Nettrekker is the Memphis City Schools search engine that appears on the Curriculum and Professional Development web page.  This NetTrekker icon will launch the application. 

The course outline for NetTrekker d.i. (the d.i. stands for differentiated instruction) consists of four sections.

• Search
• Differentiate
• Organize
• Integrate

Each section will contain links to either MediaSite PD videos or NetTrekker pages.

1. Search> 

NetTrekker d.i.'s search engine is customizable by subject, readability level, grade, media type, state standard, source and language.  Use the tabs below the search result to target the results to meet the needs of your students.

VideoPD 1 for NetTrekker Part 1

One of the most interesting parts of NetTrekker is found in the Features box.  The features box is located on the right. There are several very useful tools in the features box.  Among them is the Famous Person search.  This search allow the user to create a list of individuals from the past that meet specific criteria.  If you want a list of the scientists and mathematicians from the 19th century who are either African American, American or Hispanic, the Famous Person search will deliver that list.

VideoPD 2 on the Famous Person search.

Video PD 3  Timeline

Video PD 4 Teacher Tools. 

Just a reminder, within our district Google Images are blocked. Searching NetTrekker Images will not be blocked.  Teacher Tools contains very useful sections including Teacher resources which has a sub section on instructional games and puzzles.

Searches can be conducted by State Standard.  Select Standards tab in the upper right hand corner, then Tennessee, drill down to the subject and grade level standard. Select the last item and web pages will appear that address that standard.

2. Differentiate>

NetTrekker delivers appropriate content for students with it's ability to sort web pages by readability level.  Teachers should be able to accurately estimate the reading levels of their students.  Select the readability tab and check the boxes to deliver appropriate web pages.  If you need assistance determining the levels select any icon at the bottom of the web page and the NetTrekker Legend will open.  The readability levels are in the upper right hand corner. 

There is an elongated icon on the top right that says.... Open Read Aloud. Once opened, students can highlight any text on the Nettrekker page and the computer will read that text.  The teacher can adjust the rate of reading and the speaker voice. 

NetTrekker contains a Dictionary/Translation hot key.  Highlight the word and select the Dictionary hot key within each web page.

NetTrekker also directs ELL/ESL students to content in multiple languages. After your search results are compiled, select the Languages tab and select the desired language.

3. Organize>

NetTrekker contains the ability to organize content in the My Portfolio section.  My Portfolio is located in the My Tools sidbar on the right hand side of the NetTrekker page. The only way to save web pages in My Portfolio is to login to NetTrekker.  To register for NetTrekker select Register in the upper right hand corner of the opening page.  Creating an account is simple but must be done at school on an MCS computer. Then MCS is linked to your name and therefor you may use it onsite or offsite. No codes are needed.  You will create your own username and password.

4. Integrate>

NetTrekker lends itself to technology integration very well.  There are many games and puzzles that work extremely well with SMART Boards or Promethean, eBeam or Mimio whiteboards. 

The Famous Person search and the timeline features add biographical dimension to student reports.  Think about the usual student biographical reports.  The person was born, went to school, was married, did something, then died. These five facts have dominated reports for years.  The timeline features allows the teacher to direct the student toward events that were running parallel to that person's life, and had an affect on that person. Life was happening all around the subject, the world events, arts, science, and contempories.  All these affected the person's life.  Ask students to include sections in reports that reflects these areas. 

NetTrekker references contain just about every reference material found in the school library, plus access to much more.  The online resources such as World Fact Book and National Geographic Maps & Geography are updated as data changes.

Project-based Learning is an effective method for integrating technology into instruction.  NetTrekker has many teacher resources that will help a teacher learn about technology integration using PBL.  Among them are web sites from Microsoft and Project Based Learning a web page founded by the Buck Institute for Education at Boise State University.