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To: 2002
SOL Content Academy Attendees As an attendee of the 2002 SOL Content Academy, you have a unique opportunity to shape the future of online resources and services available to Virginia's PreK-12 teachers. As you know, the Commonwealth of Knowledge website has been one of the premier resources for Virginia's teachers since 1998. And now you have a chance to make it even better. Tell us what services you want, and we will do our very best to implement them. You may even win a prize for sharing your ideas*. Read on. The Commonwealth of Knowledge website was begun by former Virginia First Lady Roxane Gilmore in 1998 as a part of her focus on education. The website has offered a variety of services, including a searchable database of lesson plans that are cross-referenced by the Standards of Learning (SOLs), SOL success stories, discussion forums, and an online form through which citizens may volunteer to assist their local schools. Prior to leaving her position as First Lady earlier this year, Mrs. Gilmore wanted to be assured that the valuable services provided by the website would continue. Toward that end, JMU was chosen to continue the effort, in on-going collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education. As a part of the agreement to oversee the site, JMU agreed to consider the redesign of the site, in an effort to refine the existing services provided at the site, and perhaps add new services. A Web Redesign Committee was formed, and the first task at hand was to determine how best to involve Virginia PreK-12 teachers in helping with the redesign. After all, if the site is to serve Virginia teachers, the suggestions made by Virginia teachers must be paramount in its design. That's where you come in. The SOL Content Academy Attendees represent some of the brightest, most creative, and best motivated teachers in the Commonwealth. We want to find out what online services you would like to see, that is, what types of electronic services will help you be the best teacher you can be. On August 1, 2002, we will post an electronic survey (available at the website noted below) to gather your thoughts and recommendations regarding the redesign. We will then collate your comments, publish the results, and see where the future takes us. It's going to be an exciting journey! The survey will be posted to: http://134.126.97.198/WebRedesign. (You will be notified via email when the survey is available.) This site also contains additional information on other aspects of the redesign effort that you may want to review as well. In the meantime, if you need to refresh your memory about the services currently offered at the Commonwealth of Knowledge website, point your browser to: http://www.knowledge.state.va.us/welcome.htm. Members of the Web Redesign Committee will be on hand during the Academy to answer any questions you may have about the redesign. If you have a question, or an idea that just cannot wait until August, be sure to stop by the Web Redesign booth in the upper level of the Festival during lunch. We look forward to seeing you. _____________________________ * SOL Content Academy Attendees who complete and submit the online survey will be eligible to win one of five (5) Intel QX3 Computer Microscopes, one of five (5) Intel Digital Movie Creators, or one of five (5) Intel Sound Morphers. As you may know, Intel discontinued the manufacture of these products in March, 2002. As such, these products (which have been very well received by teachers) are increasingly hard to find. This may be your last chance to acquire one of these products.
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