NetVision

Spring Into The Net

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The Concept

In trying to address the problems of finding sufficient funds and trainers for teaching teachers not only how to use Internet tools, but how to integrate these tools into their curriculum, NetVision conceived the idea of a large number of decentralized teachers-training-teachers workshops. In this model, training would be done by volunteer teachers who had used the Internet in their teaching and were excited about both their experience and the opportunity to share it.

The Process

An invitation was sent out to all Maryland K-12 public and private educators who used the University of Maryland's free MDEDU Internet-access accounts, asking for volunteers to contact us who would be interested in training and/or organizing training.

To the approximately 40 respondents to this proposition, we sent a follow-up letter describing in more detail what we had in mind.

The Materials

To those who ultimately expressed intent to run one or more workshops, we sent the following materials:

  1. NetVision's Trainers Guide

    1. Introductory outline of a training session
    2. Educational Web sites (by function rather than topic)
    3. Search engines -- usage and where to find help for query construction
    4. Using bookmarks
    5. Sample lesson plans using the net (courtesy Classroom Connect)
    6. How to cite Internet resources

  2. Masters of handout materials that may be useful for participants

    1. World Wide Web sites for teachers and students
    2. Frequently asked questions about using the Internet and WWW
    3. Netscape beginner's tips (an annotated screen shot)

  3. Videotape of excerpts from ASCD's "Teaching with the Internet"

  4. Training-site readiness checklist

  5. Sample press release and promotional flyer

  6. Participant sign in materials and evaluation sheet

  7. Teaching with the Internet (the "Yellow Book") -- a step-by-step guide into the Internet and WWW for Maryland teachers published by MSTA and NetTech

Posted: 26 May 1997
Comments and suggestions to: netv-web@umail.umd.edu