Wife and granddaughter at the beach, where they were the chief technicians responsible for reinstalling the editor's operating system.

TIPS is now entering its fifth year! It began in the spring of 2001 with Maggie Wilson in the editor's chair. That responsibility passed to its current occupant six months later. Associate editors Paula Whitmer and Kim Overstreet provide direct support for several of the pages, and we welcome Lucinda Sanders this year to handle our newest department, IMMEX. Of course, we all receive help from Instructional Technology leader Greg Drake in preventing misspelled names, obscure sentence structure, and other embarrassments. Its major contributors include this office's Technology Resource Teachers, with the gracious help of classroom teachers and students across Fayette County. Contributors also include technology advocates in other District offices - most notably Special Education.

TIPS is released as near to the first of every other month as is possible. It is a true e-zine - that is, it's published only on the web, with notifications sent out by email. Within its virtual pages we include examples of best technology integration practices taking place right now in our schools, featuring the teachers and students involved. The magazine is also a resource of sources, ideas, plans, and tools, for those who are striving to improve and enhance their current classroom practices. Since TIPS enjoys a wide readership and public display, we use this visibility to announce changes, policies, and other concerns surrounding the use of technology. We also use its release to promote professional development class opportunities at The Lab at Ambrose Center and elsewhere. And, in a little forgotten corner called The Network Is Down, we have some fun!

TIPS' name began as an acronym - "Technology Integration Promotes Success" - but since the name is meaningful unto itself, and since most people struggle with the overly acronym-rich nature of technology anyway, this association was later dropped. There have been several format changes and additions, and we welcome all suggestions, contributions, criticisms, and other ideas - send them to jjones@fayette.k12.ky.us.

Have a great school year!

        --Jeffrey L. Jones, Editor