Technology resources and
tips.
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Online
Resources: Roster
and Training Survey |
The Online Training Roster helps
MarcoPolo keep in touch with training attendees about enhancements
to the MarcoPolo program, and helps us track the program's overall
progress. Additionally, the feedback provided by attendees via the Online
Training Survey is used to determine Field
Trainers of the Month. Before each training session, attendees should
sign
in on the roster by following these three easy steps:
- First, they should locate their training session on the calendar
provided (both daily and weekly views are available). If the session
is not listed, attendees have the option to enter it manually by filling
out an online form.
- Next, they are prompted to find the organization with which they
are affiliated by using a search mechanism. Attendees simply click
on their state and enter a brief keyword appropriate to their organization
(e.g., Tayl for Taylor Elementary School). In this step,
attendees select their organization from the search-generated list.
It is important that they choose their own organization (school or
school district), not the Field Trainer's organization or the facility
where the training session is being held. Again, they can submit a
manual form if they are unable to locate their school or district.
- Lastly, attendees complete their contact information and provide
additional information on the grade level they teach or are involved
with, their job responsibilities, and discipline taught. When they
are finished with this step, attendees click on the submit button
at the bottom of the page.
At the conclusion of the
training session, attendees should take
the Training Survey. Attendees will select their session (as in
step 1, above), and then respond to questions and rate specific aspects
of the session. They have the option to submit the form anonymously,
if desired. Both the Roster and Training Survey are available under
"Training
Logistics Forms" in the Professional Development section of the
MarcoPolo Web site.
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Online
Resources: Field
Trainer FAQ |
Do you have questions about
the Field Training network, training materials or training logistics?
The Field
Trainer FAQ responds to your questions. To keep this area fresh and
pertinent, we regularly add new questions and answers. Two of the latest
additions are included here:
- Can I register multiple
trainers to one Training session?
Presently, the Rusticello database that tracks the MarcoPolo
Professional Development program does not allow Field Trainers to
assign multiple trainers to one session. The Foundation is investigating
methods for Field Trainers to register multiple trainers to a session,
and as an interim solution we suggest that Field Trainers register
the session under each trainer's name. During the session, the Field
Trainers should divide the attendees into even groups. Each group
is assigned to one Field Trainer. Each Field Trainer should instruct
his or her attendees to sign in on the training roster and complete
the survey. At the end of the session, both Field Trainers will receive
credit for training half of the group.
- Where can I find the
most up-to-date training materials and resources?
The most current training materials and resources are located in the
Professional Development section of the MarcoPolo Web site.
Check out the Trainer Toolbox in the lower left-hand corner, where
you'll find links to an Agenda Creator, Training Tips and the electronic
version of the Teacher Training Kit. You can find additional resources
by logging into the Trainer
Resource Center and clicking on the Master List of Resources icon
in the lower right. The Trainer Toolbox is accessible from here as
well. The Master List of Resources also is where you will find the
updated versions of the Elementary and Secondary Teacher's Guides
and many other resources to help you with your training session. Please
note that in order to access the Trainer Resource Center, you must
use your current MarcoPolo or Rusticello ID and password or
register
for a free ID and password.
The complete list of FAQ
is located in the Trainer Toolbox, available in the Professional
Development section of the MarcoPolo Web site.
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Training
Tips: Trainer
Follow-up |
"After each MarcoPolo Training Session,
I use the Rusticello database to locate the names and e-mail addresses
of each attendee. Then I send a 'thank you' e-mail to each attendee, and
include hyperlinks to the MarcoPolo resources and content that
were presented during the session."
Christen
Cummings
MarcoPolo
Master Trainer
Virginia
Beach, Va.
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Training
Tips: Mac
Solution |
"If you are having problems accessing the
student interactives from the Illuminations
Web site on older Macintosh ibook computers, try the following:
"1. Go to http://www.apple.com
and select 'Support' then 'Downloads.'
"2. In 'Search for Downloads,' type Applets or MRJ 2.2.5.
"3. The link for 'Mac OS Runtime for Java 2.2.5 Software and Information'
will appear. Open it.
"4. In the 'Discussion' section, click on the icon in the far right
column to download the program."
Gladys
Van Der Woude
Catherine
T. Reed Elementary School
Lanham,
Md.
News from MarcoPolo
and the Partners.
2002 MarcoPolo
Field Trainers of the Year
MarcoPolo
is pleased to announce that 114 educators across the nation have been
recognized as the 2002 MarcoPolo Field
Trainers of the Year. MarcoPolo
is proud to recognize these Field Trainers' outstanding efforts in bringing
the MarcoPolo program to educators in their respective states.
As a part of their recognition, Field Trainers of the Year are featured
on the MarcoPolo Web site.
Check out the
New MarcoPolo Calendar
Have you visited the MarcoPolo
Calendar recently? If not, you're missing out on some valuable resources.
