Group online, please. :) ACOTScott : The Image Processing Library is located in the Public ACOT area here online. ACOTScott : Some of the people online may not know where it is located. Use the keyword: ACOT. ACOTGina : Jim, you might want to describe to software you are using and what the students are doint with it. ACOTScott : While he is collecting his thoughts, perhaps Dave would tell us about his project. IPRiser : We are using NIH Image for most of the IP work IPRiser : with NCSA image, Pixel pusher, and PalEdit for additional resourses IPRiser : These are all public domain software and FREE! ACOTScott : Are all these posted in your files, Jim? AFL Gayle : Do those programs run on the Mac, Jim? ACOTScott : Those that are in the Image Processing Library? IPRiser : With several external devices (scanners videocameras etc. students can make their own images to explor BE Dave : What exactly do you DO with this software, and images? IPRiser : One of our new activities is making contour maps from a real model IPRiser : students are discovering the need for collecting good data IPRiser : and checking things with "ground truth" or improving their IPRiser : collection techniques IPRiser : They initially examine imperfect images and have to discover AFL Gayle : What grade levels do you work with on these projects, Jim? IPRiser : what is wrong with them AFL Gayle : The rest of the audience, please feel free to jump in with your questions about IPRiser : they next devise their own image creating techniques AFL Gayle : ACOT. Remember we have one free hour to give away this evening to the lucky AFL Gayle : person who says the secret word. If you don't talk, you can't win. :) Panda4 : Was your question answered Gayle? IPRiser : for capturing reliable images. The whole thing is to get students IPRiser : problem solving and questioning the validity of remote sensing techniques. BE Dave : Do you use the X-ap shot camera at all? AFA Bard : Gayle: What grade levels do you work with on these projects, Jim? IPRiser : 7 the and 8 th graders Panda4 : What platform are you using and in what format are the images saved? AFA Bard : Great question, Panda! AFL Gayle : Right, Andy. That addresses my first question. :) Thanks! :) IPRiser : I am currently using a camcorder or a videocamera with ComputerEyes IPRiser : the massmicrosystems board is faster/better but more expensive IPRiser : Saving in PICT or TIFF MaryEz : What evaluation tools are you using? How is accountability taken care of? LavonneS : Mac I assume? Panda4 : I can convert TIFF images but they are very large, could you GIF them? IPRiser : I am still in the process of developing the course! The evaluation system that I use will be a IPRiser : combination of oral one-on-one and looking at finished projects ACOTScott : You might also like to hear from ACOTMUSIC. Bob works in Columbus, OH. IPRiser : that the students create. Remember that I am interested in developing skills not cramming facts. ACOTScott : Bob, tell us something about your part in ACOT. AFL Gayle : Yes, Bob. Please tell us about your project. :) ACOTMUSIC : My original mission in the ACOT project was to look for ways that students could use technology to IPBenson : If you save a GIF In PICT, Image reads the graphic. IPRiser : So, the evaluation methods must be developed. By next May I hope to have a good handle on thec Eval IPRiser : problems ACOTGina : Congratulations on your new book, Bob. I saw it and it looks great! ACOTMUSIC : have a musical experience. This happened at time when music programs were losing students and we RagenT : Are you primarily technology facilitators or are these courses incorporated int ACOTMUSIC : needed other ways to allow them to participate. ACOTMUSIC : Thanks Gina!! AFL Gayle : Book, Gina? Could you or Bob tell us more about that, please? Title, publisher? RagenT : o with other subject areas, teachers...etc... Panda4 : That's true Benson, But TIFF's are generally very large. Wahoo Five : I'd say most music software so far probably causes more student loss -- it's just testing. ACOTMUSIC : "Technology in the Music Classroom" By Robert Carpenter, Published by Alfred Publishing Co. AFL Gayle : Thanks, Bob! :) ACOTMUSIC : The book is designed for people who want to know what to do with music technology in the classroom AFA Bard : Wahoo... sounds like one for you! Wahoo Five : There's a new book/software out, Explorations, which is a learning, rather than a testing, environment AFL Gayle : OK. Any questions