Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh

Informational Newsletter
Volume 95, Number 4
/projects/ckp/newsletter/v95n2.html

Mailing Lists and Newsgroups

It is a common practice on the Internet to try and find people who have interests similar to your own. Generally, this is done by either joining a mailing list or visiting a newsgroup.

A MAILING LIST (also called a listserv) is a private place on the Internet where only people who subscribe to the list can post messages and receive email responses.
A NEWSGROUP (also called a bulletin board) is a public place on the Internet where many people post messages and replies pertaining to a particular topic. There are over 5000 newsgroups all pertaining to specific topics of interest.

Over the next few newsletters, we will highlight a number of mailing lists and newsgroups that pertain to education. We will explain how to subscribe, access, participate and manage them.

Kidsphere

Kidsphere is a mailing list created and moderated by Bob Carlitz at the University of Pittsburgh. This list is a place where over 3000 K12 educators from around the world ask questions, obtain resources and collaborate. Anyone with an email account can join Kidsphere and contribute to the discussion. As a moderated list, messages are reviewed for their relevance before they are posted to the list. This insures a focused discussion. The following is a listing of recent message titles sent to Kidsphere.

Introduction (teacher in Brazil)
Please Help Me Out! (college senior from Arcata, California)
Computer labs and public access (kindergarden teacher in Chicago)
"Rivers" Curriculum (Elementary technology specialist from Stockton, California)
Bible Question (computer literacy teacher in Oklahoma)
Testimony: Value of the Internet in the K-12 (middle school library media director in Wisconsin)
Snacks in Kindergarten (kindergarten teacher in Missouri)
Hello from Washington, DC (middle school computer technology teacher)
Introduction: HS Sp.Ed. Teacher (special education teacher in Frederick, Maryland)
Call for Hello Messages (primary teacher in Australia)
Finding some postal BUDDIES ! (teacher in Sydney, Australia)
Unusual pets project (primary teacher in Victoria, Australia)
New Hale Gopher (teacher in Seattle, Washington)
Information Request on Odyssey of the Mind (Intermediate school teacher in Tennessee)
Keyboarding controversy (teachers from Hawaii, Colorado, Ohio)

The following email message to Kidsphere indicates the kind of collaborations possible on the Internet.

Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 22:29:29 -0500 (CDT)

From: Lilla E Green

Subject: "Rivers" Curriculum

Hello Everyone,

This is Lilla Green of Chicago, IL. I am teaching a 10 week science integrated course to 7th/8th graders during Sept./Oct. My materials are based upon DePaul University's CORE curriculum (Botany, Zoology and Geology); Project WET, Project Aquatic Wild, GEMS' River Cutters and The New Explorers. I've written out my syllabus, and am willing to share with whoever is interested. My theme came from the inspiration I received, when I partook of a week-long institute at Hamline Univ. in St. Paul, MN, this summer. The intent of the "Rivers" theme is to learn how people, animals and plants adapt to life along the Mississippi River. We'll be studying the migratory birds that travel that river's corridor. We'll study how rivers changed the course of the land. We'll also see how the wetlands and its inhabitants are affected by seasons and weather and climate. We'll integrate science with art, music, social studies, math and language arts. Daily lessons will include technology, writing, graphics-centered skill lessons and games. Hopefully, the theme won't bore everyone.....I'll aim for 100% and settle for 70%. The kids will do "K-W-L-H" Charts before and after the unit ("What I Know About Rivers, What I Want To Know, What I Learned and How I Learned"). Some groups will make a Rivers Exhibit Corner, as an assessment activity. Others will create a play that traces the history of rivers. Still others may want to create a class "Big Book."

If any of you are interested in this topic, e-mail me and I'll be willing to share materials, exchange ideas or whatever.

Yours Truly,

Lilla E. Green

lgreen@teacher.acs-lc.depaul.edu

Hartigan School

8 West Root Street

Chicago, IL 60609

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How can I participate in Kidsphere?

Answer: Teachers in the Pittsburgh Public Schools can participate in Kidsphere in two ways.

You can subscribe to the Kidsphere mailing list and have it delivered to your Inbox. To do this, send email to: kidsphere-request@vms.cis.pitt.edu and ask to subscribe to Kidsphere. This will deliver 20-30 email messages a day!!
If you would like to look at Kidsphere messages without subscribing, you can read them in the newsgroup - mail.kidsphere. To do this login to your account, go to the CK:P menu and choose newsgroups.

Obtaining Help

Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh maintains a number of email addresses that provide users with online help. If you have an account on the system and would like to obtain answers to common questions, send email to:

trouble@pps.pgh.pa.us (technical assistance)

resources@pps.pgh.pa.us (curricular assistance)

info@ckp.edu (information pertaining to Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh)

sliplube@pps.pgh.pa.us (setting up a slip account on a PC)

macslip@pps.pgh.pa.us (setting up a slip account on a MAC)