T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education) articles from August 2008

T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education) archives from August 2008

New Mexico launches statewide eLearning initiative.(NEWS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... As part of its Innovative Digital Education and Learning initiative, New Mexico is launching a statewide program to standardize on a single electronic learning platform--Blackboard--spanning K-12, higher education, adult education, and...

Going green or hoarding green?(RESEARCH)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Organizations have the desire to reduce their impact on the environment but lack the will to pay a premium for cleaner operations, according to a cross-sector survey released recently by IT hosting solutions provider Rackspace. The survey...

Serotek offers free K-12 computing tool for the blind.(RESOURCES)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Software developer Serotek has announced a new program for blind and visually impaired students called Keys for K-12. The program provides the company's System Access Mobile text-to-speech and screen magnification software free through an...

2008 School Safety Index Self-Assessment Tool goes online.(what's ONLINE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... CDW-G has posted its 2008 School Safety Index Self-Assessment Assessment Tool online. The tool, which debuted at the 2008 National Educational Computing Conference in San Antonio, TX, allows schools to take a survey and score their safety based...

Minnesota District expands virtual school statewide.(HOT TOPICS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The Minnesota Center of Online Learning announced this week that it's expanding its online virtual school to accept more students from around the state. The online school operates out of Houston Public Schools (MN)....

Final call for T.H.E. Journal Innovators nominations.(HOT TOPICS)
August 1, 2008... Submissions for T.H.E. Journal's 2008 Innovators awards will close on August 29. Don't hesitate to nominate your K-12 school, visionary technology project leaders, and innovative vendor partners who have worked together to deploy extraordinary...

Mitigating the internet's negative consequences.(HOT TOPICS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... For the last 11 years, Marje Monroe and Doug Fodeman have worked to educate schools, parents, and students about the issues that affect children in an online world. Their website, www.childrenonline.org, offers practical articles, resources,...

Do-it-yourself IP video surveillance in Arkansas.(CASE STUDY)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... When the need arose, Arnol Shaw, IT director for Fort Smith Public Schools in Arkansas, knew exactly who should tackle the work of implementing an IP video surveillance program in the district: his own IT team. After all, his two wiring...

Weighing in on STEM: a British study proposes a quick fix to boost the dwindling number of students opting to study science and math.(our::SPACE)
August 1, 2008... YOUR CHEMISTRY DEGREE should count for more than my English degree. At least that's what the authors of a recent report titled "Relative Difficulty of Examinations in Different Subjects" seem to want us to believe. The report, released...

Outside the comfort zone: spend time looking into happenings in sectors other than yours, and you may just catch a glimpse into the future of education.(commentary)
August 1, 2008... I ORDERED THE BOOK Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns by Clayton Christensen, Michael Horn, and Curtis Johnson (McGraw-Hill, 2008) the other day on Amazon.com. Like other websites, Amazon has a...

Tech::watch: this issue's ups and downs.(keynotes)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [up arrow] RFID: Automated system frees librarians from having to touch every book checked in and out by students. New device credited with dramatic districtwide drop in cooties. [down arrow] RUGGEDIZED: Digital Age term describing laptops...

WestEd, Quantum receive $2.8 million grant for AI research: organizations plan a four-year study to evaluate the impact of chemistry tutoring software on student achievement.(in::brief: Technology + Online + Industry + Partnerships)
August 1, 2008... WESTED (www.wested.org), a nonprofit research and development agency, and Quantum Simulations (www.quantumsimulations.com), a developer of artificial intelligence tutoring, assessment, and professional development software, have been awarded a...

First 21st-century skills map debuts.(in::brief: Technology + Online + Industry + Partnerships)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... THE PARTNERSHIP FOR 21ST Century Skills (www.21stcenturyskills.org), an organization focused on infusing 21st-century skills into education, and the National Council for the Social Studies (www.ncss.org), an association devoted to social...

Netop acquires GenevaLogic.(Industry News)(acqusitions)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Danish software company Netop (www.netop.com), formerly known as Danware A/S, a leader in remote control, teaching, and security software, has acquired GenevaLogic (www.genevalogic.com), an international leader in active teaching systems. The...

