6/10-Ed Tech in the News

eLearning
University of Denver chooses online degree program
"The University of Denver's University College chose eCollege to power the graduate school's online degree program. "Distance education provides tremendous opportunities for our students, and it is imperative that we provide the highest quality curriculum, technology and services to drive student success," James Davis, dean of University College, said in a statement.
"University College and the University of Denver have a fantastic academic reputation both in our local community and nationally, and we look forward to building on the strong foundation that the College has created for its online programs," Oakleigh Thorne, chairman and CEO of eCollege, said in a statement. "

(The Denver Business Journal)

Teacher Training
Alabama Teachers Show How to Use Technology in Classrooms
"The school year has ended for most students in the Selma City School System, but class was still in session on Wednesday for 12 teachers who had to demonstrate a final project for their technology training workshop. The presentations marked the end of a year long Technology in Motion training program conducted by the Central Alabama Regional Education Inservice Center. Throughout the year, the teachers said they were taught how to use PowerPoint, examine different types of software, and collaborated on designing classroom projects that had to be implemented.At their last meeting on Monday, the teachers took turns showcasing the technology-based projects they implemented in the classroom, and discussed the problems they faced and offered suggestions for future use."

(Troha, Selma Times-Journal)

Megaconference Junior 2005

The Megaconference Junior 2005 event was held on May 19, 2005. Megaconference Jr. is a project designed to give students in elementary and secondary schools around the world the opportunity to communicate, collaborate and contribute to each other's learning in real time, using advanced multi-point video conferencing technology. It is sponsored in part by the Internet2 project whose membership includes more than 200 U.S. universities, working with industryand government. Internet2 develops and deploys advancednetwork applications and technologies for research and higher education, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet.

Susan Patrick participated in the 12-hour virtual conference as one of 45 international presenters from across the globe. She discussed the educational policy implications of the new U.S. National Educational Technology Plan and responded to “live” questions from participants in different locations and also joined in online chat room discussions. One area of student interest was how U.S. students could link with other schools and students in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq. Susan briefly described the Department’s Friendship Through Education initiative and encouraged their participation.

6/9-Ed Tech in the News

Florida STEM School Gives Opportunities to Students
Boca Raton High School implemented the STEM (Science, Technology, Engin-eering, and Mathematics) Academy this past school year in an effort, administrators say, to bring more opportunities to the students interested in those fields of study.“The most common careers students are picking are in the medical fields, such as doctors. Some also want to be dentists and nurses,” school principal Geoff McKee said. “We’re really going to step up their exposure once they have the program.”About 63 freshmen are currently enrolled in the four-year program, which gives the students an opportunity for hands-on experimentation and a combination of Advanced Placement courses, according to school officials. And about 111 students are signed up for the program next year.
(Jenkins, Boca Raton News)

6/8- Ed Tech in the News

Virtual Schools
Virtual School Allows Virginia Tennis Player to Continue High School
"Chris Hincker is a 16-year-old who truly loves tennis. Two years ago, he ranked 85th in the nation in his age group until an injury set him back. Trying to bounce back requires him to play tennis full-time, which means it's nearly impossible for Chris to attend school everyday. Through the Keystone National High School website, Chris writes papers, takes exams, and corresponds with his teachers through e-mail. It's convenient because Chris can log on and complete the work anytime of the day." (WDBJ7.com)

Technology Credited for Rapid Growth of U. Phoenix
"The University of Phoenix owes much of its phenomenal growth in the past few years to technology, which has enabled the 200,000-student for-profit institution to automate many labor-intensive tasks, including admissions, Phoenix's president told educators and business executives in a speech here on Friday." "While many traditional colleges are struggling with issues of access, particularly for poor and minority students, Ms. Palmer Noone said technology has allowed Phoenix to enroll a diverse student body. Women account for 56 percent of its enrollment, and minority students make up 40 percent. Still, technology can help only so much, she admitted. One area of concern for Phoenix as it grows is faculty recruitment. Less than 30 percent of faculty applicants who go through the university's interview process are successful." (Selingo, Chronicle of Higher Education)

