December 2001 Issue

------------------------------------------------------------
An Online Educational Community

A newsletter that educates parents, teachers, and
students.

December 2001 Issue #29
Austin Simms, Editor, mailto:editor@innovamultimedia.com
------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the twenty-ninth issue of "An Online Educational
Community". To read past issues of our newsletter, visit
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/archive.htm or to learn
more about us, check out our website at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com

If you think a friend might be interested in reading this
newsletter, pass it along in whole or in part.

You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription.

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, fill out the
form at http://www.innovamultimedia.com/newsletr.htm

Each month we will focus on a different educational theme
and base our feature article and learning tips around that
particular theme.

------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

=> What's New
=> Feature
=> Contest - Win a Whale
=> This Month's Free Lesson Plans
=> More Great Education Web Sites
=> Whale Links for Whale Lovers
=> Feedback

------------------------------------------------------------
What's New
------------------------------------------------------------

INNOVA Multimedia Ltd. will be participating in vendor meetings
with LearningStation in January in Tempe Arizona. INNOVA's
Level 1 and Level 2 products are a part on the base packaged
being delivered to the Arizona school system. Arizona has
forged ahead to place itself in a leadership position in the
delivery of web-based educational content.

INNOVA is pleased to be a part of this innovative approach to
the delivery of educational content and is currently developing
new lessons designed to meet the needs of Arizona students.
Arizona school districts are involved in the Alpha and Beta
testing of new lessons under development. Other districts
interested in participating at this level should contact us
at innova@innovamultimedia.com

------------------------------------------------------------
Feature
------------------------------------------------------------

The School Volunteer

As the year 2001 comes to an end, so too does its designation
as the International Year of the Volunteer. In 2001, we
witnessed many individuals receiving recognition and honors
for their outstanding contributions to various organizations
as well as to society in general. Though the designation has
ended, volunteers will continue to share their time, talents,
and energy, to make their organizations and communities the
best that they can be.

As we enter 2002, this might be an appropriate time to reflect
on how a school community might utilize volunteers to improve
the quality of education for our children. Here is a list of
volunteer activities, ground rules, and appreciation ideas.

School volunteer activities:

- working with underachievers

- reading stories to young children

- listening to children read

- conducting flash card drills

- working in the library

- photocopying materials for the classroom

- preparing visual materials

- computer lab assistant

- preparing bulletin boards

- Photo Day assistant (combing hair, straightening clothes, ...)

- setting up Science experiments

- learning centre assistant

- assisting the music teacher during concerts

- making props for school plays

- Sports Day assistant

- assisting with Book Fairs

- assisting with Science Fairs

- chaperoning school dances

- chaperoning field trips

- judging speakoffs

- assisting with fund-raisers

- helping with clerical work in school office

- resource speaker

- serving on school committees (PTA, Environment, Craft Fair, ...)

As a school improvement project, the staff and administration
might devise a handbook outlining the duties and responsibilities
of volunteers. This should be followed up with an initial
meeting between the principal, or classroom teacher, and the
volunteers to review certain ground rules contained in the
handbook, such as:

1. Always be on time on the days that you agree to volunteer.
If you are unable to attend, be sure to notify the school
as early as possible.

2. Be prepared to work as part of a team under the supervision
and instruction of the staff and administration.

3. Do not make comments regarding students or staff outside of
the school setting.

4. Discuss any problem you may encounter with the teacher or
administration.

5. Feel free to discuss any suggestions you may have for
curriculum, classroom, or school improvement with the
teacher or administration.

Finally, be sure to recognize and honor your volunteers at the
end of the school year.

Several ideas:

- wine and cheese party

- a certificate of thanks

- an appreciation dinner for volunteers with the staff in attendance

- an assembly where volunteers are acknowledged and thanked

- a token of appreciation

A school's ability to capitalize on the time, talents, and energy,
of volunteers greatly enriches the experiences that can be provided
for the students.

