Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tues., Nov. 18, 2008 - Sites found in The Scout Report, July 4, 2008
Sites found in:
=======
The Scout Report
July 4, 2008
Volume 14, Number 26
-----
The Scout Report on the Web:
Current issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/Current/
This issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2008/scout-080704.php
------
National Park Service, Nature & Science: Teacher Resources [pdf]
http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/education/
The National Park Service has developed this exemplary set of educational
resources which draws on their greatest assets, namely national parks from
Maine to Utah. The materials are specifically designed for teaching geology,
but it's easy to see how these items could be incorporated into general
science classes. The main area on their homepage features over a dozen
teacher guides and park programs that feature detailed geology lessons that
draw on the landscapes of Yosemite National Park and the dynamic volcanoes
of Hawaii. On the right side of the page, visitors can scan through the
"Highlights" area to learn more about online park images, park maps, and
even peruse a calendar of upcoming educator workshops. The site is rounded
out by the "Geology Books and Media" area, which features information about
technical reports, textbooks, and geology-themed children's books. [KMG]
------
English Composition: Writing for an Audience
http://www.learner.org/resources/series128.html
How does one write a great essay? Is it possible to come up with an original
voice? These two questions and many more are discussed in this 26-part
series on English composition. Offered as part of the Annenberg Media
website, this video series "introduces basic principles and strategies for
communicating in writing to a variety of audiences and improving general
composition skills." Over the course of this series, interested parties will
hear from a wide range of writing professionals. Each episode is 30 minutes
long and the program titles include "Finding Something To Say", "Reading as
a Writer", and "Peer Feedback". The material is quite varied, as users will
find segments with Michael Moore and Rush Limbaugh arguing about the
definition of "welfare" and writers from the television program "MAD TV"
talking about the experience of collaborative writing. [KMG]
[NOTE: Home page: http://www.learner.org/index.html previously posted. - Phyllis ]
-------
Thomas Jefferson's Library [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://myloc.gov/exhibitions/jeffersonslibrary/Pages/default.aspx
On June 10th, 1815 Thomas Jefferson made a remark that would surprise no
one, "I cannot live without books." During his long life, Jefferson
collected thousands of books, and even though his collection was pared down
due to a fire in his home in 1770, he quickly regrouped and began adding to
his collection. In 1815, Congress purchased his library for $23,950. This
digital collection from the Library of Congress pays homage to this
tremendous collection by offering visitors several interactive features
about Jefferson's books, an object list, and an event calendar of related
lectures and talks on the collection. Visitors may wish to begin by
exploring the "Themes" area, which divides some of Jefferson's books into
categories like "Memory", "Reason", and "Imagination". Each section contains
selected images from works like a 18th century Builder's Dictionary
consulted by Jefferson and a collection of Machiavelli's political works
published in 1768. For a more thorough examination, the "Interactives" area
provides access to a number of full-text versions of some of these books.
[KMG]
-----
Dance Teacher Magazine
http://www.dance-teacher.com/
Adherents and devotees of the terpsichorean arts don't have nearly enough
quality online resources, but fortunately Dance Teacher magazine has a fine
website. The site digests a wide array of materials from the print version
of their publication, along with web-only features. The site is quite easy
to navigate, and most of the primary materials are contained with the
sections "Teaching", "Style", "Health", and "Business". The "Teaching" area
contains tips on engaging reluctant dancers, eliminating boredom in mixed-
level classes, and on organizing the dance classroom. Moving on, the
"Business" area covers some of the ins and outs of managing a dance-related
business with pieces titled "Is Sharing Your Studio Right For You?" and
"Investing Intelligently". Further down the homepage, the "Style" area
contains pieces like "Stress-Free Costume Ordering" and "Enhance Your Tutu
Expertise". On the left-hand side of the page, visitors can look at their
online features such as "Teaching the Salsa!" and a frequently updated pop
quiz on the world of dance. Finally, visitors shouldn't leave the site
without checking in on the "Editor's Blog". [KMG]
-------
====== In The News ====
Diploma Mills Continue To Be an Area of Concern for the Federal
Government
Diploma Mill Concerns Extend Beyond Fraud [Free registration may be
required]
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/us/29diploma.html?em&ex=1214884800&en=cda8776052ae5696&ei=5087%0A
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/5dqqv6
Bill to crack down on diploma mills stalls
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/state/dan_walters/story/346983.html
Brainstorm: Diploma Mills
http://chronicle.com/review/brainstorm/index.php?id=603
Psst. Wanna Buy a Ph.D.?
