=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 21 Apr 2000 18:39:23 -0500
Reply-To:     Forum on the Constitution 
Sender:       Forum on the Constitution 
From:         Cindy Koeppel 
Subject:      CongressLink Communicator
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

CongressLink Communicator is published by The Dirksen Congressional Center.
Each monthly issue contains news about CongressLink --
(http://www.congresslink.org) --
and feature articles written by teachers and students who use the site.

For those of you who are not familiar with CongressLink, it is a free
educational web site for teachers and students.  Over the past four years
it has been in existence, the site has undergone many changes and will
continue to do so to meet the needs of its users.  CongressLink has a
growing library of lesson plans and other resources to encourage a better
understanding of Congress.  The site also gives teachers the opportunity to
communicate with their colleagues and with subject matter experts.  And if
you can't find what you are looking for on CongressLink, we have an
annotated list of over seventy-five related web sites to help you.

We invite you to subscribe to CongressLink Communicator. You will find
CongressLink to be an asset! If you have any comments or questions about
the site or the newsletter, please feel free to contact us.

NEW SUBSCRIBER?  MISSED A CONGRESSLINK COMMUNICATOR?

Please let us know and we would be happy to provide you with an archived
copy.

COMMUNICATOR ARTICLE SUGGESTIONS

CongressLink Communicator welcomes article suggestions from our readers,
although we cannot promise to print everything submitted.  Articles
focusing on CongressLink features, CongressLink uses, and related news are
encouraged.  Please include your name and school with your submission, and
indicate if you would like to have that information included in the
newsletter.  Please send your article suggestions to Cindy Koeppel,
ckoeppel@pekin.net.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 22 Apr 2000 00:51:38 -0500
Reply-To:     Forum on the Constitution 
Sender:       Forum on the Constitution 
From:         Cindy Koeppel 
Subject:      =?iso-8859-1?Q?CONGRESS_IN_THE_CLASSROOM=AE?=
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
              boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00D5_01BFABF4.EA6AC920"

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_00D5_01BFABF4.EA6AC920
Content-Type: text/plain;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

------------------------------------------------------
CONGRESS IN THE CLASSROOM=AE
------------------------------------------------------

Congress in the Classroom=AE is a national, award-winning education =
program
now in its ninth year.  It is sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional =
Center,Pekin, IL,
in cooperation with Bradley University, Peoria, IL, and is dedicated to =
the exchange of
ideas and information on teaching about Congress. =20

Congress in the Classroom=AE is designed for secondary school teachers =
and
junior and community college faculty who teach U.S. history, government
civics, political science, or social studies.  Between 30 and 35 =
teachers
are selected each year to take part in the program. =20

The 2000 program will emphasize the upcoming presidential and =
congressional
elections, along with a general overview of Congress, blending =
historical
and contemporary sessions.  Participants will also gain experience with =
The
Center's educational Web site, CongressLink =
(http://www.congresslink.org/),
which features online access to lesson plans, student activities,
historical materials, related Web sites, and subject matter experts.
Throughout the program, participants will work with national experts as
well as colleagues from across the Midwest.  This combination of =
first-hand
knowledge and peer-to-peer interaction will give participants new ideas,
materials, and a professionally enriching experience. =20

The workshop will be held July 30 - August 2, 2000, on the campus of
Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.  Session presenters and topics =
will
include:

- Jeffrey Bernstein, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Eastern
Michigan University.=20
Session:  "Testing a Classroom Campaign Simulation"=20

- Mary Alice Erickson, former staffer and campaign manager for Robert H.
Michel. =20
Session:  "Organizing a Campaign for a House Seat"=20

- Stephen Frantzich, Professor and Chair, Department of Political =
Science,
U.S. Naval Academy.
Sessions:  "Citizen Courage in an Cynical Age" and "How to Watch =
Campaign
Commercials and Campaign Events"=20
     =20
- Roderick P. Hart, Shivers Chair in Communication and Government at the
University of Texas, Austin, and Director of the Texas Institute for =
Civic
Participation. =20
Session:  "Campaign Talk:  Why Elections Are Good for Us"=20

- Ray LaHood, U.S. Representative, 18th district, Illinois.=20
Session:  "What's at Stake in the Congressional Elections of 2000"=20

- Frank H. Mackaman, Executive Director of The Dirksen Center and =
Adjunct
Professor of Political Science at Bradley University. =20
Session:  "Organizing a Presidential Campaign:  The Case of 1976"=20

- Darrell West, Professor of Political Science at Brown University and
developer of the web site, InsidePolitics.org. =20
Session:  "Air Wars:  Television Advertising in Election Campaigns, =
1952-96"=20

Other sessions will include an orientation to CongressLink, The Dirksen
Center's web site for teachers; Congressional Insight, a fast-paced,
computer-based simulation of a Congress Member's first term in office; =
and,
a presentation about classroom resources available to teach about =
campaigns.

