Instructional Technology Clearinghouse

[Ruth Smith <rsmith@STAN-CO.K12.CA.US>]

Posted with permission of LM_NET owners

It is that time of year again when schools are seriously looking at the
purchase of new resources before budgets are closed for the year.  If you
are considering the purchase of technology resources, I recommend you visit
our website.  We are the California Instructional Technology Clearinghouse
at http://clearinghouse.k12.ca.us.  Although California funds the project,
the information is provided for everyone involved with students.  The
website contains information on instructional technology programs which have
been rated as Desirable and Exemplary.

The California Department of Education through the California Education
Council for Technology and Learning and the California Technology Assistance
Projects funds the Clearinghouse.  Classroom teachers throughout the state
evaluate programs.  Publishers/producers are asked to participate by sending
copies of their programs for evaluation.  The evaluators are all trained to
do the evaluation using criteria developed by the Clearinghouse.  The
evaluation criteria are available at the website by selecting Publications
then selecting the document "Guidelines for the Evaluation of Instructional
Technology Resources for California Schools."  The document may be printed
from the website or purchased from Clearinghouse.

Highly rated titles, are then annotated and entered into the database.  The
annotation contains a description, support materials and curriculum
applications for all titles.  System requirement are listed for computer
software and CDROMs.  In addition, some titles have been judged as
appropriate for use for English Language Development and strategies are
provided for those titles.  These include primary language instruction,
English language instruction, age range, and language acquisition stage.

The database is searchable using a variety of criteria including:  keyword,
subject, technology, platform, language, and grade level as well as the
copyright year, network version available, and closed caption available.
There are also other criteria that are specific to California.  Keyword
searching is available by title, publisher/producer, and description.

The website has recently been modified.  The appearance has been changed and
new information has been added including a new technology Online Learning
Experience and Closed caption available for video. Grade level has been
expanded to include Pre-K.  New titles are constantly being added, as the
project is an ongoing process with materials evaluated continuously.  In the
area called "Publications," lists are provided of titles currently being
evaluated as well as titles evaluated in previous years.

The Clearinghouse always welcomes new publisher/producer participants.  In
the area of the database labeled "Comments" we like hearing from users with
suggestions of programs to be evaluated or modifications to the database.  I
may also be contacted by email at rsmith@stan-co.k12.ca.us.


Ruth
V. Ruth Smith, Librarian
Stanislaus County Office of Education
801 County Center 3 Ct
Modesto, CA 95355

E = rsmith@stan-co.k12.ca.us
P = (209) 525-4990

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
To quit LM_NET (or set NOMAIL or DIGEST), Send an email message to
listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
    NOTE: Please allow time for confirmation from Listserv.
For more help see LM_NET On The Web: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=