The Next Two Weeks at the WELL - February 10-21, 2003

Wade Edwards Learning Lab, 714 Saint Mary's Street <>

Across the street from Broughton High School (park on street or behind the WELL)

Friday Forum Friday Forums 2002-2003 schedule.htm - Next <Friday Forums 2002-2003 schedule.htm#Next)>

"Friday Forums" are followed by pizza or other refreshments for the students in attendance, and cookies and other sweets provided by Broughton student volunteers!

For more information, contact Alan Hamm at <mailto:AHamm@wade.org> or 856-9355.

A great IB opportunity!

Valeska Wittek - Friday, February 14 - "Adjusting to a New Culture and Home"

Valeska Wittek is a native of Germany who grew up in the western city of Heilbronn. As a young girl she lived in Spain, attending a Spanish school and also taking flamenco dance lessons. An avid horseback rider and animal lover, Valeska volunteered for the local animal shelter.

After graduating, she studied translating at the Englisches Institut in Heidelberg and developed her fluency in three additional languages (English, Spanish, and French). The 2000-2001 academic year brought Valeska to Spain for intensive language study in Santander. While in Spain, she was awarded a Leonardo da Vinci fellowship by the German government to study in London at the European College of Business and Management and work as an IT research consultant for a technology firm called Context. Immediately after her time in the UK, she moved to Raleigh, NC. She is currently working for the Exploris Museum and is enrolled in the Master of Parks Recreation and Tourism Management program at NC State University. In her spare time she volunteers for Artsplosure and teaches private German lessons.

Marshall Brain - Wednesday, February 19! "Howstuffworks"

Best known as the founder of HowStuffWorks, INC. "Marshall Brain constructed the Web site HowStuffWorks, which delivers detailed information concerning inner workings of nearly everything; site hosts more than 500,000 bright, curious visitors monthly" (NY Times, "For One Web Site, Some Explaining to Do" -5/24/01)

A writer, a well-known national speaker and consultant, he lives in Raleigh, N.C. with his wife Leigh and their four children. A published author with more than a dozen books to his name, including The Teenager’s Guide to the Real World, Marshall began How stuff Works, which unravels the mysteries of thousands of intriguing topics. Marshall will bring with him and explain the inner workings of everyday items like toasters, computer mice and car mufflers.

"Site founder Marshall Brain (yes, that's his real name) was obviously one of those 7-year-olds obsessed with understanding how everything in the universe works; now he's one of those adults. In 1998 the electrical engineer and former teacher started posting his breezy, well-organized essays on the mechanics of engines and motors, complete with diagrams. Today HowStuffWorks is an eclectic encyclopedia that covers everything from torque converters to dieting to DNA. The site's search engine trolls the Web as well as its own content; search for hot rods and you will pull up links to sites about vintage cars and bodybuilding, plus Brain's pages on lightning and batteries." (Time Magazine, "50 best web sites")

Dr. Ron Fodor, Professor of Geology and NC State University, February 21

"From Atoms to Autos -- Identifying Minerals and Their Roles in Society"

Mr. Fodor's teaching and research interests are in the area of chemical compositions of igneous rocks and minerals as they apply to understanding the make-up and the geologic processes of the earth's crust and mantle. This program will be a 'hands-on' experience with about fifteen minerals that are commonly used in society -- preceded by an explanation of exactly what minerals represent within the realms of geology and chemistry. Mr. Fodor will spend time lecturing as well as giving students an opportunity to work with samples.

Evening Technology Workshops - no charge for parents, students, teachers, and nonprofit board & staff - A list of classes is available at <workshops.htm>

Thursday, February 13, 2003: Intermediate Internet
Participants in this workshop will learn more advanced search techniques to conduct web-based research; they will also learn to use Internet-based material in other applications, such as Word or PowerPoint, including some principles of properly documenting Internet-based sources. This workshop is especially appropriate for teachers who want to incorporate technology into their course delivery, students who use the Internet as a research tool and others who have a specialized subject to research in depth. Participants are encouraged to come prepared with a research project in mind.

Thursday, February 20, 2002: Using the Internet in the Classroom
Participants are encouraged to come with a project in mind to develop during the workshop.

Thursday, February 27, 2003 Basic PowerPoint
Participants in this workshop will learn to use this graphics presentation software to support oral presentations. The workshop will focus on developing presentations from an outline, so that content is presented clearly and does not get lost in a jungle of sounds and pictures. The workshop will also briefly introduce ways to locate and include supportive graphics. This workshop will be useful for teachers and students who use PowerPoint in their classrooms and for others who give oral presentations professionally. Participants are encouraged to come with a project in mind to develop during the workshop.

Registration: To register by phone, dial 856-9355 and select Option 4. To register by email,

send a brief message to <mailto:Workshops@Wade.org> with your name, affiliation, phone number and, ideally, email address. As a courtesy, once registered, please make it your priority to attend.

Sunday Afternoon Yoga Class -

Dr. Steven Landau, M.D., RYT, leads a weekly yoga class on Sunday afternoons from 4-5:30. There is no charge for the class. Teachers, students, and other interested participants are invited to attend on a weekly or drop-in basis. The class is offered to people at all levels of experience and ability in the downstairs conference room of the WELL. He is registered with the Yoga Alliance as a teacher. For more information, 779-3941, <mailto:elandau@mindspring.com>.

Please wear comfortable clothes (preferably in layers), water, a mat if you like, and a blanket.

2003 Wade Edwards Short Fiction Award -entries sought! The award is given annually to three NC high school juniors who submit the most outstanding original short fiction. The competition rewards excellence in creative writing and encourages contemplation of virtues associated with Wade Edwards: humility, strength of convictions, loyalty, honor, charity, determination, the value of family, and the obligations of friendship and community.

The deadline for next year’s submissions is March 1, 2003. Essays should contain 500-10,000 words. Entries can be submitted to Robin French at 502 Florham Drive, High Point, NC 27262. For more information, contact Mr. French at home

(336-886-8025, rotufr@hotmail.com) or at Westchester Academy (336-869-2128); or Steven Killion at (919)856-9355 or SKillion @ wade.org. You may also find information at the Wade Edwards Learning Lab web site at www.wade.org/shortfic.htm.