Georgia 4-H Technology Update

Researcher tracks use of communications tools

2006-08-10T11:23:00.000-05:00

BusinessWeek Online reports that a recent Swiss study has found that people tend to use their communications technology in specialized ways with specific audiences. We know that cell phone users in general spend a lot of time talking into these devices, but researchers have found that on average, cell phone users generally use it to talk to very few people. In fact, the researchers found that the average cell phone user makes the majority of his calls to just four people. Stefana Broadbent, an ethnologist for Swisscomm Innovations, a division of Switzerland's largest telecom operator, says that the expanded communications environment we find ourselves in today has led to "specializing" communications channels. For example, cell phone, eMail, and fixed phone line users tend to differentiate their use of these devices by sorting into content, habits, and communication partners... http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/aug2006/id20060808_517319.htm?chan=search

Survey: Online predatory solicitations down

2006-08-10T11:22:00.000-05:00

The Associated Press reports that researchers have found that youths are receiving fewer sexual solicitations online as they have become savvier about with whom they communicate. These findings, which come from a telephone-based survey sponsored by the government-funded National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, run counter to recent media reports about the dangers lurking on social networking sites such as MySpace.com, which are believed to be havens for online predators. The study of youths aged 10 to 17 was conducted from March to June 2005, during MySpace's rapid ascent. 13 percent of the surveyed youths reported receiving sexual solicitations compared to 17 percent who reported receiving solicitations in a 1999-2000 survey. In both surveys, 4 percent reported receiving aggressive solicitations... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060810/ap_on_hi_te/online_predators;_ylt=AkyhN4P3Z2MYeRwxdLEPH5xj24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

Robots teach kids math, science

2006-08-10T11:21:00.000-05:00

Post-Gazette.com reports that a new partnership between Carnegie Mellon University and LEGO Education has enables approximately a dozen schools in Pittsburgh and 50 schools in southwestern Pennsylvania to place robots in math and science classrooms. Carnegie Mellon has written a curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students on how to use the NXT model, the newest and most advanced LEGO robot in the popular MINDSTORMS robot-building set. The NXT is so advanced, that the technology used was not even available to NASA ten years ago. However, thanks to the partnership, these learning tools will be available to any math and science classroom at a cost of about $200 dollars... http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06222/712431-298.stm

Warnings about social-networking sites

2006-08-09T10:21:00.000-05:00

As the popularity of social-networking web sites such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com continues to rise, many college campuses have taken to discussing the dangers often associated with these and other sites as a part of their freshman orientation programs. While the sites can be effective vehicles for tech-savvy students to meet and greet new friends, administrators say, students should be careful about the type of content they post online and how that content might affect their reputation and that of their school. August 4, 2006—Incoming college students are hearing the usual warnings this summer about the dangers of everything from alcohol to credit card debt. But many are also getting lectured on a new topic--the risks of internet postings, particularly on popular social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.com. From large public schools such as Western Kentucky to smaller private ones like Birmingham-Southern and Smith, colleges around the country have revamped their orientation talks to students and parents to include online behavior. Others, Susquehanna University and Washington University in St. Louis among them, have new role-playing skits on the topic that students will watch and then break into smaller groups to discuss. Facebook, geared toward college students and boasting 7.5 million registered users, is a particular focus. But students are also hearing stories about those who came to regret postings to other online venues, from party photos on sites such as Webshots.com to comments about professors in blogs. "The particular focus is the public nature of this," said Tracy Tyree, Susquehanna's dean of student life. "That seems to be what surprises students most. They think of it as part of their own little world, not a bigger electronic world." The attention colleges are devoting to the topic is testimony both to the exploding popularity of online networking on campus and to the time and energy administrators have spent dealing with the fallout when students post things that become more public than they intended. Northwestern temporarily suspended its women's soccer program last spring after hazing photos surfaced online, while athletes at Elon University, Catholic University, Wake Forest, and the University of Iowa were also disciplined or...... http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6495

Apple unveils new operating system

2006-08-09T09:33:00.000-05:00

Apple unveils new operating system USA Today reports that Apple opened conference for software developers with a preview of its new operating system "Leopard," which will be released in the spring. The new OS will include enhanced speech-recognition software, a video chat tool, and an automatic backup program. Leopard will be released just after Microsoft releases its long-awaited Vista operating system. Ross Rubin, an analyst at the market research firm NPD Groups says that the new additions "are a strong argument for buying a Mac." This development, in addition to Apple's adoption of Intel chips, and the Boot Camp software which allows users to run Windows seems to be fueling Apple's market resurgence... http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/gear/computing/2006-08-07-mac-pro_x.htm ]

Apple unveils new operating system

2006-08-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

Study: Multitasking hinders learning

2006-08-02T13:21:00.000-05:00

http://www.eschoolnews.com Contents Copyright 2006 eSchool News. All rights reserved. Study: Multitasking hinders learning Distraction-free studying is more efficient and effective, new brain research suggests From eSchool News staff and wire service reports July 26, 2006 Today's students might be "media multitaskers" who are adept at juggling homework assignments while watching TV or instant-messaging their friends--but new brain research suggests that such distractions can affect the way people learn, making the knowledge they gain harder to use later on. The study, published in the July 24 edition of the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences," also provides a clue about why this happens. "What's new is that even if you can learn while distracted, it changes how you learn"--making the learning "less efficient and useful," said Russell A. Poldrack, a psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. The study's findings could have important implications for today's students--and the educators charged with instructing them. A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation last year found third-graders through 12th-graders devoted, on average, more than six hours per day to TV or videos, music, video games, and computers. That study referred to the current generation of learners as "media multitaskers," nearly one-third of whom said they chat on the phone, surf the web, send instant messages, watch TV, or listen to music "most of the time" while doing their homework (see story: Here). As Poldrack explains it, the brain learns in two different ways. One, called declarative learning, involves the medial temporal lobe and deals with learning active facts that can be recalled and used with great flexibility. The second, involving the striatum, is called habit learning. For instance, in learning a phone number you can simply memorize it, using declarative learning, and can then recall it whenever needed, Poldrack explained. A second way to learn it is by habit: "punch it in 1,000 times, then even if you don't remember it consciously, you can go to the phone and punch it in," he said. Memorizing often is more useful, he pointed out: "If you use the habit system, you have to be at a phone to recreate the movements." The problem, Poldrack said, is that the two types of learning seem to be competing with each other, and when someone is distracted, habit learning seems to take over from declarative learning. "We have to multitask in today's world, but you have to be aware of this," he said. "When a kid is trying to learn new concepts, new information, distraction is going to be bad, it's going to impair [her or his] ability to learn." That doesn't mean Poldrack thinks a silent environment is essential--music can help in learning, because it can make the individual happier, he said. But in general, "distraction is almost always a bad thing." What Poldrack and his colleagues did was to use brain imaging to study the parts of the brain in use when 14 people were learning. Participants were asked to predict the weather after receiving a repeated set of cues. During part of the learning, researchers added a second task where participants had to keep a running mental count of high tones they heard, thus adding an element of distraction. The results showed that when doing single-task learning, the brain used the region associated with declarative memory, while the habit-memory region was associated with dual-task learning. The dual-task learning did not affect the participants' ability to predict weather at the time, but it reduced their knowledge about the task during a follow-up session later. "In my opinion, this article represents a significant step forward in understanding the interaction between the various memory systems possessed by healthy human adults and task demands," said Dr. Chris Mayhorn, who teaches psychology at North Carolina State University. The results suggest that at least a bit of the information is being learned even when we are distracted by a secondary task, said Mayhorn, who was not part of Poldrack's research team. By relying on habit memory, he said, "We may find ourselves in situations where we have picked up information about performing some task, but we are unsure where that information came from." Mayhorn cautioned that the experiment was small, looking at only 14 people from a limited age range. "It is difficult to determine how far we can generalize these results," he said. "But I still believe that the results are interesting, because they extend previous results and provide direction for future research in the area." Poldrack's research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the Whitehall Foundation. Link: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences http://www.pnas.org

CNN to launch user-submitted video site

2006-08-02T13:19:00.000-05:00

CNN to launch user-submitted video site CNET reports that CNN has announced the launch of CNN Exchange, a site modeled after the popular video site YouTube where users can submit their own video, audio, and articles. As part of CNN's coverage of the Middle East conflict, the network broadcast clips of videos that witnesses to the conflict posted on YouTube. With the rise of citizen journalism is on the rise, Mitch Gelman, senior vice president and executive producer for CNN.com says: "User-generated content has the potential to play a pivotal role in journalism whether it's online or offline." ... http://news.com.com/CNN+snatching+page+out+of+YouTubes+book/2100-1025_3-6100139.html?tag=nefd.top

Pokemon courts schools with educational game

2006-08-02T13:17:00.001-05:00

Gotta catch 'em all! Pokemon courts schools with educational game By Robert Brumfield, Assistant Editor, eSchool News advertisement The creators of the popular Japanese children's game and cartoon series Pokemon have designed a new educational video game designed to supplement classroom instruction in a variety of subject areas, from language arts to math and science. Its supporters say the game--which is currently working its way into U.S. classrooms--represents yet another way for schools to integrate technology to engage and encourage young learners. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6458

New law seeks to boost child safety

2006-08-02T13:17:00.000-05:00

New law seeks to boost child safety Measure calls for national internet database on sex offenders, among other steps From eSchool News staff and wire service reports July 31, 2006 Congress has passed a bill that some are calling the most extensive piece of child safety legislation in the last decade. Under the measure, convicted child molesters would be listed on a national internet database and would face a felony charge for failing to update their whereabouts. Also, anyone who tries to confuse or mislead minors on the web by providing phony or deceiving information or images in an attempt to entice them to a potentially harmful online destination could be subject to a fine and up to 20 years in prison. "Sex offenders have run rampant in this country, and now Congress and the people are ready to respond with legislation that will curtail the ability of sex offenders to operate freely," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who sponsored the legislation with Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. The bill, called the Children's Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2006, was designed to help police find more than 100,000 sex offenders by creating the first national online listing available to the public and searchable by ZIP code. It also calls for harsh federal punishment for sexually assaulting children, including the possibility of the death penalty when a victim is murdered. The Senate approved the measure by a voice vote on July 20. The House passed it on July 26, and President Bush signed the bill into law July 27. Supporters say the measure is imperative to ensuring youth safety both on and off the internet. "We track library books better than we track sex offenders. This evens the score," said Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., a sponsor in the House. But there's a catch. For a purveyor of online material that is harmful to minors, or the owner of particular web site, to be jailed, the law states the content has to have the "intent to deceive." In an interview with internet news agency CNET, David Greene, staff counsel for the nonprofit First Amendment Project, said such a provision could pass constitutional muster if used against web sites that trick minors into viewing off-color sexual material. But such assertions likely won't be easy, cautioned UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh when contacted by the news agency. "It becomes difficult to prove and difficult to predict what a jury will decide, because it's a question of what your purpose was" in creating the web site, Volokh told the news organization. Debate was tearful from the start as the Senate considered the bill named for Adam Walsh, the murdered son of "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh. He watched from the gallery as senators thanked him for years of lobbying for the bill. July 27 was the 25th anniversary of the abduction of Adam, 6, and his subsequent murder. "This has to be bittersweet for him," said Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., choking up as he made a rare reference to his infant daughter Amy, killed in a 1972 car crash. Child advocates have called the bill the most sweeping sex-offender legislation to target pedophiles in years. It would: Establish a comprehensive federal DNA database of material collected from convicted molesters and develop procedures for the routine DNA collection and comparison to the database when someone has been convicted of such an offense. Provide federal funding for states to track pedophiles using global positioning devices. Allow victims of child abuse to sue their molesters. Impose a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years for raping a child. Impose a mandatory 10-year penalty for sex trafficking offenses involving children and for coercing child prostitution. Increase minimum sentences for molesters who travel between states. In signing the bill, known as H.R. 4472, President Bush said it will provide "law-enforcement officials with the tools they need to track those who prey upon children." Links: Sen. Orrin Hatch http://hatch.senate.gov/ Sen. Byron Dorgan http://dorgan.senate.gov/ Bill summary: http://icreport.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR04472 CNET http://www.cnet.com/

