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About K12HSN CENIC's Monthly Newsletter July 2008 is now available. In this newsletter, you'll find information about what's on the horizon for CENIC's Associates, CalREN, etc... During the past months, CENIC has continued to work with K12HSN, the K-12 segment and telecommunications service providers on upgrades to a significant number of SONET circuits, all of which will be migrated to Gigabit connections. THE journal: What should the role of the federal government be in education? NEA and ISTE have each begun developing their positions on the question in the hopes of influencing the next administration and Congress to embrace significant policy changes. K12HSN has partnered with the California Digital Library (CDL) in an effort to promote awareness and increase usage of Calisphere's rich resources among California K-12 teachers. National Education Association: In its new policy paper, NEA proposes a "new balance" in the partnership among federal, state, and local leaders. eSchool News: More than 17,600 educators and exhibit personnel attended the 29th Annual National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), held in San Antonio, June 29 through July 2, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. THE Journal: For more than a year now, iTunes U has served as a repository of educational multimedia content. While these materials have always been accessible to K-12 educators, the focus of the content has been primarily on post-secondary education... PPIC: More people are shopping and getting news online -- yet the digital divide widens. As Californians broaden their use of the web, Latino and low-income residents are getting left behind. Education Week: The U.S. Department of Education today released its first guide to the evaluation of online-learning programs in K-12 education. eSchool News: Formative assessment throughout the school year and better training for school leaders are among the plans for turning around sub-par schools that six states will try under a pilot program this year. NACOL Releases Second in Promising Practices in Online Learning Series: Using Online Learning for At-Risk Students and Credit Recovery. ISTE: Attendees of the International Society for Technology in Education's National Educational Computing Conference received tools and tips on Internet safety at a town hall-style meeting. eSchool News: Schools looking for a framework to help guide their teachers' use of technology in the classroom have a new resource at their disposal: ISTE has issued new technology standards for teachers. CNN: Blackboard and Project Tomorrow released the results of a survey that demonstrates growing momentum in online learning, providing data on its continued growth in schools to support student learning and professional development for teachers Capitalizing on the power of technology to transform education was the resounding message from Trina Davis, ISTE president, during the opening session of the 29th annual NECC conference. eSchool News: Technology for delivering audio, video, and other school presentations must be affordable and simple to use if it is to transform teaching and learning: That was one of the predominant themes at this year's InfoComm conference. ISTE launched the first of three new public policy briefs at NECC 2008 in San Antonio. Focused on technology and student achievement, it explores current research as well as the effects of access and equity and the implications for global competitiveness Gail Desler is providing coverage of the new technologies introduced at the NECC conference. Find out more about the new education technologies that will impact your school. CPUC: Questions and Answers on E-Rate Application to California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) - eligible Services ISTE: For those who couldn't attend the 2008 NECC Conference, Keynote sessions, and several Spotlight and Lecture sessions will be archived for video-on-demand viewing. Several sessions or events will also be available as Podcasts. The International Society for Technology in Education launched the next generation of standards for teachers' (NETS*T) use of technology at the 29th annual National Educational Computing Conference. eSchool News: A recent survey by internet security firm Symantec Corp. suggests that many parents are unaware of their children's internet activity and typically underestimate how often their kids encounter online threats. THE Journal: What's the difference between Open Records and eDiscovery? With changes in Federal Rules, what does e-mail compliance mean these days, and how do schools achieve it? CoSN is attempting to answer these questions with a new white paper... This report details findings from Technology-Based Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary School Students: 2004-05, a survey that was designed to provide information about technology-based distance education courses. Find out the latest about E-rate: Important Deadline! Telecom Services Validation, Fall E-Rate Training, E-Rate Training Survey, and the Schools and Libraries News Brief for June 13 and June 20, 2008 The digital edition of District Administration - July 2008 is available now. Mercury News: The Student Body President was searching for a last-minute metaphor to grab attention at the Palo Alto High School graduation. He found a hilarious one [on YouTube], and it was a hit at commencement. Shasta County Office of Education is expanding next year's video conference classes for students to include algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2, Spanish, and French. Shasta may have open slots available for other students, including out of county students... News Journal: Hallsville Independent School District in Texas has a new classroom, but it won't be used by students. Instead, the classroom will be a model for teachers and administrators nationwide on how to integrate technology into lessons. NECC: The 29th annual National Educational Computer Conference (NECC) opens in San Antonio on Sunday, June 29. Look for the daily conference newspaper posted to the NECC site starting on June 30. CDE: State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Comments on Proposed Changes to Federal School Accountability Law. eSchool News: Continuing a recent trend that has many business leaders worried, the Computing Research Association's annual survey of universities with PhD-granting programs found a 20% drop this year in students completing bachelors degrees in IT fields THE Journal: United States Senator John Kerry introduced new legislation aimed at funding state education portals. The legislation is designed to support teacher professional development, improve teacher retention, and offer online support for teachers. CDE: Statement From Schools Chief Jack O'Connell on Assembly Approval of Bill to Fund School Intervention. CNET News: FCC commissioner Jonathan Adelstein joined tech policy pundits, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists on June 24 to launch a new initiative aimed at making broadband a priority in the United States, CNET reports. THE Journal: How can we make education technology and 21st century learning a national priority? Four education advocacy groups think they have part of the answer. The groups launched One Giant Leap for Kids, a new campaign to make ed tech a top priority. eSchool News: 'Leaders in Learning Awards' showcase exemplary 21st-century education projects. 