by Karen Ellis
March, 2000
USA Today recently described the Philadelphia-based Educational CyberPlayGround, as a Web portal that "provides teachers, parents, librarians, home schoolers and regular folks a webliography of links to educational resources in a wide range of subjects. With a cool choice of site maps to browse from."
"The primary purpose of the Educational CyberPlayGround is to assist educators and anyone else with little cyberspace experience in using the Internet and other on-line resources," said Karen Ellis, who created the education portal.
Available on the portal are step-by-step guidelines for using the Internet and using the World Wide Web and other on-line resources.
"We can offer a service that Internet travelers cannot get off-line -- better deals, greater convenience, greater ease of use, and personal guidance from Ring Leaders, all experts in their fields," Ellis said.
These areas of expertise include curriculum, technology in education, the arts and art education, linguistics, ethnomusicology, media and journalism, higher education, sports and recreation and social studies.
Among the ringleaders for the Educational CyberPlayground is Sue Snyder, developer of Inventive Designs for Education and the Arts.
"We support each other's vision and work," Ellis said.
Ellis noted that she and Snyder share an interest in Orff Shulwerk music education, literacy, technology in education and multicultural education.
The Educational CyberPlayground, for example, is providing "Black History Month All Year Long" resources that include materials about the Underground Railroad, Martin Luther King, Jr., slavery, pioneers, folk tales, Armistad and African-American contributions to literature, music, art and film.
"Teachers should find enough materials to allow them to include Black History Month as part of their classes all year," Ellis said.
Ellis said "Black History Month All Year Long" is only one curricular resource that is available on the Educational CyberPlayGround, which already has received attention from national news organizations.
USA Today in January selected Educational CyberPlayGround as one of its "Best Bets for Educators." The Educational CyberPlayGround last year also was a USA Today "Hot Site," in both its on-line and print editions, and MSNBC News on-line last year named the portal as a "Web Pick."
"We know that the Internet sometimes can be overwhelming," Ellis said, "and we want to help those with limited Web experience, particularly those involved with education, to master Web tools and skills."