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, June 11, 2005
Fairmont Rotary aids technologically deprived - JENNIFER BROOKENS, Sentinel News
Several local Rotary Club members have traveled to exotic locations in the past few years in order to help some Third World countries gain technology that many of us tend to take for granted. "The Rotary Cafe was started in 2000," explained Doug Hall, director of the Rotary Cafe program. "It was started to collect computers that are compatible and donate them to these area." According to the Rotary Cafe Web site, www.rotarycafe.org, its mission is to bring computer technology to the classrooms of countries where such access is not available. The mission is fulfilled through financial support and by collecting, refurbishing, distributing, installing and supporting computer usage in the identified countries. (0) comments
Student hacker accelerates school computer security - MARCUS TANTILLO, Citizen Reporter
The Pasadena Independent School District computer technology department has accelerated implementation of new security measures on the district's computer networks after a student hacker was discovered remotely controlling several computers on the network. The 17-year-old South Houston High School student was arrested and charged with breach of computer security Monday after he admitted using an outside software on district computers, said Troy Harrison, Pasadena ISD assistant police chief. Police did not release the students' name. (0) comments Friday, June 10, 2005
Parents count kids' calories online - eSchool News
As Garin Hughes picks through his school-lunch burrito and unidentifiable apple-pear dessert, he has a secret. Hidden underneath the eighth-grader's right leg is a chocolate cookie in shrink-wrapped plastic. In the past, his parents had no clue when he bought a treat at school. Now, thanks to a new school-lunch monitoring system, they can check over the internet and learn about that secret cookie. Health officials hope the new system will increase parents' involvement in what their kids eat at school. It's a concern, because federal health data show that up to 30 percent of U.S. children are either overweight or obese. (0) comments
Five Easy Ways to Integrate Computers Into the Health Science/Physical Education Curriculum - Jennifer Harman, techLearning
You have heard it time and time again: "This is the age of technology! We need to integrate computers into our curriculum!" But with an overwhelming pile of papers to grade and more and more expectations piling up on teachers every day, who has time to add computers to their curriculum? Well, to get you started, here are five easy ideas that are already prepared for you — all you have to do is use them! (0) comments Thursday, June 09, 2005
Honoring Student's Voices - Maria Fico, techLearning
As educators, we spend most of our professional careers looking for that one stroke of teaching genius that will change a child's life forever. We don't want to find ourselves approaching retirement feeling frustrated that that special moment never happened. Looking back, we want to be able to say, "I know I have made a difference." And when it does come it sends chills up your spine and brings tears to your eyes every time you think about it. I can still feel the lump in my throat every time I play back a tape from a 'slam session' and hear those student's voices. Their words are so personal, so moving and reality-based; a sharing of their deepest thoughts about life in an urban community all wrapped up in a poem. The program, developed 7 years ago with the help of the most special educators I know, is called Bronx WRITeS; Writers and Readers Incorporating Technology in Schools. (0) comments
Free Cmap software rivals Inspiration - eSchool News
A research institute in Pensacola, Fla., is taking concept-mapping software designed in part to preserve scientists' knowledge and is giving it to schools worldwide at no cost, as a tool to help children learn. The move could threaten some vendors that offer similar concept-mapping software for a fee--most notably Inspiration Software Inc., which has based its entire business model on selling a similar type of product. The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) designed its concept-mapping software, called Cmap Tools, to map out scientists' knowledge in diagram form. IMCH is providing the software at no cost to schools and is training teachers in Panama, the first country to adopt Cmap Tools nationwide, in how to use the software with their students. (0) comments Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Teachers hope robots will build 'whiz kids' - Yuri Kageyama, Innovation
\Japan, the world's second largest economy, achieved growth, modernisation and affluence over the past half-century largely on the back of its manufacturing prowess, best symbolised in companies like Toyota Motor Corporation and Sony Corporation. "But educators have noticed for some time that the abilities of Japanese students in science and math have been going down," says Hideo Tsuchida, one of the teachers for the robotics class at Tennoji High School. The high school in Osaka, central Japan, will receive 50-million yen($460 000) over three years in government money meant to produce technological whiz kids. Japan has budgeted 1,3-billion yen a year for the program, splitting the money between 82 high schools, which are using their grants to focus on rocket engineering, genetics and solar energy. Robotics is one area where Japan is still among the world's leaders, says Shigeaki Yanai of the Japan Robot Association, a trade group. (0) comments
