ACELINK Supports FAME Performances

The FAME (Fort Wayne Arts & Music Education) project has been a popular art/music education program in our area for years, but this year teachers will have a whole new way to participate! Working with FAME, IPFW's School of Visual & Performing Arts, and area schools, we are encouraging classrooms to join a small-group performance by two-way videoconferencing in Allen County, Indiana.

ACELINK funds can be used to cover the $50 cost of a performance delivered by two-way videoconferencing. Teachers would need to go to the ACELINK website for an application form, plus they'll need to work with their technical support staff to get equipment setup and tested before the program starts. Remote participation is limited, depending on equipment availability and support needs.

Kim Brown, FAME scheduler, can work with teachers to help them find a date and originating partner for this exciting project. Kim can be reached at: 260-436-3857 or dandkbrown715@msn.com.

IPFW Pilots Two-Way Video Dual Credit Course

This Spring, students from four locations are simultaneously taking Psychology 120 via two-way videoconferencing. Originating from a classroom on IPFW's campus, students at Bishop Dwenger, Heritage, and Woodlan can earn high school credit plus college credit in this unique program. Most of the students participating in the pilot program were not previously enrolled at IPFW.

The class meets on Monday and Wednesday afternoon so it doesn't interfere with school schedules, and each remote school provides an adult facilitator for the session. The Allen County Education Network carries the synchronous videoconferencing content to each location, and students can communicate with the professor through class-time conversations, email or IPFW's course management program: WebCT.

IPFW plans to offer additional dual credit courses by two-way video in the fall 2006 semester. They also offer dual credit in several other formats, including online courses. For information about these courses or the technology, contact schaufes@ipfw.edu. For information about the IPFW dual credit program, contact Ann Brown at browna@ipfw.edu.

Zoology Students Connect with Zoo Expert

Students at New Haven High School connected with the Lee Richardson Zoo to learn about birds in flight through videoconferencing on January 19. Mr. Mettert, classroom teacher, signed up for the program through ACELINK, and about 60 students were able to talk with the Zoo, which is located in Garden City, Kansas. In addition to learning some great information about how birds and bats fly, the students also saw a couple of special guests from the zoo...an albino dove and a screetch owl.

Hoodwinked! director connects with students

IPFW's School of Visual Arts hosted a question-and-answer session with Hoodwinked! animated movie director, Corey Edwards, on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Students from Bishop Dwenger, Heritage, and New Haven High School were able to join IPFW students in a live chat with Corey about his new movie.

The Allen County Education Network was used to connect the three remote sites to IPFW using videoconferencing equipment so students could participate in the session without leaving their schools. Mr. Edwards was in Fort Wayne, Indiana to attend a special premier showing of his new animated film. He attended college with IPFW professor, Mark Ridgeway.

IPFW Links Schools with Mayor

Today we hosted the first IPFW Virtual Town Hall Series with our guest, Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard. Three local schools joined the discussion with IPFW's Andy Downs. The schools were: Bishop Dwenger, Carroll High School and Aboite Elementary. The Mayor talked with students about the importance of the "innovation infrastructure" that he's been strongly supporting in Fort Wayne. He talked to students from the City/County building via the Allen County Education Network and IPFW's distance learning resources.

Students asked great questions like, "How could technology be used to advance opportunities for the Arts to students in Fort Wayne," and "Who has the mayor worked with to create his technology philosophy/policies".

The next program in the series will be February 10 at 9:30 a.m. and our featured guest will be Congressman Mark Souder. Schools can still join the series by contacting me at schaufes@ipfw.edu.

C-SPAN sponsors new website for teachers

C-SPAN, the cable television network that covers Capitol Hill events, is sponsoring a new website designed for middle and high school civics and government teachers. The site contains free access to lesson plans, standards-based video content, and primary source materials, which are aimed at helping students understand the federal government.

C-SPAN also has announced its StudentCam contest that invites middle and high school students to compete for $25,000 in prizes by submitting short documentaries that explore a current issue of national concern. Entries are due by Feb. 28, 2006.

Join IPFW's First Virtual Town Hall Series

Beginning this January through May, K12 students and teachers will have a unique opportunity to engage in two-way video discussions about our nation’s future with key elected officials. Andy Downs, administrator of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, will facilitate the series about current topics in civic life and give students a chance to experience their role as citizens.

Target Audience: Government, History, Language Arts or Speech/Communications teachers and students. Eight teachers will be selected to participate, and applicants must agree to join at least three out of the five sessions scheduled. Attendance (virtual) at the Pre-Planning session is also required unless other arrangements are made in advance.
Dates: The 2nd Friday of each month: January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, and May 12, 2006. Teacher Orientation: January 6, 2:45-3:15 p.m.
Time: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. EST
Equipment Needs: IP videoconferencing unit, monitor, network connection, and audio

To Apply: Contact me at 481-0747 or schaufes@ipfw.edu for an application. Complete the application and fax or mail it to IPFW Division of Continuing Studies by December 13, 2005.

Elected Officials invited to participate include: US Senator Evan Bayh, US Representative Mark Souder, Governor Mitch Daniels, State Representative Jeff Espich and Mayor Graham Richard.

IPFW will provide participants with an orientation packet for each session that includes a biography of the elected official, background information on their topic, and other key information. The teacher orientation session will review protocol for the interactions and expectations of each participating class. This program is made possible by IPFW Division of Continuing Studies, Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics and ACELINK. ACELINK will provide technical support, scheduling and other assistance as needed.