NOTE: webTeacher® and the following training scripts (Module 3) are the property of TECH CORPS®. While designed for use by K-12 teachers and students, the content may also be useful for other audiences. Permission is granted to use these materials without charge, subject to the following restrictions:

· Credit must be given to TECH CORPS as the original source;

· If the material is used in modified form, TECH CORPS must be cited as the original source, and it must be stated clearly that the material has been modified;

· The material may not be used as part of a commercial product, nor may it be sold for profit;

· You may freely print and copy these materials, subject to the preceding restrictions.

·Any usage of this material not consistent with the preceding restrictions requires the explicit written permission of TECH CORPS.

Training Module 3
On-Line Communication & Collaboration

Before Getting Started

talk
1. Welcome everyone

Introduce yourself, and briefly describe your background.

2. Ask how this class was announced:

(e.g. training trainers, training teachers, or training others)

3. Ask who is participating in today's class

(e.g. trainers, teachers, administrators...)
(Keep in mind the various types of participants, so that you can gear examples and discussions to their needs.)

4. Discuss what the series will cover:

Module 1: Introduction to World Wide Web
Module 2: Accessing Educational Content
Module 3: On-Line Communication & Collaboration
Module 4: Creating a Web Page
Module 5: Managing the On-Line Student...Internet Safety
Module 6: Integrating the Internet into the Classroom

5. Discuss what class training will cover:
The title of today's module is, "On-Line Communication & Collaboration".
Today we will:
discuss and demonstrate how to use the WWW (Internet) to improve teaching through:

e-mail,
newsgroups,
on-line research , and
global student/teacher collaborations.

6. Describe Expected Outcomes
By the end of this class you will:

know how to email using the Internet,
know how to join newsgroups,
know how to conduct on-line research, and
know how to access global student/teacher collaborations.

7. Review class times:

Mention - when the class will start
Mention - break-times, if any
Mention - when the class will end
Mention - that participants should ask questions whenever they need to, no matter how simple they may feel it is

Getting Started
video
Show Introduction to Module three of webTeacher Video, "On-Line Communication and Collaboration".

optional
(If the class has not seen the introduction to the webTeacher Video --featuring Senator John Glenn--then begin with the introduction, skip modules one and two, and show module three.)

talk
As the narrator in the video points out, the World Wide Web (Internet) not only offers an endless library of information; but, it provides you and your students with a means of interactive communication. Indeed, as we shall see in today's class, the WWW (Internet) actually provides you with several different types of communications.

Such communications allow for new ways of learning and teaching. For example, your students could develop partnerships with students from around the world on various projects. This type of collaboration unites different perspectives, and brings value to the learning experience. It is, furthermore, this type of collaboration that students will be expected to know in the workplace of the future.

The narrator also mentioned that these new ways of communications can build communities, linking students and teachers and administrators, as well as parents.

demonstrate
One new and interesting site which is free to schools and which demonstrates community building among students, teachers, administrators, and parents is nSchool.
(Go to http://www.nschool.com.)

note
point out:

nschool.com is a web-based education system providing a new level of communication between schools, students, teachers, administration and families. No prior computer or Internet experience is required. Such a site opens channels of communications linking all of the stakeholders in the school.
(Show some of the nschool's features.)

go to
Menu Bar

select
Bookmarks

select
"Add a bookmark"

talk
In today's class, I will show you how to use the WWW (Internet) to improve teaching through e-mail, newsgroups, on-line research, and student/teacher collaboration.

Our objectives for today's class are:

Goal #1: know how to e-mail using the Internet,
Goal #2: know how to join newsgroups,
Goal #3: know how to conduct on-line research, and
Goal #4: know how to access global student/teacher collaborations.

section 1
How to email using the Internet

talk
Ask how many of the class already use (or know how to use) electronic-mail, or e-mail. Ask what they use e-mail for; and how has their use of e-mail helped them in education.

If everyone is familiar with the use of e-mail, then you can skip this section and go to section #2 (below). Otherwise, continue with:

For those of you who do not know how to use electronic-mail, or e-mail, let me first show you what an e-mail message looks like.

note
(It is assumed that you are using Netscape 4.5 or later on a Mac. Make necessary changes, if you are using a different browser/e-mail program, or a different PC. Point out to class that they can download--free of charge--the latest versions of Netscape or other browsers from the WWW (Internet).)

class
Have class open browser and go to http://www.webTeacher.org

From the right frame of webTeacher's home page have class click on "Sending Email" under heading "#5 Electronic Mail".

talk
Assuming that your web browser supports email--and that it has been properly configured--there are many ways to send an electronic message. One of the easiest ways to send an electronic message, is to:

class
Have class select "New Mail Message" from the pull-down menu under "File".