http://chronicle.com/free/v50/i42/42a00901.htm
Institution Accreditation
http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
Avoid Fake-Degree Burns By Researching Academic Credentials
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/diplomamills.shtm
http://www.infocheckusa.com/downloads/FTC_Fake-Degree-Guide.pdf
The unsavory world of diploma mills is a complex one, and a number of
government agencies have attempted to regulate their activities with varying
degrees of success. The Internet has aided operators of these educational
"institutions" who frequently offer advanced degrees for little, or more
often, no coursework. This past Sunday the New York Times reported on the
case of Dixie and Steven K. Randock Sr. from the town of Colbert,
Washington. The Randocks have been accused of operating more than 120
fictitious universities, and the federal government's concern goes beyond
the mere matter of a phony degree. Law-enforcement officials fear that the
growth of such diploma mills offers terrorists the potential to obtain bogus
degrees in order to obtain visas in the United States. At the state level,
about 20 states have passed laws to prohibit the trade in phony diplomas,
but the U.S. Congress seems to be moving a bit more slowly on the issue.
[KMG]
The first link will take visitors to a New York Times article from this
Sunday about the world of diploma mills. The second link leads to a piece
from Dan Walters of The Modesto Bee which talks about a bill in California
that would effectively crack down on diploma mills. Moving on, the third
link leads to a timely piece of commentary from former university president
Stephen Joel Trachtenberg on diploma mills, which appeared in the Chronicle
of Higher Education this week. The fourth link leads to another special
report from the Chronicle of Higher Education by Thomas Bartlett and Scott
Smallwood, which investigates the profusion of dubious doctorates in the
education sector. The fifth link will lead visitors to the U.S. Department
of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and
Programs, which can help those wondering about the authenticity of an
institution. Lastly, a link to the Federal Trade Commission's page on how
to avoid "fake-degree burns" is offered for additional information and
assistance. [KMG]
------
>From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2008.
http://scout.wisc.edu/
=======
The Scout Report
July 4, 2008
Volume 14, Number 26
-----
The Scout Report on the Web:
Current issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/Current/
This issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2008/scout-080704.php
------
National Park Service, Nature & Science: Teacher Resources [pdf]
http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/education/
The National Park Service has developed this exemplary set of educational
resources which draws on their greatest assets, namely national parks from
Maine to Utah. The materials are specifically designed for teaching geology,
but it's easy to see how these items could be incorporated into general
science classes. The main area on their homepage features over a dozen
teacher guides and park programs that feature detailed geology lessons that
draw on the landscapes of Yosemite National Park and the dynamic volcanoes
of Hawaii. On the right side of the page, visitors can scan through the
"Highlights" area to learn more about online park images, park maps, and
even peruse a calendar of upcoming educator workshops. The site is rounded
out by the "Geology Books and Media" area, which features information about
technical reports, textbooks, and geology-themed children's books. [KMG]
------
English Composition: Writing for an Audience
http://www.learner.org/resources/series128.html
How does one write a great essay? Is it possible to come up with an original
voice? These two questions and many more are discussed in this 26-part
series on English composition. Offered as part of the Annenberg Media
website, this video series "introduces basic principles and strategies for
communicating in writing to a variety of audiences and improving general
composition skills." Over the course of this series, interested parties will
hear from a wide range of writing professionals. Each episode is 30 minutes
long and the program titles include "Finding Something To Say", "Reading as
a Writer", and "Peer Feedback". The material is quite varied, as users will
find segments with Michael Moore and Rush Limbaugh arguing about the
definition of "welfare" and writers from the television program "MAD TV"
talking about the experience of collaborative writing. [KMG]
[NOTE: Home page: http://www.learner.org/index.html previously posted. - Phyllis ]
-------
Thomas Jefferson's Library [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://myloc.gov/exhibitions/jeffersonslibrary/Pages/default.aspx
On June 10th, 1815 Thomas Jefferson made a remark that would surprise no
one, "I cannot live without books." During his long life, Jefferson
collected thousands of books, and even though his collection was pared down
due to a fire in his home in 1770, he quickly regrouped and began adding to
his collection. In 1815, Congress purchased his library for $23,950. This
digital collection from the Library of Congress pays homage to this
tremendous collection by offering visitors several interactive features
about Jefferson's books, an object list, and an event calendar of related
lectures and talks on the collection. Visitors may wish to begin by
exploring the "Themes" area, which divides some of Jefferson's books into
categories like "Memory", "Reason", and "Imagination". Each section contains
selected images from works like a 18th century Builder's Dictionary
consulted by Jefferson and a collection of Machiavelli's political works
published in 1768. For a more thorough examination, the "Interactives" area
provides access to a number of full-text versions of some of these books.
