********************************** * K12net Echo rules, 12 sep 1993 * ********************************** Contents (compiled by Andre Rombauts): - K12 Russian rules by Michael Wise - Elementary Chat Guidelines by Diana Campbell - Senior Chat Guidelines by Bob Shayler - CODE DE CONDUITE K12 Fran‡ais par Robert Brault - Teachers' Chat Guidelines by Carol Hooper - MathMagic Guide by Carol Hooper This list of Echo rules will be updated and other Echos rules added as soon as possible. K12 Russian rules by Michael Wise The primary purpose of this conference is to provide a meeting place for international discussion of educational processes, information, materials, technologies or content which are specifically applicable to the Russian language. By definition of this echo, the posts should relate to elementary and secondary education, but this is not mandatory. This is an open echo to all who choose to follow these basic "common sense" guidelines: K12 RUSSIAN ECHOMAIL ETIQUETTE: 1. STAY ON TOPIC. This is the Russian K-12 echo, so please don't talk about politics or the weather (unless you do so in Russian). Examples of "on topic" subjects are: messages written in transliterated Russian (or on a limited basis, Cyrillic high-bit); messages about Russian or other East Slavic languages; and messages about Russia. 2. DON'T RESPOND TO INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES. This compounds the problem. Instead, tell your Sysop about it in a local message area. Leave the moderation to the Sysops and echomail conference moderators. 3. AVOID PERSONAL MESSAGES IN FIDONET OR K12Net ECHOES. Nobody in Ontario or Sweden cares about your luncheon arrangements, and Sysops object to the telephone costs of such messages. 4. BE BRIEF. Don't repeat the same message unnecessarily in the same or different echoes. If several people respond to your question, don't thank each individually. 5. COMMUNICATE CLEARLY. Use descriptive subject lines. In replies, quote enough of the original so readers know what you are talking about. Use appropriate cases; messages entered in ALL UPPER CASE letters is considered SHOUTING. 6. NO PROFANITIES. I know it's fun to learn how to cuss in a foreign language, but do not practice your vulgarities on Russian K-12. I know most of the Russian swear words and phrases, so don't try to put one past me. Michael Wise Posrednik K12 Russian Elementary Chat Guidelines by Diana Campbell 1. Be polite and friendly. 2. Do not post your home address or phone number. A school address is ok. Unfortunately, there are people with modems who may send you information you won't like if you post your home address and phone number. If you want to exchange regular (written on paper) mail, use your school address for at least the first mail. 3. No profanity (swears) or flaming (picking or participating in a verbal fight). Don't use language that you know is offensive to others. 4. Keep the subject matter G-rated. 5. Don't respond or answer any inappropriate messages. Let the moderators and sysops deal with them. Leave a local private message to your sysop or teacher if you wish to call attention to such messages. 6. ALL messages (mail) you write to people in this conference are read by EVERYBODY not just the person you are writing to. Everyone can read it! If you want to write to someone PRIVATELY, then you must write a message in a PRIVATE MAIL conference or NETMAIL. 7. If you don't like these "guidelines," write me a polite and reasoned message (netmail if you can). These "guidelines" have and will evolve over time and with experience. But do not violate these guidelines, else you may lose your access to K12net! -Diana Campbell- teacher at the Bernardston Elementary School Bernardston, Massachusetts, Moderator of K12_ELEM_CHAT conference About the K12_ELEM_CHAT Conference: The K12_ELEM_CHAT echo is available to elementary school age students (about 6-12 years of age) who have accounts at on e of the K12net BBSes worldwide. People who are neither students of this age group nor one of their teachers should refrain from posting messages in this conference. Messages posted here should not be re-posted elsewhere by anyone other than the original author of the message. This conference is designed to be a place where elementary school age students can learn the proper techniques of computer network conferencing with guidance from educators. K12_ELEM_CHAT is not intended as a "project" such as one would find in the K12net "Channels" but is rather a learning place which encourages communication between and among elementary school age students. This conference experiences heavy usage and is read by many people. Anyone who posts a message here which violates the "Access Guidelines" which are found in a following message may have their access to K12net removed. Help us all *keep* this conference open and available by adhering to the following "Access Guidelines." -Diana Campbell- teacher