November 2001 Issue

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An Online Educational Community

A newsletter that educates parents, teachers, and
students.

November 2001 Issue #28
Austin Simms, Editor, mailto:editor@innovamultimedia.com
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Welcome to the twenty-eighth 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.

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

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What's New
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INNOVA Multimedia Ltd. has formed a Joint Venture company with
Collaborative Network Technologies (ColabNet). The company
will be federally incorporated in Canada and will be named
LessonWorks Inc.

The Company comes as a result of a partnership between INNOVA and
ColabNet formed to carry out an Industry Canada sponsored,
CANARIE managed Learnware project through Canada's SchoolNet.
INNOVA's content and ColabNet's enabling technology, for
Internet delivery, forms the basis for the partnership.

Both companies are seeking capital to complete all
Learning Outcomes a.k.a. State Standards in Math, Language,
Science and Social Studies from Grades Kindergarten through Six.
The companies already have support from the the Newfoundland
and Labrador Department of Education's Centre for Distance
Learning and Innovation. The Centre will provide on-going
beta testing support for the web-based concept. At least
one school district from Arizona will provide a similar beta
testing pool in return for Teacher professional development.

For more information on ColabNet visit www.colabnet.com

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Feature
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Homework: How Much Is Enough?

The mere mention of the 'h' word in education sends chills
down the backs of many students as well as parents. To
students, homework infringes on their social lives outside
the classroom; a time when they can indulge in such activities
as: playing video games, listening to music, and engaging in
long telephone conversations with friends, or nowadays 'ICQing'.
For parents, especially those who both work 8-12 hours a day,
they just want to relax after dinner and 'spend quality time
with the family'. All too often, 'and how was your day' has
been replaced by 'and what homework do we have tonight'?

Some students return home with exorbitant amounts of homework
in the range of three or four hours nightly. Many of these
students, of average or below average ability, often require
mom or dad's assistance or supervision in completing their
homework. A number of factors may account for the child's
excessive homework load: slow getting assigned work done in
class; not understanding the concepts being covered and failing
to seek help from the teacher; or, maybe, a teacher who loves
to pile on the homework for the sake of keeping the students
'busy'. For all concerned - students, teachers, and parents -
we have to ask ourselves, "How much is enough?"

We must realize that meaningful homework, rather than 'busy
work', is a vital part of a child's education in that it teaches
discipline and responsibility. Homework should be an extension
of concepts and material covered in class and should challenge
students to develop good habits and attitudes about their learning.

The following time frames may serve as a guideline for homework:

Grades 1 - 3 20 - 30 minutes

Grade 4 - 6 40 - 60 minutes

Grades 7 & Up 2 hours

It is important that teachers communicate to parents their
homework policies early in the school year. This may be done
during Meet the Teacher night, Open House, or Parent-Teacher
Conferences. Explain how parents can help in the process.

Suggested Homework Guidelines for Teachers:

1. Assign homework based on the school nights, Monday to
Thursday.

2. Make homework meaningful rather than 'busy work'.

3. Vary the homework assignments based on the academic
ability of the students.

4. Ensure that homework is an extension of concepts already
covered in class.

5. Encourage students to record their homework assignments
in their daily planners. Conduct regular checks to
ensure that the homework is recorded accurately so that
there is no conflict between parent and child over what
is expected to be completed. For example, Study Science
pp. 122-126 should be written in the planner rather than just
Science.

6. Insist that parents initial or sign the daily planner to
ensure that the work has been completed.

7. Grade the homework and issue comments as soon as possible.

8. Keep the lines of communication open with parents.

Suggested Homework Guidelines for Parents:

1. With the child's input, establish a specific time and
place for your child to complete his homework.

2. Remove as many distractions as possible.

3. Check the planner to see what your child has for homework,
ensure that he understands the tasks, and, when the
homework has been completed, initial or sign the planner.

4. Show an interest in your child's homework tasks. Avoid
doing the work for your child but rather encourage him
to try to do as much as he can on his own and
that you will be available to assist whenever needed.

5. Praise the child for successfully completing his homework.

6. Keep the lines of communication open with teachers.

Suggested Homework Guidelines for Students:

1. With your parent's input, establish a specific time and
place for completing your homework.

2. Avoid areas where you may be easily distracted from doing
your work. Tell friends to avoid calling you during your
study time.

3. Make sure that your homework is copied accurately in
your daily planner. For example: write Study Science
pp. 122-126 rather than just Study Science. Don't trust
to memory which pages you were required to study.

4. Remember to bring home the required books for completing
your homework tasks.

5. Budget your time wisely so that all assigned work can be
completed.

6. Avoid asking your parents for assistance unless you are
sure that you need it.

7. When you have completed your assigned tasks, have your
parents check your homework and initial or sign the planner.

8. Inform your teacher of any difficulty or frustration
that you may encounter with a homework task.

Through establishing guidelines and keeping the lines of
communication open between home and school, homework can be an
excellent opportunity for students to enhance their learning and
for parents to be cognizant of what is happening in their
child's education.

