WELCOME TO UNIVERSAL AMERICAN SCHOOL - The Universal American School is a private, college-preparatory, N-12 school serving a multinational student body from the diverse populations residing in Kuwait.

Library

  • Teaching and learning - Information literacy instruction (tools, tutorials, guides helping both teachers and students to be more efficient learners: handouts, lessons, tutorials, print, video, PowerPoints, PDFs, etc.)
  • Information fluency instruction (including information literacy models)
  • The 21st Century Information Fluency Project (21CIF) began in 2001.  The aim was to develop online information literacy training programs. The objective was to provide educators and students with the tools necessary to improve their ability to locate, evaluate, and use digital information more effectively, efficiently and ethically.
  • This site contains library instruction lesson plans, articles about library instruction, a large library instruction bibliography, and links to library instruction resources. This site also includes material relating to information literacy.
  • Searching (selecting best search tools, query development, etc.)
  • Evaluation
              • Tools for evaluating documents in any formats: blogs, wikis, Web documents, articles, etc.
                  • http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webeval.html - A website published by Cornell University Library to provide students with criteria for evaluating websites and other Internet based sources of information
                  • http://library.albany.edu/usered/eval/evalweb/ - This guide offers tips for evaluating the quality of content on the Web. In recent years, the Web has become a rich environment of Web pages, blogs, wikis, social networking sites, free research services, media types and more. It can be a challenge to figure out which content to trust. This page will help you to identify the type of site you are visiting and to evaluate its content
                  • http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html - this tutorial offered by the University of California, Berkeley, will train students to employ a series of techniques better understand and evaluate the web.  It will also train the student to think critically by asking a series of questions that will him/her decide how much a web page is to be trusted
                  • http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic32.htm - This website will help users to evaluate and judge the quality of Internet resources and websites to ensure their reliability and trustworthiness
              • Note taking tools
              • Links to writing laboratories
                  • http://owl.english.purdue.edu - The University of Purdue OWL offers over 200 free resources including writing and teaching writing, research tools, grammar, style guides, ESL (English as a Second Language)
                  • http://writing.colostate.edu/ - Welcome to the Colorado State University's online learning environment, the Writing Studio. Use this site to learn to write, save work in a free password-protected account, participate in writing classes and create portfolios. The site also has more than 150 guides and interactive activities for writers, as well as an extensive links list.
                  • http://www.languagelab.com/en/ - The LanguageLab Website is a practical and useful tool for students to improve their English speaking skills.  Students can visit English City, where they can talk to real native English speakers in real situations.  In addition they can attend practice sessions, join students from 50+ countries and participate in any of the online teaching programs
              • Plagiarism prevention tools
                  • http://www.plagiarism.org - Plagiarism.org was founded in 1996. With increased interest, Plagarism.org became one of the Internet's predominant anti-plagiarism resources for educators and students alike.
                  • http://turnitin.com - The iParadigms team is a group of dedicated professionals that includes award-winning teachers, graphic designers, computer scientists, and business professionals working together to stop the spread of internet plagiarism and promote new technologies in education
              • Citation generators (citation machine.com; bibme.com; easybib.com, etc.)
                  • www.citationmachine.net  is an interactive tool to help create reference citations for research papers. Includes various print and electronic resources.
  • http://citationcenter.net - The Citation Generator (or Citation Tool) is a powerful engine designed to create style-specific citations based on information that you give to it. After making a citation, you then have the opportunity to add it to your Citation Page, which can then be downloaded to your computer for printing
  • http://www.bibme.org/ - Bibme is a fully automatic bibliography maker that auto-fills all the information a student needs to write a citation. It is the easiest way to build a reference page for a research paper.
              • Instruction relating to copyright, fair use, etc.
                  • http://www.copyright.gov/ - The mission of the Copyright Office website is to provide authors, artists and other creators of arts, literature and knowledge the opportunity to register their works online.  The Copyright Office is part of a long tradition of promoting progress of the arts and protection for the works of authors.
                  • http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law - The UK copyright law fact sheet outlines the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the principal legislation covering intellectual property rights in the United Kingdom and the work to which it applies.