NASA program creates teacher corps

2006-08-02T13:15:00.000-05:00

NASA program creates teacher corps Fledgling teacher training program fosters interest in science instruction By Laura Ascione, Assistant Editor, eSchool News August 1, 2006 With an ultimate goal of drawing more students to careers in science and related disciplines, NASA has announced the creation of a nationwide network of teacher-mentors charged with helping inspire the next generation of explorers. Attended by 22 award-winning teachers from K-12 classrooms across the United States, the Airspace Systems Education Cohort (ASEC) convened July 19-22 at the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field near San Jose, Calif. Now in its second year, the ASEC program uses a train-the-teacher model of professional development to engage participants in scientific inquiry at the leading edge of education and technology. Educators who take part in the intensive four-day program are then encouraged to return to their communities in efforts to bolster the quality of science instruction in their schools. This year, two ASEC alumni from the 2005 class--James Nair and Gary Dewey-- returned to NASA Ames to help conduct the seminars and act as mentors to the program's newest members. "After attending tours, lectures, and workshops at the ASEC Summer Institute, the 20 teachers [returned] to their educational communities to train others in the use of NASA-developed classroom materials," said Liza Coe of the Education Division at NASA Ames. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/PFshowstory.cfm?ArticleID=6461

Search engine guru has answers

2006-08-02T13:13:00.000-05:00

Search engine guru has answers USA Today reports that many industry insiders consider Danny Sullivan's Search Engine Watch web site "required reading." From a remote village in London, Mr. Sullivan spends hours upon hours trying to decipher the mysteries of internet search. The self described "world-renowned search authority" attracts the industry's biggest players both through his website and his successful conferences. His conferences attract representatives from Yahoo, Google and command ticket prices of around $2,000. Former attendees have gone on to become vice presidents of search for firms such as Coca-Cola. Sullivan got his start by helping a friend figure out how to improve his web page ranking. Subsequently he posted his findings on his web site, and things have exploded to the level they are at today... http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-08-01-sullivan-search_x.htm

Apple fixes OS X flaws

2006-08-02T13:11:00.001-05:00

Apple fixes OS X flaws CNET reports that Apple issued updates on Tuesday for 26 security flaws on the OS X operating system. Several of these flaws affect the way OS X handles images and file-sharing abilities of the software. These vulnerabilities could enable a variety of attacks and security risks. Apple credits the work of researchers for finding the flaws. Some of the contributing researchers include Google and Mozilla employees, as well as Tom Ferris, a freelance security researcher who has disclosed information on Apple in the past. This update also increases the security of the passkey used for pairing Bluetooth-enabled devices with Apple machines... http://news.com.com/Apple+fixes+26+Mac+OS+flaws/2100-1002_3-6101192.html?tag=nefd.top

School of the Future

2006-08-02T13:11:00.000-05:00

School of the Future debuts free HR tool Microsoft makes news hiring resource available to U.S. schools By Corey Murray, Senior Editor, eSchool News August 2, 2006 As Microsoft's high-tech School of the Future readies to open its doors to an inaugural class of students this fall in Philadelphia, officials there have released a new freely accessible online resource designed to help educational institutions tap the right personnel to fill key jobs. Dubbed, the "Education Competency Wheel," administrators contend the resource, already being used by educators in Philadelphia, is the first of many Best Practice-type solutions that will be rolled out to schools nationwide as a result of the software-maker's $63-million collaboration with the nation's seventh-largest public school system. First used by Microsoft as a tool for aiding in the global hiring process, the competency wheel consists of layers of skill-sets and personality characteristics--attributes its designers say represent the full spectrum of talents necessary to help school districts achieve success in the 21st century. Six core "success factors," make up the wheel's hub. These include Individual Excellence, Organizational Skills, Courage, Results, Strategic Skills, and Operating Skills. From the hub there extend a series of spokes depicting 37 specific competencies deemed essential for success by the school district, Microsoft, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders consulted during the project. For example, the section dedicated to Individual Excellence includes 11 "competency areas," including Interpersonal Skill, Motivating Others, Building Effective Teams, Valuing Diversity, and Learning. In conjunction with these attributes, the wheel features brief descriptions of each quality, meant to help human resource managers and administrators predict a particular job candidate's proficiency in a given competency area. The wheel also provides other resources, including sample interview questions and suggestions for helping candidates nurture particular skill-sets. According to Mary Cullinane, group manager for Microsoft's U.S. Partners in Learning Program and a corporate leader of the School of the Future project, the wheel encourages prospective employees and employers to think about the jobs they are trying to fill in the context of real-world scenarios, as opposed to a series of hypothetical and sometimes meaningless questions. "[The Education Competency Wheel] creates an outline that allows you to be really reflective from a skill-set perspective...about where you need to go," said Cullinane, a former teacher. The version of the wheel used in Philadelphia and now available to schools online was developed in partnership with Lominger Limited Inc., a Minneapolis-based consulting and leadership firm that collaborated with administrators, teachers, parents, and other school district stakeholders to identify the competencies and attributes featured as part of the resource. Microsoft says the project represents just one of the many ways public-private partnerships can be used to the benefit of public schools. According to Tomas Hanna, senior vice president for the Office of Human Resources with School District of Philadelphia, the resource already is being used by administrators to identify candidates for leadership positions throughout the district. By encouraging job applicants to discuss their past successes as part of the interview process, Hanna says, the competency wheel represents "a good predicator of future success." Whether identifying candidates for district-level leadership roles, placing principals, or hiring new teachers to staff open classrooms, he said, the idea is to "put the right people in the right places" to promote the district's ultimate goal of boosting student achievement. Among the many tasks the Education Competency Wheel reportedly has helped with in Philadelphia are more clearly defining specific job profiles, evaluating job applicants, and structuring interviews to more accurately assess candidates on a case-by-case basis, said Hanna. The district already has used the tool to place and identify at least 15 principals as well as to aid in its ongoing search for a new chief operating officer. Eventually, he said, the same competency wheel could be used to identify classroom teachers, and predict success at other building-level positions. Though it's unlikely any single administrator or district-level employee would embody all 37 of the competencies identified on the wheel, he said, the key is to identify particular skills in certain individuals and to combine those skills so that the district, from top to bottom, encompasses the broadest representation of talent possible. "It's all about modeling behavior," said Hanna. "Identifying the best people...getting them in the right places...focusing on a goal." By making the wheel and its associated resources available for free to schools via the internet, Cullinane says she hopes districts nationwide will adapt the tool as a means of guiding certain hiring and personnel decisions. "Most districts simply aren't even aware of this as a methodology," she said. The idea is to help schools become more efficient from the outset by making better hiring and staffing decisions. Philadelphia's School of the Future is slated to open on Sept. 7. Links: Education Competency Wheel web site http://www.microsoft.com/education/competencies/default.mspx Microsoft Corp. http://www.microsoft.com School of the Future web site http://www.microsoft.com/education/schooloffuture.mspx School District of Philadelphia http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/ City of Philadelphia http://www.phila.gov/ Lominger Limited Inc. http://www.lominger.com/

'Universal' memory chip ready for market

2006-07-14T15:06:00.000-05:00

'Universal' memory chip ready for market CNN.com reports that a new, "universal" memory chip is now ready for market. For years, the chip industry has sought the reality of a chip that combines the endurance of traditional memory with the ability of a hard drive to retain information while powered down. Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., announced such a chip, named MRA, or magnetoresistive random-access memory. While flash memory can also retain information while powered down, MRAM differs in that it doesn't degrade over time and it is fast to both read and write bits... http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showclips.cfm?clipid=1703

Can laptops spark a love of learning?

2006-07-14T15:04:00.000-05:00

Can laptops spark a love of learning? A recent "School Me" blog post on Latimes.com asks: "Is the way to students' minds through their laptops?" The author, Bob Sipchen believes the recent NECC conference was "synapse-overloading," but spurred interesting questions and thought processes about both the nature of education, and the direction it is headed. A recent Department of Education study showed that only 21 percent of youngsters found school interesting. Contrast this finding with the hyper-excited NECC conference floor where gadgets of every shape, size and educational aim crowd the floor and excite the senses. Sipchen says that what many predict is that we are seeing "exponentially accelerating information availability," and this availability, made possible through the web and technology will change the way students engage with their classes, and ultimately learn. Spichen also highlights the NECC featured speakers Nicholas Negroponte and Ian Jukes, who are on the cutting edge of this sea change... http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showclips.cfm?clipid=1702

Podcasts help make history come alive

2006-07-14T15:02:00.000-05:00

Podcasts help make history come alive Colonial Williamsburg among sites now using the technology to reach students As the use of iPods and other handheld listening devices becomes more prevalent among students, some forward-thinking historical societies and other educational groups are embracing the technology as a means to reach students and further preserve history. At Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, for instance, historians are using podcasts to provide educators, students, and other potential visitors with information about the park and its historical significance. July 11, 2006—Thomas Jefferson isn't about to start listening to an iPod, with telltale earbud wires dangling from beneath his three-cornered hat as he walks the streets of Colonial Williamsburg. But people far from the restored 18th-century capital of Virginia--including students and researchers--can use their portable audio players to hear costumed interpreter Bill Barker talk about portraying Jefferson or read such historical documents as the Declaration of Independence. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6428

Video sharing creates challenges for schools

2006-07-14T15:01:00.000-05:00

Video sharing creates challenges for schools As use of online video sites grows, educators preach responsible use, caution Video sharing, which allows internet users to share personal video clips with other users by posting them to popular web sites such as YouTube.com and others, is one of the hottest new trends online. But it's also creating new challenges for educators and parents who struggle to guard children against exposure to lewd and inappropriate content online. July 12, 2006—As if porn sites and pedophiles in chat rooms weren't frustrating enough for educators whose students use the internet, now online postings of amateur video featuring skin and violence are raising concerns. The explosion in online video-sharing sites, where clips of any nature can be easily uploaded for the world to see, has become the latest challenge for adults trying to shield children from the dangers of cyberspace. Carol Kiesman, a mother and fourth-grade teacher in Houlton, Maine, enrolled her 14-year-old daughter in a cyberspace club called "Zoey's Room," so the teen could chat away online with other girls in a gated community where all participants are screened. Imagine, then, how Kiesman cringed when she saw her daughter, 10-year-old son, and fourth-grade students recently encounter homemade videos online that included nudity and animal cruelty. www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6429

