Educational Technology Ray Schroeder, editor, OTEL - University of Illinois at Springfield |
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News, Techniques and Theories of Effective Use of Technology in Education 
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Saturday, April 17, 2004
Enough to Go Around? Budget and TCO Tool Kit - Todd McIntire, techLearning
The past four years have seen a precipitous decline in funding for school technology programs. According to Quality Education Data, spending on instructional technology peaked at $8.36 billion in the 1998-99 school year, falling by more than half a billion dollars each year for the next four years to $5.74 billion. This represents a spending decline of more than 32 percent. Due to the increasing gap between revenues and costs, a number of states, including Wisconsin and California, were forced to severely reduce or fully cut instructional technology grants to local school districts. In turn, districts canceled systems upgrades, reduced staffing, cut training programs, stretched replacement cycles, and trimmed similar "nonessentials". (0) comments
Arizona schools wired but lack training, tech support - Sherrie Buzby, The Arizona Republic
It was an ambitious plan with immense implications: one computer for every eight students in Arizona public schools. The Arizona School Facilities Board spent $212.5 million in state money buying educational software, loading computers into classrooms and building the wire infrastructure to support them. (0) comments Friday, April 16, 2004
School leaders learn how to use data to improve instruction - Corey Murray, eSchool News
Data-driven decision making and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) were the focus of a conference held April 8 in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), the event featured national lawmakers as well as educators and other stakeholders who have a vested interest in seeing children succeed in the classroom. A primary emphasis at the conference: how to go beyond the mere collection of data to developing effective methods for using those data to advance student achievement. (0) comments
Could brain implants liberate students with disabilities? - eSchool News
For years, futurists have dreamed of machines that could translate pure thought into action. Now, human trials are set to begin on an interface involving chips implanted in the brain that one day might enable students with severe disabilities to communicate effectively and even learn in a traditional classroom setting. Cyberkinetics Inc. of Foxboro, Mass., has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin a clinical trial in which four-square-millimeter chips will be placed beneath the skulls of paralyzed patients. (0) comments Thursday, April 15, 2004
How To: Use an E-Mail List - Jeffrey Branzburg, techLearning
E-mail lists (also known as LISTSERVS(tm)) represent the inherent democratic nature of the Internet, a vehicle through which people can quickly and easily engage in the free exchange of ideas, information, and opinions. Here are some tips for getting up to speed. E-mail lists are organized by topic of interest, such as the "Foreign Language Teaching Forum" or the "Elementary Education List." People with an interest in the topic can subscribe to the list to receive periodic e-mails. Some lists are read-only and similar to newsletters; others give subscribers the option to post to the list, which sends an e-mail that automatically goes out to all other subscribers. (0) comments
'E-learning' costs debated in S.D. - Associated Press
The demand for high school courses through Northern State University's e-learning center has some legislators wondering if the program is growing too quickly. Some lawmakers also question how long NSU can offer the courses without charge to high school students on a first-come, first served basis. The issues came up when the Legislature earlier this year approved two additional staff positions and another studio for Northern's Center for Statewide E-learning. The center provides classes to high school students over the Internet and through the state's Dakota Digital Network. It was created in 2001 at the urging of then-Gov. Bill Janklow. He insisted the classes be free to schools. (0) comments Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Introduction to Blogs and Blogging - Michael Stach, techLearning
Think of the words we use when introducing a new assignment. Sometimes they can create counter-productive images in the minds of students. For example, imagine saying to a class of seventh-graders, "Today we are going to write a diary." For adolescent girls a diary may be pink in color guarded by a heart-shaped lock and containing the secrets of school ground crushes. But chances are most of the boys will be turned off as soon as they hear the word diary. Yet imagine the teacher saying "Today we are going to write a journal." Now the word journal carries with it the notion of Lewis and Clark and of other brave explorers keeping a leather-bound record of their discoveries and adventures. It sounds more acceptable – rugged, no-nonsense, and even important. Try saying "Today we start blogging." (0) comments
Mainstreaming Exceptional Students into Technology Classrooms - Rosemary Shaw, techLearning