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Contest - Win a Whale
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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!

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This Month's Free Lesson Plans
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Teachers, check out free "A Whale of a Tale" lesson plans on
our website at http://www.innovamultimedia.com/lp_index.htm

Leap into Language 1 - "Opposites are Fun!" at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/lang1e.htm encourages
children to identify and match opposite words.

Leap into Language 1 - "Fun with Action Words" at
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/lang1f.htm encourages
children to select and use the correct form of the verb,
with or without the letters at the end of the verb.

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More Great Education Web Sites
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Check out some of these INNOVA recommended resource sites:

The NASA "Why?" Files
http://whyfiles.larc.nasa.gov

The NASA "Why?" Files is a series of instructional programs
consisting of a television broadcast, print, and on-line
elements. Emphasizing standards-based instruction, problem-based
learning, and science as inquiry, the series seeks to motivate
students in grades 3-5 to become critical thinkers and active
problem solvers. Each program supports the national mathematics,
science, and technology standards and includes a 60-minute
television broadcast (divided into four 15-minute "teachable"
parts), a companion educator's guide, web-based activities and
materials, and information about NASA programs, facilities, and
researchers.

NASA CONNECT
http://connect.larc.nasa.gov

NASA CONNECT is a series of integrated mathematics, science,
and technology instructional programs consisting of a television
broadcast, which can be viewed live or taped for later use; an
interactive web activity which provides educators an opportunity
to use technology in the classroom setting; and a lesson guide
describing a hands-on activity. These three components -
television broadcast, web activity, and lesson guide - are
designed as an integrated instructional package. The interactive
activities reinforce and extend the objectives presented in the
broadcast and establish a connection between the mathematics,
science, and technology concepts taught in the classroom and
those used everyday by NASA researchers.

Helping Your Child With Homework: For Parents of Elementary and
Junior High School-Aged Children
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/homework.html
Great webpages dealing with such homework issues as:
Family Concerns; Homework Basics; Importance of Homework;
Monitoring Assignments, Providing Guidance; and, Resolving
Problems. The site also provides a checklist for helping your
child with homework.

KinderArt
http://kinderart.com/seasons/dec.shtml
Christmas seems to come upon us very quickly, at a time when
teachers have many other things to do. This website has a
terrific assortment of Christmas ideas and activities for teachers
as well as students of all ages. The site contains Crafts,
Coloring Pages, Recipes, as well as Christmas Festivities in other
countries.

Bunsen Bob's Science Hunt
http://www.sciencehunt.com/HuntHow.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet
A great source for students who have to complete a science
project as a requirement for a school science fair. This site
features science fair project ideas as well as tips and advice
for creating successful projects, information on how judges
think and what they want to know, advice for parents, and so
much more!

A to Z Teacher Stuff
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/
This website contains over 200 online lesson plans for teachers
of Grades K-12. Build a thematic unit, obtain teacher tips,
print off worksheets, or browse educational articles. Check out
theTeacherChat discussion forum where teachers share ideas on
educational issues.

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Whale Links for Whale Lovers
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Check out these INNOVA recommended whale sites!

The Center for Coastal Studies
http://www.coastalstudies.org/
The Center for Coastal Studies was founded in 1976, and is a
private non-profit organization. The first work of CCS, which
began as a largely volunteer organization of concerned
scientists and citizens, involved issues of coastal erosion
and planning. Over the years, we have evolved into a small
field station concentrating on various aspects of applied
research in the marine environment, mostly having to do with
marine mammals, although our program includes a wide range
of scientific disciplines, conservation interests, and
educational activities.

Sea Life Surveys
http://www.sealifesurveys.co.uk/
For the past twenty years, Sea Life Surveys has been successfully
operating specialist wildlife trips in the fascinating waters
around the island of Mull. These waters warmed by the Gulf
Stream, provide the perfect environment for a wide range of
wildlife, including breeding birds, seal colonies, otters,
basking sharks, dolphin, porpoise and whales amongst scenery
that is unrivaled.

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Whale Trivia:
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- The Minke Whale is also known as the Piked Whale.

- The Minke Whale population is estimated to be approximately
900,000.

- Baleen Whales have double blowholes; toothed whales have
only a single nostril.

- The Fin Whale is also known as "Common Rorqual".

- Young Fin Whales stay close to their mothers for the first
twelve months of their lives.

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Webmaster Wanderings
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Links
http://www.innovamultimedia.com/meetteam.htm
Have you ever been interested in finding out exactly who the
people are that create the software your children use? Have
you ever wondered what makes them qualified to help educate
your kids? Drop into our "Meet our Team" page and find out
more about us and our qualifications.

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Feedback
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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

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"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.

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Copyright 2001 INNOVA Multimedia Ltd.

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Where Learning Comes First!