New Web site of K-12 resources launched

Information on summer sports camps and music clinics, lesson plans on everything from reading to genetics, parenting newsletters, a virtual museum of minerals – these are but a few of more than 250 campus resources for educators, parents, and students accessible on a new Web site.

The site can be viewed at http://www.education.wisc.edu/resources/PK12.

The School of Education, in cooperation with the Chancellor's Office, has developed the site in the spirit of the Wisconsin Idea of sharing university resources with people in Wisconsin and beyond. "We are always looking for new ways to serve the PreK-12 community," says Julie Underwood, dean of the School of Education, "and this Web site allows us to reach out to educators and parents well beyond campus."

"This project shows the university's strong commitment to education outreach and represents the Wisconsin Idea at its best," says Chancellor John D. Wiley, adding that nearly every UW school and college shared resources for the Web site.

Aiming to give users easy access to a wide array of opportunities at UW–Madison, the site contains information on a variety of campus events, such as Arts Night Out, CALS Day for Kids, Engineering Expo, and the Games, Learning and Society Conference.

In addition, many of the resources are entirely Web-based, making them available to users anywhere at anytime. Examples include Consumer Health Education; the UW Digital Collections Center; Family Village – an online directory of disability-related resources; the Why Files – a site that explores the science behind the news; and the Wisconsin Electronic Reader – a collection of primary source material from Wisconsin's earliest settlers.

The Web site also contains information on continuing education opportunities for school professionals and others. Users may search the site by title, keyword, subject and grade level.

"The School of Education has a long tradition of working with educators throughout the state to improve public education," says Underwood, "and the Internet is providing exciting new ways to do that. We urge people to use this Web site as their everyday guide to the wealth of programs, educational materials, and professional development opportunities available through the University of Wisconsin–Madison."

Development of the Web site was made possible by gifts from the School of Education's alumni and friends.