Schools around the world assume various roles in a simulated space shuttle mission. These could include being another shuttle (doing a docking maneuver), a secondary mission control, an alternate landing site (weather station), a solar disturbance observatory, and so forth. Coordination and communications between the shuttle's mission control and other schools will be conducted through distributed conferences on NPTN systems. Electronic mail is exchanged, hourly reports are posted, and even real-time electronic "chats" can occur between mission control, astronauts, and supporting units. At the core of these launches is a permanent, full-scale mock-up of a space shuttle (called the "Centennial") complete with "Mission Control," which is located at University School in Shaker Heights, Ohio (Cleveland area).
This event pays tribute to all the pioneers of the space programs around the world, and is a fun way for students to learn about the history of the space program in the United States and elsewhere. A school can either do research on one of the historic space missions and conduct a simulation at their school, posting hourly reports to Academy One, or a school can assume a supporting role to a simulation. The time for these missions is condensed to allow the simulation to fit into a school day. Schools who wish to participate in this SALUTE TO SPACE EXPLORATION, but who do not wish, or are unable to be a part of a simulation, can participate in a variety of other ways.
Students compete in a series of track events in their own schoolyards, posting the winning scores in each category to the computer network. Results are compared, and international winners receive recognition. In addition to the track events, Opening and Closing ceremonies are conducted online (like the real Olympics), and information is exchanged about schools and communities around the world. This is a great way to integrate geography, writing, math, computer science, and physical education! Included is a pre- event training regimen whereby students can test themselves and follow a progressive training program. They can then record training progress and compare results with other students around the world.
This space simulation allows every student in a class to be an astronaut which voyages to an unknown planet. The classroom becomes a spacecraft and a special NASA video is used to drive the lift-off and landing sequences. Students do a variety of experiments in flight and on the unknown planet to conduct research and form a new colony which parallels their Social Studies curriculum. This can be part of the Virtual Nation Project.
Take your class on a corporate venture! This interactive project is based on the inner-workings of the Stock Market, integrating research techniques, writing skills, math strands, and collaborative learning. Taking Stock is an integrated thematic program running in both America On-line's Electronic Schoolhouse and Academy One. It is limited to 50 schools this first year. Registration due Oct. 1, 1994.
This project combines on-line information on seals, seal lions, and marine mammal training with students' questions answered by a former marine mammal trainer and a marine biologist/research scientist. Students can discuss on-line their impressions of the movie, ANDRE. Discussions will be done in English, French and German in their respective areas within Academy One.
Bird migration makes for an interesting and educational experience for all ages. Students can record their observations about the birds in their area and post the results for others to read and compare. Two special weeks are set aside as concentrated bird watching sessions in Oct. and March. During the remainder of the year postings can be made on observations from home or school. Special files on birds, bird migration, and the hobby of bird watching are available for on-line research.
Students are given a list of the exact items they can use in the construction of their bridge. They attempt to test its strength by the placement of measured weights on the center of the bridge. Each contestant submits a picture before placing weights, directions on how to reconstruct the bridge, list of materials used in building the bridge and the amount of weight it withstood for 15 minutes without collapsing. This annual event awards a certificate to each contestant who submits all of the required items via e.mail (pictures may be submitted via US mail). A plaque is awarded the final winner.
The ELC is a learning center studying environmental issues ranging from outdoors to waste management. It examines and discusses these issues in a broad sense. The center is divided into three basic areas: a) resource information about the environment, b) safety and project information, and c) a discussion and announcement area. Projects can be used by entire classes or independent students.
Students from all grades compete in Number Munchers and Speedway Math. Students compete within their age division. All participating classes are sent a certificate of participation and winners receive ribbons. This event is part of the TeleOlympics.
The National Student Research Center (NRSC) at Mandeville Middle School in Louisiana facilitates the establishment of Student Research Centers in schools across the country. The NRSC disseminates the innovative, highly effective, and empirically validated Student Research Center approach to instruction. The instructional approach is an inter-disciplinary, student-centered, high technology program dedicated to promoting scientific and technological literacy. It is based upon the learning cycle and emphasizes;
Using e.mail and art, students draw pictures depicting a theme, and exchange them through surface mail. Teachers and students work together through e.mail to discuss the art and organize the mailing. Differences in locale and cultures around the world make this more interesting than first meets the eye. Topics in the past have included: nuclear energy, recycling, and rain forests.