For further information about this program, please visit The Dirksen
Center's Web site at=20
(http://www.pekin.net/dirksen/3classrm.html). =20

The deadline for applications is May 19, 2000.  To request an =
application,
please contact Stacey Vore, svore@pekin.net.



------=_NextPart_000_00D5_01BFABF4.EA6AC920
Content-Type: text/html;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable









------------------------------------------------------CONGRESS=20
IN THE=20
CLASSROOM=AE
------------------------------------------------------
Congress=20
in the Classroom=AE is a national, award-winning education =
program
now in its=20
ninth year.  It is sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional =
Center,Pekin,=20
IL,
in cooperation with Bradley University, Peoria, IL, and is =
dedicated to=20
the exchange of
ideas and information on teaching about =
Congress. =20


Congress in the Classroom=AE is designed for secondary school =
teachers=20
and
junior and community college faculty who teach U.S. history,=20
government
civics, political science, or social studies.  =
Between 30 and=20
35 teachers
are selected each year to take part in the program.  =



The 2000 program will emphasize the upcoming presidential and=20
congressional
elections, along with a general overview of Congress, =
blending=20
historical
and contemporary sessions.  Participants will also =
gain=20
experience with The
Center's educational Web site, CongressLink (http://www.congresslink.org/),=

which=20
features online access to lesson plans, student =
activities,
historical=20
materials, related Web sites, and subject matter experts.
Throughout =
the=20
program, participants will work with national experts as
well as =
colleagues=20
from across the Midwest.  This combination of =
first-hand
knowledge and=20
peer-to-peer interaction will give participants new ideas,
materials, =
and a=20
professionally enriching experience.  

The workshop will be =
held=20
July 30 - August 2, 2000, on the campus of
Bradley University in =
Peoria,=20
Illinois.  Session presenters and topics will
include:

- =
Jeffrey=20
Bernstein, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Eastern
Michigan =

University. 
Session:  "Testing a Classroom Campaign Simulation" =



- Mary Alice Erickson, former staffer and campaign manager for =
Robert=20
H.
Michel.  
Session:  "Organizing a Campaign for a =
House Seat"=20


- Stephen Frantzich, Professor and Chair, Department of =
Political=20
Science,
U.S. Naval Academy.
Sessions:  "Citizen Courage in =
an=20
Cynical Age" and "How to Watch Campaign
Commercials and Campaign =
Events"=20

      
- Roderick P. Hart, Shivers Chair =
in=20
Communication and Government at the
University of Texas, Austin, and =
Director=20
of the Texas Institute for Civic
Participation.  =

Session: =20
"Campaign Talk:  Why Elections Are Good for Us" 

- Ray =
LaHood, U.S.=20
Representative, 18th district, Illinois. 
Session:  "What's at =
Stake in=20
the Congressional Elections of 2000" 

- Frank H. Mackaman, =
Executive=20
Director of The Dirksen Center and Adjunct
Professor of Political =
Science at=20
Bradley University.  
Session:  "Organizing a Presidential=20
Campaign:  The Case of 1976" 

- Darrell West, Professor of =
Political=20
Science at Brown University and
developer of the web site,=20
InsidePolitics.org.  
Session:  "Air Wars:  Television =

Advertising in Election Campaigns, 1952-96" 

Other sessions will =
include=20
an orientation to CongressLink, The Dirksen
Center's web site for =
teachers;=20
Congressional Insight, a fast-paced,
computer-based simulation of a =
Congress=20
Member's first term in office; and,
a presentation about classroom =
resources=20
available to teach about campaigns.

For further information about =
this=20
program, please visit The Dirksen
Center's Web site at 
(http://www.pekin.net/=
dirksen/3classrm.html). =20


The deadline for applications is May 19, 2000.  To request =
an=20
application,
please contact Stacey Vore, svore@pekin.net.