The calendar, which is updated every month, features information about
historic events that occurred on each day of the month, and provides
links to related MarcoPolo lessons. (Calendars from previous
months are archived as well.) The calendar is an excellent way to access
the most relevant teaching tools available. Finding the calendar is
a snap -- there's a link to it on the MarcoPolo homepage,
under Teacher
Resources.
Science NetLinks'
Best Kept Secret
Plenty of Web sites include
links to other sites and resources, but Science
NetLinks takes this Internet standard to a whole new level. "Tools"
is a new collection of online interactive activities developed and/or
reviewed by Science NetLinks. What makes "Tools" so special? The lengthy
list of resources is indexed in a matrix that is cross-referenced --
and sortable -- by grade level and science literacy benchmark. Clicking
on any tool title takes you to a detailed description of that resource,
tips on how to use it in class, and links to related Science NetLinks
lessons. The link to "Tools" can be found in the lower left-hand corner
of the Lesson
Index page. Don't miss it!
How educators and Field
Trainers are using MarcoPolo.
Making Believers
out of Math Teachers
"Imagine training math teachers
-- many of whom were skeptical about using Internet tools to teach mathematics
in elementary-level classrooms -- on the wonders of MarcoPolo.
The session began with a few people rigidly sitting in their seats,
almost daring me to show them the virtues of this product. All I can
say is I had them in the first five minutes! They were blown away by
the wonders of Illuminations,
and once they found out it was connected with NCTM, they were hooked!
"I can honestly say these
math teachers are now my loudest proponents, and are constantly reminding
me how MarcoPolo changed their opinion of the value of the Internet.
One teacher is very 'money-challenged.' She loved the interactive pattern
blocks and now has them on the tool bar in her Web browser. She says
it is one of the most popular games in her classroom, and it didn't
cost her a penny! Speaking of pennies, have you seen the great money
games and handouts you can create?
"If you're looking for a
fun way to introduce MarcoPolo, make use of these wonderful 'free'
games that teachers are sure to love, and you'll have them as your advocates
for life!"
Ellen
Lopez
District
Instructional Technology Trainer
Manatee County
School District
Bradenton,
Fla.
This lesson appeared in the March
2003 classroom edition of the MarcoGram, which featured lessons and
resources on the outdoors, including plants, animals and insects.
Forest
Features
(Grades K-2),
Xpeditions,
National Geographic Society
Background
to the Lesson
This lesson, designed for grades K-2, introduces
students to different types of forests -- temperate deciduous forests,
temperate evergreen forests and tropical rain forests. Students begin
by discussing their own experiences with forests. Then they learn about
the kinds of forests that grow in various climates throughout the world,
and attempt to identify the type of forest found nearest to where they
live. Next, students concentrate on the tropical rain forest and learn
about explorer Michael Fay's Congo Trek through the African rain forest.
In conclusion, students write a class letter to Fay to ask him any questions
they may have about his Congo Trek journey and his efforts to protect
the rain forest.
Preparing This Lesson
for Your Training Session
- Ensure the availability of a working
Internet connection.
Using This
Lesson in Your Training Session
- Walk the attendees through the lesson,
highlighting the online resources listed above.
- Acquaint the attendees with the different
types of forests studied in this lesson. Visit the Biome
Map and What's
It Like Where You Live? Web sites to demonstrate how these resources
can help students learn about these concepts.
- As a group, review two or three of
Michael Fay's dispatches on National
Geographic's Congo Trek (click on "Dispatches & Map" in the navigational
bar at the top). How well do these reports from the field illustrate
the kinds of things you would learn on such an expedition? What specific
aspects of the dispatches do the attendees feel would most likely
pique students' interest? Do the dispatches adequately illuminate
why Fay embarked on this trip? (To educate others about the need
to protect the world's rain forests.)
- The next part of the lesson asks students
to compose a class letter to Fay about his expedition. How would the
attendees approach this activity with students? How could they suitably
tie in this activity to the key goals for the lesson -- understanding
the importance of the different types of forests to the Earth, and
how human actions can positively or negatively affect the physical
environment?
Follow-up
Engage the attendees in a discussion of the
use of the Internet as a means of teaching about distant locales, foreign
peoples and cultures, or exotic plants and animals. What has been their
experience with using electronic field trips, virtual tours, or similar
online activities in the classroom? How did these experiences differ from
taking a "real" field trip or employing other educational media, such
as books or magazines; filmstrips, videos, or DVDs; or CD-ROMs? In what
classes and with what types of students (i.e., advanced placement, special
needs, at-risk, etc.) is the Internet the preferred medium for sharing
text and/or images of this nature?
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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.
March
2003
The
Great Outdoors: Learning in Nature's Classroom
February
2003
American
Politics: Then and Now
January
2003
Understanding
Patterns
Read
past issues
Subscribe
to the classroom edition
Share
Your Ideas
and Win MarcoPolo Goodies!
Congratulations
to Christen Cummings,
Gladys Van Der Woude, and Ellen
Lopez. 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 May 5, 2003.
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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