Students do a litter sweep along an area of their local beach; then identify, sort, weigh, and record results in graph and/or table form for reporting to other participants. A discussion ensues about the harmful effects to the environment by such elements and how students might use alternative products that are biodegradable.
This is an area where a school can advertise an experiment, and solicit other schools to perform it and contribute their results. The database of information will grow as more schools participate, and will become more valuable over the years. Such topics as dating practices around the world will be fascinating to some, while ozone levels will interest others. It is hoped that in the future, the databases will not only be used as a teaching tool, but will be of value to researchers looking for data from many locations around the world.
This project contains thirteen problem-solving and learning activities that use literature to integrate technology and science instruction across the elementary curriculum for early childhood. A moderated discussion area with the grant-winning mentor teacher will continue throughout the school year.
This is an electronic circle of classes around the world designed for sharing multidisciplinary projects in French throughout the school year. The area includes:
La CGF is group oriented and does not promote one-on-one teaching or correspondence. It does not provide keypal addresses, nor does it pair classes.
La CGF is truly international and does not identify with the educational model of any specific country, thus it has equal consideration for all participating schools from all countries.
NOTE: In February, 1994 NPTN, Linda Delzeit, and Yona Webb were awarded the "Medal of the French Embassy" by the French Government for their work in developing this area. Our congratulations to all!!
Students studying German have an area where they can practice writing to each other and to students in Germany. Monthly topics will be moderated and include: Introducing yourself and your class, careers, holidays, dating practices, sports, and tourism.
Students studying Spanish and/or wanting to correspond in the Spanish language can have their own area as soon as we get a sysop willing to oversee the development and moderate the discussions. Like the French and German Learning Centers, it will contain moderated discussions and special projects. If you wish to volunteer to develop such an area, please contact Linda Delzeit (linda@nptn.org) and this area will become activated. Watch your systems in hope of volunteers coming soon!
Get the latest reports on the exciting dog sled race across Alaska. Willoughby Middle School brings these reports to you in March as it happens. You can read it on the newsgroup or in your e.mailbox via a listserve.
Schools are encouraged to contribute electronic editions of their school newspapers. The text of each edition should be distilled into a single file of no more than 3,000 to 4,000 characters, and uploaded to the NPTN STUDENT NEWS NETWORK on the nearest system, where it will be distributed automatically to other schools across the network.
These projects spotlight accomplished people in all walks of life. Students have an opportunity to write to these people and ask questions. This gives students an opportunity to gain knowledge about leaders, inventors, authors, and various professionals. It also gives accomplished people the ability to tell the students what they might do to succeed in life.
Students are invited to participate in a sonnet writing contest with a panel of impartial literary teachers doing the judging. Cash prizes were awarded in 1993 and 1994, and will be awarded in 1995.
This project allows our students to post their original creative works, everything from short stories and poems to longer compositions. Some schools are writing progressive stories, using the networks to exchange chapters. This is the place to showcase those works and allow us to watch and encourage you.
Here's a special place for those students who are science fiction writers, and an alternative for students and teachers who are interested in the space simulations, and want to participate in a literary way.
ACT is a service learning program of the Constitutional Rights Foundation and funded by DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. ACT takes students through five steps in working on a community problem. Students (1) assess their community, (2) select a problem and research it, (3) talk with policy makers and evaluate policies, (4) examine their options, and (5) take action. Students learn civics by taking part in their communities.
IDE was founded by a group of teachers dismayed that the debate over public school reform overlooked the historic purpose of public schooling, i.e., the development of responsible citizens. IDE is a partnership of everyone who plays a role in teaching and learning - classroom teachers, administrators, parents, and students. IDE offers a forum for sharing ideas, a support network of people holding similar values, and opportunities for professional development.
This is a joint venture of students and teachers from high schools across Ohio. Its aim is to support projects at home high schools to improve the environment and foster student participation in community affairs. This area is designed to help schools around the world communicate with each other and share their successes and means for overcoming barriers to their projects. Schools outside Ohio may form a local PCG chapter.