Microsoft extends lifeline for older PCs

2006-07-14T14:59:00.000-05:00

Microsoft extends lifeline for older PCs News.com reports that on Wednesday, Microsoft revealed software that will update older PCs, making them more secure and modern. However, in the process the new software makes the PCs something less than full-fledged computers. Known as the Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, the software is designed as a stopgap for companies with many older Windows PCs, but aren't ready to replace them. These older computers may not be able to be upgraded to Windows XP, so this new software essentially turns these machines into "thin clients," able to run some programs locally, but most applications would then need to be run from the server side... http://news.com.com/ http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showclips.cfm?clipid=1710

News Corp. launches online safety campaign

2006-07-14T14:57:00.000-05:00

News Corp. launches online safety campaign The Associated Press reports that News Corp., the parent company of MySpace.com and Fox is devoting millions of dollars to a new campaign on internet safety. A central piece to the campaign is a TV spot featuring Kiefer Sutherland, star of the popular show "24," who advises parents to keep up-to-date with the latest safety procedures and then directs them to CommonSense.com, where they can download guidebooks and tip sheets on internet safety... http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showclips.cfm?clipid=1709

Online video sites try to police inappropriate content

2006-07-14T14:54:00.000-05:00

Online video sites try to police inappropriate content Educators and parents are grappling with how to limit youngster's access to wildly popular online videos, whose content can range from the comic to the pornographic. Leading video-sharing site YouTube screens clips for inappropriate content and won't allow viewers who say they're younger than 13 to register for access. http://www.eschoolnews.org/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6429

Virtual schools on the rise

2006-07-14T14:51:00.000-05:00

Virtual schools on the rise More states are offering online courses and creating cyberschools to complement traditional campuses. Besides taking online P.E. and Advanced Placement courses, students -- who range from those seeking to make up credits to those with irregular schedules -- can study such exotic topics as world cooking, calligraphy and horse management. http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=126973

Students studying math, science, technology eligible for $790 million in new funding

2006-06-30T14:37:00.000-05:00

http://www.eschoolnews.com Contents Copyright 2006 eSchool News. All rights reserved. $790M in grants target 'high-need' subjects Students studying math, science, technology eligible for $790 million in new funding From eSchool News staff and wire service reports June 30, 2006 Beginning July 1, the nation's students will have $790 million in new incentives to keep up their grades and study "high-demand" subjects such as math, science, engineering, technology, and certain foreign languages. To help keep U.S. students on par with students across the world when it comes to their performance and interest in these fields, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is launching two new student grant programs. ED's Academic Competitiveness Grants along with its Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent, or SMART, Grants aim to encourage students to take more challenging courses in high school and to pursue college majors in high demand in the new global economy, such as science and technology. The student grants are part of the government's push to make Americans more competitive economically. In the coming academic year, $790 million is earmarked for college students who study relevant subjects, show financial need, and maintain good grades. During a conference call with reporters on June 29, Terri Shaw, the chief operating officer for ED's Office of Federal Student Aid, said $4.5 billion is being made available for the program over the next five years. "For America to remain a world leader in innovation, our children ... must have math, science, and critical language skills," Shaw said. Eligible subjects include computer science, engineering, life and physical sciences, technology, mathematics, and languages such as Arabic, Chinese, and Urdu, which is spoken in Pakistan. The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) issued a recent report detailing the need for computer-science education to play a central role in U.S. competitiveness efforts. Funded with support from the National Science Foundation, the report says only 26 percent of U.S. schools now require students to take computer science courses. "The United States cannot ignore the fact that there will be a shortage of qualified candidates for the 1.5 million computer and information technology jobs by 2012," said Chris Stephenson, CSTA president and co-author of the report. The fields of math and science "are ever more critical, and they are largely the fields that will be in demand," U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said at a recent news conference with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican. "Unfortunately, we're not doing well enough today." Officials hope the grants will attract students to fields they might not have considered before--and give high school students an additional incentive to study challenging subjects. "I worry about debt," said Justin Blahnik, a computer science student at Winona State University in Minnesota. "I already have two years of student loans. This grant would enable me to work less, to borrow less, and to study more." Blahnik expects to finish his degree in a year and then will begin searching for work related to human genome research. Students who are in their first or second year of a two-year or four-year degree program are eligible for Academic Competitiveness Grants. Students who are in their third or fourth year of a four-year degree program are eligible for SMART Grants. Under the Academic Competitiveness grants program, a first-year college student can receive $750 to pay for higher education, and a second-year student may receive $1,300. Students must have completed a rigorous high school program of study to qualify. A rigorous program includes advanced or honors diploma programs or state scholars programs. ED also accepted applications from individual states to prove that their high school curricula met the federal guidelines for a "rigorous" program of study, because not all states have the same programs or opportunities available to students. ED received 37 applications from states and is reviewing and processing those applications, said Holly Kuzmich, deputy chief of staff for policy to Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. Kuzmich added that no applications have been rejected; instead, ED is working with certain states to clarify and redefine portions of their applications. Third- or fourth-year college students in good academic standing can receive SMART Grants of up to $4,000. This money is in addition to whatever Pell Grant funding they receive. Students must be eligible for Pell Grants to be eligible for the SMART and Academic Competitiveness Grant programs. Pell-eligible students will be notified of their potential eligibility for these grants through regular mail or eMail starting July 1. Funding for Pell Grants has increased from $8.8 billion in 2001 to $13 billion this year. "Math, science, and foreign-language skills are the new currency in our global economy," Spellings said. "In developing these grants, we realized just how badly our country needs students to have these skills. As our world grows more competitive, Americans must run faster and break new ground, just as we always have." Links: Academic Competitiveness and SMART Grants http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/ac-smart2.html Letter from Sec. Spellings outlining the new grants http://www.ed.gov/policy/highered/guid/secletter/060502.html

Teens use tech skills to open doors

2006-06-30T14:35:00.000-05:00

Teens use tech skills to open doors The Boston Globe reports that thanks to the ingenuity of some students at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, a student with cerebral palsy will be able to access her locker just as quickly as other students. Normally, lockers at the school require a key. However in less than two months, four students developed a remote control that automatically slides the bolt from the locker door. For good measure, the students also provided the student with an ergonomic key in the event that the remote's batteries die. The device was highlighted at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell's Assistive Technology Design Fair--a noncompetitive event that promotes engineering experience by tackling projects with the aim of helping people with disabilities... http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/06/29/teens_use_skills_to_open_door_for_fellow_student/?p1=email_to_a_friend

Online virtual worlds use education to engage children

2006-06-13T15:00:00.000-05:00

Online virtual worlds use education to engage children "Whyvillains" are the 1.6 million or so children aged 8 to 12 who spend time in an online virtual world called "Whyville," where they learn about math, science and other subjects in a "multiuser virtual environment." Some educators believe virtual worlds can have a big impact on education, but proponents are having a difficult time overcoming negative perceptions of computer games. CNET (6/12) Read more at: http://news.com.com/2009-1041_3-6081870.html?part=rss&tag=6081870&subj=news

Special ringtone avoids adult radar

2006-06-13T14:58:00.000-05:00

Special ringtone avoids adult radar Some savvy teens are using a special high-pitched ringtone that older adults, who begin to lose their ability to detect higher frequencies in early middle age, can't hear. Teens who've downloaded the ringtone can alert each other to text messages sent during class often without the teacher's knowledge Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/12/technology/12ring.html?ex=1150344000&en=957f930d6d2f916b&ei=5087%0A

SAT prep sites get mixed grades

2006-06-13T09:31:00.000-05:00

SAT prep sites get mixed grades Consumer Reports publisher evaluates 10 online test-prep services From eSchool News staff and wire service reports May 31, 2006 Consumer Reports WebWatch, a reporting service from the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports that investigates the credibility of online services, has reviewed 10 web sites that purport to help students prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), a key qualifier for admission to top colleges. The group's evaluation suggests that a free site's services are as effective as others costing upwards of $400--and testers also found the offerings of many major brands marred by grammatical errors, technical glitches, and aggressive advertising tactics. WebWatch and the Mediatech Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Flemington, N.J., tested 10 online SAT prep services last summer. The tests reportedly cost Webwatch $33,000 to conduct. The Mediatech Foundation recruited 20 high school juniors to evaluate 10 sites online: Barron's Test Prep, Boston Test Prep, Kaplan's SAT Online Prep, Number2.com, Peterson's SAT Online Course, PrepMe, SAT Secrets, Test Preparation Program, The Official SAT Online Course, and The Princeton Review. WebWatch noted that the data collected from the study were not statistically significant, because only 20 students took the online test-prep courses. Taking the SAT has become a rite of passage for more than 1 million college-bound high-school students in the United States each year. In tandem, demand for SAT test preparation services has grown, driven by the competitive nature of college admissions and the ability to take the SAT repeatedly to attain a better score. The size of the online market for test-prep services is hard to define, but it has been estimated at $50 million by Eduventures Inc., a Boston-based research firm. Because of the increasing role of the internet in delivering SAT test-prep services to students and families, WebWatch and Mediatech selected 10 such online services to review. Each of the 10 sites was reviewed by two students during a minimum of five, four-hour sessions. The sites were chosen to represent a range of costs--from free of charge to $500. Student testers deemed seven of the 10 sites generally effective in what they promised to deliver. In most cases, testers were pleased with their experience, and would recommend this method of study to others. Of the three that received poor reviews--SAT Secrets, Test Preparation Program's Online Test Prep, and PrepMe--only PrepMe returned calls from an eSchool News reporter. WebWatch said it observed what it called some "troubling trends," particularly regarding the blending of advertising and educational content, aggressive marketing, and privacy practices. In one case, according to the report, The Princeton Review reportedly sent an eMail message that included a link to a United States Air Force recruiting form to a tester who expressed interest in college scholarship information. Students using the test-prep services from the College Board, the SAT's creator, also reported receiving eMails from banks, military recruiters, or offers of financial aid or study aid. The College Board also reportedly marketed its web-based online test-prep service in advertising space not clearly distinguished from free test resources. Testers found the online service created by The College Board had technical glitches and lacked interactive features common on other sites. Mistakes in online sample tests--including grammatical problems, questions with no answers, missing sections of text, font problems, or poorly constructed questions--were consistently present in six of the 10 services evaluated: Boston Test Prep, Kaplan, PrepMe, SAT Secrets, Test Preparation Program, and The Princeton Review. Caren Scoropanos, a spokeswoman for The College Board, said her organization had no knowledge of the report and declined to comment before reading it. The report found the only free-of-charge service tested, Number2.com, a test-prep service from the college admissions software and services firm Xap Corp., performed exceptionally well against expensive, better-known services such as The Princeton Review and Kaplan's, neither of which had returned telephone calls seeking comment as of press time. Number2.com was found to combine depth of content, record keeping, and individualized features with SAT test practice. Users reported that using the service was straightforward, with tips, quizzes, and useful hints. A program from PrepMe, a Chicago-based SAT prep organization, was reported to have "significant design problems," including a frustrating sign-in process, lack of interoperability, and poorly designed user interface that included no clear practice portion to go along with information offered in slide presentations. Students also reported being uncomfortable sharing correspondence with their online tutors assigned as a part of the $499.99 price tag. Both of the students assigned to PrepMe eventually asked to be placed in other online preparatory programs--one within four hours of having started. "In general, our feeling is that the review that was carried out in July 2005 was rather outdated [by the time the report was issued]," said Karan Goel, the company's CEO. "When the review was done, we weren't close to where we are now," Goel added. "We were using a [third-party web] technology at that time, and we have since built our own proprietary [interface], which basically answers all the [technical] concerns raised in the report. We have completely revamped the look and feel of the course: We've been working our rear ends off to make sure our students have a great experience with the service." Still, Goel said he was surprised that the students who used the PrepMe course would have been so put off by exchanging correspondence with the online tutor. "I don't think [the testers' experience] was typical--even at the time the test was conducted. Our tutors contact the students within 24 hours of their having signed up for the course," Goel said. "To be completely honest, I'm a little surprised the students were uncomfortable with the online tutor." Bearing perhaps the worst response from students taking the courses, Test Preparation Program's Online Test Prep--which charges $29.95 for three months of service--contained frequent spelling errors, including words like "whore" instead of "where." The home page reportedly contained 20 non-functional links and no information about the publisher. The site's internet service provider was traced to Bangkok, Thailand, and eMail requests made by WebWatch for refunds and technical support reportedly went unanswered. "Online SAT test-prep services are clearly still evolving," said Warren Buckleitner, the report's author, a consultant to Consumer Reports WebWatch and founder and interim director of Mediatech. "On one hand, students rated many of the valid sites superior to traditional books or non-individualized SAT classes. On the other hand, there was a wide variation in costs involved, and it was far too easy to find sloppy editorial content, buggy programming, and marketing practices that are, at best, questionable." Links: Consumer Reports Webwatch http://www.consumerwebwatch.org Mediatech Foundation http://www.mediatech.org "College Test Prep Takes a Test: A Review of Ten Online SAT Test Preparation Services" http://blog.consumerwebwatch.org/theunsponsoredlink SOURCE: eschoolnews