10 educators and 3 national policy makers were honored for their outstanding vision in promoting 21st-century teaching and learning... Star Tribune: University of Minnesota researchers say they have discovered educational benefits of social networking sites such as MySpace. The study also found that low-income students often are just as tech-savvy as their wealthier counterparts. eSchool News: Students at a rural New Mexico school made a unique pledge last winter: Right hands raised, they promised to take care of their Zunes. Students were encouraged to use their devices during class hours, on bus rides home, and on school trips. eSchool News: Employers must have either a warrant or the employee's permission to see text or eMail messages that aren't stored by the employer or by someone the employer pays for storage, a U.S. appeals court has ruled. The Spring/Summer 2008 issue of Digital Directions is now available online. You have access to the entire issue. Virtual textbooks-some with interactive zing to better teach a generation of students weaned on Xbox and iTunes-are attracting attention from schools. Ballard High, a 130,000-student San Diego school system, for example, has piloted virtual textbooks... eSchool News: As the 2008 presidential race heats up, school stakeholders are anxious to hear the candidates' views on education. For many, the topic is more than just a political agenda; it could well determine the success of the US in the global economy AP: Massachusetts remains the gold standard for mining economic growth from technology and science while California is losing its luster, according to a report by the Milken Institute. California slipped from second place for the first time... THE Journal: While most schools in the United States (98%) have basic Internet access, for many that access is cripplingly slow--too slow to accommodate technology-driven educational initiatives--according to a new report from SETDA St Petersburg Times: Florida is No. 1 in the nation in vouchers, No. 2 in charter school enrollment, No. 4 in the percentage of high school students passing college-level exams. Numbers like these have made Florida the nation's most-watched laboratory... Education Week: Is NCLB the right vehicle for improving education, particularly in the high-poverty urban schools that seem to be struggling the most? A new documentary, scheduled to air on HBO beginning June 23, tries to answer that question. THE Journal: Can more be achieved with podcasting in the context of student authorship and academic collaboration that would heighten student engagement and maximize knowledge building in instructional contexts? Can we move beyond the obvious in their use San Diego Union Tribune: U.S. education chief Margaret Spellings made a whirlwind tour of San Diego to discuss how technology in schools can raise student achievement and better prepare students for the real world. Sacramento Bee: Eleven years ago, after much political and pedagogic angst, California adopted a historically rigorous set of academic standards for the state's K-12 students, one of which was that 8th-graders should learn the rudiments of algebra. Education Week: The Principal of a Minnesota High School had no plans to police the Internet. But when he was mailed a CD containing photos of students drinking alcohol and the photos had been posted on Facebook, he couldn't ignore the rule-breaking eSchool News: For the educators and ed-tech advocates who work tirelessly to ensure their students have access to a 21st-century education, here's the good news. We have yet more tangible proof that education technology is helping kids learn. Ventura County Star: Sixth-graders at an Oxnard school are the first students in the county to explore an underwater ecosystem off Anacapa Island without leaving their campus thanks to microwave technology installed by the Ventura COE... The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) took action to update and modernize its public policy programs relating to communications in order to reflect advanced technologies and add new eligible communities to the programs. News Times: A school district in Connecticut recently received a $90,000 federal grant to develop a program that would allow distance learning in the event of an emergency. KCLU Local News, Audio Stories: Hundreds of South Coast students are getting the chance to explore the Channel Islands not just through books, but by using live video feeds to explore the ocean bottom with divers. By more effectively integrating technology into their safety plans, school districts could better secure their students—and their data. So says the 2008 School Safety Index, an annual report created by CDW-G, a technology solutions firm. Think Green... A roundup of some of the latest K-12 conservation efforts, and the opportunities for you to get on board. PEW Internet: This presentation pulls together Pew Internet Project research about teenagers' online activities, their behavior on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, and their Web 2.0 content creation activities. eSchool News: Physical education teachers are trading in their traditional equipment for heart-rate monitors and video games that encourage running, jumping, and stretching. Taken together, these two trends are transforming P.E. classes across the country eSchool News: After more than decade of investment in school technology, educators say they still don't feel adequately prepared to integrate instructional software into their classrooms and aren't getting the technical support they need THE Journal: Through its global learning initiative, Douglass (KS) Public Schools is providing students with technologies for communicating and collaborating with other students around the world. CDE: State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell issues statement regarding the Legislative Analyst's Office report: A New System of Support for Low-Performing Schools. eSchool News: Education advisors for presumptive presidential nominees John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (D) outlined the candidates' stances on key issues June 6, with both emphasizing a larger role for technology in schools. Education