Academy One is proud to add an electronic networking component to this participatory and interactive television show by kids for kids. Students combine their performing art, creative writing and problem solving skills to work on youth-related problems, such as gangs, school drop-outs, drugs and smoking, and teen pregnancy. Students are invited to submit their own videos for inclusion in the PBS series after watching the pilot show (available from NPTN on videotape).
This area will start with over 500 lesson plans on social studies, math, language arts, and science. Teachers are encouraged to share their most successful lesson plans for others to use.
This is an area where teachers, teacher educators, and teachers- in-training may raise questions and discuss issues related to improving education and learning. Concerns about using technology in classrooms will be addressed, as will more general issues related to the art of teaching. Questions related to Academy One and other K-12 telecommunications programs will be answered, and practical tips for new users will be provided. The Center provides information about professional development opportunities, state and federal legislation, and professional organizations. It also maintains a calendar of regional and national technology conferences. Sponsored by Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH.
Middle school curriculum and activities programs are designed to recognize that adolescents have unique physical, intellectual, and social-emotional development. The middle school program attempts to balance the development of the student in each of these areas. Students are involved in activities to help them understand their growth in these areas, and to make short term and long term plans to capitalize on their strengths and address their shortcomings or expressed needs. In short, the middle school program is acutely aware of the need to educate the whole child.
This area is for those who are currently involved in homeschooling or want to become more involved in their child's education. Information will be available on homeschooling resources. Also, this is an area where parents can find out how they can become involved in Academy One and get their children involved in our projects from home.
The Christa McAuliffe Center contains abstracts from the previous McAuliffe Fellowship winners and information on the current awards program. Educators can ask questions of the Framingham State College headquarters and read their announcements.
Tell others about a day in your life. The project involves the students in keeping a chronological account of a single pre- arranged day from wake-up to bedtime. Student entries can be compiled into a class file and shared with other participants. Classes compare student responses, attitudes and schedules to learn about other types of schools and other cultures.
This project allows students to learn about various careers that interest them. Professionals from all walks of life and from various countries are answering questions from students, giving them the opportunity to make comparisons between careers and the working environment in various countries. It is also an excellent opportunity for students to gain information on work ethics.
Students contribute what they consider to be great quotes. These can be original or by others, but the source must be included whenever possible. Quotes from famous people are included as information files and for on-line research. Students vote on their favorite quotes according to the following categories:
The e.Club is a place where electronic addresses can be exchanged between students (and teachers) who would like to engage in an electronic mail project or simply find a "keypal". We will use this area for exchanging information about the holidays and about the schools during selected special events.
Students from around the world compare their holiday customs. This is a real eye-opener and learning experience as students not only share their favorite customs, but recipes, and reasons behind what makes this such a special time of year.
This project allows the various generations to compare how traditions, sports, music, and family roles have changed over the years. There is value in the memories of each generation and opportunities to learn through the sharing process. Here is a way for Senior Citizen groups to become involved with our youth and pass on their heritage in a personal way.
This area is for Jewish educators and students to discuss their special events and share resources. Jewish students not in Jewish schools are welcome to participate.
This is a popular project and involves many grade levels. Students in grades K-2 write a letter to Santa. Often, but not always, this letter is entered into the computer by students in grades 4-6 and posted to an Academy One newsgroup, where students in grades 8-12 respond as Santa. The students in grades 4-6 receive the letters from Santa, print them on special paper, and award them during holiday programs to the youngest students. This is an example of an effort from multiple grade levels, and the sharing of a common desire to bring joy to others.
This is an area where kids can post their pictures created with word processing programs. This is one of the best ways to reach the youngest kids (and the ESL students), and introduce them to those "extra characters" on the keyboard, while easing them into the world of telecommunications. The older students have successfully presented their holiday greetings as pictures in this area.
Students examine the social structure appropriate to their age level, be that family, community, state, or nation. Observations, on-line research and interviews will be used to study and create a report for sharing with other participants. Comparisons are made between their selected social unit locally and similar social units reported by students in other parts of the world. Current events are studied and problems are identified then solutions sought. Information from this project will be used to build a broader base of information for future on-line research.
The Dept. of Defense has a World War II Commemorative Community Program surrounding the 50th anniversary events. Fact sheets from the DOD are posted on various facets of WW II. A special panel of WW II survivors are available for students to ask questions. Some memories have bee posted from these survivors that make interesting reading and research. As part of the Commemorative Community Program you can sign up your community, school, and community computer system as Commemorative Communities. Each community that registers will receive a Commemorative Flag authorized to be flown on poles just below the State Flag, and each member of the committee will receive a special lapel pin.
