Educational Technology

January 31, 2011

Class via online learning required for graduation in Memphis

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am

by Aricka Flowers, U of Phoenix

Students enrolled in Memphis City Schools are now required to take at least one online class in order to graduate. “E-Learning as a graduation requirement came up because of [an] upswing in students taking online courses,” head of online learning for Memphis City Schools Betty Brown told Education Week. “We feel they needed to be prepared for that type of life experience. Their lives are going to require them to learn online.” There are currently 28 classes available to high school students and 12 to children in middle school, but city schools officials hope to soon raise those numbers.

http://www.phoenix.edu/news/feeds/spotlight-on-education/2011/01/online-class-required-for-graduation-in-memphis.html

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Of Trolls, Technology, and Saving the Middle Class

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:35 am

by Matt Kettman, Santa Barbara Independent

Interview with Techno Visionary Jaron Lanier, Author of the New Book You Are Not a Gadget. While the rest of us are dispensing of our privacy on Facebook and letting Google track our search habits, there’s an elite cadre of thinkers who take the time to ponder what the Internet’s societal domination may means.

http://www.independent.com/news/2011/jan/17/trolls-technology-and-saving-middle-class/

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Alternative education programs now under one roof

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:30 am

by Andrew Wind, Waterloo Courier

The Waterloo Educational and Behavioral Center removes classroom distractions that drag down the achievement of many struggling students. Alternative Learning Center administrators contend that the online, go-at-your-own-pace curriculum combined with a single location for all programs has more benefit than cost savings, though. They point to the success of students like Brase at WEBC and her decision to move on to Expo High. “I think it’s an eye-opening experience for our kids to find that they can be successful,” said Brenton Shavers, principal of the Alternative Learning Center. Educators want to capitalize on that success rather than sending students back to the situation they were struggling in at their home school.

http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/article_b518d49f-262e-5d92-98ae-dd919275cd37.html

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January 30, 2011

Marriage of E-Courses and Mobile Computing Still Evolving

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:39 am

By Ian Quillen, Jorge Werthein

Already, many educators are utilizing mobile devices for learning. In brick-and-mortar school districts across the country, a flurry of policy changes last summer allowed teachers to more fully integrate cellphones and other portable devices into their instruction. And recent research by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at the Sesame Workshop, in New York City, suggests even preschoolers are getting their tiny hands on Mom’s or Dad’s iPhone or Droid and learning from it. Yet, even though the Vienna, Va.-based International Association for K-12 Online Learning has identified mobile learning as an emerging trend, there is one giant step K-12 virtual education has yet to take: the creation of online courses that can be completed entirely with a mobile device.

http://jorgewerthein.blogspot.com/2011/01/e-courses-and-mobile-computing.html

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Online Classes Make It Easier For Parents To Go Back To College

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:35 am

by Hubpages

Having a family comes with the responsibility of providing the best care, love and support to them that you can. If your current career is depriving you of your full potential, consider going back to school. Whether you’re unhappy because of salary issues, or just lack an interest in your field, a college degree can help you make the changes for you and your family. A college degree can help you earn a higher paying job, or even make the move to switch careers completely. But whether you’re looking to earn more money for your family, or just be happier doing what you do, getting your online degree can help you make it happen.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Parents-Go-Back-To-College

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Thriving in a colder and more challenging climate

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:30 am

by ALT-C

In 2011, education systems throughout the world are attempting to do more, better, and often with less. As the political, economic, social, agency and technological landscapes change, it is tempting for people in the learning technology community simply to “go on with vigour, hoping for the best”*. But this would be to miss a major opportunity. Innovation is strongly stimulated by crises and pressures of all kinds. Our challenges are to:

  • analyse and plan, and create and marshal evidence;
  • demonstrate the benefits of astute deployment of technology to support learning;
  • listen to and involve learners, teachers, and institutional leaders; draw on know-how and practice internationally, from across and outside our individual fields;
  • take an institutional approach, whilst focusing on openness and frugality.

Time, the social tide, the expectations of learners, and economic pressure at organisational level will themselves be a driving force for innovation. The scope for people in our community to make a difference is great.

The 18th international conference of the Association for Learning Technology will be held at the University of Leeds, UK, 6-8 September 2011.  altc2011 / #altc2011

http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2011/

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January 29, 2011

GW starts online high school

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am

By: Kristen Byrne, The Washington Examiner

George Washington University is opening an online high school aimed at top college-bound students tired of generic public education. The George Washington University Online High School, run by GW and Herndon online education company K12 Inc., will serve students in the United States, as well as internationally. The school is designed for students who plan on attending top-tier colleges and universities, with rigorous classes, said Barb Brueggemann, head of the new school. Admission will be selective, and students will be judged on work ethic, integrity and academic rigor, she said. “The biggest difference will be the degree of flexibility in the students’ schedules,” Brueggemann said.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/01/gw-starts-online-high-school#ixzz1B1F0Xy3J

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Technology helps schools conduct online ‘field trips’ as funds for actual travel dry up