------------------------------------------------------------
Contest - Win a Whale
------------------------------------------------------------

INNOVA Multimedia Ltd. is giving away TEN of our "A Whale of
a Tale" educational software lessons and the latest version
of LessonBuilder, a custom course-creation utility, as a
FREE DOWNLOAD on our website! Visit
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/lbuilder.htm to download
your free copy. When you download LessonBuilder you are
automatically entered in our contest to win a free CD-ROM
from our "A Whale of a Tale" series. Good Luck!

------------------------------------------------------------
This Month's Free Lesson Plans
------------------------------------------------------------

Teachers, check out free "A Whale of a Tale" lesson plans on
our website at http://www.innovamultimedia.com/lp_index.htm

Surf into Science 2 - "Cloud Patterns" at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/sci2e.htm encourages
children to observe and record cloud patterns.

Surf into Science 2 - "Foods From Plant Parts" at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/sci2f.htm encourages
children to identify the parts of plants that can be used for
food.

------------------------------------------------------------
More Great Education Web Sites
------------------------------------------------------------

Check out these INNOVA recommended resource sites:

I Love That Teaching Idea
http://www.ilovethatteachingidea.com/
This site provides bright ideas from fellow teachers on many
topics such as: classroom management, student assessment,
bulletin boards, and school subjects. The site also features
free New Year/2002/goal setting reproducibles.

Puzzle Maker
http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/
This site features a puzzle generation tool for teachers,
students and parents. Create and print customized word search,
crossword and math puzzles using your word lists. Build your
own maze or print specialty hand-drawn mazes created around
holidays and classroom topics.

Math: Word Problems
http://www.stfx.ca/special/mathproblems/
This site contains sets of word problems (approximately 40 or
50) for Grades 5 to 12 students and teachers. The problems
can help you improve your problem-solving skills. A hints
link will assist you if you encounter a little difficulty
with a problem.

About School
http://www.aboutschool.com/
This site provides help in a wide range of subject areas
including math, science, reading, writing, and other areas, from
Kindergarten to High School.

------------------------------------------------------------
Whale Links for Whale Lovers
------------------------------------------------------------

Check out these INNOVA recommended whale sites!

ORES
http://www.ores.org/
ORES is a dynamic international group conducting research
into the ecology and habitat conditions of whales, dolphins
and porpoises led by Ned Lynas, a Canadian zoologist and
behaviourist.

In 1978 we established a research station on the north shore
of the St. Lawrence Estuary, an incredibly rich and diverse
marine environment. Our primary focus is the numerous minke,
finback, blue and humpback whales that frequent these summer
feeding grounds, but we also conduct relevant observations
on harbour porpoise, beluga and sperm whale.

Hawaii Whale Research Foundation
http://www.hwrf.org/
The Hawaii Whale Research Foundation site is intended to
provide information about:

- The natural history of the humpback whale (Megaptera
novaeangliae), with emphasis on North Pacific humpbacks in
the Hawaiian islands.

- The Hawaii Whale Research Foundation and its research,
education and conservation efforts.

------------------------------------------------------------
Whale Trivia:
------------------------------------------------------------

- Humpback Whales are always itchy because of parasites
that live on their skin and tickle them.

- Humpback Whales are often seen leaping from the water. This
is called breaching.

- Humpback Whales have the longest flippers of any whale
species - 14 feet in fact.

- Humpback Whales migrate to exactly the same place each year.

- Newborn Humpback Whales, called calves, do not have any
blubber, which is a thick layer of fat under the whale's skin.

------------------------------------------------------------
Feedback
------------------------------------------------------------

If you have comments or suggestions concerning our online
newsletter or website, please direct them to
mailto:editor@innovamultimedia.com

Your comments and suggestions will be published in the
feedback section of future issues.

Past Online issues can be found at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/archive.htm

------------------------------------------------------------
"An Online Educational Community" may only be redistributed
in whole or in part in its unedited form. Written
permission from the editor must be obtained to reprint or
cite the information contained within this newsletter.

Where Learning Comes First!