There is more to movie and television production than the glamour and glitz that first meets the eye. Experts from such technical areas as sound design, editing, and pre-production are making themselves available to answer questions and provide information on TV and movie production. Projects and discussions surrounding popular movies will be moderated in this area.
The Big Sky Curricular Database is a compendium of over 500 curricula, covering grades K-12, divided into five general areas: Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Miscellaneous. It was originally produced by teachers throughout the western states, and comes to us via our affiliate in Dillon, Montana, the Big Sky Telegraph.
College Row is a place where electronic information about colleges and universities will be posted. Students interested in learning more about school they might wish to attend in the coming year(s) can get the information they need. Special emphasis will be extended to those universities who assist their local K-12 schools in getting Internet connectivity.
The Daily Report Card is an eight-page electronic newsletter which comes out five days a week. It is produced in Washington DC summarizing that day's published news from all 50 states on local/regional/national stories/columns/editorials affecting education reform. It is very popular among both teachers and administrators.
This area will help students improve study habits, learn to do homework more efficiently, provide strategies for researching information and encourage students to do better in educational pursuits. This is an outgrowth of the Dial-A-Teacher done by the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union. A demonstration of the dedication of these professionals!
This electronic "hall" is a truly international area with postings in both German and English. Tolerance in communication in all forms is stressed here. Students, educators and parents are encouraged to exchange information on schools, health problems, technology to assist the deaf, and various other information topics. Deaf students can find keypals here, as well.
This is a new area on Academy One dedicated to the needs of Vocational Students, Vocational Teachers and technology inquisitive people. The emphasis here is to help users find applications for various technologies and to apply those technologies to daily life and classroom situations.
The Teen Institute is a program of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services. The Ohio program has served as a model for 35 other states. This area will enhance communications between participants within the program and others who want to know about or get involved with the program. Includes: calendar of upcoming TI events, e.mail address list of TI participants, discussion forum for topics relating to TI and it's goals.
This is an area for those interested in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology. Teacher support and curriculum exchange are offered, as well as a question and answer area. An electronic newsletter is also available. One example of the types of information available is a specific training program for high-caliber athletes that will produce results comparable to steroid use--withOUT using the drugs. Help your students learn how to train smart and avoid using steroids. This is a collaborative effort with Trisphere Institute of Sports Medicine.
The Youth Policy Institute of Washington, D.C. has produced a series of "policy overviews" dealing with the great issues facing our nation. Each report is a concise summary of the pros, cons, and alternatives various people have put forth on each issue, complete with source footnotes and annotation. An excellent way for students to begin the study of an issue.
Comprehensive and up-to-the-minute information about cancer, with special emphasis on providing aid to families and loved ones who are caring for individuals in a home environment. Available are descriptions of benefits and side effects of currently used cancer treatments, details of promising new treatments as they appear, and information and support on the process of bereavement. This area is sponsored and operated by the H.O.P.E. Foundation of Encino, California.
A network wide Q&A and information area on ophthalmology and eye care in general. This area will be operated by Richard E. Gans, M. D., (Diplomate, American Board of Ophthalmology) and his associates. In addition to his private practice in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Gans has been the "Eye Doctor" on the Cleveland Free-Net for many years and has operated one of its more popular features.
A comprehensive database of files dealing with the AIDS crisis. It is developed by researchers at Case Western Reserve University's School of Nursing.
The Pediatric Illness Database is a series of over 65 files containing information on common childhood diseases. It is produced by University Hospitals of Cleveland and the Gund Foundation.
Federal government expenditures by agency and by program are included in these informative files. The totals are staggering and you can compare the 1993 Budget with the 1994 Budget. Includes a message by the President on the subject of the budget.
Campaign '92 contains the full-text of the campaign documents of the Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian parties, as presented in the 1992 Presidential Elections. An excellent resource for studying the differences (and similarities) between three major approaches to government and governing.
The Congressional Memory Project takes three bills from the House and three bills from the Senate each week and summarizes them. A list of how the delegates from specific states voted on the measure follows. This is an excellent resource around election time. The information is produced in conjunction with the Washington Times Corporation, Insight Magazine.