Virtual Schools Seen as Possible Solution to Education Woes
“Michigan Virtual University, the nonprofit organization created by the state to offer online training and education, is changing its focus to concentrate exclusively on high schools.”
“Although its official name is still Michigan Virtual University, you'll be hearing about it mostly as Michigan Virtual High School, serving K-12 students and educators.”
“The change in emphasis comes as a natural progression of Michigan's educational needs, according to Jamey Fitzpatrick, MVU's interim president.”
"This is where the demand is," said Fitzpatrick. "The whole concept of e-learning at the high school level is catching fire across the nation, and we in Michigan are leaders in this field."
(Wendland, Detroit Free Press)

Teacher Training
Tennessee Technology Conference Enables Colleagues to Teach Each Other
"Some 200 educators from Hamilton County and several surrounding counties will attend the third annual Teachers Teaching Teachers Technology Conference to learn how to better integrate technology in their classrooms. The 'T 4' Conference will take place Wednesday, June 15, at Lakeside Academy from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m." (The Chattanoogan)

Prensky : Cell Phones as Learning Tools

What Can You Learn from a Cell Phone? Almost Anything!

by Marc Prensky

One and a half billion people, all over the world, are walking around with powerful computers in their pockets and purses. The fact is they often do not realize it, because they call them something else. But today's high-end cell phones have the computing power of a mid-1990s personal computer (PC)—while consuming only one one-hundredth of the energy. Even the simplest, voice-only phones have more complex and powerful chips than the 1969 on-board computer that landed a spaceship on the moon.

In the United States, it is almost universally acknowledged that computers are essential for 21st-century students.

Evaluation based on Baldrige - Taking Education Technology to the Next Level

We did an amazing site visit yesterday to Montgomery County Schools in Maryland.

Classrooms are complete with mission statements, flow charts, and data display boards so that students and teachers always know where they stand in their journey of continuous improvement.

“These elementary school students are doing at their level what CEOs of major corporations wish they could get their MBAs to do in terms of problem solving,” said Dr. Weast. “Baldrige is not only helping us improve as a system, it’s preparing these youngsters for success in life.”

Get a glimpse!

Youngsters Going Online

More Nursery School Children Going Online

By BEN FELLER, AP Education Writer

Before they can even read, almost one in four children in nursery school is learning a skill that even some adults have yet to master: using the Internet.

Some 23 percent of children in nursery school — kids age 3, 4 or 5 — have gone online, according to the Education Department. By kindergarten, 32 percent have used the Internet, typically under adult supervision.

The numbers underscore a trend in which the largest group of new users of the Internet are kids 2 to 5. At school and home, children are viewing Web sites with interactive stories and animated lessons that teach letters, numbers and rhymes.

"Young students don't differentiate between the face-to-face world and the Internet world," said Susan Patrick, who oversees technology for the department. "They were born into the age of the Internet. They see it as part of the continuum of the way life is today."

As one high school student told Patrick recently: "You grew up with music in your blood. Well, we have technology in our blood."

Story

U.S. Department of Education Report

6/7-EdTech in the News

Virtual Schools Raise Questions
"The Clark County School District's "Virtual High School" fills a growing student demand, for sure, but it makes us uneasy about the future of education. And why wouldn't it? It's a school where students never have to show up in a regular classroom, except for standardized tests and final exams. All of the course work is absorbed and studied at home, via the student's home computer. Teachers deliver their lectures in real time. There are class discussions and questions are asked and answered, just like a real classroom, only it's not. It's probably a home office, or bedroom, and there are no classmates in sight.

Is this the future of education? Millions of students sitting home rather than venturing forth into the world each day, there to meet, and learn to socialize with, hundreds of other people? What kind of agoraphobic society awaits future generations?" (Las Vegas Sun, 6/6)