Educational Technology

By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Central Jersey

Technology moves at the speed of light and educators are keeping pace by introducing it into the classroom and finding ways to weave it into their lesson plans. At Stuart County Day School of the Sacred Heart in Princeton, a private girls school, each student will have an iPad to use, one-on-one in the upper grades and shared units in the lower grades. An iPad is a touch-screen, tablet-style computer that has built-in Internet access and uses applications, or apps, for programs. Even the kindergarten pupils are learning 21st century skills, such as social media. ”We can use Twitter and see where people live,” said 6-year-old kindergartner Hannah Park, who was playing with Google Earth. Their kindergarten teacher has set up a Twitter account, called Kinderchat, so the students can talk with other kindergarten teachers from all over the world.

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2011/04/25/the_princeton_packet/news/doc4db5fa8fdfb30038031080.txt

by The National Network of Digital Schools

The origination of life is a subject discussed enthusiastically in many scientific circles. Even students find the topic fascinating. Recently a group of high school students enrolled in the Lincoln Interactive Cutting Edge Science (CES) program participated in a videoconference with Hans Ziock, a physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), to discuss ProtoCells, simple man-made “cells” being created to mimic the most basic functions that meet the definition of “life.” The ProtoCell project at LANL aims to understand the origins of life by simulating the creation of a very rudimentary synthetic cell. Specifically, researchers seek to understand what materials and processes are required to create a functioning and self-replicating primitive cell. Before the chat with Dr. Ziock, CES Club students met with their science advisors in an online chat room to talk about the differences between biological cells and man-made cells and to explore what might be accomplished by creating and researching ProtoCells. The students eagerly greeted Dr. Ziock with a long list of questions.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/recreating-life-high-school-students-chat-with-protocell-physicist-from-los-alamos-national-laboratory-120695029.html

By Turing Technologies and NBC Learn

The purpose of this grant is to help educators develop 21st Century classrooms and improve achievement by providing technology and professional development tools from multiple, industry leading companies. By assembling a package of technology-based classroom programs, we hope to improve achievement and the overall success of students and teachers in the classroom.

Who is eligible to apply?

Grant applications will be accepted from teachers in grades 3-12 currently teaching in an accredited, non-profit school building in the United States.  There are no entry fees and no purchase is required.  Ten (10) classroom awards will be made.  Only online submissions are accepted. All applications are to be electronically submitted by 4:30 pm EST on May 16, 2011. Awards will be announced on May 23, 2011, and recipients will be notified via email.

said.http://www.turningtechnologies.com/studentresponsesystem/turningfoundation/k12grants/

By the Blackpool Gazette

Lucky pupils from Arnold School will have the world at the tips of their fingers thanks to a groundbreaking new teaching method. The independent school in Lytham Road, South Shore, has announced all Year 7 pupils will be given an Apple iPad when they join the school from September. The state-of-the-art tablet computers will be dished out not only for pupils to use in school and for homework, they will actually become the property of the child. The new initiative means all children will be able to type up school work and browse the internet regardless of whether or not they have a computer at home. Headteacher Jim Keefe said: “This is a really exciting educational initiative and we can’t wait to get them in school.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/education/pens_down_for_a_school_revolution_1_3323503

by Ainslie MacGibbon, Sydney Morning Herald

Salman Khan from California agreed to tutor his younger cousin, Nadia, in maths remotely using tablet technology. “I thought these video lessons would be a good supplement. Nadia started improving significantly and more family wanted to see them, so I put them on YouTube. Others started to randomly access them and it just went from there.” says Khan. Advertisement: Story continues below Five years, 2000 video lessons, and 41 million views on YouTube later, Khan is on target for his mission of “providing a world-class education to anyone, anywhere” – with one faculty member.

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/education-20-the-global-university-with-just-one-lecturer-20110426-1dulo.html

by Ray Schroeder, International Advisory Board of the Madison, Wisconsin Conference

The Annual Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning is recognized internationally for the quality and integrity of its program. Each year the conference provides an exchange of current resources, research, and best practices from around the world that are relevant to the design and delivery of distance education/training.