Make sure that the "Message Toolbar" is visible. If it is not, then go to the "View" menu item and select "Show", and then "Message Toolbar".

optional
(Show how to select "New Mail Message" by using the keyboard short cut. Hold down the "command" key and the letter "m".)

class
Now let's compose an e-mail message.

Have class type a message.

When you're finished, you can send your message by:

clicking the "Send" button (located on the "Message Toolbar"), or
selecting "Send Now" from "File" menu item, or
using the keyboard short cut of holding down the "command" key and the "return" key.

Or, you may wish to send the message later by:

holding down the "Send" button (located on the "Message Toolbar") until the "Send Later" option becomes visible, or
selecting "Send Later" from "File" menu item, or
using the keyboard short cut of holding down the "shift" key, the "command" key, and the "return" key.

optional
If you want to mail messages from your home computer, you must be connected to the WWW (Internet). This means connecting to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Furthermore, you must make sure that the preferences are set according to the information provided by your ISP. (You can see the preferences to set up e-mail by selecting "Preferences" from the "Edit" menu item.)

note
Assuming that your web browser supports email--and that it has been properly configured--you can receive messages just as easily as you send them.

class
From the right frame of webTeacher's home page have class click on "Receiving Email" under heading "#5 Electronic Mail".

select
From the browser select "Messenger" from "Communicator" menu item.

optional
(You can use the keyboard short cut by holding down the "command" key and the numeral "2".)

talk
(Make sure the "Message Toolbar" is opened. If "Message Toolbar" is not visible; go to the "View" menu item, go to "Show" option, and select "Message Toolbar".)

Everyone should now have the "Messenger" window opened with the "Message Toolbar" visible.

note
Note that the appearance of my "Messenger" window may be different from yours. If there is a difference, it is most likely due to the different ways in which we have set our preferences. (Differences in appearance may also arise from different browsers, or different versions of browsers.)

optional
Have class go to "Edit" menu item, and select "Preferences".

From "Preference" list, go to "Mail & Newsgroups", and select "Window Settings". (The "Window Settings" options appear in the right of the "Preference Window".)

From the options at the right, you can configure your window by choosing the layout you prefer for the main "Messenger" window.

Click "OK". (This will close the "Preference Window". Everyone should be viewing the "Messenger Window".)

demonstrate
Drag the panes, in order to demonstrate how one can change the size of each pane.

class
Define the following headings on the "Message Toolbar":

define
Get Msg - Get new mail & newsgroup messages

define
New Msg - Create a new message

define
Reply - Reply to sender of message

define
Reply All - Reply to all in newsgroup

define
Forward - Forward the selected message (i.e. the e-mail message that you are viewing)

define
File - Save--as a file--the selected message (i.e. the e-mail message that you are viewing)

define
Next - View next unread e-mail message

define
Print - Print the selected message (i.e. the e-mail message that you are viewing)

define
Delete - Delete the selected message (i.e. the e-mail message that you are viewing)

define
Stop - Stop loading e-mail message

selec
Open one of your e-mail messages, and point out:

define
Subject: - Title of the message (what was entered in subject field, at time message was composed)

define
Date: - Date and time of message

define
From: - E-mail address of person sending message

define
Organization: - Organizational affiliation (if any) of person sending message

define
To: - E-mail address of person to whom message was sent

define
References: - Number, if this message is a response to a previous message

talk
You will find that using e-mail is very easy. (Note, most of your questions are answered on webTeacher's site.)

section 2
How to join newsgroups

class
Close all message windows, and make sure everyone is at the webTeacher site. Have class click "#12 Newsgroups" in right frame.

define
Newgroups provide a mechanism whereby e-mail messages are systematically made available to large groups of people. In this case a message is said to be "posted" to the newsgroup. It is expected that a posted message will be read by other members of the newsgroup, and then replied to by some members--those replies are usually also posted to the newsgroup. Therefore, if they choose, subscribers to a newsgroup can follow--and participate in--discussions that may go on for very long periods of time.

There are thousands of newsgroups. Their interests range over many topics.

demonstrate

Go to "http://www.liszt.com/news/"
type in "education" and hit return,
note that over 120 newsgroups appear,
scroll down -- point out K-12 groups

optional
Have class go to "http://www.liszt.com/news/"

Have class identify newsgroups with educational topics.

class
Have everyone return to webTeacher's site. Have class click "Newsgroups" under Web Primer in right frame, and follow.

talk
In order to read messages posted to a newsgroup, one must have a "Newsreader".

define
Newsreaders allows one to read and post newsgroup items, and to manage these items in some systematic way. There are various newsreader programs available including those within most popular web browsers.

talk
From the "Communicator" menu item, select "Newsgroups".

optional
(You can also use the keyboard shortcut by holding down the "command" key, the "option" key, and the number "3".)

note
You will notice many similarities with the Netscape Mail interface, and the main Netscape browser window that we have encountered before; this is one of the advantages of using an integrated browser package supporting additional functions like mail and newsreading.
(Remember, that you can change the way the browser looks by changing the preferences.)

