5 ways to create a community of learners
Remote learning makes relationship-building more challenging--here are some ideas that can help
1-to-1 computing in the spotlight
South Dakota, Maine, and Wyoming top the list of states with the highest percentage of schools that have ubiquitous (one-to-one) computing programs for their students--while California ranks last…
Phones, PCs put eBooks within easy reach
Thanks largely to Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle, eBook sales are finally zooming after more than a decade in the doldrums--and students at five campuses this fall will pilot Amazon's…
SchoolMAX cited in back-to-school nightmare
It's every district's nightmare: thousands of students arrive on the first day of school with no schedule and nowhere to go ... and parents, teachers, and the media…
Digital pens: Mightier than MSWord?
A significant key to students' academic success is their ability to take complete and accurate notes during class--and recent developments in digital-pen technology might help students do just…
At Singularity U, tech is seen as savior
Chatter about ensuing plans permeates any graduation, though it's not common for the talk to surround which class projects will receive venture capital funding. Key words: singularity university,…
Microsoft motivates innovative teachers
A tic-tac-toe game based on the Industrial Revolution that uses the principles of universal design to give students multiple ways of learning will be the U.S. representative in…
Huge demand far exceeds broadband grants
"Cash for Clunkers" isn't the only economic stimulus program to attract a lot of takers: The federal government on Aug. 27 said it has received requests for nearly…
Duncan floats school turnaround plan
Education Secretary Arne Duncan has proposed new rules for distributing $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement Grants to turn around the nation's lowest performing schools. The plan…
FCC probes iPhone-Google app dispute
A federal probe of practices in the wireless industry could have significant implications for school leaders and others who use smart phones and other wireless devices to communicate.…
Poll: Americans favor Obama’s school reforms
Most Americans want to change No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and they favor several education reforms backed by the Obama administration, such as charter schools and teacher merit…
Judge: District’s visitor ID system is OK
A federal judge ruled Aug. 18 that a computerized background-check system made by Raptor Technologies does not violate the constitutional rights of parents and other school visitors who…
TPACK explores effective ed-tech integration
As technology becomes an increasingly important tool for teaching and learning, a relatively new concept--focusing on how educators can effectively and effortlessly tailor technology to their instructional practices--is…
SAT scores dip for high school class of 2009
Average scores on the SAT college entrance exam dipped slightly for the high school class of 2009, while gender, race, and income gaps widened, according to figures released…
Feds issue more guidance on swine flu
Schools and colleges should be ready with hard-copy packets and online lessons to keep learning going even if swine flu sickens large numbers of students this year, U.S.…
O’Connor touts civics lessons via online games
A free computer game for teenagers created with the help of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has made its online debut. Key words: Sandra Day O'Connor,…
Panelists to FCC: Raise e-Rate funding cap
The e-Rate can play a significant role in the national broadband plan being developed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), panelists said during an Aug. 20 hearing--but for…
Tech director helps bring women into IT
A German literature major never anticipates a career in information technology, but Deborah Keyek-Franssen's unconventional career path isn't so uncommon among female IT officials on college campuses, she…
Virtual 3-D lab aims to stimulate learning
Students at a Baltimore County high school this fall will explore the area surrounding Mount St. Helens in a vehicle that can morph from an aircraft to a…
Site spurs debate over required courses
Should American colleges and universities require students to take courses in certain core subjects considered important to a 21st-century education, such as science, economics, history, and foreign languages?…
$650M in new grants target innovation
U.S. schools will have a chance this fall to compete for part of $650 million in new "innovation" funds that are intended to reward districts that have designed…
Google rivals to fight book-scanning settlement
The fight against a legal settlement that would give Google Inc. the digital rights to millions of copyrighted books is starting to resemble a heavyweight brawl in the…
Teacher quality under the microscope
It's no secret that one of the keys to creating better schools is to raise the quality of teaching in the nation's classrooms. But how to identify, and…
Gates Foundation seeks keys to effective teaching
Ever since Americans sent their children to one-room schoolhouses, parents have known what makes a good school: inspiring, organized, and creative teachers. But researchers haven't been able to…
Card catalog? Most freshmen have never used one
Most teens starting college this fall have never used a card catalog, and they've always been able to read books on an electronic screen. Text has always been…
Stimulus could spur more virtual charter schools
As states compete for more than $4 billion in federal "Race to the Top" stimulus grants, Education Secretary Arne Duncan has made it clear that states willing to…
Technology helps bring rare books back to print
Dozens of university libraries have made vast book collections available online, and University of Michigan library officials have begun selling hard copies of out-of-print books they have digitized…
Technology helps bring rare books back to print
Dozens of university libraries have made vast book collections available online, and University of Michigan library officials have begun selling hard copies of out-of-print books they have digitized…
Film series profiles visionaries in 21st-century education
The nonprofit Pearson Foundation hopes to start conversations and get people thinking about educational innovation with a new film series that profiles remarkable people and their accomplishments in…
Facebook sparks suspicion among students
Social-networking giant Facebook has evolved into a breeding ground for personal spats among college couples who closely watch how their partners interact with friends, according to a recent…
Funding advice for online learning
As online learning continues to gain momentum across the country, education experts are warning that policies surrounding this popular learning option are shaky at best. A new report…
Momentum building on STEM education
As part of the Obama administration's emphasis on bringing education into the 21st century, it comes as no surprise that policy makers have trained their focus on STEM…
College textbook rentals gaining traction
A University of Mississippi student is renting a chemistry textbook for $9.99 this fall rather than buying the book for $157.95. Another student from the University of South…
Focus on school data bolsters case for SIF
As little as a few years ago, the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF)--a solution that allows school software applications from various vendors to share information seamlessly--was making slow headway…
Study: Campuses unprepared for catastrophe
Most colleges and universities are prepared to respond to bomb threats, hazardous material spills, and severe weather, but only a small fraction of campuses have policies that would…
California lists state-approved digital textbooks
Following up on their plan to encourage the use of free, open digital textbooks among the state's schools, California education leaders on Aug. 11 released a list of…
Technology can reduce summer ‘melt’
Faculty and staff at Muskegon Community College in Michigan used to avoid George Maniates, knowing the campus official would ask them to call students as tuition deadlines approached.…
Technology can reduce summer ‘melt’
Faculty and staff at Muskegon Community College in Michigan used to avoid George Maniates, knowing the campus official would ask them to call students as tuition deadlines approached.…
Student can re-enroll after blog dispute
A University of Louisville nursing student expelled over blog posts about an assignment to follow a woman the day she gave birth has won the right to return…
School IT chiefs mull Windows 7
Software giant Microsoft Corp. is hoping to erase the bad memories of its last major upgrade to the Windows operating system, Vista, with its release of Windows 7…
Resource Library:
The Complete Guide to Computer Science Education for Elementary Classrooms
Introducing computer science at the elementary level gives young learners a strong foundation for the future. By learning tech skills early, students are set up for success in school and…
Take measure of your mathematics practices
DNA Mathematics professional development empowers educators to master the mathematics being taught in classrooms. To exemplify the benefits of DNA Mathematics, download our FREE white paper now to learn a…
Enhance PreK-5 STEAM and CS Instruction with playful, screen-free robotics!
Research shows that young students learn STEAM and Computer Science best with hands-on, playful experiences. Meet KIBO, the screen-free robot, where students problem solve, engineer, collaborate, and develop their computational…