Tech Tidbits

These are the Voyages of the Starship....
Submitted by Graci Gillming
Technology Trainer
ESU 10

Remember the theme song from the classic televisions show Star Trek?

Space – the final frontier.
These are the voyages of the starship
Enterprise.
It’s five year mission:
To explore strange new worlds,
To seek out new life and new civilizations,
To boldly go where no man has gone before.

Change the word space in the lyrics to The Internet and you have the new frontier for this generation.  The mission is the same. Like Captain Kirk, Scotty, and Mr. Spock, today’s young people want to explore new worlds, meet new friends, and boldly put up information about themselves on MySpace or Facebook. 

Also similar to today’s youth is that the crew of the Enterprise had no guidance from anyone, since no one had gone before them. What is different is their age.  The crew was made up of mature adults in whom the frontal lobes of their brains were fully developed. The crew had also gone through training on how to operate the spaceship, how to problem solve different scenarios, and how to recognize danger.

Research shows that teenagers’ frontal lobes are not fully mature; that’s why they may say silly things, think they are invincible, may make poor decisions, or react emotionally instead of logically. Therefore, they still need guidance from mature adults.  Even though you haven’t fully explored this new frontier—the Internet, you can still be there to guide them, teach them how to detect dangerous situations, and tell them why they should not put so much personal information about themselves on social networking sites.

Just as you eagerly anticipated a new episode of Star Trek or of your favorite TV show, get excited about what kids are doing on the Internet.  Have them show you what’s happening (the plot), explain to you who the characters are (buddies on IM or friends on MySpace), and how to navigate the spaceship (technology tools of today).

In two weeks, it will be April which is Internet Safety Month in Nebraska. As we approach April, be more aware of what kids are talking about or doing in your classroom and/or at home in regards to the Internet. Plan activities with them that will focus on safely using the Internet. Be the co-pilot or commanding officer and enjoy the ride as you explore this expansive frontier with kids.

For more information, visit http://nis.esu10.org/ggillmin/internetsafety .

Nebraska Educational Data Conference
Submitted by Nathan McClenahan
Systems Engineer
ESU 10

The Nebraska Data Partnership is sponsoring a data conference on April 28, 2008, at the Kearney Holiday Inn. The purpose of the conference is to provide information about reporting data to NDE and to promote improved data quality in school districts.
Sessions will cover a variety of topics including:

1. Information on new requirements of local policies on data quality
2. How to report assessment data this spring
3. Using NSSRS validation and verification reports to improve data
4. quality
5. Reporting curriculum, standard student records and the eTranscript
6. Changes in reporting Special Education students: Good-bye SESIS?
7. Upcoming changes in maintaining and reporting race/ethnicity data
8. Reporting for NCLB—it’s not the old federal report
9. Changes in reporting NSSRS student and staff data
10. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act—things you should know
11. Using data for school improvement
12. What you need to know for the end-of-year submissions

Attached is a flier for the event and a grid of sessions for the event. The most current information will be at the Nebraska Data Partnership web site. (http://www.nedatapartnership.org/)

You can register for this event for $15 at http://www.nedatapartnership.org.

The Nebraska Data Partnership consists of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, the Nebraska State Education Association, the Nebraska Association of School Boards, the ESU Leadership Council, and the Nebraska Department of Education.

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