The Newsgroup Window may be divided into 4 basic parts:
(point out these parts, as you mention them)

1. the control buttons, in one panel,
2. a list of newsgroups, in the next panel,
3. a list of posted items, (assuming a particular newsgroup has been selected), and
4. the text of a message, (assuming a message has been selected from the list of posted items).

demonstrate
Open a newsgroup on your computer and open a message.

talk
You can see how easy it is to use a newsreader to browse messages posted to newsgroups. But, how can we add or remove newsgroups from the list displayed in the browser?

The first step in adding newsgroups to the list is to display all available newsgroups.

class
From the "Communicator" menu item, select "Newsgroups".
(You can also use the keyboard shortcut by holding down the "command" key, the "option" key, and the number "3".)

Then, from the "File" menu item, select "Subscribe". (This will open the "Subscribe to Folders and Newsgroups" window.) This may take a moment or two to open, so be patient.

demonstrate
Scroll down to K12 and open folders within. (For example, open up the "K12.ed" folder to display all of the newsgroups.)

Once the newsgroups are visible, click on a button to subscribe to the newsgroup. (A check mark indicates that you are already subscribed to the newsgroup. If you have just checked a newsgroup, then you will have to wait until you've closed the "Subscribe to Folders and Newsgroups" window before you will be subscribed to that group.)

Note, that if you want to un-subscribe from a newsgroup; merely click the button so the check mark disappears. (The button, in other words, toggles between no check mark, and check mark.)

class
Have class subscribe to newsgroups

optional
I want to discuss briefly netiquette in newsgroups.

define
Netiquette is etiquette on the net--WWW (Internet).

A modicum of etiquette is required to allow newgroups to function efficiently, without sinking into unrestrained name-calling.

Perhaps the most important rule of using newsgroups is to "look before you leap". It is advisable to monitor a newsgroup for a while before you begin to post to it, to see what kinds of materials are posted there, to see how tolerant those that frequent the newsgroup are of divergent opinion, and to learn where the FAQ is for the newsgroup.

The FAQ stands for the "Frequently Asked Questions". Most newsgroups post their most frequently asked questions, along with answers, in an FAQ file accessible somewhere on the WWW (Internet)--usually at an FTP or HTTP site.

If you are new to newsgroups, then it is important to point out that many users of newsgroups are highly intolerant of users who ask questions or post information that suggest they have not read the FAQs.

Sometimes such action can bring swift retribution from a member--or members--of a newsgroup. For example, if you post an ad for your old Macintosh SE in the newsgroup "comp.infosystems.www.authoring.html" (which is devoted to authoring html documents and frequented by some rather nice people and also by some highly intolerant and opinionated people), you should just lay low for a few days because you will be bashed mightily--and rightfully so in this case--by e-mail and postings from irate members of the newsgroup. Such e-mail attacks are called "Flaming", and are a common punishment for those who violate newsgroup etiquette.

Another reprehensible act to denizens of newsgroups is the practice of blanket-posting something to every newsgroup around, whether appropriate or not. For example, the posting to all Usenet newsgroups of an advertisement promoting a commercial product or service falls into this category. Such postings are called "Spamming", and those judged guilty of spamming the net may be flamed so badly that their computer systems become unusable for a period, because of the volume of e-mail sent in protest.

To avoid troubles remember: DO NOT POST TO GROUPS THAT ARE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR MESSAGE, post only to those groups clearly related to the subject matter of your message.

section 3
How to conduct on-line research

In the first module, we discussed how to use search engines. I want to revisit that topic, and add to it. In particular, I want to talk about a few ways by which you can narrow our searches when conducting research on-line.

In some search engines by using special terms, a search can be limited:

class
Type in http://www.altavista.com, and go to the Alta Vista search engine.

You should all be at Alta Vista's home page. This page is used for general searches. However, if you want to conduct more precise searches you need to click on the "Advance Search" tab.

note
(According to Alta Vista, "The main difference between the two is the ability of Advanced Search to use Boolean expressions. Boolean expressions are the words OR, AND, AND NOT, and NEAR used to create relationships among the keywords in your search query. Using these expressions allows you to tailor your search to find exactly what you are looking for.")

