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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Dear Friends,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Greetings from Montana!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>It’s hard to believe that summer has slipped past, and
that we’re already looking at the start of the next school year.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>This is my annual reminder for everyone to please use the
on-line teaching resources we’ve developed at SERC—use these
resources to help design your course, find new resources to support your
teaching, use and contribute to the teaching activity collection, and stay in
touch via the listserv:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Teaching Biocomplexity: <a
href="http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/biocomplexity/index.html">http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/biocomplexity/index.html</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Geology and Human Health: <a
href="http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/index.html">http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/index.html</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We’ve been working to upgrade these sites, and to
expand the URL and teaching activity resource collections. I would
particularly like to call your attention to:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We are continually looking for additional <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>web-based resources</span></b> that support
teaching and learning about these subjects; please take a moment and <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>contribute</span></b> (link on the websites) any
resources that you routinely use in these classes.</span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We are also making a big push to increase the <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>teaching activities</span></b> in these
collections (i.e. assignments that you hand out to students). We
know that you all have one or two really cool exercises that you have in
your files. We really need to expand these activity collections, and
to fill some important gaps in our coverage. So, as you prepare for your
classes and rediscover your own collection of exercises, please take a few
minutes and contribute to the overall collection. If everyone submits just
one or two new exercises we’ll have a tremendous resource to share
with everyone.</span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We will unveil a new instructional module in just a few
days that is a GIS-based, on-line resource that allows users to do an
Environmental and Health Risk Inventory of your own community. This module
demonstrates how to use a number of on-line databases such as the Toxic
Release Inventory, CDC health data, etc. We’re doing the final
editing of this module now, so stay tuned.</span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Encourage your colleagues to <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>join the listserv</span></b>. We need to demonstrate a “ripple
effect” of the Cutting Edge workshops, and one way to do this is to
recruit new users and contributors. Please be our ambassadors and
encourage your colleagues to join and help out. Please continue to
submit your own queries and thoughts to the listserv—we had some
very interesting and insightful discussions last year!</span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>And, in your own teaching and other professional
activities, please remember to <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>use these
web resources</span></b> (and other related resources at SERC, Teach the
Earth, <a href="http://serc.carleton.edu/">http://serc.carleton.edu</a> ),
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>early and often</span></b>. We
need to show growth in our use numbers, and if you value these resources,
we need to provide evidence that use is growing as we seek future funding to
sustain this project.</span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Remember, when you make a submission or contribution,
it takes my staff a few days to work “at the back end” before
the materials will be made public on the website. So, please be patient.</span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>On a personal note, let me just simply say that we really
need your help this year as we continue to grow and use these resources.
I have funding and staff for only one more year to continue to work on
these sites—so now is the time to redouble our efforts to further build
these collections and the user base. If you value these services, help
us develop these sites into a comprehensive and sustainable resource for use by
faculty and students for years to come. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Wishing everyone a great new school year. Keep us
posted on the listserv—we’d like to know what’s on your mind.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>With best wishes to all,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Dave Mogk</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
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