In this edition of the Technology and Physical Education I would like to discuss, some easy steps to author a website, websites for children and how to keep parents in the know about their child's educational progress. Also, some computer quick tips and some interesting comparisons of handheld's and PDA'S.

Included in this issue will be a valuable web site informing the teachers how to manage and build a collaborative learning community that allows teachers and students from around the globe to share curriculum and ideas.

Systems Tips:

Enhancements:

Abolish Surplus Windows

If each folder you open has a separate window, you can wind up with a desktop full of open windows. Double-click on My Computer. Choose View, then Folder Options. On the General tab, select "Settings." Under "Browse Folders as follows" choose "Open each folder in the same window" to eliminate all those open windows. (Windows Me users choose Tools, Folder Options.)

Create Emergency Startup Disk

To create an emergency startup disk, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon in the Control Panel. Then click the Startup Disk tab.

Find A File

Click on Start, then Find. Choose Files or Folders. Insert the name of the file you are looking for and click Find Now.

Windows Undo

Windows itself has an undo feature. You can reverse your last action by right-clicking in a blank area of the Windows Explorer or My Computer screen, and selecting Undo from the menu. Use this undo feature when you have accidentally moved a folder to the wrong location or deleted a needed file.

Preferences:

Favorite Sites on Your Desktop

You can access your favorite Web sites right from your desktop. When you are at the Web site you like, click on the middle icon on the upper right of the Title Bar (the Restore icon). Then simply drag a URL (address) or hyperlink from the browser window to the desktop. Double-clicking on this icon will start your Internet browser and take you right to your favorite Web site.

Organize Your Start Menu

Want to organize your Start menu by the program name? Click Start, select Programs, then right-click on the menu, and choose Sort By Name. This will sort your Start menu by folders, then shortcuts—alphabetically by name. This also works on submenus.

Jammed CD-ROM Drive

Most CD-ROM drives have a small hole in the front. Inserting a straightened paper clip into that hole will eject the CD.

Frozen Computer

If your Windows computer hangs and Ctrl+Alt+Delete doesn't work, press Ctrl+Esc before you reach for that on/off switch. Sometimes this key combination will activate the Start menu, from which you can safely shut down.

Restart Windows Without Rebooting

To restart Windows without restarting your computer, choose Shut Down from the Start menu and hold down the Shift key while pressing OK in the Shut Down box until "Now Restarting Windows" appears on the screen. Then release the Shift key.

Sincerely,

Gerry Cernicky
Technology Section Editor

AUTHORING A CLASS WEBSITE 

For many educators, June marks the end of one school year and the start of the next. Within weeks of grading year-end exams and packing up their classrooms, many teachers turn their attention to September.

Before you begin writing new lesson plans and dreaming up fresh activities for 2002-2003, ask yourself one question: "How could a classroom Web site help me teach and my students learn next year?"

With so many demands on your time, a simple, well-designed classroom Web site can help you connect your kids to excellent online content that complements your existing curriculum. Plus, the Internet's global reach provides students with an ever-growing audience for their multimedia projects, book reports, poems, stories, research papers and more.

Classroom Web sites also make it possible to publish:

• Rules and schedules
• Supply lists
• Class outlines and calendars
• Homework assignments
• Parent newsletters and volunteer opportunities
• Online projects to reach out to classrooms worldwide
• Your email address for easy communication
• Field trip information and permission slips
• Book lists and other supplementary learning ideas
• Digital photos, sounds and video clips

Step One:
Don't Reinvent the Wheel

Step Two:
Evaluate Your Audience

Step Three:
Plan, Plan, Plan

Step Four:
Start Building

Now it's time to translate your ideas, copy and other elements into functioning Web pages! In the past, this meant learning a special programming language called HTML, or HyperText MarkUp Language.