                  • http://www.ipo.gov.uk/copy.htm - The Intellectual Property Office is the official government body responsible for granting Intellectual Property (IP) rights in the United Kingdom.
  • Instructions relating to technology (how-tos, etc.)
          • http://www.bsd405.org/default.aspx?tabID=545 – The Instructional Technology Department of the Bellevue School District in Washington has offered Internet users with free tools to help students use different technologies.  The how to tools range from using Office 2007 such as Word and Excel to making a video on MovieMaker, to installing a printer on your computer
          • http://www.wfto.org/ - the World Federation of Technology Organizations is goal is to promote and enhance the recognition and careers of technicians and technologists, support technology education and training and the transfer of credentials, encourage continuing education and professional development, enhance opportunities in science and technology for women, and promote a maintenance culture particularly as it applies to developing countries.
          • http://www.queenslibrary.org/index.aspx?page_nm=Technology - The Queens Library in New York publishes supplementary materials that help students learn more about or practice different aspects of technology. Students can find out more information about search engines , computer basics as well tutorials on Excel, Photoshop, Internet, PowerPoint and other software
          • http://www.educational-software-directory.net/organizations - Educational Software Directory.net is the only search engine and directory devoted exclusively to educational software. Our mission is to connect parents, educators, students, and self-learners with providers of educational software and related information.
  • Study process guides
              • http://www.studyguidezone.com/ - This site is a treasure trove of free resources for students, beginning professionals, and anyone else who wants to improve his or her score on a standardized test.
              • http://www.studygs.net/ - Since 1996 the Study Guides and Strategies web site has been researched, authored, maintained and supported as an international, learner-centric, educational public service.  This website is available in English and Arabic
              • http://www.studytechniques.org/note-taking-in-the-classroom.html - this website is a free resource provided by the Graduate Educational Information Service (GEIS). GEIS develops and maintains educational websites designed to enhance student outcomes and promote academic excellence.
  • Test prep (state tests, SAT prep, etc.)
              • http://www.number2.com/ - Number2.com's online test preparation courses are totally free! By creating an account you can access a customized course that includes user-friendly tutorials, practice sessions that dynamically adapt to each student's ability level, a vocabulary builder, and more...
              • http://www.studygs.net/ - To do well on tests you must first learn the material, and then review it before the test. This website offers techniques and tips to understand your material and to prepare you for tests.
              • www.princetonreview.com/ - Various test prep options available, pick one based on your own learning style: online, classroom, private tutoring.
              • www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/prep_one/prep_one.html - Get ready for the SAT with free SAT practice questions and other test prep resources from College Board.
  • Homework help
    • http://kids.yahoo.com/learn - Yahoo! Kids is Yahoo!'s entertainment and education site for children aged 6 through 12. The mission of Yahoo! Kids is to connect parents and children with the best—and safest—content on the Web. This website is a good place where kids can always find just what they're seeking, whether for school or fun.
    • http://www.homeworkspot.com/ -An excellent source for K-12 homework resources organized by subject and grade-level at HomeworkSpot.com
    • http://discoveryeducation.com/Discovery Education provides engaging digital resources to schools and homes with the goal of making educators more effective, increasing student achievement, and connecting classrooms and families to a world of learning.
    • http://www.infoplease.com/homework/Infoplease is a comprehensive reference source that combines the contents of an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an atlas, and several almanacs loaded with statistics, facts, and historical records. A single search engine allows you to search all these sources at once.
    • http://www.math.com/ - Math.com is dedicated to providing revolutionary ways for students, parents, teachers, and everyone to learn math. Combining educationally sound principles with proprietary technology, Math.com offers a unique experience that quickly guides the user to the solutions they need and the products they want.
  • Instruction for parents
              • How to help with homework
              • http://www.ed.gov/Family/Calendar/index.html - filled with helpful tips and special activities that promote reading and language skills for young children.
              • http://www.ed.gov/pubs/CompactforReading/tablek.html- Listed on this site are 100 School-Home Links activities for the kindergarten level. The activities are organized by reading and literacy skills appropriate to this grade. Under each specific skill, there are varying numbers of activities to help children develop their ability to read and write. For the categories that have multiple activities, you can download the entire section or the individual activities within that section by selecting from a pull-down menu
              • http://npin.org/hc3.asp - the National Parent Information Network website offers educational software and services for middle school, high school, and college students.