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:35 am

By DIANE D’AMICO, Atlantic City Press

Snow didn’t stop Jim Stephens from giving Avalon Elementary School students a look into the past at Historic Cold Spring Village in Lower Township. The students never left their classroom, and Stephens never left the village. The “field trip” was conducted online, with Stephens interacting live with the students. During one visit, fourth-graders learned that 19th-century toothbrushes were made of animal bone and pig hair. During another, Stephens, in uniform, discussed the life of a soldier during the Civil War. Online field trips were a novelty a decade ago, when state and federal funding provided schools with millions of dollars in grants to upgrade their technology. But the funding dried up, the technology aged and, in many schools, the novelty wore off.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/article_39427200-1f7a-11e0-9367-001cc4c002e0.html

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2010 Online, by the Numbers

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:30 am

By NICK BILTON, New York Times

The number of people online naturally keeps growing. As of June 2010 there were 1.97 billion Internet users worldwide, with 825.1 million of them in Asia, 475.1 million in Europe and 266.2 million in North America. Facebook started 2010 with 350 million users and ended the year with 600 million. Social media continues to grow at a fast pace. An estimated 25 billion Twitter messages were sent through the service last year, and the company added over 100 million users. Facebook also saw record numbers, reaching 600 million users. It’s amazing to think that Facebook started 2010 with 350 million users. As for the things people are sharing online: Internet users sent 360 billion pieces of content across Facebook over the year, which included links, notes and photos. Flickr, just one of a number of popular photo sites, saw 130 million photos uploaded to the site each month.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/2010-online-the-numbers/

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January 28, 2011

The Invisible Computer Lab

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am

by Steve Kolowich, Inside Higher Ed

In a virtual computing lab, students log in via a secured website and choose from a library of “images” — virtual desktops outfitted with different versions of various programs. The selected image then appears as a window on the student’s own computer desktop, at which point students can open a program and begin working. They can save or print their work just as though the program were running on their own hard drives. By enabling students to run high-level programs and work with memory-leeching data sets without burdening their own wallets or hard drives, virtual computing labs could prove to be another boon for students.

http://ow.ly/3H881

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Tech for social good: School of Information students at Berkeley show the way

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:35 am

By Satarupa Bhattacharya, International Business Times

The trend among business schools to launch courses or programs in “social entrepreneurship” or among their graduates to walk the “non-profit” path has been under the spotlight for quite some time now. But now, an innovative course offered to students of technology at the School of Information at UC Berkeley has led a group among them to work on commercializing one of their class projects to bring about a positive difference to the lives of the literate poor in distant Indian villages or urban slums. The class project, titled ‘MobileWorks’, was evolved within the course Social Enterprise using ICTs for International Development, and aims to reach a slice of India’s burgeoning outsourcing industry to groups who are currently excluded from its fruits. The project takes advantage of India’s widespread mobile phone usage to send outsourced data-entry jobs through phones to India’s villagers and slum residents, providing them fair trade wages.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/100648/20110113/technology-social-entrepreneurship-information-berkeley.htm#

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Local Program Uses Technology To Help Students Work Through Learning Disabilities

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:30 am

By David Greisman, the Columbia Patch

There isn’t just tutoring for helping students with learning disabilities – there is technology, too. Such technology includes software applications that scan textbooks and allow students to take notes on their computers, that read what students are writing back out loud to them, and that help them to find the right word to use and to spell it correctly. Some software can even be loaded onto smart phones and mp3 players. Such technology includes software applications that scan textbooks and allow students to take notes on their computers, that read what students are writing back out loud to them, and that help them to find the right word to use and to spell it correctly.

http://columbia.patch.com/articles/local-program-uses-technology-to-help-students-work-through-learning-disabilities

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January 27, 2011

iPads @ Forman School

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am

by Litchfield County Times

The Forman School is piloting a technology program of Apple iPads for student use on campus. The program was funded by a $50,000 grant from Margaret and William Hearst III. The Hearsts are the parents of William D. Hearst, a 1998 Forman alumnus. iPads are Apple tablet computers designed primarily as a platform for audio-visual media, including books, periodicals, movies, music, games and Web content. Apple released the iPad in April 2010. All of the built-in apps (computer programs) are designed to take advantage of the computer’s large touch screen. The school’s Information Technology Department was able to expedite processing of the iPads to distribute them to faculty within two days of their arrival.

http://www.countytimes.com/articles/2011/01/13/news/litchfield/doc4d2f24f439b24886107403.txt

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Cloud computing is ‘brilliant’, says Bob Geldof

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:35 am

By Anh Nguyen, Computerworld UK

Sir Bob Geldof has launched a campaign for simpler technology, and believes cloud computing will be a key enabler. The aid campaigner and rock star, who co-founded communication and data applications provider Groupcall, was at the BETT 2011 education technology conference in London to promote his company. He used the opportunity to hammer home the message that IT in general, and IT in the education sector in particular, was too complex. Cloud computing, which Sir Bob described as “brilliant”, would allow users to leapfrog existing proprietary solutions.

http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/cloud-computing/3256610/cloud-computing-is-brilliant-says-bob-geldof/

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2 of 5 S.D. 8th-graders fail tech test

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:30 am

by Josh Verges, Argus Leader

About two in every five South Dakota eighth-graders failed to meet expectations last year on the state Technology Literacy Assessment. Required by the federal government, the computer-based test first was administered statewide in spring 2009. Only 48 percent of South Dakota students scored proficient that year, but in 2010, 58 percent passed the test. Because states use different tests, it’s not useful to compare technology literacy in South Dakota to the rest of the country. But South Dakota did fare slightly better in 2009 than states that took the same test.

