Other stories look at how the Internet can motivate and engage students. Linda Maston's story, Something in the Air, tells how poor air quality and the Internet spark student interest in science. Using inexpensive equipment and an old computer, eighth graders conduct an ingenious environmental investigation. Pedagogically Speaking concentrates on teacher, rather than student, use of the Internet. This story, written by Bill Barnes, looks at how teachers can use this tool for professional dialogue and growth.
Tales also touches on issues of teacher preparation and support.
In Desert Studies, Susan Hixson collaborates with two teachers, team teaching a third grade unit on the Sonoran Desert. The stories in Tales describe teacher and student successes, mistakes and lessons learned. Rather than presuming to define characteristics of good and bad teaching, Tales aims to raise questions and promote inquiry. Our hope is that these stories share the information you need, helping you generate stories and experiences of your own. Although journals and books included first-hand accounts, none provided interconnected stories with the richness and depth we and other teachers were looking for.