at Bernardston Elementary School Bernardston, Massachusetts. Moderator of K12_ELEM_CHAT conference Senior Chat Guidelines by Bob Shayler 1. ALL MESSAGES HERE ARE OPEN FOR EVERYONE TO READ: ALL messages you write to people in this conference can be read by everyone, not just the person to whom you address your message. * EVERYONE can read EVERY message you write here! 2. USE POSITIVE AND NON-ABUSIVE LANGUAGE: Use friendly and non-abusive language in all messages. Messages may be posted in any language. Positive discussions about politics, religion, cultures, and other important topics are welcome. But, messages which include racist, sexist, religiously or culturally intolerant, or slanderous language are not allowed. Be very sensitive about "jokes" because jokes can be very offensive when the joke concerns a person's religion, race, nationality, gender or other personal characteristic. 3. BE SENSITIVE WHEN DISCUSSING SEX OR DRUGS: Certain subjects such as sex and drugs, no matter how important or common in everyday private conversations, require great sensitivity when discussed in K12Net open echo conferences including this one. * Messages which include specific discussions of sexual practices and techniques or which invite sexual encounters are not permitted. * Sexually explicit or sexist jokes are not permitted. * Any message which promotes the use of drugs is not permitted. 4. LEARN ABOUT RATHER THAN FLAME PEOPLE: This conference is here to encourage people to meet, learn about each other, and make friends. Flaming (creating or participating in a verbal fight) and profanity are not allowed. Calling a person a name or attempting to intimidate a person is not allowed. Messages which encourage violence are not allowed. 5. USE USUAL TEXT FORMATS: Write interesting messages formatted in a normal fashion with usual spelling and use of words. Creating blank screens or including control characters in messages to create cute screen displays are in fact irritating to most readers. Using cute keyboard symbols like "*&$#" doesn't hide the meaning of "flame" words or profanity which are not allowed here. 6. BE CAREFUL NOT TO RISK UNINVITED PERSONAL CONTACTS: Posting any person's home address or phone number, including that of the author of a message, is not permitted here. Many schools prohibit the open distribution of such information plus it is extremely unwise because you never know who may show up at your home or send you something you won't appreciate. If you want to exchange regular (written on paper) mail, use your school's address only. 7. KEEP ADVERTISEMENTS OUT OF HERE: Brief informational messages about colleges are invited but messages which advertise anything for sale or exchange are not welcome. Polite and helpful comments are welcome at the addresses below: -Bob Shayler- Internet: bshayle@eis.CalState.EDU science and math teacher - San Leandro High School, California, U.S. Moderator of K12_SR_CHAT conference About this "Senior Chat" Echo Conference: K12_SR_CHAT, the official K12Net name for this conference, is intended to be a "SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CHAT" echo conference. "Senior High School" has different meanings to people but here it refers to students who are approximately 13 through 19 years of age.("teenage"). This echo is available to these students to meet each other, discuss appropriate interests and issues, and exchange ideas. People who are neither students of this age group nor one of their teachers should refrain from posting messages in K12_SR_CHAT. All participants are expected to follow the K12_SR_CHAT GUIDELINES which follow in another message. K12_SR_CHAT is no longer carried as a newsgroup on Internet host systems. There is a newsgroup called "k12.chat.senior" but there is no longer a two-way gateway between the K12Net K12_SR_CHAT echo and the "k12.chat.senior" Internet newsgroup. This gateway was closed at the beginning of April, 1993. Messages posted here may not be re-posted elsewhere by anyone other than the original author of the message, except for sysops of K12Net BBSes as necessary for the proper operation of this echo conference. This conference is designed to be a place where "high school" age students can learn the proper techniques of computer network conferencing with guidance from educators. This conference is not intended as a school or classroom "project," such as one would find in the K12net "Channels," but rather is a learning place which encourages students to learn about international computer networks by communicating in a relatively unstructured yet guided manner among themselves. This conference experiences heavy usage and is read by many people including "high school" students and adults. All readers of K12_SR_CHAT must understand that as learning takes place, mistakes will be made. The K12_SR_CHAT "Moderator" and other interested persons who are working to guide students to learn the