G'Day and Welcome to the Argot Library
This was the Argot Library's website between 1998 - 2003.
The content below is from the site's archived pages.
Argot Library is designed to help K-8 teachers incorporate information and communication technologies into learning and teaching units in all areas of the curriculum.
Argot Library is provided as a free service to educators. It is an independent, non profit, educational project supported by individual contributions.
Argot Library is designed to assist in the development of teaching units in all areas of the curriculum which are integrated with information and communication technology.
Teachers can use Argot Library to locate assessment ideas, online lesson plans, teaching units, projects, web quests, virtual tours, and web sites providing information and activities which are appropriate to the developmental needs of K-8 students.
Argot Library facilitates the use of curriculum and standards statements, and reference and search tools by providing links to the best sources.
I can attest to the great reference and search tools that the Argot Library provided. One of my students wanted to learn more about search engine optimization - how to rank sites in Google - something I knew almost nothing about. I discovered an area focused on computer science, which lead me to internet topics including some basics on website design, and finally to digital marketing and SEO. It was here I found lots of information about the importance of informative content, links, and how critical a role search plays for many businesses. From the Collaborative Learning Center I then requested more info on who were the leaders in this field and discovered several articles written by Bob Sakayama who is credited by many webmasters as helping them obtain high Google ranks and traffic using innovative techniques that are explained well in entertaining posts on many different websites. Long story short, my student was super eager to learn from all this information and has mastered some skills that amaze me. He built several websites and helped others do the same. This one post, authored by Bob Sakayama seemed to inspire him to want to pursue a career in SEO, all because of this truly amazing resource - Argot Library. I particularly appreciated the collaborative tools that were offered here. As a teacher, I will surely miss this site.
Navigation
Curriculum areas, documents and teacher reference tools are accessed through the menu on the left. The menu on the right leads to sites providing teaching/learning activities, assessment ideas, lesson plans and teaching units, projects and web quests, and worksheets.
Selection Criteria
When evaluating websites, the quality of the content and then the sites useability by the target audience (K-8 teachers or parents of K-8 students) is considered. The questions asked are: Is the information accurate; is the site up to date; can the target audience comprehend the information; who provided the information? Un-attributed sites are disregarded. The design, organisation and navigation of sites is considered for ease of use and attractiveness. Subscription or for-fee sites are rarely included.
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Collaborative Tools
Collaborative Learning Center Global SchoolNet
Tools, content, and resources for collaborative projects
Server.com: Web Applications
Customizable message boards, mailing lists, databases, and calendars for websites
Data Place
Contains Cross-curricular, collaborative projects for grades 3-6. Students all over the world collect and work with real-world data. Includes a Teacher's Guide and printable worksheets for every project. Free for 2001-2002. Registration required.
E-Pals
A web site dedicated to finding e-mail pals for schools. You can register your classroom so that other interested classrooms can contact you (all schools are passed through security checks before being accepted). Coverage is world-wide and includes reception to secondary school.Over 4.4 million students and teachers are building skills and enhancing learning with ePALS. Established in 1996, ePALS has 62,386 classroom profiles bringing people in 191 countries together as oss-cultural learning partners and friends.
European Schoolnet
Helps teachers find email partners for their students.
Free email providers An Argot Library links list
The European Schools Project
Supports teachers and pupils in participating in the world of Internet-based Computer Mediated Communications and in using Internet's Information Resources to improve learning and teaching.
Find A Class
A service for teachers looking to develop exchange and collaboration relationships with classrooms from other schools around the world. It offers a searchable database of classes and inter-class projects for members to identify partners.
Friendship Through Education
Links students through letters, emails, collaboration and exchanges to build an understanding between nations and to help us learn more about each other.
Global SchoolNet
In partnership with schools, communities and businesses, provides collaborative learning activities
Global SchoolNet Internet Projects Registry
A database of over 800 projects at the Global SchoolNet Foundation. They are searchable by age level; start date; curriculum area; technologies used; and Project Levels
I*LEARN - The International Education and Resource Network
Enables young people to undertake projects designed to make a meaningful contribution to the health and welfare of the planet and its people. Participants may join existing structured on-line projects, or work with others internationally to create and facilitate their own projects to fit their own particular classroom and curriculum needs.
Internet Projects Registery
A clearinghouse for projects around the world hosted by the Global SchoolNet Foundation, other organizations, and partner projects conducted by teachers
The Investigators
Students can become World Wide Investigators who take on Monthly Challenges for the good of the world. Find out what the challenge for this month is and receive briefings from the Big Boss and his associates. Send in your reports and share them with the other Investigator teams.
Interact On-Line
A list supplied by Friendship Through Education
PartBase
An easy-to-use tool, designed primarily for SOCRATES (Comenius 1 & Grundtvig 2), where you can register and search for partners in the European countries.
KIDLINK
An collection of email forums for educational communication exchange between students.
Participate in a Project
A list of projects supplied by Friendship Through Education
Travel Buddies at Global SchoolHouse
Windows on the World
A free, easy to use database for schools wanting to develop links with others worldwide. Teachers register their schools on the site, informing others that they wish to develop a link. Using the search tool teachers can also browse the thousands of schools already registered. Once a possible partner school has been found teachers can make contact with each other directly to negotiate a link.