Step Five:
Add Easy Navigation Links

Step Six:
Think Ahead | Updates
Before you begin brainstorming your perfect classroom site, check with your technology coordinator or library media specialist to inquire about available summer courses that focus on Web-page creation. A growing number of schools and districts have their own approved Web page designs and authoring tools, so you should seek out local advice about getting started before you invest time and energy in this endeavor.

www.kidshealth.org
Pediatric experts provide information about health in sections devoted to parents, kids, and teens.

kids-world.colgatepalmolive.com
This web site has very good information for children regarding maintaining good oral hygiene. Check out the Oral Hygiene FAQ section that includes answers to questions about oral health, dental care and procedures. There are a lot of activities for children to do such as making charts, playing games (finding the healthy snacks), and obtaining a special message from the tooth fairy. This site is loaded with graphics!

www.sportsline.com/u/kids
This is a website designed for children with information, games, animations and much more about our major leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.

www.bennygoodsport.com
This is a place for you to have fun and learn how to be healthy.

www.justsaywow.com/freddie.htm
Exercise with Freddie the Frog

www.cpsc.gov/kids/kidsafety/index.html
Learn how to prevent unnecessary injuries.

www.kidsrunning.com
Running activities are presented here using a multidisciplinary approach.

brainpop.com
This site has kid friendly movies and information in the fields of science, technology and health.

www.sikids.com/splash.html
Sports Illustrated for Kids has a fabulous website.

chitrib.webpoint.com/fitness
This site is devoted to childrenâ?Ts fitness, and is designed for children.

www.dole5aday.com
Even if you canâ?Tt convince your child to eat enough fruits and vegetables, this site will.

www.accentpub.com/kidspage.html
Teddie and Freddie will teach your children how to stay safe through activities and games.

www.accentpub.com/kidspage.html
This site teaches children about wellness.

www.think.com will allow the users to create, communicate and collaborate in  a closed, educational environment. The Oracle Corporation provides the think.com to participating schools free of charge an Internet based initiative where there is no software to purchase or install. All the user needs to know are the following skills:

• Mouse skills
• Folder skills
• E-mail skills
• Browser skills
• Search skills
• Internet curriculum skills

By using an easy to use toolbar the teacher can create:

Articles, brainstorms, debates, images, conversations, audio, documents, hotseats, lists and videos. A template id used for the content field and esay use of cut and paste or basic html will suffice.

There is no special infrastructure which lends itself to be integrated into any curriculum. Also, an ongoing staff development is designed to instruct the user with six hours of help at the school site.

The technical support will be required from each school for set up and configuration, Internet connectivity and Questions/Usage.

This project is a part of the commitment to improving Education via Oracle's Global Learning Initiatives, to promote Access, Community and Learning in k-12 schools.

PALM m130 - educator's who need an organized and efficient way to keep assignments and parent contact information.  Comes with built in classic information management features that comes with dual expansion capabilities to ad memory, data back up and e-books. The applications are Hot SYNC mail, MGI Photo Suite, Pocket mirror, Word and Excel compatible documents and view Power Point presentations. 

www.palm.com

Toshiba Pocket PCe570 - comes standard with two expansion slots, providing extensive storage. Users can connect to office based networks and an infrared sensor provides a way to exchange data wirelessly. It can store MP3 files, play video clips and stores quick notes and can talk directly into a built in mic.

pda.toshiba.com

Clie PEG-S360 -Users can watch movies and video on a monochrome screen.It has a JogDial navigator for singe-handed operation through menus and applications.It comes with acrobat reader, Quick time andd Sony's Picture Gear for digital image viewing.

www.sony.com

As parents strive for balance between family and school, the Internet can offer in terms of the development of their child's education.

WIRED PARENTS

The following tips have proven useful in helping to educate and inform parents on how to use the Internet :

• Ask the PTA to set up a family night on computers, technology and the Internet to help become more involved with their child's classes.(* PE teachers can use fitness calendars, slide shows and power point presentations of the curriculum and use digital cameras showing skills and activities.)
• Encourage parents to look into sites that offer exploration in the latest online education(* PE teachers use the websites in this column to explore various sites)
• Invite parents to participate in tech planning or in web site design.(e-mail, create web site, maintain gradebook)

Parental involvement in schools improves student achievement , school programs and the learning environment.( PE teachers can use this to their advantage by showing the parents will we really do in our classes and that we are up to date on all the latest tech trends)