European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday february 18,1991 the stars a cd stripes Page 9education v by Jimi Jones education writer when 12-year-okl Jennifer Pointer and her classmates began tinkering with the idea of adding a Little life to the abcs they never thought a it would bring them International recognition a but the class project an instructional video called a the animated alphabet a did just that winning first place in the International student Media festival a Competition sponsored by the association for educational communications and technology and encyclopedia Britannica a educational corp. A we knew we had done a Good Job a said Jennifer an eighth grader at Baum Holder High school a but we had no idea it would go on and win an award like that. I was really  the annual event held in Florida Drew entries from All. 50 states and students from other  we had to do an assignment and somebody suggested animation Quot Jennifer said. A we wanted to teach something. We liked the idea of teaching the alphabet so we put the two  a the first half of the video explains the process of animation and details How the students created the video. The second part features animated paper string Clay Chalk and computer letters. Each student took three or four letters of the alphabet. Thirteen year old Matt Broaddus chose Clay to make his letters because a to not a very Good artist so i figured working with my hands would be the easiest  he said he formed the Clay into things portrayed by the letters he was assigned. For example he created an ice Cream sundae for the letter i. A a i wanted them to be easy so that Little kids could understand them a lie said. The festival included entries , computer programming slides and super 8mm film with each area broken Down info five age categories. Additionally the videos were divided into such categories As news documentary music exp Riniete Tal animation instructional and drama comedy. A. A a. A a the animated alphabet a took first place in the  category for grades seven to nine. At the time of the project the student producers were members of a Junior a High talented and gifted class taught by Rhonda Spruiell. Five seventh graders and one eighth grader spent one school Quarter working on the project during the 1989-90 school year. Spruiell entered the video in the contest last fall. Matt said lie Felt Good  the award but added that it did no to seem a quite As big because the announced Iii classroom close ups amps Peggy Davidson seventh grader Melissa Madsen receives change after making a Purchase at Kaiserslautern High school s recent Book fair. The fair a a first for the department of defense dependents schools in Germany a was open to students from both Junior and senior High schools. Profits Are earmarked for the Community a special olympics program. N workshop on former East bloc will be valuable teachers say by Jimi Jones education writer bad Kissinger Germany a the velvet revolution is proving to have a hard Edge for american teachers trying to keep Pace with the dramatic social and political changes of Eastern Europe hoping to better teach those new Reali. Ties some 200 department of defense dependents schools teachers gathered in the German spa town of bad Kissinger last week for a five Day workshop on the former East bloc. Included were acct hirers on the history politics economics and geography of the Region plus tips from educational experts on How to Best incorporate the information into the curriculum. Additionally several Eastern Huro peons shared personal experiences of living under communism and their involvement in the protest movement. A Carl Dwight a teacher from Avant Italy said the workshop provided a a tremendous update of information on past and present conditions in Eastern Europe and Russia As Well As innovative methods of introducing this information to my students. It has been one of the most valuable educational experiences that i have had in the past 20  Jim Heffernan from Patch High school in Stuttgart Germany said he plans to immediately begin using information from the workshop a was a teacher of Riis Sian and soviet history there was a Nice array of new information that i will be Able to incorporate into my classroom a he said. A athe opening session featured an address by Millicent Woods the Deputy assistant Secretary of defense for personnel support families education and safety w to told the group the workshop was one of several efforts to make Dodds Stu fits top runners in american education. John Stremple the director of military overseas schools urged the teachers to hold on to their enthusiasm and focus on getting the information to their students. Following several Large group sessions the teachers formed smaller groups for More in depth looks at the workshops four major areas of study j u a n i t a e i vers a not her a to h the ache r r said she was especially a interested in instruction from Roger Johnson and David Johnson a team from the University of Minnesota that teaches a learning strategy called cooperative learning. The Johnson team advocates the use of Small groups so that students work together to maximize their own and each others learning potential. Dodds Germany officials said the workshop is one in a series planned for the Region. Others  International student leadership Institute set for March 3-9, and a pair of two week summer workshops on the soviet Union and the former members of the Warsaw pact. Came so Long after the group completed the project. In addition one member of the team eighth grader James Bigler already had moved to san Antonio. Still at Baum older and now eighth graders arc Matt Jennifer Jenny , and Beth Ineichen. Tyr Ger Welch is now a ninth grader. The students along with parents teachers and school Media specialists were invited to attend the Media festival in Orlando fla., but the school was unable to finance the trip. Matt said he. Was  disappointed that the group did no to get to go. I in kind of a warm weather person and i was really looking Forward to going to Florida a he said. Spruiell. However did her Best to ease the pain she took the team on a Valentine s Day Field trip. That went a Long Way a to make up Lor the loss Matt said 1991 grads face tougher Job Market  map a most of this years College graduates will have a slightly harder time Laid my a Job than their noun trip aids of 1990, aces hug to an annual Survey of the nations businesses. Engineers however will be in demand. And people with masters degrees will be hired at a 25 percent higher rate this year according to the 45th annual  report. A it. I lie report found that businesses plan to Hue i percent fewer graduates Overall because of concerns Over the recession inflation the Federal budget do licit and the persian Gull crisis. A Hie Market is going to be More competitive. I lie students Are going to have to Woik harder and be More creative and  there. They re just going to be More difficult to uncover a said Victor r. Lindquist director of placement at. Northwestern University. Accountants teachers and health care professionals will be in great demand in a Lew years Lindquist said. The highest average Starling salary a $43,200 a will go to Job applicants with mba degrees the report said. Smalltalk my Larissa loth a teacher at Giessen Middle school sent m the Tol lowing which suggests that Stu role  follow fug events in  Gull. During a lecture session in a social studies class students were risked to explain what the words Patriot patriotism and patriotic meant. A Mark Lamherson an eight i grader who. Like so , has a Parent in the Gull immedi Atchly blurted out a Amis ale missile ism and  Quot now that a staying on top of current events. If you have a slice of classroom life to share Send h to Small talk the stars and stripes attn Jim Jones Apo 09211