Educational Technology

By Richard Garner, the Independent (UK)

A new generation of university students is choosing to live at home and study for degrees online to avoid soaring tuition fees and increasingly competitive entry requirements. Growing numbers of school leavers are signing up for Open University degree courses, which allow students to study remotely. Figures show a 30 per cent rise in 18 and 19-year-olds enlisting for courses compared with last year. Nearly one-third of the 2,100 teenagers to enrol this year come from the most deprived areas of the UK, the figures show. “The landscape of higher education has undergone some dramatic changes recently,” Christina Lloyd, director of teaching and learning at the Open University, said. “We’re seeing increasing numbers of new students aged 25 and under. However, the fastest-growing group is 18 and 19-year-olds.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/fear-of-tuition-fees-creates-open-university-generation-2340846.html

By Jing Zhao, Columbia Business Times

Professors at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine have built a link between themselves and their students using social media, and they expect to use it as a powerful teaching tool. In the college’s online course for veterinary technicians, professors have posted instructional videos on YouTube that show the right ways and the wrong ways to handle animals. Using social media gives students a convenient way to study outside of the classroom. “YouTube provides access to videos that have significant teaching value,” said professor C. Chastain. “They are short, to the point, and they are well done.” Chastain said he initially wanted to bring a guest lecturer to his class instead of using a video, but he decided that videos were more reliable. He added that using YouTube to present the videos has other advantages as well. “Online presentations are more flexible to fit students’ schedules, and the material can be easily previewed by the instructor,” he said. “Also, the videos show people actively engage in the profession, which is more engaging than having someone come into class and give a PowerPoint presentation.”

http://www.columbiabusinesstimes.com/12565/2011/08/19/social-media-aids-in-veterinary-medicine-teaching/

By KRISTEN CATES, Great Falls Tribune

Desks, chairs and chalkboards are slowly giving way to computers, forums and podcasts in Montana’s schools. As technology has advanced, so have the opportunities for kids of all ages to start taking classes online. Leading the way is the Montana Digital Academy, a state-sponsored online program based on the University of Montana campus in Missoula. “It’s been all good,” said academy director Bob Currie. “It’s a lot of broadening and enhancement of programs.” Authorized by the Montana Legislature in 2009, the Montana Digital Academy began offering classes to high-school and now some middle-school students last fall, with the idea that they would have 1,500 students enrolled at the end of their first year. Currie said the academy ended up with 5,000 students from 175 schools across Montana accessing the online learning tool.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110819/REPOSITORY/631

by Marc Phillips, Wyckoff Patch

I have found that some of the programs I downloaded over the years have made using my laptop a more enjoyable experience. While this list may not be entirely comprehensive, these are the strongest programs I use at least on a weekly — if not daily — basis.

http://wyckoff.patch.com/articles/must-have-computer-apps-for-todays-college-student

by Ryan E. Smith, Jewish Journal

Big Brother is watching at Milken Community High School. At least, he’s watching your computer. For two years, the Bel Air school has required every seventh- and ninth-grader to come with a laptop so that it can integrate technology into the classroom. This fall, Milken will install a program, LanSchool, in each computer, which will allow administrators to see what’s taking place on every screen, according to Jason Ablin, head of school. That means they could know when a student is looking at Facebook instead of their French assignment or when someone’s checking out Lady Gaga instead of Lady Macbeth.

http://www.jewishjournal.com/education/article/using_laptops_offers_lessons_in_ethics_of_technology_20110817/

by eSchool News

The HP TouchPad was the company’s primary showpiece during ISTE’s ed-tech trade show in late June. In a dramatic reshuffling, Hewlett-Packard Co. is discontinuing its tablet computer and smart-phone products and might sell or spin off its PC division. The surprise move comes a year after HP purchased mobile device maker Palm Inc. for $1.2 billion—and just seven weeks after HP touted its new TouchPad tablet as a competitor to Apple’s iPad at the nation’s largest ed-tech industry trade show. HP’s Aug. 18 announcement is one of the most striking makeovers in the company’s 72-year history and signals new CEO Leo Apotheker’s most transparent move to date to make HP look more like longtime rival IBM Corp.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/08/19/hewlett-packard-to-end-mobile-businesses/

By Christopher Dawson, ZDNet

Perhaps the most commonly asked is, “Can my son/daughter just use a netbook/tablet?” The answer is a resounding “Well, maybe…sort of…well, it depends.” In general, though, netbooks and tablets should be considered supplemental devices for students, suitable for use in the classroom or on the go, but probably not to replace a full-featured laptop or desktop. A decent desktop and a nice little netbook or tablet won’t be terribly expensive and may, for some students, meet their needs better than a single laptop. So now that we’ve figured out what they shouldn’t have, it’s probably time to get down to the nuts and bolts of what they should have. The first step will be to check with your son’s or daughter’s school. Colleges in particular will often have specific requirements, often with individual requirements at the department level. However, if no such requirements exist, here are some baseline hardware recommendations that apply to all operating systems and both laptops and desktops…

