TrueFLIX eBooks For Grades 3-6

These interactive ebooks help students understand how to read non-fiction text. Students can access video/book titles from home and follow along with the quality read-aloud feature. Categories of content include: American Indians, Ancient Civilizations, Continents, U.S. Government, Westward Expansion, Disasters, Ecosystems, Extreme Nature, Human Body, Space. TrueFLIX is a perfect whiteboard application. Go to http://trueflix.scholastic.com and login using the online database username/password assigned to your school.

New Usernames/Passwords for Online Databases

Each school has a new username/password for the online databases such as Learn 360, iClipart for Schools, Gale, netTrekker, EBSCO, Atomic Learning, Soundzabound, etc. The license agreement allows schools to share the username/password and log-in information with parents. Please don't post username/passwords on a website, wiki or blog nor include them in any printed materials that may be sent to the general public. Ask your teacher librarian for the new username/password or call the Heartland library.

Parents can be directed to the Homework Help section found here for links to the databases or go to our home page, click the Parents tab and scroll down to Homework Help.

DVD Suggestions for Your Districts’ Fall Inservices

Reserve the following DVDs online through our Media Library or call the Heartland AEA library at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14323.

Seeing red cars. #256075, 10 min.
Explains how focusing on what we don't want gets in the way of doing our jobs and completing tasks. It can impede teamwork and communication. Focus on what you want.

It's a way, not a day: bringing your values to life. #256252, 22 min.
Anchor an organization's values in staff hearts and minds: proclaim it, live it, celebrate it.

2 million minutes: a documentary calculating the educational divide. #255787, 54 min.
Shows 6 high school students in China, India and U.S. It contrasts educational opportunities, philosophies and global vision.

Shout it out. #256339, 90 min.
Adaptation of the stage musical "The Voices Project" (2005) is based on the lives of Vermont teens. It follows them through academic pressure; friction with peers, teachers and parents; trying to fit in, trying to find one's self, fear of the future; nostalgia for the past; friendship; and first love.

You are not alone. #256278, 29 min.
Quinn Bradlee talks about his experiences as a kid with learning disabilities. Flashback vignettes. Topics: being different, being ignored, friendship, bullying, relationships, gaining self-confidence, responsibility and self-advocacy.

Total quality at Prairie View Elementary (Cedar Rapids): a new way of learning. #256289, 17 min.
Students work in teams, plan with a systems approach, use diagrams to solve problems, set goals and chart their progress.

Who moved my cheese? #253834, 13 min.
This animated parable reveals profound truths about change. Cheese is a metaphor for what you want to have in your life.

The first day of school in a responsive classroom. #256112, 40 min.
A 3rd grade teacher sets a tone of safety, friendliness and focuses learning on the very first day of school.

Morning meeting activities in a responsive classroom. #256117, 35 min.
Shows activities in urban, suburban, and rural classrooms.

Morning meeting greetings in a responsive classroom. #256114, 35 min.
Features 11 meeting greetings in grades K-5 for any time of the year.

Teaching with poverty in mind, elementary school. #256296, 30 min.
Teaching with poverty in mind, secondary school. #256297, 30 min.
These programs look at school-wide success factors that support the whole child and foster a school culture that refuses to let students fail.

Preview the following at http://www.simpletruths.com. The DVDs use music and a montage of inspirational quotes.
Gone through any changes lately? #256298, 4 min. Laughter is an instant vacation: humorous quotes on life. #256264, 3 min.
Pulling together: the ten rules of high performance workteams. #266306, 3 min.
Priorities for life: capacity and energy. #256259, 5 min.
Priorities for life: change. #256260, 5 min.
Priorities for life: leadership. #256261, 5 min.
Priorities for life: priorities. #256262, 5 min. Priorities for life: excelling in a changing world. #256157, 6 min. Priorities for life: reaching the next level and beyond. #256156, 5 min.

The “Did you know?” video about information and technology was updated in January 2011. It is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8W1WuxGniE.

More Mobile and Social Technologies in Schools

The NASSP is looking to change the conversation about mobile computing and social media in schools. They issued a position statement advocating greater access to and acceptance of technologies like smart phones and social networking sites. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/3m4fbt2.

To support this conversation plus the movement toward 1:1 schools, Heartland AEA will provide search widgets for mobile online database searching and new online ebook content. Imagine the possibilities when a teacher can help a student in the hallway, lunch room, gym or on the field find information/research with their smart phone or tablet. Check with the teacher librarians this fall for more details on how you, teachers and students can get connected.

Online Resources: Discovery Education Streaming Update

Discovery Education (DE) was not awarded the 2011-2013 Iowa AEA Online video-streaming contract. The statewide bid for DE Streaming was a 500% increase in cost. (This is separate from the DE Science K-8 product.) DE changed their marketing strategy and will target individual schools and districts, rather than work with AEAs or state consortiums. We share the schools’ disappointment in the loss of this resource statewide.

In response, the AEAs

• have identified the most-used video titles/series in DE Streaming and are in the process of purchasing digital rights to the same or similar content. The target, of course, is to support the Iowa Core.

• will continue to add new content to the other online video streaming service available to schools—Learn 360, http://www.learn360.com. For example all the new science titles from Visual Learning and eBioMedia will be available through Learn 360.

We wanted you to be aware of the plans for the statewide purchase of digital rights, and to remind you and your staff of the availability of Learn 360. In addition to the statewide initiative, Heartland is looking into the feasibility of adding another streaming service—Safari Montage. If your school or district is considering the direct purchase of DE Streaming and would like usage statistics to help with the decision, please contact Susan Schrader at sschrader@aea11.k12.ia.us or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14332.

DE Streaming Terms of Service After June 30, 2011
According to the DE Streaming terms of service, after June 30, 2011 users will no longer be authorized to view, save, store, display or use in any manner, any of the Discovery Education content. As agreed upon in the Iowa statewide contract for the subscription, once the subscription expires, schools may not access or view any of the content thereafter, wherever it may be located, and have committed to make sure that any and all copies or materials that you, or any students, teachers or administrators, have downloaded or saved from Discovery Education are completely erased, deleted or destroyed from all school computers, servers, flash drives, DVDs and other portable storage devices. This includes downloaded videos, images, audio files, lesson plans or presentations from the Discovery Educator Network Resource library.

Keeping Students & Teachers Up-to-Date on Copyright Laws

Violation of copyright law is an ongoing and serious issue with Internet usage – especially with music and images. Click here to download Copyright BRIEFnotes for Students and here to download Copyright Condensed which is aimed toward teachers and administrators. These documents will provide staff and students will the proper guidance around copyright issues. They are always available on the Heartland website under the Educators tab>Library & Online Catalog. If you ever have any questions about copyright issues, contact Susan Schrader, Resource & Publications Supervisor, at sscrader@aea11.k12.ia.us.

E-Rate Revision Supports Cell Phone Use in Schools

The E-Rate program will now allow schools to create and fund mobile pilot programs—dedicating federal dollars to devices such as smartphones, iPads, and netbooks that can be used in school, and at home, to access school materials. Read more at http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/newsletters/newsletterbucketextrahelping/887213-443/e-rate_revision_supports_cell_phone.html.csp