| RETURN to INDEX Get Your Classroom Ready for eBooks Dear Teacher, This brochure will bring technology into your classroom. At the end of this 5-step process, you will have the Internet in your classroom -- WITHOUT CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET. How? EBooks are the Internet on CD (compact disk). Each CD holds about 650 megabytes of information, enough to fill an encyclopedia. What Do Ya Know dot com brings you the Internet on CD with videos, interesting graphics and sound. But you can't use this system unless a) you have computers in your classroom b) your students have computers at home c) you and your students have the skills needed to use eBooks. Let's get started! Step zero Why are you doing this? (2 minutes) Step 1 Collect "unwanted computers" (10 hours) Step 2 Set up the classroom (30 hours) Step 3 Set up the homes (5 hours) (Your students might spend another 15 hours) Step 4 Train students to use eBooks (5 hours) Step 5 Send eBooks home (2 hours) (Copying time for your first eBook) Step 6 Watch the students create their own eBooks ? Total time: 52 hours (7 work days) Before you start: WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? Remember, eBooks produced by WhatDoYaKnow.com can be used repeatedly -- at different age levels, in different courses. The eBook about Pilgrims can be used in History (where it was originally created) but also: Science (What foods did Pilgrims eat? How did they grow the food?) Math (how long were their ships? How much space per passenger? How fast did the ships travel? How much land did farmers need in the 1620s to sustain a family? Compare today.) French, Spanish, other foreign languages (imagine that an international visitor is coming to your classroom. Use the images on the eBook to explain the traditions of the Pilgrims to an international visitor.) Language Arts (write about a Thanksgiving tradition) Reading (read passages in the eBook) Technology and Media Arts (use the images on the CD to make your own web page about Thanksgiving) Step 1 Collect "unwanted computers" 10 hours a) Ask parents and friends to donate computers that aren't working. Collect at least one computer for every three students in your class. You want to be able to give a CD to a team of two or three students and ask the teams to study the text for the day. b) You'll be surprised to find many unwanted computers that still work. c) Ask for techie volunteers (some of your students will enjoy working on the insides of the computers). d) Ask "how many students have PCs or Macs at home?" "Does your computer work?" e) Count how many students don't have computers and add that to the number of computers that you will eventually collect. f) Consult with your principal and head of department. If they don't think it's possible to set up a computer lab in your classroom, give them this phone number: 561-792-0740. I did it. You can, too. g) Collect a war chest: $100 for 300 CDs. Maybe $200 for parts that you can't find on unwanted computers. $60 for a good CD burner. Step 2 Set up the classroom 30 hours a) Designate an area for "Viewing Computers." If you have 30 students, you will have 10 to 15 computer stations. b) Place at least two printers for the "View Computers" to use. c) Create a computer just for making eBooks. You need a heavy-duty CD burner. Keep the "creating computer" near you and your desk. Learn how to burn CDs. Make at least 45 copies for 30 students: one for each home and one for every two students to share in the school. d) You'll need lots of accessories: cables, power strips, tables, chairs. Use a magic marker to indicate "VIDEO CABLE HERE" and then mark the video cable; repeat with MOUSE CABLE, KEYBOARD CABLE, etc. e) Invite parents and students to an assembly session. Teach your volunteers to install working hardware, test existing hardware and re-format drives. f) Put simple software on the hard drives. Internet Explorer, a word processing file and perhaps a web-making program like Front Page or Publisher. Consult with your school's tech person. g) Test, test, test. h) Don't start using the system until every computer is up and running. Step 3 Set up the homes 5 hours (Your students might spend another 15 hours) a) Repeat the steps for setting up computers but these computers will be for the students who don't have a computer at home. b) Find out if parents want the free computer. c) Get some commitment by parents or older brother/sister. Someone from the student's home should pick up the computer and learn how to connect the cables. Step 4 Train students to use eBooks Before you do anything: Use the eBook yourself. You need to be the expert, so read every article. a) Divide students into teams of two or three, one team per computer. b) Announce the price of each eBook ($20 each). Sign out to each team an eBook (make your own by downloading web sites onto CDs or buy eBooks from www.WhatDoYaKnow.com and make copies under the automatic license given to teachers who buy from us). c) Watch the students learn to use the eBook. Step 5 Send eBooks home (Copying time for your first eBook = 2 hours) a) Include a note with the CD inviting the parent to read the eBook with the student. b) Set aside time during Parents' Night to demonstrate the use of eBooks. c) Video yourself using the eBook and encourage parents to store the eBooks for future use. The eBook about Pilgrims will be useful in 8th grade, in 11th grade and in university. d) Be clear that the cost of the eBook is $20 and that you are digging deep to provide. Encourage parents to volunteer time in the classroom or otherwise in exchange for the eBook. Step 6 Watch the students create their own eBooks a) There's a word processing program on every computer in your classroom. Why not collect student work and make a portfolio, on CD, and give a copy to every student. b) build individual portfolios and/or a class portfolio, helping students remember the year together. Need more ideas? Contact the Institute for the Clean Internet in the Classroom. What Do Ya Know dot com is a founding member of Books In Schools and Homes (BISH), a non-profit campaign to increase access to written words. WhatDoYaKnow.com also supports The Gutenberg Project www.gutenberg.org. Send comments to: Dennis Yuzenas, President What Do Ya Know dot com 13541 La Mirada Circle Wellington, FL 33414-3955 www.whatdoyaknow.com yuzenas@prodigy.net Go on a tour with Dennis Yuzenas He created the whatdoyaknow.com system of using computers in classrooms and homes... with Internet on CD (to save research time and avoid inappropriate web sites. Learn more... Parent's EBook EBooks: Internet on CD for Classrooms Read about the GYM PROJECT This page is called "Internet on CD" www.oocities.org/teachers2teachers/internetoncd.html |
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| From: Dennis Yuzenas [mailto:yuzena2@Mail.PalmBeach.K12.FL.US] Did you see the Miami-Dade proposal to convert computer labs to classrooms, issue notebook computers, and come up with a whopping multi-million dollar savings (no new classrooms need to be built to meet the people's mandate of smaller class sizes)? Talk about an opening for eBooks. D. Yuzenas RECOMMENDED LINKS Rob Becker's "Defending the Caveman" A humorous (accurate) look at genetic brain differences http://www.cavemania.com/ www.Future of Fort Lauderdale.com www.creatingthefuture.org |