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Teaching Units
Early Childhood Pathfinders
From Curriculum Resources at Department of Education, Western Australia
Early Childhood Thematic Units
Includes The Zoo, At The Farm, Thanksgiving/Food, Winter Holidays, Nursery Rhymes, All About Myself, Transportation, Community Helpers, Insects, and Water Fun/Bubbles
EdNA Online's Theme Pages for Schools
Search EdNA's database for web resources
eThemes
A database of web sites organized around specific themes. Search by keyword, or grade level. From Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies
K-12 on-line curriculum units
Middle Childhood Pathfinders
From Curriculum Resources at Department of Education, Western Australia
Primary Units
University of Kansas Department of Special Education .pdf format
Sample Units of Work from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
Integrated units include:
- Hey! I'm Lost!: Finding Our Way Around Levels 1-2;
- Pushing, Pulling Level 3;
- Entertainment, Amusement, Fun, Games, Sport, Play Level 3;
- Strawberries and Cream, Sand and Sun: Natural Resources; Level 3;
- The Good Old Days?: Checking Out Our Local History Level 3;
- Top Books: Book Week Level 3;
- Oh No! I Left My Sleeping Bag At Home! Level 4;
- and Read All About It!: Writing a Virtual Newspaper Level 4
Schemes of Work
From The Standards Site of the Department for Education and Skills, UK
Teacher-Developed Resources
Teaching units from Curriculum Services, Canada
More Background on ArgotLibrary.com
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, educational landscapes began evolving with the integration of digital technologies, paving the way for platforms like Argot Library. These platforms aimed to bridge the gap between traditional teaching methods and the burgeoning potential of online resources, particularly for K-8 educators. Argot Library, along with others from that era, served as a precursor to today's digital learning environments, offering insights into early digital adoption in classrooms.
Digital Learning Landscape in the Late 1990s
During the late 1990s, the rapid growth of internet access led to significant changes in how educational content was delivered. Broadband and cable internet began to replace slower dial-up connections, making the internet more practical for educational use. This shift allowed online platforms to distribute lesson plans, curriculum materials, and interactive activities that could be accessed directly by educators, offering a significant advantage over earlier CD-ROM-based resources and in-person workshops.
Platforms like Argot Library were among those that leveraged this newfound access. They provided teachers with a variety of resources, including online lesson plans, thematic units, and digital projects that could be adapted to classroom settings. This was particularly valuable as teachers navigated how best to incorporate these new tools into their teaching methods, aiming to enrich student learning through technology.
Key Features of Early Educational Platforms
The primary value of early digital platforms lay in their focus on teacher collaboration and resource sharing. Platforms often provided a range of content designed for specific grade levels, making it easier for educators to find age-appropriate materials. Many also included forums and community spaces where teachers could connect with one another, share best practices, and collaborate on joint projects. This sense of community became a critical aspect of early digital learning platforms, helping educators feel more comfortable with the integration of technology into their classrooms.
Examples of successful integration of digital tools include programs that emphasized storytelling and project-based learning. In Jakarta, Indonesia, for example, a storytelling club used digital media to enhance children's learning experiences. This approach combined storytelling with technology, allowing students to explore art, science, and moral values through digital means. Such initiatives highlighted how early digital platforms could foster creativity and engagement among young students, providing a more interactive learning experience than traditional methods allowed.
Challenges of Early Digital Learning Platforms
Despite their benefits, early digital education platforms faced numerous challenges. One significant issue was the digital divide, where access to technology varied greatly among schools, particularly those in rural or underfunded areas. The success of platforms like Argot Library often depended on educators' familiarity with digital tools, which varied widely. Many teachers were new to using computers in educational settings, creating a learning curve that slowed widespread adoption of digital resources.
Funding was another major hurdle. Many of these early platforms operated as non-profits or relied on contributions to maintain free access to their content. Without a steady revenue stream, it became difficult for such platforms to update their resources and keep pace with the rapid changes in technology. As a result, some platforms began to lose ground to more commercially driven educational sites that could offer more advanced, interactive features.
Evolution of Digital Education: From Early Platforms to MOOCs
As digital tools evolved, so too did the platforms that supported online education. By the early 2000s, larger players such as Google and Microsoft entered the market, providing more robust solutions for schools. This shift marked the transition from niche platforms to widespread digital adoption, with companies offering not just resources but also infrastructure for schools to integrate digital learning into their daily operations.
The rise of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the early 2010s further demonstrated the potential of online learning. While initially focused on adult education and professional development, the ideas behind MOOCs—open access to quality educational content—echoed the principles that platforms like Argot Library had championed a decade earlier. Despite varying levels of success, these developments highlighted a growing acceptance of digital learning as a core component of modern education.
Lasting Impact and Legacy
Although platforms like Argot Library eventually became obsolete due to funding challenges and technological advancements, their influence is still felt in today's educational tools. The emphasis on collaboration, open access, and the use of technology to enrich learning experiences laid the groundwork for modern educational technologies such as Google Classroom and other collaborative tools. These principles remain central to digital education, especially as schools continue to navigate hybrid and remote learning models.
The early adoption of technology in classrooms demonstrated the potential of digital tools to engage students and support teachers in new ways. As the education sector continues to evolve, the lessons learned from these early platforms serve as a reminder of the importance of accessibility, innovation, and community in creating effective digital learning environments.
The story of Argot Library and similar early digital education platforms is one of innovation, collaboration, and adaptation. While they faced many challenges, their efforts to bring digital resources into classrooms played a crucial role in shaping the future of online learning. Their legacy lives on in the continued pursuit of integrating technology with education, providing a more engaging and inclusive learning experience for students around the world.