Week: Museums aren't just for field trips any longer; they offer curriculum links and staff development. Museums and cultural institutions like aquariums consider working with schools to be a core part of their missions. CS Monitor: High fuel prices make virtual field trips popular with schools - but no substitute for the real thing. The Washington Times: Tech immigrants strive to interpret what is natural to natives. Digital natives are everywhere, and they are restless. Their fingers tap furiously on tiny keys, their eyes and ears fixated on moving images and sound... Two Million Minutes: The United States, considered a nation at risk in the 1983 government report of the same name, continues to fall fast behind other nations in education and economic opportunity. For those who couldn't attend the 2008 Online Teaching Conference, many sessions were archived on the Conference website. eSchool News: A plan by the nation's top telecommunications regulator to provide free wireless high-speed internet service hit a snag this week over concerns about possible interference and a proposed censoring feature that upset free-speech advocates. NACOL Releases Goals, Guidelines, and Standards for Student Scientific Investigations. Responding to the needs of the online learning community, this publication provides quality guidelines for designing, developing, and evaluating science courses... NACOL presents the latest Research, Trends and Statistics about Online Learning. The Miami Herald: Every Florida district would be required by 2009 to offer some form of online education to students as young as 5 under a bill awaiting Gov. Charlie Crist's signature. Education Week: Can state P-12 Councils ease the transition? As the nation struggles to close its graduation gap, Diplomas Count 2008 examines states' efforts to forge stronger connections between precollegiate and postsecondary education. eSchool News: As Virginia's schools prepare to incorporate internet safety lessons across all grade levels this fall to satisfy a landmark 2006 state law, educators are looking to schools that piloted web-safety curricula this past year for guidance Education Week: U.S. teachers use digital content for just a small share of classroom time, according to a survey by Quality Education Data Inc., a market-research company based in Denver. THE Journal: The University of Arizona has brought video and animation relating to the Phoenix Mars Mission onto iTunes U. The university is also offering a wide range of educational content targeted toward K-12 schools on its Web site. THE Journal: Channel One has partnered with i-SAFE in an effort to enhance and increase electronic safety awareness among teens. The organizations will work together to provide video programming and curriculum-based tools to students... CENIC: With the completion of the CalREN-DC Router Refresh, the backbone speed of the CalREN-DC Network has increased from 2.5 Gb/s to 10Gb/s for all segments. CDE: Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Commends Governor Schwarzenegger for Efforts to Improve Education Data. CENIC's Monthly Newsletter June 2008. In this newsletter, you'll find information about CENIC's accomplishments for each month, CENIC's yearly conference and other events around the world, what's on the horizon for CENIC's Associates, CalREN, etc... eSchool News: With so much money at stake, and a byzantine application process, E-rate is a source of nightmares for many participants. Yet, 3 out of 4 applicants say E-rate is meeting its goal of connecting schools and libraries to the Internet. CDE: Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Comments on Assembly Budget Proposal That Protects Public Education. eSchool News: Since the early 1990s, Maine has been at the forefront of educational innovation, thanks largely to the adoption of new standards--called the Maine Learning Results--as a driver for 21st-century teaching and learning. CDE: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced that there are new features on the state's one-stop online shop, CaliforniaColleges.edu, a Web-based resource that helps thousands of California students prepare for college. Calisphere: Over four Saturdays in January, February, and March, Bay Area K-12 teachers learned simple and practical ways to team a cutting-edge technology - an iPod touch, PowerPoint, and online tools such as MovieMaker and Garageband - with Calisphere. eSchool News: Will you be willing to pay extra if your home computer goes over its internet allowance? Time Warner Cable customers-and later, others-might have to, if the company's test of metered internet access is successful. District Administration: A K12 planning survey Gary Stager reviewed several years ago indicated that videoconferencing was a top technology application of interest. At the time, the cost of equipment and need for broadcast studios were major obstacles. The State Legislature made grants available through the CA Community College Chancellor's Office to local Community Colleges that wanted to serve the students that failed to pass the exam. Learn more about the CAHSEE: Stepping Into Your Future initiative eSchool News: Educators are closely watching a $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit challenging YouTube's ability to keep copyrighted material off its video-sharing web site, a lawsuit that could have important implications for the future of Web 2.0 eSchool News: With energy costs soaring to record levels, taking steps to reduce energy consumption isn't just good for the environment,it's also essential for the fiscal health of schools, according to a recent CoSN webinar on green computing. Rep Judy Biggert and Nick Lampson announced the introduction of a new bill to ensure that children exploring the Internet are protected from online predators. Schools and libraries would have to provide basic instruction on how to avoid online dangers. eSchool News: A free web site that uses song lyrics to motivate students to read and write, a platform for learning English that adapts to each user were among the new and emerging educational technologies highlighted during SIIA's Ed Tech Industry Summit The digital edition of District Administration - June 2008 is available now. Sacramento Bee: Call it a 21st century field trip. Fifth-graders at Kingswood Elementary School peered into tide pools, listened to crashing waves and peppered a park ranger with questions - all without leaving their classroom in Citrus Heights. The Chronicle of Higher Education: North Carolina State University may never build another computer lab. Instead the university has installed racks of equipment in windowless rooms where students and professors never go. eSchool News: A growing number of K-12 schools are taking advantage of the ultra high-speed Internet2 network for research and education. |