Q.
Do I have to be a technology wizard to participate in Monster Exchange?
A. Not at all! Monster Exchange is a "computer friendly/user friendly"
project that allows teachers with little computer knowledge to be successful in
uploading monster descriptions and drawings.
Q.
How do I partner with another class?
A. From the Gallery Maker
page you will select the criteria that determines how you want to be matched with
another class. Monster Exchange will then give you a list of registered classes
that meet your criteria, and you will have the option to select one and send that
class an automatic e-mail inviting them to partner with you.
Q.
How will I know if the class I've asked to partner has accepted or declined?
A. You will receive an e-mail when the other person accepts or declines.
Q.
What do I do if I don't get a return e-mail from a class agreeing to exchange
drawings and descriptions?
A. You will need to repeat Step 2 ("Choose
a Partner") to locate additional matches; once you have received a list of
additional possible matches you will send another e-mail to a different possible
match. The "E-mail Wizard" makes it easy to send the possible partner(s)
an e-mail. If you can't find a partner match, you have other options; for example,
you might ask another class in your school building to redraw your monsters, or
contact the Project Administrator for assistance.
Q.
Can I have multiple classes or groups participate in Monster Exchange?
A. You can create as many groups or class names as needed; the Gallery Maker
page allows you to monitor multiple classes using one username. This will assist
you with eliminating some confusion when you have multiple classes or groups.
Q.
Who is the Project Administrator?
A. Susy Calvert administers Monster
Exchange. In addition to her work with the Monster Exchange, Susy is a teacher/coordinator
of Gifted Education for Raleigh County Schools in West Virginia. Click here
to learn more about Susy.
Q.
How do I contact the Project Administrator?
A. You may e-mail Susy
at scalvert@access.k12.wv.us.
Q.
How do I receive responses from the Monster Exchange Project Administrator
and my matched partner?
A. When filling out the registration form,
you provided an e-mail address. This e-mail address is where the Project Administrator
will send all information.
Q.
Who do I contact if I am having difficulty such as uploading my pictures and
descriptions, can't locate a partner, or need assistance?
A. Contact
Susy Calvert, the Project Administrator.
Q.
What if I can't finish my Monster Exchange project by the deadline?
A. You can correspond with your partner and vary the project timeframe. Keep
in mind that you may also upload your pictures and descriptions at any time. We
encourage you to stay in frequent e-mail contact with your partner throughout
the project to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.
Q.
What if I can't remember my username?
A. On the "Log In"
page you will need to click "Forgot
My Username." Type in your e-mail address, click "Continue"
and your username will be e-mailed to you.
Q.
What is the policy for corresponding between classes or among students?
A.
You will need to check your Acceptable User Policy at your school to verify any
issues for personal correspondence for your students. Check with your Technology
Coordinator to verify the policy at your school if you are unsure.
Q.
How can I set up a chat time to talk with my partner class?
A.
The Community
Corner Chat is available at all times. It would be best to contact your partner
through e-mail to arrange a time. You will need to register with a new username
and password to enter the chat area. Once you have created a username and password
for the Community Corner, you will not need to register again.
Q.
Does Monster Exchange offer other ways to communicate with my partner class
besides e-mail and chat rooms?
A.
You bet! The Community Corner
Discussion Board allows teachers to post discussion questions and communicate
on a variety of topics.
| How
to Create Monster Drawings | |
Q.
What software drawing products can my students use to create their monster
pictures?
A. There is a variety of software products for students to
use for either Mac or Windows. Hyperstudio, KidPix, and Macromedia Fireworks and
Flash are just a few.
Q.
How do I publish my drawings and descriptions?
A. The Gallery Maker
allows users to publish their images and descriptions. From the Gallery Maker
Administration page, you will be able to add and/or edit and then upload your
class's monsters into the Gallery.
Q.
What file format should I use to save my pictures?
A. The graphic
file formats which are best for saving pictures for the Internet are GIF's (Graphic
Interchange Format) and JPEG's (Joint Photographic Experts Group). GIF's and JPEG's
are Web graphics standards; Web browsers are able to translate them so you can
view them.
To
learn more about graphics for the Web, go to the Training
Cafe Web site and register for the free Internet Technology Series. The Training
Cafe's Internet Technology series module "Multimedia and the Web" will
assist you with a more in-depth lesson on this topic.
Q.
What is the best size to save my pictures?
A. It is best to save
your pictures at 200 pixels by 200 pixels, which is equivalent to 2.78 inches
or 7.06 centimeters. Image editors like Fireworks or Paint Shop Pro allow a user
to modify the image size.
Q. Do you have any suggestions about what works best when drawing my monster?
A. We've found that using markers in softer, brighter colors works well;
the monsters show up the clearest when they're drawn with markers.
Q.
Is there anything that we should NOT draw?
A. Yes. Monster Exchange
will not publish monsters that depict blood, gore or weapons.
Q.
What should I name my pictures when I'm ready to save them?
A.
It is important once you are ready to save your pictures to give them a filename
that is easy to remember. Try to pick a name that is descriptive of the monster;
this will eliminates potential conflicts such as duplicate names.
Q.
Can I edit my descriptions or pictures?
A. The Gallery Maker allows
you to edit text or images. In addition, if you mistakenly upload the wrong image
for the description, you can easily upload the new image to replace the incorrect
picture.
Q.
Where can I learn more about understanding technology?
A. Training
Cafe, co-developed by Winstar and Macromedia, provides educators with technical
skills they can integrate into both their professional and personal lives. Training
Cafe's interactive courses use multimedia instruction, interactive practice, and
assessment to help teachers learn a range of Web skills. Teachers can choose the
lessons they need, from basic instruction on how to use a Web browser to more
advanced lessons on how to use multimedia design tools to build Web sites. Training
Cafe supports the new International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) National
Education Technology Standards for Teachers, and is offered free of charge to
educators.
Q. How
does the Monster Exchange meet national educational standards?
A.
Monster Exchange
is designed to allow educators to utilize projects that meet the national eduational
standards. Our project focuses on the Language
Arts Standards by MCREL and the ISTE (International Society for Technology
in Education) Technology Standards for students
and teachers.
| Featured
Classroom and Monster Criteria | |
Q.
What is the criteria for selecting a featured monster or featured classroom?
A. Entries will be
judged on how well they address the following criteria.
Monster
image:
•
The drawing is colorful
•
The image size is correct (200 pixels by 200 pixels)
•
Images and drawing details are clear
•
Images are cropped properly to eliminate stray markings
Description of Monster:
•
Description demonstrates competence with general writing skills
•
Description demonstrates competence in strategies of the writing process
•
Description excludes weapons, blood or gore
Copyright © MonsterExchange.org All rights reserved.