Study: Web is the number one media

2006-06-13T09:29:00.000-05:00

Study: Web is the number one media News.com reports that a new report from the Online Publishers Association has found that the World Wide Web is the most dominant "at-work media" and is the number two media in the home. The research tracked 350 people for 13 hours. Every fifteen seconds, the subjects were monitored for media consumption and activities. According to Pam Horan, president of the Online Publishers Association, this is the first study of its kind. The study also found that there is a high level of correlation between web referrals and web traffic. For instance, if PBS refers someone to its web site for more information, researchers found that people do in fact, visit the web sites mentioned... Read more at: http://news.com.com/Study+Web+is+the+No.+1+media/2100-1024_3-6080280.html?tag=nefd.top

Google to challenge Excel

2006-06-13T09:27:00.000-05:00

Google to challenge Excel The New York Times reports that Google intends to release a test version of an online spreadsheet program in order to make it simple to share data and lists online. The program, named "Google Spreadsheets," will be able to both read and create files in the Excel file format. This development is viewed as another step in Google's march to develop an alternative to the Microsoft desktop computing environment...Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/technology/06google.html?ex=1150257600&en=bd1337e7101f5f6f&ei=5070&emc=eta1

New service allows chat with your search engine

2006-06-13T09:25:00.000-05:00

New service allows chat with your search engine Wired.com reports that a Kansas-based startup Kozoru has launched Byoms, a new search engine that can be queried with IM chat software instead of a web browser. Now, cell phone users and those fixated on instant messaging can type a search request in plain English. Users type their query into an IM and the system returns relevant links, much like Google, Yahoo, etc. However, the system only returns a handful of results, rather than the hundreds that a web-based search engine would. Currently, using a search engine on a cell phone can be a frustrating process due to connection speeds and the limited amount of space on a cell phone screen. Byoms ("build your own mobile search") helps alleviate these problems by having users pre-create their own list of favorites, trusted websites, and search queries at Kozoru's website. Then the user assigns each a unique IM name, which then appears on a user's buddy list. Finally, a user can then instant message that site with a search request written in a sentences rather than keyword... Read more at: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,71055-0.html?tw=wn_index_20

Parents name internet pros and cons

2006-06-13T09:23:00.000-05:00

Parents name internet pros and cons USA Today reports that a new survey shows that parents love the internet about as much as they fear it. The survey by Insight Research Group found that 80% percent of those parents survey feared that their child might encounter a sexual predator online. This is contrasted with another survey that found that only 30 percent of 18-24 year olds share the same fear. The Insight survey also found that 91 percent of those surveyed believe the net helps children explore their passions, and 77 percent believe it is the most important educational resource children have. However, 88 percent also stress the importance of being very aware of what their child is doing online. Because of this, Common Sense Media is initiating an ad campaign and a guide for parents. The guide for parents (and tip sheet for teens) can be found at: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/internetprivacy/2006-06-06-parents-teens-net_x.htm

Bias-busting tech keeps kids focused

2006-06-13T09:20:00.000-05:00

Bias-busting tech keeps kids focused Researcher uses handheld computer and name-generation software to keep kids engaged From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement A handheld computer with software that randomly selects students' names is an effective tool for making sure students pay attention and do their homework, an education researcher has found. Originally intended to increase class participation and eliminate any bias in how teachers call on students for discussion, the solution also was found to increase students' attentiveness and boost their chances of success. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6341

Motorola debuts dual-band Wi-Fi card

2006-06-13T09:19:00.000-05:00

Motorola debuts dual-band Wi-Fi card TechWeb.com reports that Motorola is tapping into both the Wi-Fi market and the market for public safety networks by bringing to market the first 2.4GHz/4.9GHz dual-band Wi-Fi card. The card will allow municipal employees, first responders, emergency personnel, etc., to tap into both the licensed public safety networks--which use the 4.9GHz frequency, as well as the unlicensed 2.4GHz frequency. The 4.9GHz band was assigned to public safety use in 2003, and government organizations as well as sponsored private organizations can use the band. The card allows users to tap into existing networks, as well as create ad hoc networks--something that would be incredibly useful in an emergency situation... http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20060608/tc_cmp/188702604;_ylt=AlNPpSF9O2l2Rm156Sl2M94jtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-

Technology aids health education

2006-06-13T09:16:00.000-05:00

Technology aids health education Schools use videos, internet to engage students and drive home the need for healthy choices By Cara Erenben, Contributing Editor advertisement Educators and school leaders across the country are taking steps to curb childhood obesity by stepping up their health education programs--and many are using technology to better engage kids and get the message across. June 6, 2006—Television, the internet, and video games are often cited as reasons so many of America's children are obese. Ironically, several new curriculum programs that use some of the same technologies blamed for contributing to childhood obesity are encouraging the nation's youth to adopt healthier lifestyles. Awareness about the severity of childhood obesity plaguing the nation's children was heightened by a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study said nearly a third of boys and girls ages 2 to 19 are overweight. The number of overweight boys has increased by 20 percent in the last five years, and the number of overweight children has more than tripled since the mid-1960s. Interventions have popped up nationwide. For example, at the beginning of May, the bottling industry announced it would stop selling soda in public schools. Through an agreement brokered by former President Bill Clinton and his foundation, the nation's largest beverage distributors--including Cadbury Schweppes PLC, Coca-Cola Co., and PepsiCo Inc.--said they would only sell water, unsweetened juice, and low-fat milk to elementary and middle schools. Diet sodas only would be sold at high schools. The companies reportedly will work to implement the changes at three-fourths of the nation's public schools by the 2008-2009 school year, and at all public schools a year later. Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6344

Tech helps slash costs, enhance safety

2006-06-13T09:14:00.000-05:00

Tech helps slash costs, enhance safety By Michael Levin-Epstein advertisement With increasing budgetary and safety concerns, school transportation officials are cutting costs and increasing safety by using new software and technology that can improve: route management, safety and security, and savings on fuel and operation costs. Software can now enable school transportation officials to adjust routes and schedules on the fly to better manage fleets to accommodate needs. Schools are also turning to alternative fuels to alleviate the burden of high gas prices. In addition, video cameras and other technology are increasing bus safety by monitoring behavior, as well as driving violations by adults on and around buses. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6345

New web site aids disaster preparedness

2006-06-13T09:13:00.000-05:00

New web site aids disaster preparedness 'Ready-or-Not' helps school leaders, other stakeholders plan for emergencies By Nora Carr, Contributing Editor advertisement A New Jersey firm has launched a new, low-cost service that assembles many of the nation's top emergency management resources into a single, user-friendly web site that aims to bolster the disaster preparedness of schools. The subscription-based service can be customized, too, allowing school leaders to add local emergency-planning information to the site and communicate this information with stakeholders more easily. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6347

Repetitive stress risk from texting?

2006-06-13T08:59:00.000-05:00

Repetitive stress risk from texting? BBC.com reports that an eight-year-old girl has shown signs of repetitive stress injuries due to text-messaging. The girl's mother said she was "constantly texting" and that the girl sent about 30 text messages a day. It wasn't until the girl was diagnosed with RSI that the extent of her text messaging habit has become apparent. Normally associated with office workers, experts are noticing an increase in the amount of youth with the problem. Dr. David Cosgrave says that he sees about two children a month with the problem, and that a lot of times the pain is labeled as "growing pains," when in reality it is caused by something else... http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showclips.cfm?clipid=1641

'Safe' social networking sites emerge

2006-06-13T08:57:00.000-05:00

'Safe' social networking sites emerge As concerns mount over the potential security risks posed by social-networking web sites such as MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook, a new generation of "safe" social networking sites is emerging... http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6348

Robots stand in for bedridden students

2006-06-05T12:59:00.000-05:00

Robots stand in for bedridden students A national program called Providing Education By Bringing Learning Environments to Students (PEBBLES) uses robots to give students who are confined to hospitals a physical presence in their schools. Supporters of the program say it has great potential for expansion into other areas as well--such as helping suspended students stay connected to their classes.... http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=6317

Parents keep tabs on kids the high-tech way

2006-06-05T11:17:00.000-05:00

Parents keep tabs on kids the high-tech way New cell phones with global positioning systems allow parents to track a child's whereabouts. Child psychologists say such oversight is fine, as long as parents openly discuss the monitoring with their children. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/27/AR2006052700126.html

Pearson buys Apple's PowerSchool

2006-05-26T11:22:00.000-05:00

Pearson buys Apple's PowerSchool From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement PowerSchool just latest Pearson buy Pearson School Systems' purchase of Apple's PowerSchool is just the latest in a long list of deals for its parent company, British media giant Pearson PLC. Over the last eight years, Pearson PLC--which owns the Financial Times and Penguin Books, among many other businesses--has steadily acquired a number of U.S. education companies and ed-tech firms. Here are some highlights of Pearson's aggressive growth... PowerSchool just latest Pearson buy Pearson School Systems, a division of British media giant Pearson PLC, has agreed to buy Apple Computer's PowerSchool division, which makes a student information system (SIS) by the same name that enables parents, students, and teachers to monitor grades and homework assignments via the web. As part of the deal, terms of which were not disclosed, Pearson said it would develop educational content for teachers and students that is compatible with Apple's popular iPod music and video player. May 26, 2006—In a shake-up of the market for student information system (SIS) software, Apple Computer and Pearson School Systems yesterday announced that Pearson will acquire Apple's SIS division, PowerSchool. Pearson also plans to develop educational content for teachers and students that is compatible with Apple's iPod and will be sold through Apple's iTunes online music store, the companies said. Company officials declined to release the terms of the deal. PowerSchool's SIS software allows school administrators, teachers, students, and parents to access information about student performance online, such as grades, homework, and attendance. The product has been a chief competitor to Pearson's own SIS solutions: SASI, Pearson Centerpoint, and CIMS Student. SASI--which, according to Pearson, has been installed in at least 16,000 schools--was the top pick of eSchool News readers in a survey of the best student information system earlier this year. PowerSchool, which reportedly is used by some 7,200 schools, was the runner-up to SASI in our reader survey. PowerSchool now will become the lead brand for Pearson's integrated SIS business, according to Pearson. The company also said it will develop new services for educators and students, including research-based educational content and professional development materials that are compatible with the iPod, Apple's popular digital audio and video player. Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6315

