[PN] Lightning Rod (26 Oct. 2003)

[Steve McCarty]

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* Conference review in a blog

NAWeb conference, by Stephen Downes
[especially see WebCT founder Murray Goldberg on future online learning
and a Howard Strauss saga on keeping it simple for faculty members]
http://naweb03.blogspot.com/

* Reference Websites

Open Source Course Management Systems
compiled by Scott Leslie, edtechpost/edutools
http://www.edtechpost.ca/gems/open_source_cms3.htm

* Periodical article on the unknown

Lightning strikes Gibson's 'Christ'
CNN, October 24, 2003
"ROME, Italy -- Actor Jim Caviezel, who plays Jesus in Mel Gibson's
controversial film "The Passion of Christ" was struck by lightning
during shooting." [Miracle, or preemptive retribution? But
fundamentalist Catholic Mel Gibson--aiming to drive a wedge into the
current U.S. Christian-Jewish political coalition?--was spared the rod,
perhaps due to creative license ;-) - Ed.]
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/24/gibson.passion/index.html

* "World's Largest Lesson" for clearing landmines
>From PN subscriber Rachel Ellis in New Zealand <rach@waikato.ac.nz>

Two years ago the first "World's Largest Lesson" attempt was run to help
raise funds to clear landmines. The aim being to get as many teachers
and students taking the same lesson on the same day to help educate
the world about the dangers of landmines. ... another lesson on the
effects of landmines is being run on the 6th November '03, again to
help raise funds for landmine clearance. With support from
Adopt-A-Minefield and their ambassadors Paul McCartney and
Heather Mills McCartney, it is an attempt to raise awareness
of this enormous problem.

The landmine lesson is available at five language levels and is
appropriate for both NESB learners and students whose first language is
English.

This event is free and anyone can join in. Hundreds of thousands of
teachers and students in 114 countries have participated in this
worthwhile event in the last two years.

For the free lessons and more information go to:
http://www.english-to-go.com

* TESOL 2004 ELECTRONIC VILLAGE (long forward from Tom Robb)

Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2003 22:37:08 +1000
From: Thomas Robb <trobb@cc.kyoto-su.ac.jp>
Subject: [jalttalk 25329] TESOL 2004 ELECTRONIC VILLAGE SPECIAL EVENTS

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR FOUR TESOL 2004 ELECTRONIC VILLAGE SPECIAL EVENTS
       TESOL 2004: "Soaring Far, Catching Dreams"
       March 30 - April 3, 2004
       Long Beach, California, USA
INTERNET FAIR, APPLICATIONS FAIR, EV MINI-WORKSHOPS, and DEVELOPERS'
SHOWCASE

***DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS:  January 3, 2004***
You are invited to submit a proposal for participation in one or more of
these TESOL 2004 CALL Interest Section Special Events, according to the
guidelines below. Submit a separate proposal for each demonstration you
wish to be considered for. You are welcome to submit proposals to more
than one event, and it is possible to have more than one proposal
accepted (depending on space availability and quality of the
submission). Windows and Macintosh equipment will be available at no
charge, along with CD ROM drives, Internet connections, and (for the
Showcase only) projection equipment. Plan to bring a minimum of 100
handouts per Fair/Showcase acceptance slot since these are very popular
events!

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FAIRS:
Presenters have approximately 20-30 minutes to demonstrate their
material. Participants walk around the EV, dropping in and out of
demonstrations, thus precluding highly structured presentations. A
demonstration may be repeated a second time (an additional 20 to 25
minutes), if interest warrants and space allows.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE MINI-WORKSHOPS:
One presenter introduces a topic to a small group of workshop
participants. The workshop is "hands-on."

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE SHOWCASE:
There is one presenter at a time, demonstrating her/his program. Seating
is provided for the audience.