class
Here is a sample (furnished by Alta Vista) of Advanced Search that uses all of the advanced features:
1. Type "(ballroom OR salsa) AND dance" in the Boolean query box. This Boolean query will find all documents containing the phrases "ballroom dance" and "salsa dance".
2. Type "tango waltz" in the "Sort by:" box. This step sorts the documents so that tango and waltz appear at the top of your results.
3. Type "01/JAN/99" in the "From:" box and "30/JUN/99" in the "To: box". This step limits the results to documents that have been updated in the first half of 1999. Note: if you do not include a month or year in the "From:" or "To:" fields, the search will use the current month and year.
4. Click the "Search" button to begin your search.

note
Note also that with most search engines, CASE RULES; i.e. searches are case sensitive. When searching for topics, use lower case to get more results--or "hits"--and use upper case to return fewer results.

section 4
How to access global student/teacher collaborations

talk
Both e-mail and newsgroups are valuable tools for collaborating. These collaborations can be among friends and colleagues from within the same school; or they can be between and among people from around the world. It's amazing to think that through the WWW (Internet) not only can you read about recent events--like the floods in Venezuela; but that you can e-mail people and get their first hand accounts of the events.

There are some other ways of collaborating on the WWW (Internet) that I want to mention.

For a number of years, a staple for rapid and broad distribution of information on the WWW (Internet) has been the use of Automatic Mail Lists (sometimes called listservs). Although many of the functions of these lists are being supplanted by web sites and by newsgroups, mail lists still play a large role in distributing information, and facilitating collaborations.

define
Automated mail lists are basically e-mail, but they have the potential for large impact because they are distributed to a large group (thus, they are closely related to newsgroups).

class
Have class open webTeacher's site, and go to "Going Further" under heading "#13 Mail Lists". Here are some web resources to help you get started in subscribing to mail lists.

select
Go to one of these sites with class.

Mailing Lists for Teachers
(http://www.kli.org/jquick/mailinglists.html)

Listservs for K-12 and Children
(http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~aa331/listserv.html)

Email Discussion Groups/Lists Resources
(http://www.webcom.com/impulse/list.html)

More Email Discussion Groups
(http://alabanza.com/kabacoff/Inter-Links/)

demonstrate
You can find additional sites using search engines. For example, try this search, which uses the Alta Vista search engine with the search string:

+listserv+"mail list"+"k-12"

class
Have class conduct searches using their own verbiage.

Discuss which strategies were most successful.

talk
Another tool for collaboration is called "chat groups". Chat groups allow users connected by the WWW (Internet) to converse with each other by typing messages that appear on everyone's screens.

A popular means to chat is through Internet Relay Chat, or just "IRC" to those who use it frequently. On IRC, several persons can simultaneously participate in a discussion over a particular "channel", or even multiple channels. There is no restriction to the number of people in a given discussion, nor to the number of channels that can be formed. There are IRC users in many countries, and it can serve as an inexpensive substitute for long distance telephone conversations.

point out
Teachers should note that IRC chat groups are often free-wheeling, and can easily stray into topics that may not be appropriate for young children. The rules of Internet Safety are probably more critical for chat groups than for any other area of WWW (Internet) use. (In addition to this concern, some chat groups are oriented more toward recreation and "killing time" than toward material of educational value.)

If you are interested in learning more about chat groups from webTeacher's site, bookmark "Going Further" under heading "#14 Chat Groups".

talk
The last type of collaboration on the WWW (Internet) that I will describe today is called teleconferencing.

Teleconferencing has many definitions. I think of it as ways of using various technologies to bring people together over space and time. No doubt the first modern use of teleconferencing was when Alexander Graham Bell said to Thomas A. Watson, "Mr. Watson--come here--I want to see you."

There are three different types of teleconferencing:

define
Audio Teleconferencing - uses the telephone as the interactive medium

define
Video Teleconferencing - uses video, computing, and communication technologies. Video teleconferencing can be "Point-to-Point", or it can be "Broadcast". "Point-to-Point" video conferencing means having both parties--or sites--view one another interactively, like face to face meetings. "Broadcast" video conferencing means having one party--or site--broadcast its image to many dedicated down-link sites.

define
Audio Graphics Teleconferencing - uses communications and computing technologies. AGT allows one to move text, photographs, computer generated images, and large files over ordinary telephone lines (as the Internet provides). Since video is not transmitted, wider bandwidths--associated with video teleconferencing--are not necessary.

note
The webTeacher site examines one such video teleconferencing tool called, CU-SeeMe, in greater detail. (click on "CU-SeeMe" under heading "#15 Teleconferencing".)

talk
SESSION WRAP-UP: Leave time to answer questions. If someone has a very specific question that is not of general relevance, tell them you'll answer that "off-line" (one-to-one) after the session is over.

If disks have been provided, they can download the list of bookmarks they visited today. No disk? No Problem! Most of the sites they visited today can be easily retraced through webTeacher!

optional
Ask people what they think they have learned today. Review material.

optional
Leave some time (15 minutes, if possible) for people who want to stay and use the computer on-line to do so.