Teens charged with MySpace extortion

2006-05-25T10:11:00.000-05:00

Teens charged with MySpace extortion The Associated Press reports that two teenagers from New York have been charged with illegal computer access and extortion charges after threatening to take down MySpace.com unless the site operators paid $150,000. The teens allegedly hacked into the site and stole personal information from registered users. Following this act, the site operators kicked them off the site. In response, the teens threatened to distribute a method of stealing information from the site unless they were paid the sum of $150,000. The two teens then flew to Los Angeles to collect the payoff. Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showclips.cfm?clipid=1608

Atlanta teacher uses e-mail to engage children in writing

2006-05-24T15:22:00.000-05:00

Atlanta teacher uses e-mail to engage children in writing Middle school language-arts teacher Janice Ramsey teaches her suburban Atlanta students writing by focusing on the medium of e-mail before they advance to reports, essays and poems. She's part of a team of local educators developing a tech-based writing curriculum that can be used in other schools. Read more at: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/stories/0522metemail.html

New Cricket toy melds science and art

2006-05-23T13:08:00.000-05:00

New Cricket toy melds science and art MIT researchers helped develop Playful Invention Company's new Cricket kits, a $250 toolbox that allows children to make and program myriad creations that sing, dance and flicker. Experts say the groundbreaking product enables children to explore concepts of robotics as they learn to design technical systems. Read more at: http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2006/05/22/kits_let_kids_add_science_engineering_math_to_art_explorations/

Too much tech time could prime children for stress injuries

2006-05-22T15:29:00.000-05:00

Too much tech time could prime children for stress injuries Although conclusive evidence is lacking, ergonomics experts fear that prolonged use of computers could be setting up today's generation of kids for repetitive stress injuries years from now. One Australian study in 2000 found that 60% of 10- to 17-year-olds suffered from neck and back discomfort when the youngsters used laptops in schools Read more at: http://news.com.com/Is+tech+injuring+children/2009-1041-6073730.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703

Professors try to stay a step ahead of cheaters

2006-05-22T15:21:00.000-05:00

Professors try to stay a step ahead of cheaters As students become craftier in using electronic gadgets to cheat on exams, university professors have had to resort to such tactics as cutting off students' classroom Internet access, confiscating mobile phones and using students to proctor each other during tests. Some professors use software that monitors the programs running on students' computers as tests are taken. Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/education/18cheating.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Is frequent tech use injuring kids?

2006-05-22T12:34:00.000-05:00

Is frequent tech use injuring kids? News.com reports that prolonged exposure to technology such as home video game systems, computers, cell phones, etc., has doctors, therapists, and researches wondering if all of this tech use is injuring the nation's youth. They expect a rash of new injuries as a result of repetitive stress in the coming years. A study taken in Australia in 2000 showed that 60 percent of students aged 10-17 showed evidence of back and neck discomfort while using computers. However, while conclusive research is lacking on the issue, researchers are still concerned nonetheless about the ergonomic hazards youth face when using technology... Read more at: http://news.com.com/Is+tech+injuring+children/2009-1041-6073730.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703

Schools dial up new communication plans

2006-05-22T12:32:00.000-05:00

Schools dial up new communication plans Campus landlines are disappearing as universities respond to cell-phone ubiquity From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement Statistics on college student cell-phone use Here are some findings based on a survey of 100 universities throughout the United States by Student Monitor LLC. For the survey, researchers conducted individual interviews this spring with a representative sample of 1,200 students enrolled in four-year colleges and universities. The margin of error was plus or minus 2.4 percentage points. Ninety-two percent of undergraduates have a cell phone (95 percent among students living on campus). Eighty-five percent of these students used their cell phone to send or receive a text message in the past month (averaging 115 messages). Among the 15 percent who have not used their cell phone to send or receive a text message in the last month, 26 percent of those students are interested in using their cell phone to send or receive text messages. Sixty percent of students with cell phones are enrolled in family plans, while the remaining 40 percent have their own plans with shared minutes. The three most important factors when selecting a cellular provider are cost of minutes (53 percent), free long distance (27 percent), and free mobile-to-mobile (25 percent). Among students with a cell phone, 39 percent have had their phone for four years or longer. The average length of time students have had their phones was 37 months, and students have had an average of 1.5 providers. The average monthly cell bill is $69. (Source: The Associated Press) The near-ubiquity of cell phones on college campuses has prompted many school telecommunications specialists to consider removing traditional telephone landlines from their campus dormitories, and some schools are even providing cellular phones and service plans of their own. Others remain wary of such changes, believing they might hinder students' ability to call for emergency assistance. May 19, 2006—With nine out of 10 college students carrying cell phones these days, a growing number of schools are pulling traditional telephone landlines from dormitories, setting up special cellular service, and providing college-specific cell phones. Technical experts say most U.S. schools are at least considering these and other changes. "In many cases, students and student expectations are driving what schools need to do," said Greg Tritsch, director of communications technologies for Acentech, a consulting company that has worked with schools on the issue. "Some are waiting to see which competing technology will win the horse race, but most are aware that this issue will need serious attention in the future." Some schools aren't waiting. Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6310

Project tackles credibility of online info

2006-05-22T12:19:00.000-05:00

Project tackles credibility of online info New 'Credibility Commons' aims to help users assess the reliability of information they find in web searches By Laura Ascione, Assistant Editor, eSchool News advertisement For students, and even for many educators, judging the reliability of information they find online can present a challenge. Now, a new project launched by two university researchers aims to change that. The project seeks to provide users with tools to more easily gauge the credibility of information they find through web searches. May 15, 2006—Two university researchers, along with a team of experts, are working on a technology that would allow users to assess the credibility of information they find through web searches. Michael Eisenberg, professor and dean emeritus at the University of Washington, and David Lankes, an associate professor at Syracuse University, received a grant to establish a web site called the Credibility Commons. The site aims to provide computer programs and tools to help users more easily find credible information online. The Credibility Commons arose out of a conference hosted by the University of Washington's Information School and sponsored by the American Library Association's Office of Information Technology Policy, with funding from the MacArthur Foundation. The conference centered on the credibility of internet information. Participants--who included experts from libraries, education, and other communications fields--sought to determine the scope of the problem, define the existing state of knowledge on the topic, and develop practical steps to address the credibility of information found through web searches. Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6306

Congress could make ISPs track users

2006-05-22T12:17:00.000-05:00

Congress could make ISPs track users News.com reports that Wisconsin Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has proposed a bill that would basically rewrite internet privacy rules by requiring ISPs to keep a log of user's online activities. This proposal comes just weeks after Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said that ISPs should keep logs for a "reasonable amount of time." The proposed legislation would also create a new federal felony, aimed at sites that have a "reason to believe" that it facilitates online child pornography through hyperlinks, search results, or chat forums. This legislation is expected to be announced as early as this week... Read more at: http://news.com.com/Congress+may+make+ISPs+snoop+on+you/2100-1028_3-6072601.html?tag=nefd.lede

Spellings: Encourage girls in math, science

2006-05-22T12:08:00.000-05:00

Spellings: Encourage girls in math, science Education Secretary calls for strategies to close the gender gap in technical fields From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement At a summit co-hosted by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation, participants discussed the reasons girls are underrepresented in math and science careers--and what educators can do to change that. The issue has important implications for the nation's global competitiveness, at least one participant said. May 17, 2006—Low participation in math and science activities by girls is keeping them from achieving their full potential and is weakening the nation's ability to compete, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said May 15 at a summit on girls and their participation in these fields. "We need definitive insights into what goes wrong, when, and why," Spellings said. She asked her department's Institute of Education Sciences to review existing research and determine why girls are not as well represented in the sciences as boys. Schools have put more emphasis on math in the past five years because of the No Child Left Behind law, which requires testing and yearly progress in the subject. "This is all about global competitiveness," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said at the summit, which was sponsored by the Education Department and the National Science Foundation. "We cannot do what we need to do to create high-skill, high-wage jobs for our country if we write off the prospects of half our population." Government data show that girls fall behind boys in math and science as they progress through school. In the fourth grade, 68 percent of boys and 66 percent of girls say they like science, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. But only one-third of high school students enrolled in Advanced Placement physics classes are girls, Spellings told summit attendees. At the college level, she continued, fewer than one-fifth of engineering majors are women. Read more at http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6308

Bill calls for MySpace age limit

2006-05-22T12:05:00.000-05:00

Bill calls for MySpace age limit Deleting Online Predators Act aims to restrict use of social networking sites by minors By Robert Brumfield, Assistant Editor, eSchool News advertisement Concerned about the increasing number of online predators reportedly contacting children through the use of popular social networking sites such as MySpace.com, a Pennsylvania congressman has proposed federal legislation that seeks to restrict the use of social networking technologies by children in schools and libraries. Critics of the bill say it would would prohibit educators from exploring educational benefits of the technology, and they advocate instead for teaching students how to use these sites responsibly. May 16, 2006—Responding to concerns about online child safety, a U.S. congressman has proposed a bill restricting the use of social networking web sites such as MySpace.com to persons 18 or older. The bill also would require educators to block students' access to these sites from school computers. But critics of the legislation, including several tech-savvy educators, say the bill is an overreaction that would prohibit students from taking advantage of the educational benefits possible in this evolving form of online communication. Called the Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006, or DOPA, the bill--introduced by Rep. Michael G. Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.--is intended to keep online predators from contacting children through social networking web sites. Fitzpatrick reportedly conceived of the bill after receiving complaints from parents and educators concerned about the use of social networking sites by online predators to lure children. Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6307

For students, eMail already is outdated

2006-05-04T14:45:00.000-05:00

For students, eMail already is outdated Students prefer instant messaging as a communication tool, new survey suggests From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement May 3, 2006—A growing number of teachers--more than a third of those polled--now use eMail to communicate with their students, according to the results of a new national survey released May 3. Problem is, most students now think eMail is outdated as a communication tool. According to NetDay's third annual "Speak Up" survey, sponsored by Dell Inc. and the BellSouth Foundation, 97 percent of teachers now say they use eMail on a weekly basis to communicate with colleagues, administrators, and the parents of their students--and 35 percent say they use eMail to reach students themselves. But at the same time teachers are becoming more comfortable with using eMail, students have largely moved on to another, more sophisticated form of communication, the survey suggests: instant messaging (IM). About 65 percent of students in grades 6-12 taking the survey said they use eMail or IM every day. But a closer look at the survey results reveals that students are much more likely to use IM to communicate with each other than eMail. "Students have told us that eMail is still valuable--mainly for storing and transmitting documents and for communication with adults," said Julie Evans, chief executive officer of the nonprofit group NetDay. "IM is more valuable to them because it is instant, and they can speak with multiple people at the same time. I believe that this highlights a greater sophistication in student tech use--and a trend for us to watch." http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6297