There is something wonderful about computers and children. It seems to help equalize the learning and playing field for a lot of students. Also, when working in technology, students have a better opportunity to learn at their own pace, as well as to learn in their own unique ways. Since I began teaching technology, I have run the gamut of student exceptionalities. But then, I have always felt an affinity for Special Needs Students. In college, I volunteered with profoundly mentally disabled children. Even during student teaching, I found myself giving up my lunch and prep times to hang out in the Exceptional Ed classrooms. (0) comments Tuesday, April 13, 2004
eRate players clash over high-stakes issues - Cara Branigan, eSchool News
As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prepares to make key changes to the eRate--such as increasing the minimum amount the neediest applicants are required to contribute, and possibly eliminating the Form 470 used to seek competitive bids--stakeholders in the $2.25 billion-a-year federal program remain sharply divided as to what these changes should entail. About 45 applicants, consultants, and vendors responded to the FCC's "Third Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" by the March deadline. The notice continued the agency's effort to explore ways of improving the program's application process and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. (0) comments
Four Heidelberg students teach math via TV - Cathy Willoughby, Advertiser-Tribune
Hugs were not available, but fun math facts were transmitted from Tiffin to four northwest Ohio elementary classrooms. Four Heidelberg College students, Chrissy Monnin, Kristie Armstrong-Batik, Andrea Bluhm and Joni Wilhelm, have spent five weeks conducting math lessons from a distance-learning facility. Using Lab Partners in downtown Tiffin, the "Math Club'' has taught elementary students critical and creative thinking skills to help with proficiency standards. (0) comments Monday, April 12, 2004
Teaching with Historic Places Lesson Plans -- The Penniman House: A Whaling Story
First launched in 1991, the Teaching with Historic Places Lesson Plans from the National Park Service has really served to bring history to life for the benefit of young people by bringing together a number of pieces of historical documentation together for use by teachers in the classroom. One of the latest plans utilizes documents related to the grand home of Captain Penniman (a whale trader in Massachusetts in the 19th century), which not only tells the story of this historic site, but also that of the experiences of whaling families more broadly. As with all of the other previous lesson plans, this one also starts with an inquiry question where students examine a piece of visual evidence, then are asked to proceed by looking at the broader historical context by reading a brief essay and examining several maps. All of this material (including the primary historical documents and associated readings) is contained within this site, which also has detailed material for teachers on how to incorporate this lesson plan into the classroom. From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2003. http://scout.wisc.edu/ (0) comments
Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology
Funded with a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET) is a project of the International Society for Technology in Education, with collaboration with Education Support Systems and the Sacramento County Office of Education. The primary function of CARET is to bridge "educational technology research to practice by offering research-based answers to critical questions." To that end, one of the primary goals of the Center is to offer critical reviews of articles and studies related to educational technology. Fortunately for interested academics and practitioners, these reviews are archived here, and in many cases include links to the full-text of the reviewed article in question and other relevant documents. The site also contains a Helpful Resource" section, which offers a list of thematically organized weblinks (in such areas as curriculum and instruction and policy) and a glossary of terms that is intended to help users of the site as the read the research reviews. From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2003. http://scout.wisc.edu/ (0) comments Sunday, April 11, 2004
Choice is undermining regular schools and communities - Bill Mcauliffe, Star Tribune
For Susanne Dehnhard Carpenter of Minneapolis, the choice between middle school in the city and one in neighboring St. Anthony for her seventh-grader was a close call. Carpenter chose St. Anthony, and a bit of remorse. "I think Minneapolis has some really great programs," said Carpenter. "I tried and I tried, but in the end I realized, 'I can't do this.' So, yes, I feel guilty." Ambivalence may be the dominant feeling that parents and educators have about Minnesota's school options. With open enrollment, college credit options, charter schools, area learning centers and home schools, the state is a national leader in school choice. And those are just the public options. (0) comments
Schools offer online classes to stem exodus of students - RACHEL ZINN, TOLEDO BLADE
Some Ohio public school districts - locked in a heated tug-of-war for students with charter schools, home school, and work options - are hoping to yank students back with an online rope. Perrysburg and Lima schools are among more than 40 districts across Ohio operating "digital academies" that teach students at home using computer software and online interaction with instructors. Springfield, Maumee, Sylvania, Oregon, Tiffin, and Findlay schools, along with dozens of other districts around the state, are planning to set up similar virtual schools. (0) comments Educational Technology News Blog Archives OTEL - Ray's Home Page - Notebook - UIS Online - U of I Online - UIS Home Fair Use |