[editor’s note: this is one of the best conferences of its sort in the country – I attend every year and, along with my colleagues, will be presenting a pre-conference workshop on sustaining the online student this year]
http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/

By Dennis Carter, eCampus News

More than 1 million professors are rated on RateMyProfessor. Can 10 million college students be wrong? The popular site RateMyProfessor released its 2010-11 rankings April 26 – naming the top university and professors – as many in higher education remain skeptical of the site and said students shouldn’t base their school choices on RateMyProfessor’s reviews. Students on RateMyProfessor, which compiles anonymous student ratings and written reviews of more than 1 million professors and instructors on 6,500 campuses, named Brigham Young University (BYU) the nation’s top school. Florida State University, the University of Wisconsin – Madison, the University of Michigan, the University of Georgia, and the University of California Berkeley rounded out the website’s top-five ranking for the 2010-11 academic year.

http://www.ecampusnews.com/top-news/educators-question-ratemyprofessor-annual-college-rankings/

by Reuters

Apple Inc co-founder Steve Wozniak has an idea that could help fix the U.S. public education system: computers, of course. Technology is getting to the point where devices are built today that have all the sensors humans have — of movement, eyesight and hearing, although they are still far from replacing human teachers, he said. “We’re getting closer to where you can make devices that become a friend and not just a computerized textbook,” he told chip engineers at an event in Silicon Valley on Tuesday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110503/tc_nm/us_apple_wozniak

By Laura Devaney, eSchool News

Nearly all administrators said schools should help students learn basic technology skills that incorporate safety and security, but many teachers say they’re not prepared to teach these subjects. A new report suggests that many schools are not adequately preparing students to be safe in today’s digitally connected age, and it cites basic online safety and ethics as two areas in which students need more education. The report, “State of K-12 Cyberethics, Cybersafety, and Cybersecurity Curriculum in the United States,” was published by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and sponsored by Microsoft.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/05/04/survey-reveals-disconnect-in-online-safety-education/

By Kat Keogh, Birmingham Post

A pioneering Solihull-born teacher who taught millions how to read is now helping people to learn while on the move. Christopher Thorne became an internet sensation with a series of spelling videos for pupils which he posted on YouTube last year. More than two million people have since tuned into the teacher’s “phonics” classes, which use the sounds of groups of letters to help with reading and writing.

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-education-news/2011/04/29/solihull-teacher-takes-his-youtube-hit-idea-into-the-iphone-app-market-65233-28602447/

By Audrey Watters, Mind/Shift

We’re starting a new monthly feature here at MindShift, a round-up of new educational apps released or updated over the course of the month. This list is a combination of Android, iPhone, and Web applications that have caught our eye. If we’ve forgotten any of your favorites, let us know in the comments.

VANISHED

The Smithsonian Institution and MIT VANISHED is an 8-week online/offline environmental disaster mystery game for middle-school children, meant to inspire engagement and problem solving through science. Developed by the MIT’s Education Arcade and by the Smithsonian Institution, VANISHED encourages participants to investate an environmental disaster by using real scientific methods, by visiting museums and collecting samples from their neighborhoods, and by participating in online challenges. (Free, Web, Middle School)

http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/04/new-educational-apps-of-the-month/

by Amanda Fairbanks, Huffington Post

Mobile devices now offer yet another option for a generation adept at distraction — behold, going to college by smartphone. Earlier this week, the University of Phoenix, the nation’s largest private university, became the latest for-profit institution to dip its toe in the rapidly expanding marketplace of higher-education apps. Specifically, by launching the PhoenixMobile app, which is now available free of charge at the iTunes store, University of Phoenix students who are iPhone, iPod touch or iPad users will now be able to “move seamlessly between the online classroom and their mobile phone,” according to a recent press release. It is currently listed as the number one education app for the iPhone.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/28/university-phoenix-app_n_855202.html

By Sarah Rich, Government Technology

Many kids don’t worry about powering down the computers they use at school when it’s time to go home. For that matter, some teachers don’t either. Why worry about it? Think green. Computers that are left on overnight can add up to thousands of dollars in extra energy costs — a big problem for public schools that are seeing budget freezes and looking for cost-saving measures. The waste can also sink a sustainability plan.

http://www.govtech.com/technology/School-Computers-Power-Drain.html

By Maryland Newsline

The University of Maryland School of Medicine is helping to educate a new student: a computer that gained fame on the TV quiz show, “Jeopardy.” In mid-February, Watson, an IBM computer capable of answering verbal questions posed in natural language, appeared on “Jeopardy” and defeated champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. Now, the University of Maryland medical school has joined IBM, software developer Nuance and Columbia University Medical Center to apply Watson’s technology to medicine.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2014870787_watson28.html