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/hey-parents-do-you-know-what-your-students-really-need-for-back-to-school/4656?tag=nl.e623

 By Christopher Dawson, ZDNet

I’ve turned to Google Sites and Google Docs to manage most of my documentation needs. Used together, they make for a pretty robust solution that lends itself to collaboration. Last week, though, I started a project with the day job that is going to involve the creation of a very large core document with individual contributors handling various sections and an extensive review process. We also need a place to bring together a variety of disparate documents where they can ultimately be integrated and unified and then pushed out for publication in a variety of media (included print). Sure, Google Docs and Sites could handle this, but this felt like a job for a wiki. I’ve always felt the same for classes that require collaboration on an extensive document or that will be used for longer-term reference or guidance (as this particular set of documents will also be). So I set up a wiki.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/digging-the-wikis/4660?tag=nl.e623

By Christopher Dawson, ZDNews

So as I sit typing this on my Air, my iPad 2 and MacBook Pro are sitting on my desk next to me, looking at me with betrayal in their Facetime cameras. My Xoom tablet is also a bit sullen, although its Android OS at least gets it a bit more play from me (unlike a lot of reviewers, I’m a big fan of Honeycomb). The Air, though, has replaced both of my tablets as my constant computing companions (say that 10 times fast). Of course, I’m a writer and marketer by trade. I make my living by being able to write very quickly, whenever and wherever I need to. Student use cases are obviously different.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/where-does-my-macbook-air-leave-my-tablets-or-my-macbook-pro-for-that-matter/4666?tag=nl.e623

By Matthew Wheeland, Green Computing

Although universities are often criticized as ivory towers, divorced from the real world, when it comes to feeling the impacts of energy-sucking IT and office equipment, colleges are, to borrow a phrase from Us Weekly, “just like us.” Dozens of computers left running all night? Check. Sprawling data centers in need of serious energy management? They’ve got ’em. Ancient, energy-draining printers that see too much action? In every building. So a new study that shows how higher education institutions around London are putting green IT to work — as well as what solutions haven’t gained traction — offers plenty of lessons for the private sector as well. The study was conducted by London Higher, an umbrella group representing 40 universities and colleges, and published as part of an ongoing research project on Green ICT in London HEIs (higher education institutions).

http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2011/08/17/lessons-green-it-london-schools

by the Michigan Morning Sun

Technology is changing every facet of our lives, so rapidly that it can be difficult to adjust to it. How is technology affecting our mental health? And, perhaps more importantly, do we care enough about the possible negative effects, particularly on the development of children, to make any needed changes? Children and teens, ages 8-18, are spending nearly 11 hours in a typical day using media, including 4 1/2 hours watching TV, 2 1/2 hours listening to music, and 1 1/2 hours on the computer. In addition, cell phones are taking up 2 1/2 hours of their day, nearly 2 hours texting and over 1/2 hour talking. Although during some of this time these individuals are multitasking (using more than one device at a time), by comparison, less than one hour each day is being spent socializing in person by people 15 years old and older.

http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2011/08/17/life/srv0000013209030.txt

By James Morehead, Dublin Patch

 A long time ago, my parents prepared for the first day of school by purchasing paper, pens, binders, staples, a calculator and a backpack. That was before PCs, Macs, netbooks, iPads and iPods, Android and ChromeOS tablets, ebooks and e-readers, digital cameras, backup drives, color printers, smartphones, graphing calculators and all the software applications and Internet services wrapped around those devices. The world is faster, more connected and more complicated than when I was a kid in school (or at least it seems that way).

http://dublin.patch.com/articles/back-to-school-in-the-internet-age-more-than-pencils-and-paper

By Dennis Pierce, eSchool News

When web surfers use Google or Bing to look for information, the search results they now see at the top of the page might differ from those of their neighbor. A quiet revolution has taken place in recent months, as Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and other internet gatekeepers have revised their search algorithms in an attempt to bring users more personalized information. This subtle shift has enormous implications for students, researchers, and society at large, experts say. When web surfers use Google or Bing to look for information about, say, the national debt, the search results they now see at the top of the page might differ from those of their neighbor. That’s because all the major search engines have revamped their formulas to include social media data as key indicators of a website’s importance.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/08/10/new-web-search-formulas-have-huge-implications-for-students-and-society/

by School CIO

As policymakers and education practitioners across the U.S. seek innovative approaches to boost student achievement, particularly in K–12 education, a new report released today by The Boston Consulting Group reveals that a closed-loop instructional system is the most effective way to maximize technology’s potential to improve learning and overall student outcomes. The report, titled Unleashing the Potential of Technology in Education, examines the role of technology in the post–No Child Left Behind era, identifying lessons learned in both K–12 and higher education.