for the ACOT people? ACOTScott : We also have Dave Kittleson online. His area is also different from those already discussed. ACOTGina : RagenT. These tools cut across several subjects usually and are not used as technology alone. Wahoo Five : I used to work at U of AZ. We required students to buy little keyboards and bring them to class. AFL Gayle : Right, Thelma. Would you like to tell us about the Blue Earth Project, Dave? RagenT : Yes, how is ACOT set up in the school schedule, curriculum? Is it the whole ACOTScott : Dave works with the elementary students. BE Dave : I've been working with the ACOT project for several years, kindof an old timer. :) ACOTScott : Tell us something about your project, Dave. RagenT : curriculum, is it part of one? ACOTGina : Wahoo: Were those smart keyboards? Wahoo Five : how smart? BE Dave : I taught fifth grade for 8 years and am now the technology specialist/ACOT coordinator for the distric BE Dave : We have been doing quite a bit to get technology of all sorts integrated into a new curriculum. BE Dave : Some of our specialties are in using networks and creating processes for students to share information BE Dave : in a variety of ways, multimedia, written, hypermedia, video. MaryEz : Are all these ACOT schools funded by Apple? Panda4 : How are all of these neat ACOT projects funded? BE Dave : Students explore areas of interest to them, and then have opportunities to share what they've learned Panda4 : GMAT, Mary:) MaryEz : GMTA RagenT : Was my next question! AFL Bobloo : We've really appreciated your taking part in the Academic Bowls, to, Dave ... with Thelma's great AFL Bobloo : support..:) ACOTScott : That is a question for Gina!!! BE Dave : with others in the school, community, nation (via A-Line) and world, through a system called Peacenet. ACOTGina : The experimental projects are funded by ACOT and usually other organizations such as NSF. ACOTGina : The longitudinal schools are supported by ACOT but there is a big commitment from the district as well Panda4 : Where can you get the information you said that is given to educators about... Panda4 : these projects? BE Dave : All sites, I believe, have had to have a great district committment to continue. ACOTScott : Go to the ACOT area ACOTScott : Keyword: ACOT Panda4 : :) ACOTGina : There are some research reports and overviews in the ACOT library. ACOTScott : Then if you need additional info, ask Gina ACOTGina : We also do presentations at major conferences. We also have a mailing list you could be on. AFL Gayle : The ACOT area is also available here in AED under Special Interest Groups. How AFL Gayle : does one get added to that mailing list, Gina? Panda4 : Great!! How do I get on your mailing list? ACOTGina : There is a bibliography in the ACOT library and an address to write to be on the mailing list. MaryEz : Never mind the mailing list how about the ACOT list! AFL Gayle : Thanks, Gina! :) Panda4 : OK Thanks! Panda4 : LOL! Mary! AFL Gayle : OK. We've got a little less than 10 minutes left. Any more questions for the AFL Gayle : ACOT people? ACOTGina : The address is: 20525 Mariani BLVD, MS: 76-2A, Cupertino, CA 94015 AFL Gayle : (Excuse me a minute.... Welcome to WIGGY!!!!! :))))))))))))))) Panda4 : How were the ACOT members selected? RagenT : What are some reactions from your faculty, students, and parents...do parents ACOTScott : Wiggy!!!!! RagenT : get involved? AFL Gayle : Wigster is Jim Wiggenhorn who used to be AFL here in AED. LavonneS : Has any of the research given direct information about effectiveness of techn LavonneS : with special ed populations? AFC Tooter : Wiggy!!!!! IPRiser : Parents and students LOVE the access to technology and the doors it opens for their kids :) Wigster : Hi all! I didn't want to interrupt when I came in. :) LavonneS : Wiggy, long time... ACOTGina : Parents are usually worried at first and then enthusiastic about their child's participation. AFL Gayle : (That's all right. The FL took the perogative to interrupt for such a special AFL Gayle : person. :) [[]] Panda4 : :) AFA Bard : Here, Here! :)) Wigster : It has been a long time. I figure I have given Gayle over a year to get settled... Now I can come Wigster : in and give her trouble. :) AFC Tooter : Gayle is unflappable! RagenT : That's about the time I started coming, but even I have heard of you, Wiggy! AFL Gayle : OK. We've got about 5 minutes left. Any more questions for our ACOT people? AFA Bard : Wiggy's why many of us stayed online in the first