Sony launches user benefits program.(Industry News)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Sony (www.sony.com) is now offering educational institutions a range of end-user benefits through a program called Eye on Education. By participating in this program, education customers can receive competitive pricing, exclusive service and...

Elementary school wins it award.(Awards)(Sacramento Elementary School)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Portland, OR-based Sacramento Elementary Sehool received the Leader in Instructional Technology Award from the Siboney Learning Group (www.siboneylearninggroup.com), publisher of Orchard Software. The award program recognizes schools and...

History teacher honored for innovation.(Awards)(Candace Schafer-Southard)(Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools teacher Candace Schafer-Southard was recently named Virginia's 2008 Preserve America (www.preserveamerica.gov) History Teacher of the Year. She is an 11th-grade Virginia and US history teacher at...

Keeley begins term as NSTA president.(People)(appointment of Page Keeley at National Science Teachers Association)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... On June 1, Page Keeley, senior science program director at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (www.mmsa.org), began her one-year term as president of the National Science Teachers Association (www.nsta.org), the largest professional...

Cisco appoints new VP of global education.(People)
August 1, 2008... Cisco Systems (www.cisco.com), a worldwide leader in networking solutions, has recently appointed Michael Stevenson vice president of global education. He is tasked with developing the company's education strategy and leading the implementation...

Lighting the way: T.H.E. Journal's own online editor and techie gives the scoop on breakthrough projector technologies that are slated to hit the shelves in the coming year.(21st-century classroom)(Editorial)
August 1, 2008... AFTER YEARS OF READING about projection technologies that are "just around the corner" but never quite come into fruition, we're finally on the cusp of some revolutionary innovations, from palm-sized "pico" projectors to devices with USB-based...

Make it count: budget crunches are elevating the need for K-12 technology leaders to demonstrate a favorable return on investment. Here's how to ensure you're getting what you pay for.(the smart money)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOW CAN ROI be demonstrated? It's the conundrum now facing school ed tech leaders as the struggling national economy has district administrators watching over technology expenditures ever closer, insisting on a...

Make it stretch: as technology funding dwindles, districts must use the resources they do have to maximum advantage.(the smart money)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IF YOU'RE A K-12 EDUCATOR traveling down the information superhighway, you're likely to hit some speed bumps. And the biggest of those will be a lack of money. While legislators proclaim the need for 21st-century...

Make it work: a tight budget doesn't have to mean sacrificing the most advanced education technology. You can create a cutting-edge media center with vision, creativity, and a strong dose of technical savvy.(the smart money)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANNIE MCQUEEN, LIBRARIAN AT David Starr Jordan Middle School in the Palo Alto Unified School District in California, is used to figuring out creative ways of getting what her media center needs, even though her...

High maintenance: running a successful 1-to-1 program requires diligent upkeep--along with a few veteran tricks of the trade.(1 -to-1 computing)
August 1, 2008... FEW DISTRICTS HAVE MORE MLLES on their 1-to-1 computing initiatives than Texas' Irving Independent School District, where the teachers have had laptops since 1996 and the current student program began with a pilot launched in 2001. Today, the...

Turning Technologies.(product:: FOCUS: The latest releases, services, and new product versions)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TURNING TECHNOLOGIES has introduced ResponseCard AnyWhere, a new addition to its lineup of products. The LCD screen-equipped handheld receiver is about the size of a deck of cards, and does not require a projector,...

Scientific Learning.(product:: FOCUS: The latest releases, services, and new product versions)
August 1, 2008... SCIENTIFIC LEARNING has redeveloped its signature elementary reading and language software, resulting in Fast ForWord Language Series v2. Research-based exercises included in the software are designed to help struggling readers develop critical...

Texas Instruments.(product:: FOCUS: The latest releases, services, and new product versions)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The TI-Nspire handheld graphing calculator from TEXAS INSTRUMENTS is designed to help students develop a deeper understanding of math concepts, from pre-algebra through calculus. Students can use the calculator to...

Extracurricular: for technologists who do their homework.
August 1, 2008... Learning management systems have had a transformative effect on K-12 instruction, allowing for the organization and delivery of online content to students. Here is a look at which LMS providers technology directors prefer, and to what ends the...