              • http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/ - Information and support for parents on how to help with your child's learning, including advice on choosing a school and finding childcare.
              • www.schoolfamily.com/ - Lots of expert insight, information, and resources to help parents set up their 5- to 14-year-old children for success at school.
              • www.rif.org - The tips and tricks listed on this page are suggestions that parents can use to encourage good reading habits in their children.
              • How to select books, etc.:
                • http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/learning/reading_toddler.html - You don't need games, flashcards, or special instruction to help your child gain these skills. You just need books, your child, and you. Reading to your child as often as possible is the best thing you can do to help him or her learn to read independently
                • http://www2.scholastic.com/ -Scholastic Parents is your online source for the latest information and advice on learning and development, family life, and school success
                • http://www.reading.org - The mission of the International Reading Association is to promote reading by continuously advancing the quality of literacy instruction and research worldwide. More than 85,000 members strong, the Association supports literacy professionals through a wide range of resources, advocacy efforts, volunteerism, and professional development activities
                • http://www.educationalgateway.com/reading-tips-for-parents - a website that gives parents tips and strategies to help them encourage their kids to become life long readers.
                • http://www.brighthub.com/education/homework-tips/articles/33726.aspx - Parents want to help their students to become independent readers. With these must have tips, parents can learn how to choose the right independent reading books to assist their children to become better readers.
  • For teachers
                • Professional development, school improvement, professional journals and other professional reading
                  • http://www.ed.gov/teachers/dev/contedu/edpicks.jhtml - The US Department of Education's website contains valuable information to help educators, and policy makers establish standards, goals and objectives to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access
                  • http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/ - PBS TeacherLine's high quality, standards-based graduate-level courses offer teachers the professional development opportunities they need in an accessible online format that makes learning fun, flexible and collaborative. You can earn graduate credit, PDPs, or CEUs while gaining strategies and resources to bring directly to your classroom
                  • http://www.newberry.org/teacherprograms/ - The Newberry Library offers professional development programs for teachers.  The content-based seminars bring distinguished scholars to the Newberry to share their work with participating teachers, and introduce teachers to the research possibilities in the Newberry's collections. Their programs are fully accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education
                  • http://www.learner.org/ - a website that offers teacher resources and teacher professional development programming across the curriculum
                • Links to learning standards
                  • http://www.readwritethink.org/about.html - ReadWriteThink, established in April of 2002, is a partnership between the International Reading Association (IRA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and the Verizon Foundation.  Its mission is to provide educators and students with access to the highest quality practices and resources in reading and language arts instruction through free, Internet-based content.
                  • http://www.isbe.state.il.us/ils - The Illinois Learning Standards (ILS) define what all students in all Illinois public schools should know and be able to do in the seven core areas as a result of their elementary and secondary schooling.
                  • http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nysatl/standards.html - At the approach of the twenty-first century, the Board of Regents approved a new set of learning standards for New York students. They represent the core of what all people should know, understand and be able to do as a result of their schooling
                  • http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/standards - this website represents a vision of teaching in a world driven by technology. The mission is to provide services designed to support educators' in effectively incorporating technology in teaching and learning. The goal is two-fold: to provide a reservoir of online resources for educators to access at any time and to provide effective tools for designing instruction that are time and energy saving.
                • Copyright and fair use information for faculty
              • http://libraries.mit.edu/about/copyright-faculty.html - Nearly everything that's "published" is owned (copyrighted) by someone, and there are laws and policies that affect putting such material on the Web for your course. This page is meant to give you basic information on the topic, including "Fair Use" options, as well as link you to much more complete information should you need it.
              • http://home.earthlink.net/~cnew/research.htm - Today's teachers face tremendous challenges in expanding learning opportunities for their students while complying with copyright and fair use laws. However, the World Wide Web offers help which offers a wealth of information on the issue. Using Internet resources, teachers can find ways to show their resourcefulness as learning managers and to practice honesty as models for tomorrow's citizens.
              • http://www.sandhills.edu/blackboard/copyright.html - The content in this chart was provided by Techlearning.com to inform teachers of what they may do under U. S. copyright law.