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20110114/NEWS/101140323/1001/news

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January 26, 2011

Reducing Classroom Computer Costs

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am

Take Advantage of the Exploding Overstock Computer Industry

So how is a school with a limited budget supposed to support computer technology with that kind of cost? Open the Yellow Pages and find a company that specializes in overstock computers! Take advantage of this growing cottage industry out there that offers bargains in computer technology. Chris Beal, C.O.O. of InandOutComputers.com, says “Virtually any school in America can get more computers for a lot less money if they purchase overstock equipment.” Establish a partnership with a company that specializes in overstock computer equipment. Qualify the company by making sure the company offers a warranty. 30 days is standard but often the original manufacture’s warranty will be applicable. Before you buy from a company, ask for references and check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure they have a good track record.

http://digitalecorp.com/reducing-classroom-computer-costs-2.html

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In Milford Schools: Fuel for the future

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:40 am

By Kathleen Shea, Milford Daily News

The future of our children, our country and even the world will rely on how advances get applied to the challenges that are ahead. The goal of the STEM initiative is to increase students’ interest and proficiency so they take more STEM courses and even consider STEM careers after college. STEM careers include the expected list of engineer, computer scientist, medical specialist, and veterinarian, but they also include careers such as architect, statistician, financial advisor, forester, dietician and teacher. To make sure the next generation is ready for STEM careers, we need to show students how exciting these careers are and what path they must take for such careers. Students encounter career information from teachers, families and even television. Conversations at home about jobs and future careers can spark interest in a STEM career, as do conversations with guidance counselors, teachers, and peers in school. At Milford High School, students can take STEM courses that will help them on their way towards a STEM career. To aid this process there is an online program on the high school guidance website called Naviance Family Connection that students and families can access to develop a pathway towards a chosen field of study.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x198684693/In-Milford-Schools-Fuel-for-the-future

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Improving literacy with technology

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:35 am

By Jim Edgar, Ottowa Citizen

Digital literacy is the ability to understand and use information and communication technology (ICT). It requires a working knowledge of computer software and being able to decipher sounds and visual representations, for example icons. Digital literacy also involves applying language skills, especially reading and writing -but speaking and listening are also used increasingly within ICT. People with weak literacy skills usually find ICT challenging and this impairs their ability to fully participate in a society where computer skills are an integral part of work, school and everyday life.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Improving+literacy+with+technology/4096037/story.html

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January 25, 2011

Microsoft Partners in Learning School Research to measure and develop 21st Century teaching and learning in your school

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:34 am

What does the research involve?

Microsoft’s Partners in Learning School Research is a self-assessment survey research system that helps educators and school leaders understand and measure innovative teaching practices that develop the skills students need for life and work in the 21st Century.

A school leader signs up on this website.

A research leader from the school sends out the survey to all educators and school leaders in the school.

Each educator and school leader takes a 15 to 20 minute online survey about innovative teaching practices.

Once the surveys have been completed, a research report based on the responses is sent to the research leader within 24 hours, who can then share it.

The report shows measures of innovative teaching practices in the school and examples of innovative teaching practices.

The surveys can be repeated each year to track and measure progress.

http://www.pilsr.com/AboutResearch.aspx

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Director outlines future of technology for Carol Stream Library

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:31 am

by Erin Sauder, Carol Stream Press

For nearly two decades, Ann Kennedy has watched the Carol Stream Public Library adapt to the ongoing changes in technology. Kennedy, the library director, has watched the music collection switch from LPs to cassette tapes to CDs, and the movie collection blossom from a few videos to a vast assortment of DVDs. “Now, people are even predicting the death of the DVD,” said Kennedy. She began at the library in 1992 as the head of adult services and took over as director five years ago. Below, she shares how Carol Stream’s population growth to more than 40,000 people has impacted the library, its users and how officials plan to keep up with the latest technological trends going into 2011.

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/roselle/features/x1958448335/Director-outlines-future-of-technology-for-Carol-Stream-library

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Can’t Spell Oregon? No Worries, Spell Check Allowed

Filed under: Educational Technology — admin @ 12:30 am

by Rob Manning, NPR

Computer shortages in Oregon public schools means about three-quarters of students will still take the paper writing exam with no spell check technology. You don’t have to be a good speller to be a good writer. That’s the message the Oregon Department of Education is sending its students. On Wednesday, students across the state will start taking their standardized writing exams, and for the first time, those doing their essays online will get to use spell check.

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/11/132832162/cant-spell-oregon-no-worries-spell-check-allowed

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