Educational Technology

by Ann Work, Times-Record

The state must attend to a lot more details before Texas schools can adopt Gov. Rick Perry’s stated preference for exclusive use of online textbooks within the next four years, according to local educators. But it turns out some Wichita Falls teachers are already farther along than you might think in their use of online resources, including textbooks.

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2010/apr/13/textbooks-death-not-imminent/

from the Free Library

This study investigated preschool teachers’ beliefs and practices regarding the use of computer technology in teaching reading and writing in Jordan. The researcher developed a questionnaire consisting of two scales–Teachers’ Beliefs Scale (TB Scale) and Teachers’ Practices Scale (TP Scale)–to examine the role of computer technology in teaching reading and writing to preschoolers. A random sample of 154 preschool teachers participated in the study by completing the questionnaire; 12 teachers were later interviewed. Results indicated that the preschool teachers’ beliefs about the use of computer technology were aligned with their perceptions of their teaching practices, although teachers’ beliefs and their perceptions of their practices were fairly moderate. The results also revealed significant differences between kindergartens in favor of upon the side of; favorable to; for the advantage of.

http://bit.ly/cZq9i4

by Daveen Rae Kurutz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

With five heavy textbooks stretching her book bag, Hannah Davidoff said she can’t handle lugging around one more book. At least the Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy eighth-grader won’t be adding any research books to her backpack. Her school keeps the bulk of its books online rather than in print. “My book bag is totally full — so it’s definitely more convenient if I have a digital copy of a book,” said Davidoff, 13, of Squirrel Hill. “It’s pretty awesome because you don’t have to go to the library and check it out. People can all access (a book) at the same time.”

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_677419.html

by Gerard Lagana, Macgasm

Fritz Busch who is a Staff Writer for The Journal is reporting that Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop High School has ordered 320 iPads for their High School students. They are the first non College/University to give their students iPads. Fritz Busch explains how students will utilize their iPads. It’s institutions like these that are the true visionaries of education. They see how technology is becoming more and more a part of everyday lives. Now it will be part of our educational lives too.

http://www.macgasm.net/2010/04/20/first-u-s-high-school-to-buy-ipads-for-their-students/

by CityTown

The new Apple iPad is facing obstacles at some colleges while being cautiously welcomed at others. The Wall Street Journal reports that George Washington University and Princeton University are both experiencing network stability problems with the device. Other campuses are embracing or cautiously trying out the new technology. The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that the University of Maryland at College Park’s Digital Cultures and Creativity program announced that it will give iPads to incoming students in the program this fall. In addition, North Carolina State University purchased 30 iPads that are being lent to students to try out for four-hour periods.

http://www.citytowninfo.com/career-and-education-news/articles/mixed-reactions-to-ipads-on-campus-10042002

by University of California at San Diego

A West Coast campus famous for its high-tech research is now becoming known for its global reach in cultural heritage. Faculty and students are already searching for the lost tomb of Genghis Khan and a masterpiece mural by Leonardo da Vinci not seen in 450 years, and now many more students will get the opportunity to blaze new technology trails in the name of global exploration.  The University of California, San Diego and the National Geographic Society have signed a research collaboration agreement to create the UCSD-NGS Engineers for Exploration program – paving the way for graduate and undergraduate students on the campus to develop technology solutions for National Geographic explorers and expeditions.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/national-geographic-taps-uc-san-diego-students-for-technology-solutions

by George Bardissi, the Tech Reporter

The reason it is important to understand what the tablet PC is and the different features it can provide for you is because a study has already been released by Gartner indicating that by 2015, the majority of kids under the age of 15 will be using computers that feature a touch-screen monitor or display. A representative from Gartner is predicting that between 50 and 75 percent of school districts will opt for touch-screen displays within the next five years.

http://tinyurl.com/y2q6l8v

By Venuri Siriwardane, The Star-Ledger

Forget cranking out software code and hoping to strike it rich with a hit iPad app. Rutgers University said yesterday it will offer business courses — rather than application development ones — that revolve around Apple’s hot new tablet computer. The program will be the first of its kind in the country and is a collaboration between Rutgers officials and Apple’s higher education team. The week-long pilot, a digital marketing course, will launch July 19 and will award certificates to students. MBA students can even choose to count it toward their degrees.

http://bit.ly/94gn15

by Ina Fried, CNet news.com

While the world faces enormous challenges feeding its populations, developing clean energy, and fighting diseases, many of its best and brightest citizens are focused on other issues. That notion was reinforced for Bill Gates several weeks back as he sat with several friends who were engaged in a passionate discussion on two key topics: March Madness and the reforms being debated for Wall Street. “How possible is it that we could be having this same intense conversation about how to make a teacher better,” Gates said Monday during a talk at the University of California at Berkeley, kicking off a three-state college tour. “Are the brightest minds working on the hardest problems? I think the answer is probably not.”

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-20002817-56.html

by Korey Ketterman, WNDU

If your kids are bored with math and science, there’s new technology that could make both subjects more appealing. A whiteboard combines the traditional chalkboard with a computer, creating interactive means with students while encouraging learning in the 21st century. The New Prairie United School Corporation Activity Center in LaPorte is using a whiteboard to help make learning fun.

http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/91584584.html

by Stephanie Akin, The Record

Wyckoff teacher Harold Olejarz started his career as a sculptor and performance artist. But his seventh- and eighth-grade art classes at Eisenhower Middle School use almost no traditional materials. Instead, he teaches students how to work with modern technology, including computers, digital cameras and camcorders. He also guides eighth-grade students through the process of producing their own daily television news program, which is broadcast to the rest of the school and on a local cable channel. We asked him about his approach.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/90591614_The_21st-century_art_teacher.html

By Matt Krupnick, Contra Costa Times

College professors are anything but LOL at their students’ recent writing habits. Not only are instructors not laughing out loud — shortened to LOL in text messages and online chats — at the technology-oriented shorthand that has seeped into academic papers, many of them also sternly telling students to stop using the new language even in less formal writing. The shorthand often consists of shortened variations of common words — “u” instead of you, or “ur” for your. Text speak may be appropriate for a quick note to a friend, but professors are increasingly stymied by how casually students are using the terms.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14856449?nclick_check=1

by Ron Hogan, PoPFi

Now this was too cool not to share. Those mad scientists at Google have put together another great use for Google Earth. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more useful thanks to creating a whole alphabet with images, they’ve done and done more. Now, thanks to Google Earth, you can fly around a photo-realistic 3D map of downtown New York! There’s no telling how many hours this took!

http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2010/04/dazzling-new-3d-buildings-for-new-york.html