=


------=_NextPart_000_00D5_01BFABF4.EA6AC920--
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 23 Apr 2000 22:27:54 -0500
Reply-To:     Forum on the Constitution 
Sender:       Forum on the Constitution 
From:         Cindy Koeppel 
Subject:      CIVIC EDUCATION GRANT RECIPIENTS
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
              boundary="----=_NextPart_000_018D_01BFAD73.2B51F920"

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_018D_01BFAD73.2B51F920
Content-Type: text/plain;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

ROBERT H. MICHEL CIVIC EDUCATION GRANT RECIPIENTS


CONGRATULATIONS...The Dirksen Congressional Center, a non-partisan,
not-for-profit organization in Pekin, Illinois, is pleased to announce =
the
winners of the Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grants of the first =
quarter
in 2000.

Grant winners and their projects are as follows:

-The Central Illinois Distance Education Network, Lake Land College,
Mattoon, Illinois - $4,500
Project: "Civics in Cyberspace"

-Natalie Begin and Dana Capell, History Department, Charles W. Smith =
Jewish
Day School, Rockville, MD - $3,000
Project: "The Impact of the Federal Government on American Life"

-Jeffrey L. Bernstein, Department of Political Science, Eastern Michigan
University - $1,500
Project: "Simulating the Congressional Election Process"

-Matthew L. Furfaro, Concord High School, Elkhart, IN - $1,266
Project: "Interactive Government, I can make a difference!"

-Diana Turk (Education for Democracy Group), Assistant Professor, =
Department
of Teaching and Learning, New York University - $5,000
Project: "Combating Apathy and Feelings of Disenfranchisement Among =
Urban,
Under- Privileged High School Students"

The Michel Civic Education Grants program, now in its second year, was
created to fund practical classroom strategies to improve the quality of
teaching and learning about civics, with a particular emphasis on the =
role
of Congress in the federal government. Areas of interest include =
designing
lesson plans, creating student activities, and applying instructional
technology in the classroom.

Visit The Dirksen Center's Web site --
(http://www.pekin.net/dirksen/micheledgrants.html#2000) -- for complete
information about the Michel Civic Education Grants program and a brief
project description for each grant winner of the first quarter in 2000.




------=_NextPart_000_018D_01BFAD73.2B51F920
Content-Type: text/html;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable









ROBERT H. MICHEL CIVIC EDUCATION GRANT=20
RECIPIENTS


CONGRATULATIONS...The Dirksen Congressional =
Center, a=20
non-partisan,
not-for-profit organization in Pekin, Illinois, is =
pleased to=20
announce the
winners of the Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grants =
of the=20
first quarter
in 2000.

Grant winners and their projects are as=20
follows:

-The Central Illinois Distance Education Network, Lake =
Land=20
College,
Mattoon, Illinois - $4,500
Project: "Civics in=20
Cyberspace"

-Natalie Begin and Dana Capell, History Department, =
Charles=20
W. Smith Jewish
Day School, Rockville, MD - $3,000
Project: "The =
Impact of=20
the Federal Government on American Life"

-Jeffrey L. Bernstein,=20
Department of Political Science, Eastern Michigan
University -=20
$1,500
Project: "Simulating the Congressional Election=20
Process"

-Matthew L. Furfaro, Concord High School, Elkhart, IN -=20
$1,266
Project: "Interactive Government, I can make a=20
difference!"

-Diana Turk (Education for Democracy Group), =
Assistant=20
Professor, Department
of Teaching and Learning, New York University - =

$5,000
Project: "Combating Apathy and Feelings of Disenfranchisement =
Among=20
Urban,
Under- Privileged High School Students"

The Michel =
Civic=20
Education Grants program, now in its second year, was
created to fund =

practical classroom strategies to improve the quality of
teaching and =

learning about civics, with a particular emphasis on the role
of =
Congress in=20
the federal government. Areas of interest include designing
lesson =
plans,=20
creating student activities, and applying instructional
technology in =
the=20
classroom.

Visit The Dirksen Center's Web site --
(http://www=
.pekin.net/dirksen/micheledgrants.html#2000)=20
-- for complete
information about the Michel Civic Education Grants =
program=20
and a brief
project description for each grant winner of the first =
quarter in=20
2000.