http://schoolcio.com/ShowArticle/41228

By Nancy Caramanico, CIO Advisor

As education experiences reform and change, good communication from school leaders is more important than ever. Television, film, popular media and others are frequently discussing educational trends. Add to that, the ever evolving changes in the world of technology. It is more important than ever for school leaders to have clear communication strategies. A clear message from school leadership around educational programs supported by technology is necessary. A good communications strategy can make all the difference in providing quality programs that make a difference for the students we serve. These strategies explain the school’s vision for change and encourage collaboration and participation within the school community. How can school administrators and leaders best communicate regarding 21st Century digital age change and technology? Below is a communications checklist for School Technology Leadership which I based on the Nets A (National Educational Technology Standards for Administrators).

http://schoolcio.com/ShowArticle/40846

by Michael Redfern, the Record

Many school districts and pre-service education programs and instructors also lack the expertise and equipment required to adequately prepare future teachers on technology integration and its ethical and responsible use. Sadly though, the new technology is demonized. The London riots become the “BlackBerry riots” and Facebook becomes, unfairly, synonymous with cyber-bullying and teen suicide. Unless there is a concerted effort by all educational stakeholders — ministry officials, faculties of education, school board officials, trustees, administrators, teachers and parents — to instruct youth in the ethical and responsible use of internet and computer-related technologies they will continue to drift aimlessly upon the whimsical and sometimes perilous currents of technological change.

http://pcworldreviews.com/news/frame/id-6335

By Denise Wilson and Margo Rutledge Kissell, Middletown Journal

The new Common Core curriculum that Ohio has adopted doesn’t require schools to teach cursive writing. The age-old writing method is replaced by the more modern keyboarding to get elementary students familiar with writing on a computer keyboard. Ohio Department of Education spokesman Patrick Gallaway said the decision of whether to continue teaching cursive writing to elementary school children falls to the individual school districts. “It’s up to them, but it is not required now,” he said, acknowledging the issue has generated a bit of controversy because many adults still view handwriting as an important skill that should be taught.

http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/area-districts-plan-no-changes-yet-with-cursive-writing-issue-1228092.html

by Anton Shilov, Xbit

Thirty years ago on the 12th of August, 1981, International Business Machines introduced its IBM Personal Computer, the system that changed the world and history of the mankind. The computer that was designed for business, school and home eventually paved the way for new industries, new opportunities and new quality of life. “This is a computer for just about everyone who has ever wanted a personal system at the officer, on the university campus or at home. We believe its performance, reliability and ease of use make it the most advanced, affordable personal computer in the marketplace,” said C. B. Rogers, IBM vice president and group executive at general business group, who simply could not imagine that very Friday what a revolution he was talking about.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/display/20110812051538_IBM_PC_Turns_Thirty_Years_Old.html

by Science Daily

We accept that some people are born with a talent for music or art or athletics. But what about mathematics? Do some of us just arrive in the world with better math skills than others? It seems we do, at least according to the results of a study by a team of Johns Hopkins University psychologists. Led by Melissa Libertus, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the study — published online in a recent issue of Developmental Science — indicates that math ability in preschool children is strongly linked to their inborn and primitive “number sense,” called an “Approximate Number System” or ANS. Research reveals that “number sense” is basic to all animals, not just human beings.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808152428.htm

By Dennis Pierce, eSchool News

When web surfers use Google or Bing to look for information, the search results they now see at the top of the page might differ from those of their neighbor. A quiet revolution has taken place in recent months, as Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and other internet gatekeepers have revised their search algorithms in an attempt to bring users more personalized information. This subtle shift has enormous implications for students, researchers, and society at large, experts say. When web surfers use Google or Bing to look for information about, say, the national debt, the search results they now see at the top of the page might differ from those of their neighbor. That’s because all the major search engines have revamped their formulas to include social media data as key indicators of a website’s importance. Every time we click on an internet link, we’re contributing to our online profile.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/08/10/new-web-search-formulas-have-huge-implications-for-students-and-society/

By Meris Stansbury, eSchool News

What students should learn in school is at the forefront of the education reform debates taking place across the U.S. and elsewhere. Ed-tech stakeholders for years have been touting the need for students to learn so-called “21st century skills” such as problem solving, critical thinking, and media literacy to prepare for the new global, digital economy, while others are calling for students to have strong math and science skills. All of these skills are important—but what do educators and other school stakeholders think are the most important skills? We recently asked our readers: “If you could choose only one, what’s the skill you’d like every student to learn?”

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/08/11/ten-skills-every-student-should-learn/