Building
Learners
Project

I have started building my project called Project Pumpkin Power.  I want to add a data page that each of the 5 classes can add their data.  Can I add a table?�

I just read and approved a new application for this project, and it pointed out something all of us should “talk up” as we tell folks around our schools what BLP is doing. One very helpful feature of this project is the SAFETY of it. Since the workBench is designed for education and TeachersFirst is a non-profit here to help teachers, we are able to offer this collaboration without interference or concerns about “bad guys.” You are free from concerns about filtering in your school blocking the tools or violating policy by using student email access. And you will always know what students are doing (and WHICH student did what).

In researching for our recent article on web filtering (also created using the workBench- check it out as an example!), TeachersFirst’s editorial staff confirmed what we knew to be true: many schools simply do not allow access to some very powerful online tools. They are not being cruel (though the results may seem that way). They are simply interpreting laws and local concerns very protectively. There are varied philosophies about how to handle web safety concerns, and many U.S. schools come down on the more conservative side. In five years, who knows…

So it is gratifying for TeachersFirst to be involved with a positive group of teachers who do not need to worry, even under the most restrictive policies. So welcome to all of you…we truly are glad to see you here! Check out the project members page to see who else is among us.

I went as far as I could until school starts with my first website for my Gifted and Talented Classes website so I began a second one. This is for the kindergarten to third grade computer classes I teach. I hope to communicate with the parents and let the kids show off their work.

On each grade level page I put a link to website games that they may use in class if they finish early and at home.

I put the links in a word document but I don’t seem to be able to make a link to it.

Any advice?

Thanks, Susan

I have just posted a comment to a frustrated member of our project who cannot receive our emails. If you have not received your confirmation email with log-in information and/or a recent (Aug 4) mass email to project members, please check to be sure YOU have taken these steps to allow email through:

1. Check your OWN email “Junk Mail” or “SPAM” folders for mail from any of the following and tell your email program to “trust” these addresses:

cshively(at)sflinc.org
accounts(at)trintuition.com
wordpress(at)blog.teachersfirst.com
servers(at)teachersfirst.com

Note that the (at) is printed here instead of @ so bad web spiders do not find our addresses and spam them! The addresses SHOULD really have the @ symbol!

2. Turn this same list of addresses into your tech administrator/network person at your school and request that our emails be allowed through the SPAM filter. Explain that you are receiving email about an instructional project via these addresses. If they have a question, show them this post!

Only if these two steps do not solve it, you may email me directly at the address above (cshively). Once you have emailed my address, your system should allow my responses back through the SPAM filter. Please do not use my email as a primary contact. This blog gets more immediate attention from more people than my swollen mailbox does, so posting on the blog is “the way to go” with any question, no matter how minor. Benefit from the “wisdom” of this “crowd”!

I have signed up for the Building Learner’s Project twice but I have never received the welcome e-mail and password for the Workbench.  Can anyone advise me on this problem?

Thank you!

S. Ryall