University of Wisconsin - Stout

Feature:
Motivating 21st Century Students

February 5, 2006
School of Education
Editor: Karen Franker

Tech Tips
    ~ Close Group Command In IE 6.0
    ~ Import Videos in Inspiration Version 8
Feature: Motivating 21st Century Students
Hot News about e-Learning
UW-Stout Online Instructors in the News
Online Classes Begin in February, March and April
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 Close Group Command In IE 6.0

When your list of open Web site windows in Internet Explorer grows long and unwieldy, here's a quick way to close all of them at once:

  1. Right-click on the Internet Explorer tab on the taskbar at the bottom of your screen.
  2. In the pop-up menu which appears, select “Close Group”.

TIP #2 Import Videos in Inspiration Version 8

Inspiration Software, Inc. recently released Inspiration version 8, which now lets you import QuickTime and MP3 video clips into Inspiration diagrams. Inspiration Version 8 is available for free 30-day download in Mac, Windows, Palm OS, and Pocket PC versions at www.inspiration.com

To import a video in Inspiration 8:

  1. Click to select the symbol in your diagram to which the video will be attached.
  2. On the Tools menu, select Insert Video or Sound, and then select Video.
  3. Navigate to the folder where your video file is located and click on Open.
  4. Click the Video button on your diagram to play the video.

Note: you may also drag a video file icon directly onto an Inspiration 8 diagram.

FEATURE: Motivating 21st Century Students

Finding the Spark: More Tips for Increasing Student Motivation
School psychologist Jim Wright recognizes that teachers can feel overwhelmed when faced with unmotivated students. The task becomes less daunting when teachers realize they can boost motivation in five ways, including making positive changes to the learning environment and fostering a sense of community.

Motivating Today's Students: The Same Old Stuff Just Doesn't Work
Linda Landsmen states that what may have held students' attention forty years ago is not necessarily going to hold the interest of today's students. She shares the experience of two teachers and a principal on classroom practices that enhance learning and keep students motivated and engaged.

Increasing Student Engagement and Motivation
Cory Brewster and Jennifer Faber offer some practical strategies for promoting student engagement in learning. Also included are tips to share with parents, who play the most important role in cultivating students' motivation to learn.

Tools for Teaching: Motivating Students
Barbara Gross-Davis lists key features that enhance student motivation, including making students active learning participants by setting achievable goals, giving prompt feedback, and emphasizing mastery and learning rather than grades.

Seizing the Days: Engaging All Learners
Julie Crotty's site describes how K-12 teachers can create the conditions for students to find motivation within themselves.

NEWS:
E-Learning

Tech-Savvy Students Stuck in Text-Dominated Schools
This thought-provoking article outlines students' frustrations with our nation's still text-dominated schools, as well as students' ideas for how adult education policy and school designers could better meet their needs.

Online Courses Begin in February, March and April

Register soon for the following classes to provide time for assigning user name, password, university email address, and online orientation. Sign up today!

Additional courses begin in June. Reserve your spot soon!
List of summer 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 Mentoring Teachers online course:

"The mentor course was very sequential in nature and had information at every activity level that was relevant to what is actually going on in the educational setting in school districts.  Ms. Burger was an outstanding teacher as well as facilitator. Her ability to make herself available at any time during the totality of this course and to relate to you as a person and professional was outstanding. I would like to commend your university and instructor for a job well done."
~ Superintendent
Riverdale, Wisconsin

UW-STOUT ONLINE INSTRUCTORS IN THE NEWS

Mary Alice Anderson was honored as one of the Top Online Educators of 2006

Phyl Burger presented on Cyberbullying at the Minnesota Juvenile Officers Association Annual Conference and will be presenting at the Wisconsin School Counselors Association Annual Conference on February 23, 2006.

Sharron McElmeel's February column for School Library Media Activities Monthly features a discussion of the illustrative elements present in past award winning picture books and strategies for comparing and contrasting variations of classic tales.

Sharron's April "Book Bag" column will feature a focus on libraries and includes a discussion of a new book, Books in Boxes: Lutie Stearns and the Traveling Libraries of Wisconsin, by Stuart Stotts (Big Valley Press, 2005) - a book that tells of Stearns' vision for library service and her collaboration in this effort with Senator James Stout who was important in the establishment of the University of Wisconsin - Stout.

A book for educators (and students grades 3-12) Jacqueline Briggs Martin and You by Jacqueline Briggs Martin edited by Sharron L. McElmeel was released in December 2005. It is the most recent title in the popular Author and Youseries.

Online Reading Certification Courses

Gain your certification in teaching reading through a sequence of six courses. Apply soon to begin June courses.

Master of Science in Education - Online Program

Join the fall 2006 cohort! 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: Teaching With a Global Perspective

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