[KMG]
-----
Dance Teacher Magazine
http://www.dance-teacher.com/
Adherents and devotees of the terpsichorean arts don't have nearly enough
quality online resources, but fortunately Dance Teacher magazine has a fine
website. The site digests a wide array of materials from the print version
of their publication, along with web-only features. The site is quite easy
to navigate, and most of the primary materials are contained with the
sections "Teaching", "Style", "Health", and "Business". The "Teaching" area
contains tips on engaging reluctant dancers, eliminating boredom in mixed-
level classes, and on organizing the dance classroom. Moving on, the
"Business" area covers some of the ins and outs of managing a dance-related
business with pieces titled "Is Sharing Your Studio Right For You?" and
"Investing Intelligently". Further down the homepage, the "Style" area
contains pieces like "Stress-Free Costume Ordering" and "Enhance Your Tutu
Expertise". On the left-hand side of the page, visitors can look at their
online features such as "Teaching the Salsa!" and a frequently updated pop
quiz on the world of dance. Finally, visitors shouldn't leave the site
without checking in on the "Editor's Blog". [KMG]
-------
====== In The News ====
Diploma Mills Continue To Be an Area of Concern for the Federal
Government
Diploma Mill Concerns Extend Beyond Fraud [Free registration may be
required]
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/us/29diploma.html?em&ex=1214884800&en=cda8776052ae5696&ei=5087%0A
Shortened URL: http://tinyurl.com/5dqqv6
Bill to crack down on diploma mills stalls
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/state/dan_walters/story/346983.html
Brainstorm: Diploma Mills
http://chronicle.com/review/brainstorm/index.php?id=603
Psst. Wanna Buy a Ph.D.?
http://chronicle.com/free/v50/i42/42a00901.htm
Institution Accreditation
http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
Avoid Fake-Degree Burns By Researching Academic Credentials
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/diplomamills.shtm
http://www.infocheckusa.com/downloads/FTC_Fake-Degree-Guide.pdf
The unsavory world of diploma mills is a complex one, and a number of
government agencies have attempted to regulate their activities with varying
degrees of success. The Internet has aided operators of these educational
"institutions" who frequently offer advanced degrees for little, or more
often, no coursework. This past Sunday the New York Times reported on the
case of Dixie and Steven K. Randock Sr. from the town of Colbert,
Washington. The Randocks have been accused of operating more than 120
fictitious universities, and the federal government's concern goes beyond
the mere matter of a phony degree. Law-enforcement officials fear that the
growth of such diploma mills offers terrorists the potential to obtain bogus
degrees in order to obtain visas in the United States. At the state level,
about 20 states have passed laws to prohibit the trade in phony diplomas,
but the U.S. Congress seems to be moving a bit more slowly on the issue.
[KMG]
The first link will take visitors to a New York Times article from this
Sunday about the world of diploma mills. The second link leads to a piece
from Dan Walters of The Modesto Bee which talks about a bill in California
that would effectively crack down on diploma mills. Moving on, the third
link leads to a timely piece of commentary from former university president
Stephen Joel Trachtenberg on diploma mills, which appeared in the Chronicle
of Higher Education this week. The fourth link leads to another special
report from the Chronicle of Higher Education by Thomas Bartlett and Scott
Smallwood, which investigates the profusion of dubious doctorates in the
education sector. The fifth link will lead visitors to the U.S. Department
of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and
Programs, which can help those wondering about the authenticity of an
institution. Lastly, a link to the Federal Trade Commission's page on how
to avoid "fake-degree burns" is offered for additional information and
assistance. [KMG]
------
>From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2008.
http://scout.wisc.edu/