2006-05-04T14:38:00.000-05:00

Young Americans geographically challenged National Geographic launches multimedia campaign to boost students' global IQ From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement eMail this article Send us a news tip Discuss this article Print this article Reprints & Permissions More Headlines TOP PICKS: from eSchool News readers Discover the latest news and information on technology products and services! Go inside the 'Product News Update' Explore over 4,000 company profiles--with product profiles, research and white papers, and funding solutions! Go inside the 'Technology Solution Center' Learn more about the key organizations who support the eSchool ideal in education. Go inside 'eSchool Partners Update' Post eSchool News headlines on your school websites—FREE! Go inside our 'Content Exchange Program' Hear what fellow educators are saying about the latest school technology initiatives. Go to the 'Ed-Tech Insider' blog Top headlines this week: For students, eMail already is outdated Ed tech tops agenda at Intel gathering Hybrid school buses on the way Building blocks to electronic communication To combat what a recent poll reveals as a striking lack of knowledge about geography among young Americans, National Geographic is leading a new multimedia campaign to boost the geographic literacy of today's students. The campaign, which includes a new web site with classroom resources for educators, comes as an awareness of the world around them is increasingly important for students to succeed in today's global economy. May 4, 2006—Despite wall-to-wall coverage of the damage from Hurricane Katrina, nearly one-third of young Americans recently polled couldn't locate Louisiana on a map--and nearly half were unable to identify Mississippi. Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 fared even worse with foreign locations: six in 10 couldn't find Iraq on a map of the Middle East, according to a Roper poll conducted for National Geographic. "Geographic illiteracy impacts our economic well-being, our relationships with other nations and the environment, and isolates us from the world," National Geographic President John Fahey said in announcing a new multimedia program to help remedy the problem. The group is hoping to enlist businesses, nonprofit organizations, and educators in a bid to improve geographic literacy. Planned is a five-year campaign, called My Wonderful World, that will target children ages 8 to 17. The goal is to motivate parents and educators to expand geographic offerings in school, at home, and in their communities. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6298 Links: National Geographic http://www.nationalgeographic.org My Wonderful World http://www.mywonderfulworld.org eSchool News' Educator's Resource Center on "GIS and Geographic Inquiry" http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/reports/gis/index.cfm

Internet2 aims to boost capacity

2006-04-29T17:34:00.000-05:00

New developments could increase Internet2's bandwidth capabilities up to 80-fold From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement By fall 2007, researchers, academics, and even K-12 users of the ultra high-speed Internet2 network will have the ability to conduct even more eye-popping applications for education and research, thanks to an upgrade in the works that reportedly could boost capacity of the network by as much as 80 times its current bandwidth. April 28, 2006—By sending data using different colors of light, operators of the ultra high-speed Internet2 network are hoping to boost the research and education network's capacity by as much as 80-fold--better enabling researchers and academics to connect telescopes around the world and perform other bandwidth-intensive tasks. The new network should be in place by fall 2007, said Douglas Van Houweling, Internet2's chief executive. He announced the plans this week as researchers set a new networking speed record--8.8 gigabits per second (Gbps), nearing the Internet2's current theoretical limit of 10 Gbps, which is thousands of times faster than standard home broadband connections. read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6271

Technology creates lectures on demand

2006-04-27T11:21:00.000-05:00

Classroom video system captures lectures, lessons for online review By Robert Brumfield, Assistant Editor, eSchool News advertisement A video-capture technology first adopted by network news outlets such as CNN and Fox News is now appearing on college campuses, including Harvard, Michigan State, and Temple universities, to record live classroom lectures and presentations and post them to the internet for students to review. University officials say the technology is leading to higher retention and greater experimentation in the classroom--and some schools are even using it as a recruiting tool. April 27, 2006—A software product originally intended for use by big-name media outlets has recently begun cropping up in college lecture halls across the country, enabling professors to easily record live classroom lectures and presentations and post them to the internet for students to review. Called Apreso, the multimedia software package--first adopted by big-name media providers such as CNN and Fox News to convert digital footage of news broadcasts for redistribution on the web, mobile phones, and cable television--reportedly has caught the attention of tech-savvy college professors and other educators looking to capture lessons for students to access in their dorm rooms, at the computer lab, or while on the go across campus. Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6270

Microsoft to unveil new IE

2006-04-27T10:55:00.000-05:00

USA Today reports that Microsoft is releasing the latest test version of the Internet Explorer browser, which is the current market leader. The new beta edition will be available as a free download for English language users on Tuesday. The new test version will also feature fixes for problems that caused problems in Internet Explorer 7. The new version of Internet Explorer also features "tabbed" browsing, which will allow users to view more than one website in a given window. The final version of the browser is expected to be available later this year... Read more at: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2006-04-25-microsoft-new-ie_x.htm

Cash offered to switch site users to Firefox

2006-04-27T10:53:00.000-05:00

iTWire reports that a group of Massachusetts Firefox advocates are offering web publishers and bloggers $1 for each Internet Explorer visitor to their sites that they can convince to switch to Firefox. Google has announced that it will pay websites $1 for each referred download of Firefox it receives via the Google toolbar. The advocates have developed a series of scripts that site owners can add to their code which will detect whether users are running Internet Explorer. Depending on the script chosen, users of Internet Explorer will either be taken to a big splash page, or be presented with a banner at the top of the page urging them to switch to Firefox... Read more at http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/4037/53/

New Group Aims to "Save the Internet"

2006-04-27T10:48:00.000-05:00

Days before a congressional committee is set to vote on an overhaul of the nation's telecommunications policy, a broad coalition of media, consumer and Internet groups has organized behind a dramatic tagline: "Save the Internet." Dozens of organizations ranging from the conservative-to-libertarian Gun Owners of America to the liberal group Moveon.org to the American Library Association, have just launched a Web site under the "Save the Internet" banner. During a Monday press conference call, supporters of the newly minted group at times adopted the tone of a pep rally. http://news.com.com/New+group+aims+to+save+the+Internet/2100-1034_3-6064384.html?tag=sas.email

Schools tap expertise of tech-savvy children

2006-04-27T10:13:00.000-05:00

Schools tap expertise of tech-savvy children Schools across the country are reaping the benefits of GenYes and TechYes, two programs that use tech-savvy children to teach other students and teachers how to exploit the capabilities of technology. Former Olympia, Wash., schools Technology Director Dennis Harper, who founded GenYes, says many schools don't realize they should involve today's digital students in the planning and implementation of improvement efforts. CNET http://news.com.com/2009-1041_3-6065108.html?part=rss&tag=6065108&subj=news

Bus makes learning fun

2006-04-24T14:37:00.000-05:00

Bus makes learning fun The Casper Star Tribune reports that the after-school SMARTY bus is the newest program in the Project Youth series of initiatives in Wyoming. All programs in Project Youth are designed to provide a safe alternative for youth until parents return home from work. The SMARTY Bus is a regular school bus that has had most of its seats removed and has been fitted with television sets, cabinets, and benches. While on the bus, students are exposed to a variety of lessons. One day, students might learn about drug awareness and resistance, while another might provide lessons on rocketry. Bus lessons have also featured various presenters. One such lesson had members of the U.S. Forest Service discuss topics ranging from archaeology to tracking pond scum... Read More at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showclips.cfm?clipid=1526

Purdue researching mind-reading tech

2006-04-24T14:33:00.000-05:00

Purdue researching mind-reading tech The Exponent reports that Purdue University is home to a strong multi-disciplinary approach to "brain-interface technology (BCI). BCI is a pioneering technology where recorded neural signals control a computer. Components of the BCI include a computer, electrodes, and implantable circuits. These circuits can record certain brain waves, which then serve specific tasks. People can learn to control these waves to move a cursor on screen, for instance. This technology would have a lot of utility for those with serious health conditions and diseases that hinder movement and communication... http://www.purdueexponent.com/index.php/module/Issue/action/Article/article_id/3703

Wily children foil filters

2006-04-24T14:30:00.000-05:00

Wily children foil filters Savvy kids are using Web proxies, or remote sites, to bypass school filters and call up banned sites, such as MySpace.com, from school computer labs. Other tricks include using cached links to view inappropriate material and deliberately misspelling words. Read more at: http://news.com.com/2009-1041_3-6062548.html?part=rss&tag=6062548&subj=news

Attorney General calls for web labeling law

2006-04-24T09:54:00.000-05:00

Attorney General calls for web labeling law News.com reports that United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez has proposed a new law where web site operators who post explicit materials and information must place official government warning labels on their pages, or risk 5 years of imprisonment. According to Gonzalez, this will "prevent people from inadvertently stumbling across pornographic images on the Internet." On each explicit page, the site operator would have to place "marks and notices" designed by the FCC. Another proposed law would make it illegal to mislead visitors with "deceptive words or images" in their source code. For instance, a site could no longer pop up in benign searches, but actually lead to explicit materials... Read more at: http://news.com.com/Gonzales+calls+for+mandatory+Web+labeling+law/2100-1028_3-6063554.html?tag=nefd.lede

MySpace.com hires safety czar

2006-04-18T12:19:00.000-05:00

MySpace.com hires safety czar The Washington Post reports that the popular social networking site MySpace.com has hired Hemanshu Nigam, currently the director of Consumer Security Outreach & Child Safe Computing at Microsoft Corp. Nigam will head up safety, education, and privacy oversight programs for both MySpace.com and other Fox Web properties effective May 1. This move is in response to recent criticisms from parents, educators, and politicians that MySpace.com could be doing more to protect young users... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/11/AR2006041100253.html

Free online courses teach tech skills

2006-04-18T12:14:00.000-05:00

Free online courses teach tech skills Public-private partnership yields free computer science lessons for students, teachers From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement Concerned about the state of computer-science education in the U.S., the Computer Science Teachers Association and IBM have teamed up to create free lesson plans and other resources for teaching web design, Java-based programming, and more. April 17, 2006—With all the recent talk about improving math and basic science education to keep the United States competitive, Chris Stephenson worries that a third piece of the educational picture is being forgotten: computer science. Now Stephenson, who is executive director of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), is hoping to overcome that somewhat by giving away free teaching resources for use in K-12 computer classes. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6262 Links: Computer Science Teachers Association http://www.csta.acm.org CSTA and IBM resources http://www.csta.acm.org/Resources/sub/RecommendedResources.html IBM Corp. http://www.ibm.com

Safe spots for kids to surf the Web

2006-04-18T12:11:00.000-05:00

Safe spots for kids to surf the Web Child-friendly sites wipe out porn, predators Benjamin Pimentel, Chronicle Staff Writer Kids who google with abandon and publish intimate details of their lives on MySpace have become a major worry for parents in the Information Age. Concern over children being targeted by predators at online social networking sites or being able to access porn and other inappropriate materials through search engines has led to a demand for new laws and for more-secure, child-friendly networks. It prompted two companies, led by two moms, to create technologies for safer Web-surfing for kids. One, an Emeryville company called Industrious Kid, later this month will unveil a social networking site called Imbee.com, geared toward children 8 to 14 years old. The other, Thinkronize, a Cincinnati company that created the netTrekker search engine for K-12 schools, began making its product available to consumers in January. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/04/17/BUG78I9FOK1.DTL