------=_NextPart_000_018D_01BFAD73.2B51F920--
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 26 Apr 2000 20:38:56 -0500
Reply-To:     Forum on the Constitution 
Sender:       Forum on the Constitution 
From:         Cindy Koeppel 
Subject:      CongressLink - Connecting Congress, the Classroom,
              and the Internet
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
              boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0046_01BFAFBF.715874A0"

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_0046_01BFAFBF.715874A0
Content-Type: text/plain;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Now you can connect Congress, the classroom, and the Internet with =
CongressLink! Download free lesson plans and student activities about =
lawmaking, checks and balances, and more! Talk to experts and other =
educators online! Share ideas on the message boards! Trace the Civil =
Rights Act of 1964 or view an online version of the Constitution! Locate =
e-mail addresses or web sites for congressional leaders! Link to over 75 =
Congress-related sites!

CongressLink (http://www.congresslink.org/) is a "classroom" friendly =
service for teachers and students of history, politics, civics, and =
related subjects in upper elementary schools through college who want to =
pursue the study of Congress as a springboard for learning activities =
related broadly to civic education. The program seeks to facilitate =
student-centered and inquiry-based learning through the use of a Web =
site and involvement in an online learning community.

Drawing on the events of the day, CongressLink provides authentic =
decision-making and problem-solving activities guided by experts on =
Congress, including selected Members of Congress and their staffs. =
Features include sample lesson plans, suggested student activities, =
access to original historical documentation from The Center's =
collections, an annotated list of more than 75 Web sites on related =
topics, access to subject matter experts online, and collaborative =
communications.

CongressLink has been selected as one of the best Web sites in the =
humanities by EDSITEment, a consortium consisting of the National =
Endowment for the Humanities, the Council of the Great City Schools, MCI =
WorldCom, and the National Trust for the Humanities.

Please visit our web site, CongressLink (http://www.congresslink.org/), =
and let us know what you think! We would enjoy hearing your comments and =
suggestions or answer any questions!

Cindy Koeppel
Program Assistant
THE DIRKSEN CONGRESSIONAL CENTER
301 South Fourth St., Suite A
Pekin, IL 61554
Phone: 309/347-7113
Fax: 309/347-6432
Email: ckoeppel@pekin.net=20

------=_NextPart_000_0046_01BFAFBF.715874A0
Content-Type: text/html;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable








Now you can connect Congress, the classroom, =
and the=20
Internet with CongressLink! Download free lesson plans and student =
activities=20
about lawmaking, checks and balances, and more! Talk to experts and =
other=20
educators online! Share ideas on the message boards! Trace the Civil =
Rights Act=20
of 1964 or view an online version of the Constitution! Locate e-mail =
addresses=20
or web sites for congressional leaders! Link to over 75 Congress-related =

sites!

CongressLink=20
(http://www.congresslink.org/) is a "classroom" friendly service for =
teachers=20
and students of history, politics, civics, and related subjects in upper =

elementary schools through college who want to pursue the study of =
Congress as a=20
springboard for learning activities related broadly to civic education. =
The=20
program seeks to facilitate student-centered and inquiry-based learning =
through=20
the use of a Web site and involvement in an online learning=20
community.

Drawing on the events of the day, CongressLink =
provides=20
authentic decision-making and problem-solving activities guided by =
experts on=20
Congress, including selected Members of Congress and their staffs. =
Features=20
include sample lesson plans, suggested student activities, access to =
original=20
historical documentation from The Center's collections, an annotated =
list of=20
more than 75 Web sites on related topics, access to subject matter =
experts=20
online, and collaborative communications.

CongressLink has been =
selected=20
as one of the best Web sites in the humanities by EDSITEment, a =
consortium=20
consisting of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Council of =
the=20
Great City Schools, MCI WorldCom, and the National Trust for the=20
Humanities.

Please visit our web site, CongressLink=20
(http://www.congresslink.org/), and let us know what you think! We would =
enjoy=20
hearing your comments and suggestions or answer any =
questions!

Cindy=20
Koeppel
Program Assistant
THE DIRKSEN CONGRESSIONAL CENTER
301 =
South=20
Fourth St., Suite A
Pekin, IL 61554
Phone: 309/347-7113
Fax:=20
309/347-6432
Email: ckoeppel@pekin.net 

------=_NextPart_000_0046_01BFAFBF.715874A0--
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 27 Apr 2000 08:07:03 -0500
Reply-To:     jmarshal@mail.hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us
Sender:       Forum on the Constitution 
From:         James Graham Marshall 
Subject:      Re: CongressLink - Connecting Congress, the Classroom,
              and the Internet
In-Reply-To:  <004901bfafe9$5b105120$303a4b0c@xxxx>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

Thank you,

JGM
----------------------
James Graham Marshall
jmarshal@mail.hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us