place, Ragen. :) AFL Gayle : (He's famous, Andy. :) ACOTGina : As far as special ed students, the same tools which allow students to explore their own interests work Wigster : Ragen... Don't believe anything you heard. I really am a nice guy. :) RagenT : How do you get teachers involved in incorporating technology? ACOTGina : with gifted, special ed, whatever students. Panda4 : I have heard of Wiggy! MaryEz : It's the whatever teachers that are the toughest to convince. We can't get Language Arts teachers to ACOTScott : We want everyone to visit the ACOT area online. Download the files, leave messages for us, and AFC Tooter : Welcome Charle. MaryEz : use tech for writing. : ( ACOTScott : become involved in the work with students. AFL Gayle : Thanks, Thelma! It has really helped to have the ACOT area open up online. AFL Gayle : And special thanks to Gina for making the research accessible to all by ACOTGina : It seems to be an infectious thing as a group of teachers in a school start to do interesting things ACOTScott : ACOT will be well represented in the Academic Bowl that will be held on Nov. 25. AFL Gayle : uploading it as ASCII text files. :) AFA Bard : Great work, Thelma!!! I encourage EVERYONE to visit ACOT's libraries... KEYWORD: ACOT! ACOTGina : Some teachers never really get interested though. AFL Gayle : Our guest next week is JockGill, who will tell us all about his new program Panda4 : Great Chat Folks!!!!! Thanks! BE Dave : Our language arts teachers are the opposite, can't get them off the machines some times. :) AFL Gayle : from Power Industries, Delta Drawing Today. AFL Gayle : And now for our winner.... Wigster : <--- Has been to ACOT's libraries. AFA Bard : Drum roll... RagenT : I know what you mean Mary, and then there's our superintendant to convince! AFL Gayle : Panda4 won again, for the secret word, images! :) AFL Gayle : *Applause* AFA Bard : Congratulations <<<<< ANDY! >>>>> AFC Tooter : *Drum Roll Start* Wigster : Yay, Andy! BE Dave : clap clap Panda4 : Great!!!!! RagenT : YEH Panda! AFA Bard : ()()()()()()() LavonneS : Yesss!!!! Good going :) TEACHER ms : <----So have I, Wiggy :):) MaryEz : *Clink-Klank* Panda4 : Thanks Gayle! AFC Tooter : FoodFoodFoodFoodFood AFL Gayle : Congratulations, Andy! :) You will see an hour of nonprime time credited to AFL Gayle : your account within the next week. MaryEz : mashed potatoes AFA Bard : *Clink-Klank* MaryEz : peas RagenT : I hear Toot's stomach growling! Oh, Oh! MaryEz : ketchup LavonneS : Watch out for the flying food ;) AFC Tooter : *MadHen* AFA Bard : Mary's doing her own food fight. :) AFL Gayle : (And all of you who have won hours by using the secret word have Wiggy to Mozart200 : *Indigo* MaryEz : spaghetti BE Dave : lutefisk AFA Bard : lutefisk??? LOL! AFL Gayle : thank for that. He originally began the idea here in AED. :) ACOTGina : Thanks everyone. This was very interesting. AFC Tooter : Left the food fight on my other disk :(((( RagenT : moussaka! ACOTScott : Must be from Minnesota :) MaryEz : inlagd sill AFL Gayle : Thanks to ALL of our ACOT guests tonight! :) We really appreciate you coming Pest II : Ack! did I miss it again?? TEACHER ms : lutefisk ??? AFL Gayle : and sharing with us! :) MaryEz : I love lutefisk!! AFL Gayle : Yes, Vernon. It's 9 pm. We start at 8 pm. AFC Tooter : Gee the food fight happens even wiothout me!! I like that! Mozart200 : I too was late AFA Bard : lutefisk? Is that a musical instrument? MaryEz : Goodnight all! ACOTScott : Thanks for inviting ACOT, and a special thanks to our own GINA !!!!!!! TEACHER ms : That is alright, Dave the Braves will win next year :) AFA Bard : Thanks GINA! ACOTScott : We are proud of the work that she is doing. AFL Gayle : Thanks, Gina! :) Wigster : ACOT people are tops! AFC Tooter : Thanks ACOT. TEACHER ms : Thanks Gina !!! ACOTScott : Thanks Wiggy!! BE Dave : Lutefisk is a mushy, smelly, Norwegian fish dish popular in the midwest between Thanksgiving & Christm ACOTScott : We do remember Boston :) LavonneS : ACOT Very good, thanks BE Dave : Go TWINS!! AFL Gayle : The log of this chat will be available in our New Files Library by tomorrow RagenT : Yes, Gina thanks! AFA Bard : Go Braves! :) AFL Gayle : evening, for those who might have missed part of it. TEACHER ms : Tomahawk Chop Chop !!!! IPRiser : Thank you< Gina. AFL Gayle : Be sure and check out the new Scraps that have been released in the ScrapBook AFL Gayle : Library, too. :) AFA Bard : Off to edit the log... :))) 11/17/91 9:04:04 PM Closing Log file.