Tech helps teach complex reading skills

2006-04-18T11:44:00.000-05:00

Tech helps teach complex reading skills Substantial experience reading complex texts in high school is a key indicator of college success, according to a new report from the not-for-profit ACT. The report calls on schools to incorporate the reading of more complex texts to boost students' reading skills--a challenge that some schools already are meeting with the help of technology.... http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=6260

Schools urged to teach 'spatial literacy'

2006-04-14T11:35:00.001-05:00

Schools urged to teach 'spatial literacy' Researchers call for integration of GIS, spatial thinking in K-12 curricula From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement The National Research Council, which advises the federal government on critical issues in science and technology, has issued a report calling on schools to incorporate "spatial literacy" into their curricula. Spatial thinking is an increasingly important skill for living and working in the 21st century, the council said, and geographic information system (GIS) technology can help schools teach this skill to their students. Read more at:http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6259

2006-04-14T11:35:00.000-05:00

New Va. law: Teach web safety Virginia now requires educators to teach the perils of online predators By Robert Brumfield, Assistant Editor, eSchool News advertisement A new law in Virginia requires school superintendents across the state to work lessons about internet safety into existing curricula. The law comes as social networking sites such as MySpace.com have led parents and teachers to question anew the safety of cyberspace http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6261 Read more at:

New IBM chip "paranoid"

2006-04-14T10:28:00.000-05:00

New IBM chip "paranoid" USA Today reports that IBM has unveiled a new method of inserting encryption capabilities into the heart of a machine's circuitry. However, unless the encryption function is performed by a computer's CPU, a savvy hacker can tap into the machine's brain and the separate encryption engine. To combat this, IBM has released "SecureBlue," a set of encryption circuitry that can be integrated with any processor. IBM's head security researcher, Charles Palmer, said "this thing is trying to be the most paranoid devices on the planet"... Read more at: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-04-10-secureblue_x.htm

Student sues over SAT error

2006-04-14T09:57:00.000-05:00

Student sues over SAT error New York senior's lawyers want case over erroneously low scores to gain class-action status. Brian Bakst / Associated Press Admissions test The SAT is taken by more than 2 million students and used by many colleges as a factor in admissions. The 2,400-point exam measures reasoning skills in reading, writing and math. The October test was taken by nearly a half-million students, so the approximately 5,000 incorrect scores affected less than 1 percent of the results. The College Board maintains most were off by 100 points or less, but some students saw much wider swings. ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A high school senior whose SAT was incorrectly scored low is suing the board that oversees the exam and the testing company that was hired. The lawsuit, filed in Minnesota, is the first since last month's announcement that 4,411 students got incorrectly low scores and that more than 600 had better results than they deserved on the October test. It names the nonprofit College Board and the for-profit Pearson Educational Measurement, which has offices in Minnesota's Hennepin County. Read more at: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060409/SCHOOLS/604090333/1026/SCHOOLS

2006-04-14T09:51:00.000-05:00

Gathering SCORM could transform eLearning Emerging standard enables accessibility, interoperability of digital content By Robert Brumfield, Assistant Editor, eSchool News advertisement An emerging set of standards for ensuring the interoperability, accessibility, and reusability of digital instructional materials will have an enormous impact on eLearning. The standards' creators say they will open the door for educators to share, contribute, and reuse digital learning objects at will, regardless of the content management platform schools might use. Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6249

MySpace moves to thwart cyberpredators

2006-04-14T09:45:00.000-05:00

MySpace moves to thwart cyberpredators The social networking site MySpace.com has launched a public-service ad campaign on the Web and TV to warn children about online predators and has hired former federal prosecutor Hemanshu Nigam as its first chief security officer. The site had already begun boosting security by deleting profiles of users younger than 14 and by offering free Web-filtering software to parents. Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-myspace11apr11,1,3889935.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage&ctrack=1&cset=true

2006-04-06T13:22:00.001-05:00

Youths use cell phones as mini-PCs Survey points to a new trend you need to understand From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement A new survey suggests that today's youth--and minorities in particular--are using cell phones more and more as mini personal computers, sparking a revolution in ubiquitous computing. The survey could have important implications for school leaders looking to design programs that appeal to their students and younger stakeholders. April 5, 2006—Young adults and minorities are leading a revolution in how Americans use their cell phones, according to a new survey with important implications for education. People ages 18 to 29 and minorities are more likely to use their cell phones as personal computers, digital music players, cameras, and more--a phenomenon that school leaders and content providers should consider when developing programs aimed at students and young staff members or parents. "We've got everything on my phone," said Mark Madsen, a 24-year-old college student from Chattanooga, Tenn. "I use it mostly for the phone, but I also play video games and use the MP3 player. I pretty much use it all the time." Almost two-thirds of young adults use their phones to send text messages. More than half use them to take pictures and almost half to play games. They use these features, as well as internet connections, about twice as often as cell phone users overall. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6228

Windows XP for Mac is here

2006-04-06T13:22:00.000-05:00

Windows XP for Mac is here News.com reports that Apple Computer has announced that it has released a beta version of Boot Camp, a program which allows Windows XP to run natively on Intel-based Macs. The software will be included in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, and will be previewed at the Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference. It is also available for download at Apple.com... http://news.com.com/Apple+XP+on+a+Mac+is+here/2100-1012_3-6057856.html?tag=nefd.top

Teaching kids to drive the Net

2006-04-05T09:18:00.000-05:00

Teaching kids to drive the Net By Stefanie Olsen Staff Writer, CNET News.com April 4, 2006 4:00 AM PST Don't talk to strangers. Don't run on the ice. Look both ways before crossing the street. For most people, they're lessons learned at an early age. But in the digital world--where kids juggle talking on a cell phone, instant chatting with friends, doing online homework and games, and blogging on sites like MySpace.com--life's little lessons take on a whole new level of complexity. Do children need training wheels for the digital world? For a growing number of educational groups and companies with youth-friendly Internet services, the answer is a resounding "yes." Read entire article at: http://news.com.com/Teaching+kids+to+drive+the+Net/2009-1041_3-6057231.html?tag=nefd.lede

“thumbing hand" becoming everyday occurence in college classrooms

2006-03-28T12:42:00.000-05:00

So what person in this world has not a least sent someone text message? Well probably an ever decreasing percentage of the mobile phone users each day. According to the article in the Red and Black, college students are 42 percent more likely to text message than the average mobile phone subscriber. Text messaging has become a staple for communication between students when there are restrictions placed on regular phone conversation. One of the biggest areas this is seen is the classroom. Students are becoming bored with large class lectures and resort to text messaging to keep their minds occupied and to stay alert in class. According to Dr. Scott Shamp of the New Media Institute at the University of Georgia “I see my students with their thumbing hands hidden, and I assume they must be text messaging, a “thumbing hand” is what the texting fingers have come to be called in the technical world". According to quintcareers.com, text messaging is one of college professor's biggest pet peeves in their classes. However, according to Jim Stringham, a psychology professor, “I may be the minority on the subject, but I don’t let it bother me,” he said. “If they decide to (text in class), and as long as they aren’t a distraction to their classmates, then they will suffer the consequences for not paying attention in class.” So text messaging has become the new means of student distraction for collegiate classrooms. To read the article this recap covers go to The Red and Black to read the full text.

Blogs are changing education

2006-03-27T13:37:00.000-05:00

Panelists: Blogs are changing education Winners of the first-ever 'Best of the Education Blog' Awards discuss blogging's impact on teaching and learning By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor, eSchool News advertisement At a ceremony to honor excellence in education blogging yesterday, winners of the first-ever eSchool News "Best of the Education Blog" Awards talked about the significance of blogging in education during a panel discussion. All agreed: The impact that blogging is having on teaching and learning is profound. Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6208

College search twist: 20 backup schools

2006-03-27T13:34:00.000-05:00

College search twist: 20 backup schools The New York Times reports that unlike in the past, today's college students are applying to several colleges in their quest to gain acceptance to elite institutions. A generation or so ago, most high school seniors applied to anywhere from three to five colleges. Because of the escalating anxiety over admissions, fueled in part by admissions guides, rankings, and other factors many of today's high school seniors are applying to 10-12 schools, with some exceeding this total. The increased use of common applications and waived fees for online applications have also contributed to this trend... (Note: This site requires free registration.) Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/21/education/21apply.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Why is Windows so slow?

2006-03-27T13:33:00.000-05:00

Why is Windows so slow? The New York Times reports that eight years after settling a benchmark antitrust case, Windows is again stifling innovation--at Microsoft itself. Last week, Microsoft announced that Windows Vista would be delayed until January, which means the release will miss the holiday shopping season. In addition to causing problems to retailers, consumers were looking forward to the chance to upgrade from Windows XP, which is now five years old. In those intervening years, Apple Computer has released four versions of its Macintosh operating system and beat Microsoft to market with innovative new features... (Note: This site requires free registration.) Read more at: http://news.com.com/Mobile-phone%20cheating%20in%20exams%20on%20the%20rise/2100-1041_3-6054063.html?tag=nefd.top No comments from the Mac Triad Please :)

Cheating via mobile phone on the rise

2006-03-27T13:31:00.000-05:00

Cheating via mobile phone on the rise News.com reports that the number of students caught cheating in school exams and coursework in England rose by over a quarter last summer. Students caught with mobile phones accounted for around 25 percent of total cheating offenses, according to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Students can be marked down or even failed for just possessing a mobile phone during an examination--whether the student uses it or not... Read more at: http://news.com.com/Mobile-phone%20cheating%20in%20exams%20on%20the%20rise/2100-1041_3-6054063.html?tag=nefd.top

Georgia school displays iPod ingenuity

2006-03-27T13:28:00.000-05:00

Georgia school displays iPod ingenuity From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement Though campuses across the nation have begun transforming iPods into educational tools, few schools have embraced the technology as much as Georgia College & State University, where faculty are using the devices for everything from screening movies to podcasting answers to frequently asked questions. March 27, 2006—Thanks in part to an enterprising group of faculty who call themselves the iDreamers, Georgia College & State University (GSCU) is quickly becoming a leader in using Apple Computer's near-ubiquitous iPod to enhance education--and school officials say their efforts are helping to retain more students. More than a third of the rural Georgia school's 300 staff members reportedly use the digital music and video players as an education or research tool. Rather than simply making class lectures available for downloading to iPods--a practice now routine at many colleges and even a few high schools--the school's educators are pushing to find more strategic uses of the device. History professor Deborah Vess asks students to download 39 films to their devices so she doesn't have to spend class time screening the movies. Psychology professor Noland White has found a new-age answer to office hours: a podcast of the week's most frequently-asked questions Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6211

