NEWS

ThinkQuest Newsletter
September, 1998

Contents:

• The ThinkQuest 1999 CD-ROM
• Announcements
• ThinkQuest Teams in the News

• The ThinkQuest 1999 CD-ROM

The 1999 ThinkQuest CD-ROM contains a valuable collection of technology and education resources for students, teachers and others interested in harnessing the power of the Internet for learning.

The CD contains a compact version of our Web site with all of the information you'll need to become a ThinkQuest participant, including the ThinkQuest 99 Rules, technical tips and an assortment of FAQs. For teachers, there are articles on educational technology issues and information about the annual ThinkQuest Educational Technology Conference.

Additionally, you will find a collection of more than 15 Award-winning educational Web sites created by ThinkQuest and ThinkQuest Junior Teams.

These are just a sampling of the more than 1,000 student-produced learning tools that comprise the Library of Entries available on the ThinkQuest Web site at: http://www.thinkquest.org/explore/

This year's CD-ROM includes "Create a TQ Entry", three fun and informative tutorials that take students and teachers on separate but parallel journeys through the process of developing a ThinkQuest Entry, from conception to completion.

The Net Project-Based Learning (NetPBL) section contains a multi-tutorial workshop for teachers that focuses on the pedagogy of Project-Based Learning. NetPBL demonstrates how the Internet and World Wide Web can be used to enhance learning by providing enormously powerful tools for information-gathering, global communications, and multimedia presentation that engage and challenge students to learn, excel, and create knowledge.

This workshop is a collaborative effort with contributions from the Global SchoolNet Foundation, the George Lucas Educational Foundation, the Autodesk Foundation, TECH CORPS, The Landmark Project, I*EARN and others.

The Resource section is incredible. From Web Development tools to Pedagogy tools this is your resource library. Whether you're a student eager to build a great Web site or a teacher ready to facilitate a student-directed learning project, the "Resource" section has the tools that will help you do it! Included are a collection of downloadable Web development software and tutorials. Among them are the latest Web browsers, graphics programs, Data Viz's Web Buddy off line browser, Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) Research Organizer, and Sun Microsystem's Java Workshop and Java Studio.

The Resource section also contains the comprehensive webTeacher tutorial from TECH CORPS and the cable television industry, links to the ThinkQuest International Partner organizations and more.

We hope that you find the 1999 ThinkQuest CD-ROM a valuable tool. To sign up for your FREE copy, please visit: http://www.thinkquest.org/teach/tea-cdromfr.html

• Announcements:

THINKQUEST EDUCATIONAL SUMMIT - KIDS, TECHNOLOGY AND THE NEW MILLENIUM

ThinkQuest, the premier Internet learning initiative, will initiate an international education technology summit for educators, parents and students this fall in conjunction with the annual ThinkQuest Awards Weekend. Come and meet with leaders from the worlds of education and technology to discuss the impact of the Internet on learning, today and in the new millenium. For details on presenters and sessions, and to register for this important event visit the Summit Web site at: http://www.thinkquest.org/summit/index.htm

1998 ENTRIES ONLINE!

Congratulations to all of the 1998 ThinkQuest Teams. The sites are terrific! How are the judges going to choose? Experience the latest ThinkQuest additions at: http://www.thinkquest.org/explore/exp-98alphafr.html

THE 1999 THINKQUEST RULES ARE NOW ONLINE!

Everyone who is interested in being a 1999 ThinkQuest contestant should read the new rules. There are some important changes! The rules can be found at: http://www.thinkquest.org/compete/com-chooserulesfr.html

IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT THE 1999 APPLICATION:

The 1999 applications are not yet online, but will be shortly, along with our Team Maker area. Both of these will be linked from our homepage: http://www.thinkquest.org

This year, the online application can be submitted any time from October 19, 1998 until February 28, 1999 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time).

ATTENTION ALL 1998 TEAMS:

Check our homepage to see if your team is a finalist! Semi-Finalists will be announced the week of September 28 1998. Finalists will be announced the week of October 19, 1998

WELCOME NEW NATIONAL PARTNERS!

We would like to welcome Public Information Limited of Nigeria and Metasystems Design Group, Inc. of Zambia to the family of ThinkQuest National partners.

• ThinkQuest Teams in the News:

LEARNING FROM LEARNERS: INTERNET STYLE

The Educom Review Article featuring 1996 ThinkQuest contest award-winner Riki Haley, is now online at: http://www.educom.edu/web/pubs/review/reviewArticles/33214.html

"Why Is the Mona Lisa Smiling?", ThinkQuest entry from 1997, receives more awards! Look for the Education link on the New York Times "New York Today" page in the September 16, 1998 issue. http://www.nytoday.com/

The ThinkQuest Junior Team #4501 recently had their site, "Coca-Cola" honored by Education World (R) as one of the sites named the "Best of September". You can read the review of this site and view other educational resources at: http://www.education-world.com/awards/

"Stamp on Black History", a ThinkQuest 1997 Team Entry [#10320], will be published by BonusPoint, Inc., on their "All Aboard the Elementary Internet" CD-ROM. Additionally, "Stamp on Black History" was recently selected as a valuable resource for Discovery Channel School's African American History Program. Congratulations!

The ThinkQuest Newsletter is edited by Sonia McSweeney

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