proper uses of networks, will help those who make mistakes. It is not helpful to "flame" students who make errors of technique or judgment. It is helpful to provide as much positive guidance as possible. However, even though this is a "learning place," anyone who posts messages here which do not follow the "GUIDELINES" may have their access to K12Net and/or K12_SR_CHAT removed. The Moderator of this conference (and other K12net sysops) can and will notify the sysop of the K12Net BBS from which any inappropriate message originates to request compliance with the "GUIDELINES" or, if necessary, the removal of the offending account. K12_SR_CHAT is an excellent opportunity for students planetwide to begin to learn more about networks than their parents or teachers ever dreamed possible. Help us all *keep* this conference open and available to the students of the planet by adhering to the K12_SR_CHAT GUIDELINES which can be read in a following message. -Bob Shayler- Internet: bshayle@eis.CalState.EDU science and math teacher - San Leandro High School, California, U.S. Moderator of K12_SR_CHAT conference CODE DE CONDUITE K12 Fran‡ais par Robert Brault [mode humoristique ALLUME] 1- Le moderateur a TOUJOURS raison 2- Si le moderateur se trompe, voir la regle numero 1 [mode humoristique ETEINT] L'idee de base de cette section (K12_FRANCAIS) est d'encourager chacun a s'exprimer en francais. Tel qu'il est mentionne dans le fichier ECHOTAGS.K12 dans K12_INFO: "French-only discussion", ce qui impliquera que les mots ou phrases en anglais devront etre limites au maximum afin que tous fassent un effort pour comprendre et s'exprimer en francais. Les lettres accentuees sont permises (high-bit ASCII) Quelques suggestions pour la bonne marche dans cette section: *) Ne jamais oublier que tout ce que vous ecrivez dans cette section sera retransmis a tous les babillards (bbs) dans le monde qui sont branches sur K12. *) Pas d'attaques personnelles dans une section publique. Il est correct d'etre en desaccord avec quelqu'un, mais si vous voulez "flamber" quelqu'un faites-le privement dans le courrier "NETMAIL". *) Essayez d'etre bref: votre "SysOp" prefere paie les comptes de telephone afin de diffuser vos messages. La concision est une vertu. *) Demeurez dans le sujet. Ici c'est facile: en autant que vous ecriviez en francais, vous etes dans le sujet. *) Evitez de donner des adresses personnelles; utilisez plutot soit l'adresse de l'ecole ou d'un parent au travail. N'oubliez pas que n'importe qui peut lire votre adresse. *) Quand vous repondez a un message, essayez de penser a interesser toutes celles et tous ceux qui vous liront. *) Ecrivez en lettres minuscules. LES MAJUSCULES SONT UTILISEES POUR CRIER ! *) Utilisez des titres signifiants dans le champ du sujet. Ils sont tres IMPORTANTS pour ceux verifient un grand nombre de titres de sujets. *) Attention aux sarcasmes ou aux blagues: ils peuvent facilement etre pris au pied de la lettre. L'usage de "smilie" :-) vous assure d'etre bien interprete. *) Et....amusez-vous ! Car ce qui est important c'est qu'il y ait un plaisir a communiquer toutes et tous ensemble. Robert Brault Moderateur K12_FRANCAIS (1:167/130) (Robert_Brault@f130.n167.z1.fidonet.org) Teachers' Chat Guidelines by Carol Hooper 1. STAY ON TOPIC. Sit back, relax, and share thoughts, ideas, and information with fellow educators. However, please keep in mind that education is what brings us together here and keep messages of general educational interest. Note: Messages which focus on educational uses of telecommunications (and how to get our educational systems to incorporate it) are especially encouraged. Discussions of politics, religion, or other controversial subjects will be considered off-topic. Please exchange such messages in an appropriate echo. 2. STUDENT PARTICIPATION IS RESTRICTED. Students should use the Elementary, Middle, or Senior High chat, or appropriate areas to exchange messages. In most instances, access is granted to college students completing their student teaching. Persons seeking access should notify the moderator and their Sysops. 3. DO NOT USE THIS AREA TO EXCHANGE STUDENT MESSAGES. Feel free to seek teachers who would like to participate with your class in message exchanges but the actual exchange of messages should be carried out via netmail or through a more suitable area. 4. DO NOT SEND PERSONAL MESSAGES IN THIS AREA. Use netmail or a local echo to send personal messages. Messages in Teachers' Chat should be of general interest to all who might read them. 5. DO NOT QUOTE LONG TEXTS FROM OTHER SOURCES. Quote just what you need to make the context clear. 