Susan W. Eskridge, Associate Professor, Benerd School of Education,
University of the Pacific, Stockton, California Email:
seskridge@uop.edu
Fay B. Haisley, Dean, Benerd School of Education, University of the Pacific,
Stockton, California Email: fhaisley@uop.eduKeywords: Kids, K12, Elementary Education, Teacher Education
Introduction
This paper describes a Kidline, a computer conference for K-6 students and
the Web site under construction.
Background
Established in 1990, KIDLINE, a computer-assisted telecommunications conference
run by the Benerd School of Education at the University of the Pacific has
been available at no cost to local schools. It was created in an effort
to interest and educate teachers in the new technology, and help them understand
the potential of telecommunications in extending learning opportunities
for their students. Initially, only access to the local conference was possible.
On Kidline, local school students are able to "talk" to each other
and to characters from books (played by university students). On KIDLINE,
students have a wide choice of items (an idea, question or comment put up
by another participant) to read; they may respond with their own ideas.
Characters "visiting" Kidline are played by UOP students in teacher
preparation courses, professors, or other adults in the community who volunteer
to communicate with the school children.
The students, depending on their age, either write to the characters individually,
or as a class. Although the students realize that someone is "playing"
the characters with whom they are corresponding, teachers report that they
remain excited about KIDLINE and want to log on frequently to see if they
have received mail. For example, one interesting exchange (excerpts below)
is from an item featuring "Bilbo." Bilbo is played by a local
newspaper reporter who wanted to be involved after writing a news article
on Kidline. The student was a sixth grader.
- - - -
Item 64 Bilbo A Greeting from Bilbo
I'm pleased to meet you young folks. Some of you may have read my book,
and therefore already know a little about me. I always called the story
"There and Back Again, or A Hobbit's Holiday," but in your world
I think they just called it "The Hobbit." I'm not sure I like
that. It makes it sound as if I were the only one! The only Hobbit, that
is. I'm sorry if I am wandering a little bit. You see, I am very very old.
Much older than most Hobbits. Gandalf, the Wizard, says it is because I
found that magic ring many years ago down under the Misty Mountains. The
power of the ring stretched me out over time, made it look like I was staying
the same while the rest of the world was changing. Gandalf can be a gloomy
fellow. He always warned me not to use the ring, said it would have a bad
effect on me. But it was so useful for certain things. When I put it on,
it made me invisible. I had some relatives that I didn't like, and when
I saw them coming to my house, I would put on the ring so that they couldn't
see me. Say, do you know what hobbits look like? We're very small, much
smaller than humans. We stand about as big as an eight year old human child.
We have thick leathery soles and lots of hair on top of our feet - we never
have to wear shoes. And we love to cook and eat. I eat six times a day when
I get the chance. Last night I had roast duck and fresh home made bread.
But I shouldn't just keep talking without hearing what you have to say.
I suppose you'll want to hear about my adventure, how I talked to the dragon
Smaug and helped restore the Kingdom Under the Mountain and all that. I
do feel so old and tired these days. What do you young folks like to talk
about?
Your Friend, Bilbo
- - - - -
64:2) Halton Kids Dear B
- - - - -
64:3) Bilbo Dear Halton Kids:
How alarming! I just received your message and it makes me wonder what happened
to you. Did a goblin grab you from behind just after you typed the letter
B? I do hope that you will be able to write to me and explain. It would
make me very sad to learn that some monster had eaten you for dinner or
something like that. But then you don't have goblins in California, do you?
Do you have dragons? I heard once about something you have in California
that sounded alot like a dragon. Hmmm, what was it. Oh yes, it is called
an earthquake or a temblor or a tremor. And I've been told that it can knock
a whole city flat, just like a dragon! Have you ever seen an earthquake
swoop down out of the air and destroy a city? I would love to hear more
about these creatures. Can you talk to them? I talked to a dragon once and
I nearly got killed for it. Well, please write as soon as you escape from
where ever you are being held hostage.
Your friend, Bilbo
- - - - -
64:4) Halton Kids
Dear Bilbo,
Hello, my name is Carla May. And I go to Halton School. I am sorry that
I didn't finish my letter, but a monster like creature grabbed me from behind.
It had fire red scales that were slimy and gooey. It's eyes were black as
coals and it seemed as they looked right inside of me ! Its talons were
long and curvy and it hurt when it picked me up! Ouch! Out from its snout
came long columns of sweet smelling smoke. When it breathed, fire came out
and it tickeled my nose. Just as it was about to eat me, a heroic tearcher
named Ms. Suzi Eatman rescued me and killed the creepy monster! It was quite
exciting afternoon. Well, now that I have told you about what happened to
me, I will tell you a little about myself. My hobbies are reading, writing,
drawing, and riding my rollerskates. Rollerskates are shoes with wheels
that people use for fun. I have strawberry-blonde hair that is about sholder
lengh. My eyes are a light brown with a teeny-tiny, super small amount of
green in them. I have slightly tan skin with brown freckles across my nose.
My favorite food is pizza. Pizza is round shaped bread figure that has cheese
and tomato sauce. You can put almost anything on the top of it to eat..
Pizza is said to come from Italy, that's another country. I love the rain.
And purple is my all time favorite color. Now I want to ask you a few questions.
How did you get here from middle earth? Are all dragons mean and evil? Do
you know any wizards? Are dwarves nice or rude. What is your favorite hobby?
What is your favorite color? What is your favorite kind of food? Tell me
about it! Do you have any pets? What kind of weather do you like. Also,
tell me more about yourself. Well I have to go now. Please write back A.S.A.P.(as
soon as possible)!
Your loyal fan,
Carla May
Carla May and Bilbo continued to correspond over a two year period. Students
also write to each other to discuss things such as the latest books or movies
they enjoy, and instructional projects they are working on in class. Other
successful online activities are joint research efforts by students in different
schools and districts, co-authoring of stories by students and the local
newspaper reporter, and bilingual items that create bridges among the diverse
populations in Stockton.
Although the Kidline Conference will be maintained for those schools that
do not yet have Web access, a Web site is being constructed with input from
teachers and students in three districts. The beginning pages will be put
up this summer and the site will remain a "work in progress" so
that students will continue to have input into the activities offered.