Study: high school a barrier to college

2006-03-27T13:10:00.000-05:00

Study: high school a barrier to college The Sacramento Bee reports on a study from researchers at the University of California which finds that high schools throughout California are not providing enough counselors or college preparatory courses to adequately prepare students for four-year universities. The study, released March 20, reportedly was used to buttress calls for K-12 funding increases across the state. "These aren't just speed bumps. These are huge barriers on the pathway to college," Jeannie Oakes, director of UCLA's Institute for Democracy Education and Access and author of the College Educational Opportunity Report told the paper. Read more at: http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/14233889p-15055645c.html

Lawmakers push for domain

2006-03-20T13:35:00.000-05:00

Lawmakers push for .xxx domain CNet reports that two U.S. Senators have renewed calls for a .xxx internet domain, introducing a new piece of legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Commerce to work with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, the nonprofit organization that oversees domain names, to develop plans for a domain name system that would house material deemed "harmful to minors." Called the "Cyber Safety for Kids Act of 2006," the law reportedly would cover any "communication," image, article, recording or other "obscene" matter, including actual or simulated sexual acts and "lewd exhibition of the genitals or post-pubescent female breast." http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=12816434

Experts fear portable music players damage teens' hearing

2006-03-15T17:02:00.000-05:00

Experts fear portable music players damage teens' hearing While conclusive evidence is still lacking, many experts suspect the growing popularity of iPods and other portable devices is behind a surge in reports of hearing loss among teens and adults. A survey released last month by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association indicates 28% of teens admit they have turned up the volume on a radio or TV so they could better hear, and 29% of teens reported they often have to say "What?" or "Huh?" during normal conversation. Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060314ipodjames,1,5119041.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Bill calls for study of media impact on youth

2006-03-14T13:32:00.001-05:00

Bill calls for study of media impact on youth The Daily Star Online reports that pending legislation in the U.S. Senate encourages and funds research that would examine the effects of electronic media on children. The legislation, named "The Children Media Research and Advancement Act," would establish a research program on children and media within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The next step for the bill is to go to the Senate floor for approval... Read more at: http://www.thedailystar.com/news/stories/2006/03/13/kids1.html

Air Force pilots cyber security course

2006-03-14T13:32:00.000-05:00

Air Force pilots cyber security course From eSchool News staff and wire service reports Looking to bolster student interest in computer security, a Catholic high school in Rome, N.Y. has launched a first-of-its-kind program designed to empower students to avoid the pitfalls of cyberspace. Developed with help from engineers at the U.S. Air Force Research Lab in Rome, the program aims to teach students about everything from data protection and network protocols, to firewalls, infrastructure, and wireless security. March 14, 2006—A group of students at Rome Catholic School in Rome, N.Y., are learning how to become the future defenders of cyberspace through a pilot program developed by the U.S. Air Force that officials say is one of the first of its kind in the country. The program teaches students about data protection, computer network protocols and vulnerabilities, security, firewalls and forensics, data hiding, and infrastructure and wireless security. Most importantly, officials say, teachers discuss the ethical and legal considerations of cyber security. Read the article at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6196

Fuel cells to power laptops

2006-03-13T13:27:00.001-05:00

Fuel cells to power laptops The BBC reports that a new brand of fuel cell technology due to hit retail shops in 2007 could make it possible for schools and other users of mobile laptop computers to run their machines all day, without the hassle and inconvenience of plugging in for a recharge. The first versions of the methanol-using battery packs reportedly should keep a laptop going for up to nine hours, the BBC said. Read the article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4794920.stm

Blogs connect students, teachers

2006-03-13T13:27:00.000-05:00

Blogs connect students, teachers As technology continues to take a more central role in schools, students and teachers continue to find new and different uses for classroom blogs--online forums where students can post messages and chat with their classmates about everything from Shakespeare to Algebra to American History. In this report, The Chicago Tribune examines the evolution of blogs in the classroom and looks at some of the ways in which this high-tech phenomena is changing education. Read complete article at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0603130006mar13,1,6691250.story?coll=chi-business-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

Google buys word-processing technology

2006-03-10T13:43:00.000-05:00

Google buys word-processing technology ZDNet.com reports that Google announced Thursday, March 9, that it has purchased Upstartle, maker of the web-based word processor Writley. The service was launched in August of 2005, and can handle documents in the Open Document format, as well as files created by Open Office, an open-source rival to Microsoft. There has been speculation that Google would aim to create a web-based rival to Microsoft's dominant Office suite... http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6048136.html

Coming soon: Handheld laptops

2006-03-10T11:46:00.000-05:00

Coming soon: Handheld laptops The New York Times reports that Microsoft, with Samsung of Korea, and Asus of Taiwan, plan to unveil ultralight tablet computers that meld a laptop and media player into a new, handheld device. Samsung's device, the Q1, is a product of Microsoft's Origami project, which is an effort to shrink and redefine the laptop. At its core, the device is a small, powerful laptop that doubles as a sophisticated entertainment device... Read article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/09/technology/09tablet.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Stay SAFE - Linden teens learning how to be more responsible online — and helping to raise younger students' awareness

2006-03-09T15:51:00.001-05:00

Stay SAFE Linden teens learning how to be more responsible online — and helping to raise younger students' awareness about the dangers of the Web Home News Tribune Online 03/4/06 By SUZANNE C. RUSSELL STAFF WRITER srussell@thnt.com Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, a Linden High School senior, tries to be safe when she uses the Internet on her computer, avoiding chatting with people she does not know. But after learning the U.S. Department of Justice reports that one in every 100 to 200 Internet users is a pedophile, Wojtowicz, 17, realizes that not only she, but other students, like her 8-year-old brother and 15-year-old sister, need to take extra precautions. Wojtowicz and other Linden High School National Honor Society students recently became certified i-SAFE America student mentors to educate younger students about Internet safety. The federally funded i-SAFE America is a nonprofit foundation educating and empowering youth to be safe and responsible on the Internet. The program was introduced by the Union County Prosecutor's Office this year, and Linden was the first school district to train high school student mentors.

University cancels Mac hacker contest

2006-03-09T15:51:00.000-05:00

University cancels Mac hacker contest News.com reports that Dave Schroeder, a systems engineer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, proposed a challenge to hack into a Mac Mini that he attached to the university network. The challenge was to last until Friday before administrators pulled the plug on Tuesday. Dubbed the "Mac OS X Challenge," the contest ended without any negative impact on the university's network. The target computer was connected to the Net for more than 30 hours without being compromised. This challenge comes on the heels of two worms have raised questions regarding the security of OS X... Read the entire artcle at: http://news.com.com/University+nixes+Mac+hacker+contest/2100-7349_3-6047735.html?tag=nefd.top

High-tech paint system could block cell phone signals

2006-03-09T15:49:00.000-05:00

High-tech paint system could block cell phone signals Schools, theaters and other facilities could one day be able to block cell phone signals on demand, thanks to a new paint from NaturalNano that contains submicroscopic particles of copper. The company combines the special shielding paint with a radio-filtering device that allows certain transmissions to proceed while blocking others. Read more at: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/14028716.htm

Game Teaches Journalism Students Skills

2006-03-09T15:38:00.000-05:00

To teach fact-finding skills, professors at the University of Minnesota have turned the fantasy computer game "Neverwinter Nights" into a tool for journalism students. Instead of slaying monsters and gathering gold, the players tackle sources and gather information. "When we initially did the game, it still had lava pits, the editor looked like an ogre — stuff like that. The librarian had breastplates," said Nora Paul, director of the university's Institute for New Media Studies. The team, which includes game designer Matt Taylor and journalism professor Kathleen Hansen, have now modified the game graphics to look like a modern town, the fictional Harperville. A train has derailed, spilling toxic ammonia, and the players are sent out to cover the story. They dig up information by going to the library, government offices or talking to a retired train engineer at the bar. For each step of a conversation, the players have four choices of what to tell to the interview subjects, ranging in attitude from assertive to tentative. If players are too brash, the interview subjects will say "Excuse me, I don't like your attitude," and end the conversation. The goals of the game are not only to reinforce the thinking process behind information gathering and distinguishing between different types of sources, but also to teach etiquette, Paul says. The team had initially planned to have a crowd of game characters milling about the accident scene, but the game wasn't amenable to that. A bug in the program meant that any time a player approached a group of people, he was immediately attacked and killed. To teach fact-finding skills, professors at the University of Minnesota have turned the fantasy computer game "Neverwinter Nights" into a tool for journalism students. Instead of slaying monsters and gathering gold, the players tackle sources and gather information. "When we initially did the game, it still had lava pits, the editor looked like an ogre — stuff like that. The librarian had breastplates," said Nora Paul, director of the university's Institute for New Media Studies. The team, which includes game designer Matt Taylor and journalism professor Kathleen Hansen, have now modified the game graphics to look like a modern town, the fictional Harperville. A train has derailed, spilling toxic ammonia, and the players are sent out to cover the story. They dig up information by going to the library, government offices or talking to a retired train engineer at the bar. For each step of a conversation, the players have four choices of what to tell to the interview subjects, ranging in attitude from assertive to tentative. If players are too brash, the interview subjects will say "Excuse me, I don't like your attitude," and end the conversation. The goals of the game are not only to reinforce the thinking process behind information gathering and distinguishing between different types of sources, but also to teach etiquette, Paul says. The team had initially planned to have a crowd of game characters milling about the accident scene, but the game wasn't amenable to that. A bug in the program meant that any time a player approached a group of people, he was immediately attacked and killed. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060308/ap_on_hi_te/neverwinter_nights;_ylt=Aq1G

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6180

2006-03-09T15:30:00.000-05:00

Microsoft 'Vista': Out this fall? Software giant plans a fall release for its latest OS From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement Software giant Microsoft Corp. says the first complete update to its Windows operating system (OS) in five years, called Microsoft Vista, will likely be available by Thanksgiving. Analysts say the upgrades to security and deployment features offered in Microsoft Vista are formidable, but not revolutionary. The company says Vista's enhanced security features will likely make the product an enticing option for schools. http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6180

Web site aims to be research 'storehouse'

2006-03-09T15:29:00.000-05:00

Web site aims to be research 'storehouse' Digital Universe could develop into more authoritative version of Wikipedia From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement A new internet research tool called Digital Universe aspires to be a more authoritative version of Wikipedia. If successful, it could provide scholars and students with one more option for finding accurate, reliable information online.Skeptics, however, predict that Digital Universe is too ambitious for long-term success. Read more at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6181

Micorsoft Launches revamped search engine

2006-03-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

Microsoft launches revamped search engine The Associated Press reports that in its latest bid to catch up with rivals Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc., Microsoft Corp. is launching a revamped Internet search engine it says will help computer users find information faster, view it more easily and organize it better. Windows Live Search is Microsoft's latest move in a major strategy shift that has the world's largest software company focusing more heavily on Internet-based software and services... http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showclips.cfm?clipid=1435

Web's Future: Pay for better service

2006-03-09T15:20:00.000-05:00

Web's future: Pay for better service? Telcos consider two-tiered internet pricing From eSchool News staff and wire service reports advertisement To help pay for upgrades to their broadband internet infrastructure, the nation's telecommunications companies (telcos) are considering moving to a two-tiered service structure that would give priority to the network traffic of web companies that pay a premium. Critics of the idea say it would eliminate the "network neutrality" that currently exists on the internet, stifling innovation by freezing out internet startups and resulting in higher fees for schools and other consumers that are asked to absorb the additional costs. Read the entire article at: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=6183