Facilitates Team Building, Technology, Cultural, and Life Skills Learning
On June 7, ThinkQuest NYC will mark the end of its 2005 Internet Challenge with a live demonstration of the student-created websites at the historic Puck Building from 3:30 - 6:00 PM. The event showcases the work of nearly 3,700 public school students from New York City's five boroughs. Immediately following, there will be an awards ceremony featuring a performance by Warner Music Group newcomer pop group B5. The Internet Challenge uses website design technology to build self-confidence, knowledge, and teamwork to motivate young students to pursue education and career opportunities in technology, science, engineering, and math. ThinkQuest NYC's Awards Program recognizes the efforts of individuals and corporations whose significant contributions are helping ThinkQuest NYC to inspire technology and science learning in young students, their schools and their communities. The 2005 Internet Challenge was funded by Advanced Network & Services and Computer Associates (CA). (0) comments Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Hardwired for the 21st Century District eyes technology - AMANDA WOERNER, Chatham Courier
Starting in 2004, Chatham schools implemented a three-year plan for improving technology in schools throughout the district. Abdelmalak said that so far the plan has been successful but that the plan is, “not something that will happen overnight.” The plan began during the summer of 2004 when Chatham Middle School replaced all of its Macintosh computers with PC’s obtained through a three-year lease agreement with Dell Computers. Equipment over five years old was replaced at Chatham High School as well. During the summer of 2005 the district hopes to supply Lafayette School with all new computers and install new laptops at the high school. In the summer of 2006 the goal is to convert all kindergarten through third grade schools to PCs, installing all new equipment. After the initial replacements are made the district hopes to continue the lease agreement with Dell into 2006 to replace all three-year-old equipment. Whether this will continue will be subject to budgeting and voter approval, officials said. (0) comments
Make Your Mark website adds new career content for students
The Make Your Mark website (www.makeyourmark.org) provides a student-friendly resource for exploring careers in graphic communications. Students can follow real graphic communications professionals through a typical day on the job, take a behind-the-scenes tour of a printing facility, find out how their skills and interests match up with different career paths in the graphic communications industry, and start exploring the many opportunities open to them in graphic communications with practical information about educational programs, scholarships, and job openings. (0) comments Monday, June 06, 2005
Study: These factors retard digital teaching - Robert Brumfield, eSchool News
What's holding back the digital curriculum? A lot of things: too few classroom computers, poorly conceived professional development, and a lack of time to research and plan--to name three big factors, according to a new report from the nonprofit Education Development Center (EDC). The study, "Effective Access: Teachers' Use of Digital Resources in STEM Teaching," examines how high school teachers use digital libraries and other electronic resources to support "science, technology, engineering, and mathematics" (STEM) exploration and instruction. (0) comments
Professional Development Tips - Barbara Bray, techLearning
The best way to help your teachers is to identify what they really need to ensure student success and to improve their teaching practice. How do you do this as a professional developer? Many times we do not have the luxury of time to get to know our teachers. Yet there may be a way we can do this as part of the professional development. (0) comments Sunday, June 05, 2005
Playtime in the classroom - the Guardian
Arguing that pop culture is not dumbing us down, but making us more intelligent, is guaranteed to generate media buzz. And in the US, Everything Bad is Good for You, the new book by American pop science writer Steven Johnson, has indeed sparked a flurry of comment, much of it centred on his claims about the beneficial effects of watching reality TV and The Sopranos. In the UK, media attention has focused more on Johnson's observations that modern computer games require concentration, forward planning, lateral thinking and sustained problem solving - and, as such, offer a "cognitive workout" that can benefit overall mental development. (0) comments
Ear device blocks out background noise in class - Monica Robins, WKYC
The same technology that President Bush uses to make a speech is now in school classrooms. A tiny earpiece is helping some ten percent of school age children who suffer from audio learning disorders. The device blocks out distracting background noise. Imagine what it’s like concentrating in a typical school classroom. Often it’s a struggle, but even tougher for ten-year-old Jane Rezek, a third grader with auditory processing disorder or APD. (0) comments Educational Technology News Blog Archives OTEL - Ray's Home Page - Notebook - UIS Online - U of I Online - UIS Home Fair Use |
