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June 5, 2000: This message was distributed by Papyrus News, a free e-mail distribution list on the global impact of information technology on language, literacy, and education. Feel free to forward this message to others, preferably with this introduction. For information on Papyrus News, including how to (un)subscribe or access archives, see <http://www.lll.hawaii.edu/web/faculty/markw/papyrus-news.html>.
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From: Jessica Millstone jmillstone@mediaworkshop.org
Subject: Media Workshop Edu-Tech News Digest -- June 5, 2000
To: edutech-news@www.mediaworkshop.org
MIME-version: 1.0
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 03:23:29 –1000
Status:
======================================================
Each week Media Workshop sends out an email highlighting recent news articles
about K-12 educational technology...
======================================================
week of JUNE 5, 2000
================
COMPUTER DESIGN
"Computers Not Made for Kids, Study Says"
Amanda J. Crawford
Baltimore Sun,
http://www.sunspot.net/content/archive/story?section=archive&pagename=story&storyid=1150340218216
May 29, 2000
An interesting study produced by Baltimore's Context-Based Research group
has found that the design of computers prohibits many kids from using them
effectively in their homes. Specific
problems include the central nature of the keyboard, since kids often have
significant trouble with keyboard/typing skills, and the inability to share control
of the computer during its use. It was
noted that popular electronic devices, such as gaming consoles, enable
collaboration more seamlessly by providing dual control pads. Researchers observed kids in their homes for
two hours a week over the course of five months.
================
WEBCAMS IN THE CLASSROOM
"Putting Webcams to Educational Use"
Joyce Kasman Valenza
Philadelphia Inquirer,
http://web.philly.com/content/inquirer/2000/06/01/tech_life/SKUL01.htm
June 1, 2000
Webcams, an older web-based technology that has remarkable application in
the classrooms, is now mow made even more accessible to teacher through an
online "portal" (produced by Doscovery.com) to webcams around the
world. This technology enables
teachers and students to log into live and archived images of places, people, animals,
and live events in distant locations directly from the classroom. For example, science teachers can have their
kids access live images for the Sun's surface (filtered through Doppler technology),
something you cannot otherwise see. The
article points out some of the stumbling blocks to using webacams with
students, such as technology requirements, and recommends a lot of preparation and
planning.
================
NO MORE FREE EMAIL ACCOUNTS IN SCHOOL
"High Schools Discourage Use of Free E-Mail Sites"
Rebecca Weiner
New York Times,
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/00/05/cyber/education/31education.html
May 31, 2000
Schools in Boston, Portland, and Houston have banned students from using
free email services (such as Yahoo email and Hotmail) while at school in an
effort to manage limited network resources and better monitor student use of
the Internet. Many schools in these
cities had offered in-house email addresses to students only upon request, but
now they've flipped the process and made school-based email accounts the
default, unless a parent objects.
School's cite problems with untraceable and threatening email between
students as a motivating factor for the policy change, as well as needing to provide
easily-managed student email address lists to teachers for communication
purposes.
================
EDU-TECH SPENDING SPREE
"Bets, Butts, and Tax Bungles Enrich School Technology Funding"
e-School News Online,
[long URL, may need to cut & paste]
Four states with some "found" money - acquired through state lotteries,
tobacco settlements, and budget surpluses - have decided to earmark significant
portions for education technology programs in their respective states. Georgia has allotted $32.6 million to the purchase
of hardware, software, and Internet access this year, about 35% of the gross
proceeds from its state lottery game.
Oklahoma, which just received a $206 billion settlement from the tobacco
industry, will dedicate about $100 million towards technology funding (if the
governor and legislature can agree on how exactly to spend the money). California's governor already announced that
he is tripling his states' technology budget, dedicating new funds towards teacher
training and tech support. Connecticut,
which got its money from thousands of income tax return that we lost in the
mail, will spend between $10-18 million on K-12 and higher education
initiatives.
================
HOW TEACHERS SEE THEMSELVES
"Lessons Teachers Beg to Be
Taught"
William Raspberry
Washington Post,
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23869-2000May28.html
May 29, 2000
Researchers were surprised about some of the data gathered in a newly released
Public Agenda report on new teachers (fewer than five years in the classroom),
which found that most teachers feel unprepared by teachers' colleges and master
degree programs to handle issues of classroom management. A previous Public Agenda report found that fewer
than 40% of education professors feel that covering classroom management issues
is essential.
================
SCHOOL OFFICIALS IN E-COMMERCE/EDU-TECH VENTURES
"School Board Member Investigated for Conflict"
Edward Wyatt
New York Times,
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/regional/060100ny-school-edu.html
June 1, 2000
The offices of the Special Investigator and Conflict's of Interest Board at
New York City's Board of Ed have opened an investigation into board member
Irving Hammer's relationship with an online education company called
TestU. This company has begun selling
its products to select NYC schools, but does not have a vendor contract with
the city. Dr. Hammer is also the
chairman of a special task force researching ways to better integrate
technology into K-12 schools.
"Education Site Snags Rudy Crew"
At New York Newsletter,
http://www.atnewyork.com/people/article/0,1471,8511_383921,00.html
May 31, 2000
Former NYC School Chancellor Rudy Crew is elected to the board of a for
profit education company called EChalk, and will consult directly on a program
to recruit, train, and retain school leaders in school districts around the
country.
================
BRIEFLY NOTED
"Techie Girls Head Off to Camp" by Katie Dean
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,36556,00.html?tw=wn20000530
May 30, 2000
This article describes three programs for girls interested in learning about
media and technology from other women in the field being offered this summer
through universities around the country.
"Barnes & Noble.com Plans To Offer Array of Courses" by
Rebecca Quick
Wall Street Journal ,
http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB959648066165836697.htm
[paid subscription required]
May 30, 2000
Starting this summer, Barnesandnoble.com
is adding "edu-commerce" (online courses) to their website, in an
effort to create more of a community of learners -- and shoppers -- around
their online bookstore. The courses
will range from 1-day offerings to 12-week courses.
"Students use Web to find money for college" by Nicole Ziegler
Dizon
Associated Press,
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/doc/1047/1:HOMEPAGE2/1:HOMEPAGE20530100.html
May 30, 2000
College bound students increasingly turn to websites such as Scholarships.com
and Fast Web to find money for college and advanced degrees.
================
summaries complied by:
Jessica Millstone (jmillstone@mediaworkshop.org),Technology Consultant
Media Workshop New York, a special project of the Bertelsmann Foundation
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