6. IGNORE INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES. Do not respond nor discuss inappropriate messages in this conference. Let the moderator(s) and Sysops deal with any negative situation which comes up. If you feel you need to call something to your Sysop's attention, leave a private message in a local conference. REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT THE MODERATOR. Carol Hooper Zone 1 Moderator, Teachers' Chat MathMagic Guide by Carol Hooper SPONSOR'S GUIDE TO MATHMAGIC WELCOME TO MATHMAGIC! WHAT IS MATHMAGIC? MathMagic is a K12Net project designed to motivate students to write and solve open-ended math problems with students from around the world. WHO MAY PARTICIPATE? Participation is open to any student in grades K-12, either on an individual or team basis. WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS WILL BE GIVEN? Problems chosen as MathMagic problems will be based on the following criteria: 1. They capture student interest and imagination. 2. The solution is not immediately obvious. 3. The problem can be solved using more than one strategy. 4. The problem is within the computational skill level of the student(s). 5. The solution time is reasonable. 6. There may be more than one solution. 7. The solution is defined well enough so that students know when a solution has been reached. NOTE: Problems may be submitted for consideration by any and all interested parties by simply addressing them to: Carol Hooper at 1:381/105. HOW OFTEN WILL WE GET PROBLEMS TO SOLVE? New problem cycles will run every six-weeks. A problem cycle begins the day the problems are posted to the MathMagic Channel (Channel 2) and ends six weeks later on a pre-determined date. A time line will be posted on Channel 2. HOW DO STUDENTS WORK ON A PROBLEM? 1. Login to K12Net on the first day of a problem cycle and move to Channel 2. 2. Problems will be posted in a message addressed to "All." Subject line will indicate cycle number and corresponding dates. For example: " Subject: Cycle 1 - Sept 8-18" means problems are for Cycle 1 with a starting date of Sept. 8 and solution format due date of Sept. 18. 3. Look at the problem for your grade level. 4. Get out the thinking cap and begin to discuss strategies with students in your grade level from around the world. Enter messages, share ideas, work towards a solution while discovering new friends from within your city, other states, and even other nations. IMPORTANT: Your messages must indicate your grade level and whether you are working as a team or individual. All teams should list names of team members for proper credit as well as the sponsoring school, if applicable. HOW DO WE SUBMIT OUR SOLUTIONS? Solutions are turned in anytime before the last day of the problem cycle and are written in a specific format. This format is: 1. State the problem-- List the knowns and unknowns and any assumptions which are made. 2. Explain the strategy or strategies. Suggested strategies are: a. Work a simpler case and apply. b. Look for a pattern to apply. c. Make a wild guess and check your answer. d. Make a table, chart, or diagram; use a model. e. Label known parts and unknown parts with variables. f. Write an equation relating the knowns and unknowns. g. Work backwards. h. Work for a subgoal. i. Find a related problem or strategy you can apply. j. If all else fails, act it out. 3. State the solution(s). 4. Check your solution for accuracy 5. Extend the problem. (Optional) WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SOLUTIONS ARE TURNED IN? Solutions will be examined by evaluators. Submissions will be evaluated based on grade level and whether the solution is an individual or team effort. Recognition will be awarded in the following categories: Outstanding Creativity Outstanding Solution Outstanding Effort Outstanding Team Work Outstanding Individual Work Outstanding Strategy Outstanding Problem Format Honorable Mention Sweepstakes There will be one overall Sweepstakes recognition award given every six weeks. This award will serve as a model for future problem cycles. The results will be posted in Channel 2. MATHMAGIC RULES OF CONDUCT There are some important rules which must be followed as you participate in MathMagic. Any violation of these rules will result in your school group or your MathMagic team being disqualified from the project. 1. No abusive language will be tolerated at any time. 2. Communications are to be strictly within your MathMagic grade level and any official MathMagic personnel. At no time will any individual or team interfere with or harass any other individual or team in any way. 3. Participants may communicate with other participants requesting ideas, sharing thoughts, etc. In fact, this communication is encouraged!!!! 4. We encourage you to get to know those participating in MathMagic and hope that you will share information about each other. As long as your messages include discussion of the problem issued, there is no need to refrain from personal discussion. CONCLUSION You will find many friends in the telecommunications environment and learn many new things about Math and the students that you meet. Enjoy yourself, and thanks for your participation. K12ECHR.ASC, 12.09.93