_____INTERNET FAIR_____
Coordinator: Malika Lyon     Email: malika@ku.edu
WHAT IS IT? The Internet Fair is a TESOL event intended for
demonstrations by teachers or teacher-developers who have used
Internet-based programs, websites, or activities with students.
Demonstrations may highlight student projects, activities or curriculum
created for students or educators. (The websites do not have to be
created by the teacher/presenter.)  Examples:
-Email projects
-Lesson plan archives for teachers
-Vocabulary worksheets using an online thesaurus
-Skimming/scanning activities using a local movie theater webpage
-Research/writing exercises for investigating Internet hoaxes
PROPOSALS
Please submit your proposal(s) for the Internet Fair online at
http://www.uoregon.edu/~call/

_____APPLICATIONS FAIR______
Coordinator:  Steven K. Sharp     Email: ssharp@pgcps.org
WHAT IS IT? The Applications Fair is an event for teachers to share how
they use different types of software - in innovative, clever, or just
plain efficient ways - in English instruction or assessment during
in-class or out-of-class activities.  In the past, teachers/presenters
have shown how they have used prepackaged language learning software
such as Focus on Grammar, Word Attack, Testmaster, Grolier Encyclopedia,
or Phraze Craze for improving skills in vocabulary, reading, writing,
and speaking & understanding.  Teachers have also demonstrated effective
and adaptive uses of applications not specifically designed for ESL or
other language use such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Yahoo! Groups.
Examples:
-Using Microsoft Word's comment feature for writing feedback
-Using Excel to teach budgeting finances as a life skill
-Using PowerPoint for students' classroom presentations
-Using Yahoo! Groups for developing class communication
-Using HyperStudio to illustrate students' descriptive writing
-Using Grolier Encyclopedia with vocabulary worksheets
PROPOSALS
Please submit your proposal(s) for the Applications Fair online at
http://www.uoregon.edu/~call/

_____EV MINI-WORKSHOPS_____
Coordinator:   Yu-Feng (Diana) Yang     Email: yuyang@wsu.edu
WHAT IS IT? The EV Mini-workshops are intended to be limited seating
events for hands-on workshops where participants will gain experience in
adaptation of standard software for CALL purposes. Participants will
have the opportunity to create a product or gain depth in use of software.
Examples:
-Using iMovie
-Working with audio and/or video
-Working with Discussion Boards
-Using BBEdit(Mac) to create and upload HTML files
-Setting up a mailing list with Yahoo! Groups
-Learning how to MOO
-Using Hot Potatoes to create online quizzes
-Using Excel for grade calculations
PROPOSALS
Please submit your proposal(s) for the EV Mini-workshops online at
http://www.uoregon.edu/~call/

_____DEVELOPERS' SHOWCASE_____
Coordinator:  Susanne McLaughlin     Email: smclaugh@roosevelt.edu
WHAT IS IT? The Developers' Showcase is one of several ways in which the
CALL-IS disseminates information about computers and computer-assisted
instruction to the ESL/EFL professional community. The Showcase provides
an opportunity for the designers of ESL/EFL software to display their
work, and for potential users, software developers, and marketers to
examine and react to it. We especially welcome projects produced by
teachers for their own students or projects produced under development
grants.

This Showcase includes materials in the following two categories:
1. disk-based software, including floppy-disk, hard disk, and CD-ROMs.
2. web-based software, including both programs that can be accessed
directly from the web and those that can be downloaded.

The Showcase is not a commercial venue. Only work that is not yet on the
market will be considered. The following types of software are not
acceptable for the Showcase:
* Software that is already contracted with a publisher
* Software that has been offered for sale independently, or which the
presenter plans to sell independently, including by subscription or as
shareware
* Software given away free to promote a commercial interest

PROPOSALS
Please submit your proposal(s) for the Developers' Showcase online at
http://www.uoregon.edu/~call/ or contact Susanne McLaughlin directly at
smclaugh@roosevelt.edu
------------------------------------------------------------
       TESOL CALL-IS Website:
       http://www.uoregon.edu/~call/

Thomas Robb, Kyoto Sangyo University, Japan  <trobb@cc.kyoto-su.ac.jp>
Visiting Scholar, La Trobe University, Faculty for Education 2003-04
Homepage:  http://www.kyoto-su.ac.jp/~trobb/index.html


Collegially, Steve McCarty, Professor, Kagawa JC, Japan
News and Views: http://www.kagawa-jc.ac.jp/~steve/pdx.html
Online library: http://www.kagawa-jc.ac.jp/~steve_mc/epublist.html
E-mail (including items for Papyrus News): steve_mc@kagawa-jc.ac.jp