By Mary Beth Marklein, USA TODAY

A survey by the National Cyber Security Alliance, a non-profit group that works with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to promote computer security awareness, found that the nation’s school administrators overwhelmingly (81%) feel they are doing a good job teaching children about online safety. But 36% of their teachers receive no training in the issue, the study found.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-05-04-online-safety-students-schools_n.htm

by KRISTINA IODICE, Colorado Springs Gazette

Textbooks soon will be joined by iPads as standard issue in Manitou Springs middle and high schools. The effort to provide tablet computers to every student in fifth grade through high school is a recognition by teachers and administrators that today’s students live in a digital world and are coming to school well-versed in technology. “It makes life easier in school and makes it seem fun,” said Aidin Berns, 13. “All of our notebooks and books and everything are on this one little piece of hardware.”

http://www.gazette.com/articles/high-117235-textbooks-ipads.html

By Greg Limperis, School CIO

Okay, so let’s face it. The current formula for funding technology in education just does not work. Daily, we talk about the need to get technology in the hands of every child. With new and up-and-coming advancements in technology, there will be more of a need to improve infrastructure, bandwidth, servers, wiring, wireless technology and much more if we are to remain current and on the cutting edge. This will all cost money—and lots of it. Currently, districts find it hard just to put a few computers in a classroom, let alone one in every child’s hand. Yes, it can be done—and some districts are making it happen—but in this day of ever-shrinking budgets and more of a focus of passing standardized tests—money, rightfully so or not—is often funneled toward that cause.

http://schoolcio.com/showarticle/38190

by School CIO

The Texas Afterschool Centers on Education™ (ACE™) program administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has launched the Texas ACE Activity Collection, a database designed to help build capacity of out-of-school-time practitioners to deliver high-quality activities to students and families across Texas and the nation. This database, available at TexasACE21.org provides out-of-school-time practitioners with a venue to search through a collection of activities and lesson plans using a variety of search criteria (e.g. topics, objectives, etc.).

http://schoolcio.com/showarticle/38414v

By Ainslee S. Wittig & Carol Broeder, Arizona Range News

Jonathan Adelstein, national administrator for USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS), was in Arizona recently to announce funding for distance learning and broadband projects in Arizona. Among the three projects announced is a $246,586 grant to the Cochise County ITV Consortium / Cochise Technology District. Funds will be used to offer classes online and to connect rural and border schools. The RUS grant requires a match from the Consortium, which can be satisfied through all of the high schools through dollars and in-kind funding, such as purchasing needed equipment. The Cochise County Superintendent’s Office is also helping with the match.

http://www.willcoxrangenews.com/articles/2011/04/13/news/news02.txt

By Maureen Magee, Signon San Diego

An eighth-grader at Innovations Middle School, Christina Nguyen can’t remember the last time she cracked a textbook. She totes around a near empty backpack. In fact, it’s rare that she breaks out a pen or pencil. Netbooks rule this Clairemont campus, where mini-laptops are issued to every student for use at school and home. Christina takes most of her tests and reads books on her netbook. She uses it for homework assignments, projects and to communicate to teachers and classmates. “I use my netbook every day and every night — even on weekends,” said Christina, 14. “I can’t imagine going to school without it.”

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/13/schools-expand-home-internet-service-for-students/

By Christopher Dawson, ZD Net

Just the other day, I was talking with a science teacher who was bemoaning the underpowered thin clients in her school. She felt hobbled by them and was talking about some of the simulations and 3D visualizations that she couldn’t do with her students because of them. Enter HPs new Z210 workstations. Most of us in ed tech have heard the siren song of thin clients. There are lots of ways to go about thin computing, some better suited to certain applications than others. There are virtualization options, PC over IP, remote desktops, you name it. But unless you invest in PCoIP or an extremely robust virtualized setup with one heck of a network infrastructure to go with it, there will be compromises. Sure, the average remote desktop, simple desktop streaming, or low-end VDI solution is relatively inexpensive, very easy to manage, and easier to set up than an old-school computer lab. The computer and networking hardware required to simulate the desktop experience are often prohibitively expensive for schools.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/hp-brings-workstation-class-pcs-to-a-thin-client-world/4548