Visit a Space Station From Your Computer
From the Internet Space Station you can take a voyage on an intergalactic scavenger hunt, learn about "the right stuff" astronauts have and spend time playing with some cool space puzzles.
Subject
Computers & the Internet
This section has an unusual property: its own archive is now a primary source. The entries below were written while the consumer internet was being built, by people who did not know how any of it would turn out.
Read them for the technology and they are dated. Read them for the assumptions — about what the web was for, who would publish on it, what schools would do with it — and they are genuinely interesting.
What sits under computers & the internet
How computers work, networks and the internet, programming, digital literacy and source evaluation, online safety, and the history of computing.
The thing that aged best
Not any prediction about hardware. It was the repeated insistence that students be taught to check who wrote a page and why. That advice was slightly ahead of its audience in 1999 and is now the whole ballgame.
28 entries from the archive
May 1999
Life Before Technology
Try to imagine what your life would be like with out the Internet, the telephone or your TV. Learn about how technology developed over the past 100 years. Don't forget to use the interactive timeline to find out what "state of the art" gadgets your parents and grandparents used when they were little.
July 1999
Quick Facts
July 2, 1999
What did Thomas Jefferson do to fill his days after retiring from politics? During a day in the life of Jefferson, he wrote many letters, devised new inventions, entertained guests, and more. How does sunscreen work to protect your skin on sunny summer days? By absorbing the ultraviolet light that causes sunburn.
Online Exchange
July 5, 1999
Not sure what your kid is saying? Translate today's slang into plain English.
School Biz
July 5, 1999
The National Association for Independent Schools offers workshops, publications, and more. If you teach at or administer an independent school, stop by this comprehensive website.
July 1999
Ditching Dodge Ball
It's not your mom's P.E. program anymore. Some high schools are abandoning traditional activities like wrestling and aerobics in favor of Generation X-style gym classes.
Blowing Bubbles
Did you know that you can make giant soap bubbles using only a wire coat hanger, liquid dish detergent, and water? Follow Professor Bubbles as he blows bubbles around the world. Then, play games with cyberbubbles.
200,000 teens can't be wrong
When it comes to curfews, dress codes, and other restrictions, some teens feel that rules cramp their style and freedom. Teens speak out about which regulations are reasonable and which deserve to be ditched.
August 1999
Learning Center
August 5, 1999
Before the first day of school, visit Learning Center for lesson plans, teacher tools, online resources, and more.
Hot News
August 12, 1999
Though details are still fuzzy, organizers of Net Aid are clear about their goal for the multimedia event: they hope the experience, a mix of stadium concerts, TV and radio broadcasts, and Webcasts, will reach so many millions of viewers that it will spark a movement to end world hunger.
Hot News
August 19, 1999
On average returning college students will spend half their waking hours on the Web researching coursework, emailing friends, or ordering food, clothes or other products off the Internet. All this time online has some asking, "How wired is too wired?"
September 1999
Hot News
September 9, 1999
Although to some today -- the ninth day of the ninth month of the 99th year, or 9/9/99 -- is a test case for the feared Y2K bug, most experts believe programmers have already fixed computers so as to avoid the problem.
October 1999
Learning Center
October 1, 1999
Before the first day of school, visit Learning Center for lesson plans, teacher tools, online resources, and more.
Hot News
October 8, 1999
The U.S. Space Command will take charge of defending the U.S. against a uniquely Information Age threat: cyberwarfare. Officials will study how to protect the military's computer networks against hackers and how to build cyberattack capabilities.
October 1999
Look Ma, No Hands!
Car companies are developing technology that may allow people to "drive" without even touching the wheel. Engineers believe if cars can "see" and "feel" other cars without human help, commuters may be able to fit more cars on crowded roadways.
One Famous Farmer
George Washington was instrumental in developing farming techniques such as crop rotation and fertilization to replenish barren land. Take your class on this virtual field trip and test their knowledge with the Pioneer Farmer Quiz.
Can You Spare Some Time?
With information on where you live, VolunteerMatch can match you with a worthy organization near your home. Or, if you don't want to leave the house, find out about virtual volunteering opportunities on the Web.
Mapping Migration
Beginning in February, 2000, students across the country will work together to collect migration data. It's not too early to register for this free online program to help scientists track the return of birds and butterflies.
Scuba, Scuba Do
Learn what it takes to scuba dive in Micronesia's Chuuk Lagoon, then come up with questions for our Adventure Team to answer during our live Web chats Wednesday through Friday.
November 1999
Hot News
November 9, 1999
More than a source of information, the Internet offers an outlet for self-expression and builds self-esteem say experts studying the connection between children and the Web. Click here for the full story.
November 1999
A Penny Saved
Did you know "Ferris wheels" and "silly heads" were names of coins? In the coin clubhouse, you can step into a time machine, take a virtual tour of the United States Mint, and follow the steps to make your own coin collection.
The School of Fun
How might you save the rain forest? Play Search for the Golden Egg, break the secret code, and you can help preserve the outdoors. With robots, ducks, and adventurers as your teachers, how could this school be anything but fun?
Classroom Computer Time
It's not too late to register your class for two free online projects designed by AT&T for schools with limited access to technology. Communicate with schools around the world, or learn about Australian history and geography.
December 1999
Familiar Faces
Computers can calculate more quickly than human minds, but when it comes to figuring out faces, they're stumped. What is it that allows the brain to recognize faces in a flash? Learn how your brain decodes familiar faces with the Face Test.
The Millennium
Did you miss the CNN special series on the last 1,000 years? Don't worry, as you can still catch the Web site companion and learn about the centuries of the sword, the ax, the stirrup, the sail, the furnace, and the globe.
Reindeer People
Luckily for you, you don't have to trek through the snow-covered land of Russia to visit the native reindeer-herding people who live there. Go along on a virtual adventure into the far-away wilderness to meet the Nenet people.
Fifty Things
What items, movements, or beliefs from this century would you preserve for the next millennium? Would you save music teachers, chocolate, and trout? Make your decisions and email the Fifty Things Web site with your selections. You may see your choices posted next month.
A Foreign Language
Foreign language sites seem to be the least available online resource for teachers. Use this Internet in-service course to learn how to find the best foreign language sites, use them in your classroom, and create your own.
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