University of Wisconsin - Stout

Feature:
Best Mentoring Practices

January 6, 2006
School of Education
Editor: Karen Franker

Tech Tips
    ~ Tabbed Browsing In Mozilla Firefox
    ~ View Satellite Images in Google Earth
Feature: Best Mentoring Practices
Hot News about e-Learning
UW-Stout Online Instructor in the News
 Final Call for Online Classes Beginning January 17 and 18
What Our Students Are Saying...
For More Information

Thanks for sharing the URL for this newsletter with your colleagues. Our newsletter keeps you up to date with helpful technology hints, teaching strategies, and sites of the week.

TECH TIPS

TIP #1 Tabbed Browsing In Mozilla Firefox

One of the best features of the Firefox Web browser is the ability to set Web pages as “tabs”. Tabbed browsing lets you open tabs which provide one-click access to separate web pages within a single Firefox window. This is helpful when comparing information from several Web pages at once. To create tabs:

  1. Select File - New Tab.
  2. To load a link in a new tab, simply drag and drop the link onto a tab to open the link in that tab.
  3. To close the current tab, select File - Close Tab or right-click on the tab and select “close tab”.

TIP #2 View Satellite Images in Google Earth

Google Earth is an amazing tool which combines satellite imagery, maps and Google Search capabilities to put the world's geographic information onto your computer screen. Type in the location or address of a home, school, business, or landmark and see a satellite image of the area. Results can be saved and shared with others. Available as a free download at www.earth.google.com

FEATURE: Best Mentoring Practices

The Importance of Mentors, Or What I Learned From Harold
Drawing from personal experience, veteran teacher Max Fischer describes the mutual benefits of mentoring for both experienced and new teachers.

The Mettle of a Mentor
Vicki Denmark and India Podsen describe seven competencies needed for a successful mentoring relationship.

Characteristics of Effective Mentors
Barry Sweeney has compiled a concise list of the most important qualities needed to be an effective mentor.

The Mentoring Leadership and Resource Network
This site describes the characteristics of successful mentors and tips for implementing a quality mentoring program.

Creating a Teacher Mentoring Program
The NEA Foundation provides a comprehensive description of the most important considerations involved in setting up and assessing a successful mentoring program.

Assessing the Development of Your District Mentoring Program
How does your school district's mentoring program measure up? Here is a rubric from New York State designed to assist school districts in assessing the status of their mentoring programs.

EDUC 744 941F - Mentoring Teachers
This course studies the practice of mentoring as a process to provide effective on-the-job support and guidance to foster personal and professional growth of initial educators. Are you seeking a clearer picture of the roles of mentors and what a successful mentoring program in a school should be? Are you looking for activities to assist in developing the mentor/mentee relationship? If so, join this class.
3 cr. hrs.
Begins February 27, 2006
Instructor: Phyl Burger

NEWS:
E-Learning

FREE JASON Project Webinar
Take your students on a trip to Mars! JASON's Mysteries of Earth and Mars standards-based, multimedia curriculum provides a fresh, exciting way to teach science standards. Motivate your students with learning materials and events that let them interact with real scientists.

UW-Stout Online Instructor in the News

Sharron L. McElmeel, School of Education instructor for Children's Literature in the Reading Program (grades K-5) and Teaching Young Adult Literature in the Reading Classroom (grades 6-12), has been named a continuing columnist for School Library Media Activities Monthly.  Her column, "Book Bag" will be published every other month (December through June). Sharron's first column featuring Author Carol Gorman and Gorman's recent book, Stumptown Kid, appeared in the December issue.

Final Call Online Courses Beginning January 17 and 18

Registration closes January 12 for the following classes to provide time for assigning user name, password, university email address, and online orientation. Sign up today!

Additional courses begin January 20 and in February and March. Reserve your spot soon!
List of spring online classes

REGISTER ONLINE OR BY FAX (PDF FORM)
Payment plan option available. Tuition is the same fee for in-state and out-of-state participants. You may participate from your home or school computer.

Call University of Wisconsin-Stout Online Professional Development (715-642-0209) if you have questions.

WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING...

About the Inspiration and Kidspiration: Strategies to Build Study Skills and Comprehension online course:

"I especially appreciated the care and thoughtfulness the instructor gave when responding to my work... it was highly motivating and encouraging to read her reactions and suggestions throughout the modules."
Music teacher from Taiwan

"I really liked the fact that I could work at my own pace...."
in my own home, without the hassle of buying books and materials. I also liked the frequent communication from my peers and professor. It made my first online course experience a good one. I also liked how the class was laid out so that we always knew where we were going and EXACTLY what was expected of us. "
K-1 teacher from Japan

"Learning to use Inspiration has already changed my thinking about the manner in which I present several different units in my curriculum... I will incorporate the ideas and maps I developed in this class to help students better understand their own knowledge, to offer an alternative method to text based notetaking and to encourage classroom teachers to collaborate on specific units of instruction."

I loved all of the tips classmates shared for using the software, the brainstormed list for uses of the software and the exchange of ideas for classroom applications. Wonderful professional interaction with peers."
Elementary media specialist from Avondale, Pennsylvania

"I liked the overlap of the activities from module to module. It helped to reinforce the concepts... Be prepared to look at your teaching style from a different perspective, because if you want to utilize what you learn in the course, your teaching role will change."
High school AP physics teacher from Arlington Heights, Illinois

Online Reading Certification Courses

Gain your certification in teaching reading through a sequence of six courses completed in five semesters. Apply soon.

Master of Science in Education - Online Program

University of Wisconsin-Stout's two-year, 30-credit MS Ed degree program is offered online, and no travel to campus is required. For additional information, email Amy Gullixson at gullixsona@uwstout.edu or call Amy at 715-232-5167.

Financial Aid is available for degree-seeking students.  You can apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov , or to speak with a financial aid advisor, call UW-Stout's Financial Aid Office at 715-232-1363 or email finaid@uwstout.edu .

FOR MORE INFORMATION...

Request for Information Form
Email: Joan Vandervelde
Online Professional Development Program Coordinator
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Online Courses and Dates
Archive of Past Newsletters
Call University of Wisconsin-Stout Online Professional Development (715) 642-0209 if you have questions.

The next issue of Infobytes newsletter will feature: Effective Parent Communications

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