The Congressional Connection is an area containing the names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, committee assignments, and so forth, of elected representatives at the federal, state, and local level.
The Freedom Shrine is a collection of 30 full-text documents of relevance to U.S. history. They range from the Magna Carta, to the documents ending World War II and include such hard-to-find documents as "The Constitution of the Iroquois , and include such Nations."
This is an experimental program whereby the General Accounting Office in Washington, D.C. will be making available a variety of its studies.
Imprimis, meaning "in the first place" is a free monthly publication of Hillsdale College (circulation 355,000 worldwide). Hillsdale College is a liberal arts institution known for its defenses of free market principles and Western culture and its nearly 150-year refusal to accept federal funds. Imprimis publishes lectures by such well-known figures as Ronald Regan, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Tom Wolfe, Charlton Heston, and many more.
The Presidential Memory Project is a full-text collection of every position paper, major press release, speech, and fact sheet produced by President Clinton during his 1992 run for the White House. If you want to know what the President really promised, hereีs the place to look.
Project Hermes contains the full text of U.S. Supreme Court decisions delivered within minutes of being rendered in Washington, D.C. Each opinion normally consists of a synopsis of the case, followed by the opinion(s), followed by any dissenting opinion(s). NPTN was one of only 12 information providers in the country selected to provide this outstanding service.
Direct from the White House Office of Media Affairs each morning, the full-text of all major press releases, speeches, executive orders, press briefings, and other documents of the Clinton Presidency.
A wide variety of books in electronic form are being made available through Project Gutenberg. Full text of documents ranging from The Bible and The Koran, to the complete works of William Shakespeare, to the CIA's World Factbook, to Lewis Carroll's Alice-in-Wonderland.
Developed by Case Western Reserve University, FreePort (TM) provides simple, expandable, menu driven, campus network software for use with Unix BSD systems. It is designed to be used by people with little of no knowledge of computers, yet still provide all the benefits of todays powerful computer based information systems. More sophisticated computer users may bypass some of the basic functions of FreePort in order to streamline their access. In this way, FreePort TM is adaptable to users of all levels of expertise.
CIX is second generation Free-Net (TM) software which provides a platform on which organizations can build information services. It was designed using previous versions as a guide, but utilizing a new and more efficient database and user interface modifications, based on research at the University of Cincinnati, University of Connecticut, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. This interface has proven to be effective for users unfamiliar with computers; yet power users can access capabilities beyond anything else on the market.
The underlying "Information Exchange" engine is written in portable C, and runs on all flavors of Unix tested thus far, including BSD 2, BSD3, SVR 3, SVR 4, Ultrix, AIX, NeXT, and SCO Xenix and Unix. CIX was designed to allow a graphical front-end on user's PCs.
Search software from Thunderstone (TM) Software is available for all American Cybercasting information products. Thunderstone Search Software is an advanced text retrieval software, which allows users the flexibility to search and retrieve information from any ASCII text, even when embedded with other types of data. Thunderstone Software utilizes a unique combination of search algorithms, which allow the user unparalleled capability to search and retrieve intelligently correlated responses, to the search queries you enter.
Concept searches may be made without any preprocessing or knowledge engineering of files being required. No indexing, look- up tables, or otherwise redundant files are required, wasting your systems memory or your time. Thunderstone Software is available for Unix, DOS, and some MVS environments. Thunderstone includes the following features:
Thunderstone Software also provides many other features and capabilities unavailable with other search software.
PLEASE NOTE: These newservices and magazines are COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS which are distributed by the American Cybercasting Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio. While deep discounts are available to NPTN affiliates, for you to run these services or other ACC products on your system, you must contract directly with American Cybercasting. THESE ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED WITHIN THE NPTN CYBERCASTING PACKAGE. We are including them here because they represent excellent products for which local sponsorships might be found, thus bringing a terrific service for your users, as well as money into your systems.
For more information on NPTN or any of our programs, please feel free to contact: National Public Telecomputing Network P.O. Box 1987 Cleveland, Ohio 44106 Voice: 216-498-4050 FAX: 216-498-4051 e.mail: info@nptn.org Or visit our anonymous ftp site at: nptn.org (cd into: /pub/nptn/info.nptn)