stephen reck - technology&education

Online Learning Here to Stay

Education Week echoes much of what we already know: online and blended learning options are here to stay. In fact, we will see a growth in popularity. This is because virtual models provide a variety of advantages including: flexible scheduling, on demand assessments, immediate feedback, and cost savings. As public schools continue to face declining financial aid, administrators and teachers need to develop creative pathways to advance student achievement. Read it all here.

Technology Boosts Academic Success

Our friends up north are to credit for this piece in the Calgary Herald that provides a link between classroom technology and student success. The Fraser Report measures elementary schools across Alberta based upon standardized test scores. This year's theme: schools that embrace technology see the largest gains. Students report increased engagement, interest, and a subsequent greater understanding of class content. Teachers report much of the same: a marked improvement in on-task behavior and student focus. Perhaps 7-year-old Katalina makes the best argument for increased technology use: "This doesn't make a mess like chalk make's messes on your hands."

Wozniak: Teach Kids HOW to Learn

Ars Technica reports that Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was a featured speaker at Abilene Christian University's recent Connected Summit. Wozniak spoke about the need for teachers to embrace new technologies as a way to reach out to students that may soon consider themselves "failures." A long time advocate for technology in the classroom, he cited that very little has changed over the last 40 years to foster student creativity or alter information delivery methods.

Teacher-Student Texting

Digital Directions reports that the Virginia State Board of Education is considering limiting communication between teachers and students. At the forefront of the proposed guidelines is the issue of text messages between teachers and students. It is the goal of the VA BoE to ebb sexual misconduct in the classroom. If the policy passes, a final vote will be held on February 17, school districts still have the choice to fully adopt the new limitations, edit the plan, or not adopt them at all. This ruling is therefore more symbolic than revolutionary, but it raises several questions regarding teacher-student interactions.

 

Technology in Higher Ed

Bill Gates is everywhere in education these days. I've written about him on this blog before. He's making ripples throughout K-12 education, and now is setting his sights on higher education. The Gates Foundation is now working to open education to more learners by providing online courses, particularly for community college and low income populations. The timing seems right as even President Obama is pushing for increased use of community colleges. Many leaders see the value of education, particularly higher education, for tomorrow's workforce, and community colleges are excellent resources that are too often overlooked when considering post-secondary learning options. 

 

source: NYTimes

Mark Zuckerberg

 Recently, his name is all over the news. A biopic about his time at Harvard and the creation of Facebook is currently number one in the box office. Everywhere we turn, Mark Zuckerberg is making headlines, even in education. Zuckerberg announced last week, on Oprah, that he was giving $100 million to the Newark Public Schools. It's the largest known gift from Zuckerberg and is also only an initial investment in what is to become a foundation for education reform.

Time Magazine: Education Reform

 I was excited when I looked in my mailbox last week and found the newest issue of Time was focused on education reform. The magazine touts 16 pages of coverage on our education system. My excitement was short-lived. Once I read that one of their feature articles was on the upcoming documentary, Waiting for Superman, I was worried that this issue would simply be additional anti-teacher, pro-charter school propaganda. As an avid reader of Time, and a longtime subscriber, I wish this assessment was wrong.

Best Colleges for Jobs

 

 

Although I normally focus on secondary education, this study found my interest. The Wall Street Journal compiled a report of the 25 favorite universities of recruiters. The top of the list might surprise you, it certainly surprised me. You won't find traditional post-secondary academic powerhouses. Instead you will find mostly state schools. Proudly, my alma mater gets favorable results.

america divided.

thomas friedman wrote a thought-provoking opinion piece this past tuesday. he comments on a new america that is taking shape. a reactionary splinter group that is growing in number, vigor, & influence. friedman claims intellectual political discussions are replaced with violent facebook polls, congressional outbursts during presidential speeches, & our elected officials are voting along party lines with remarkable regularity. this frightening splinter is not only a conservative movement. it is not a recent phenomenon. friedman goes on to explain that presidents bill clinton & george w bush have also fallen victim to fierce and divisive opposition.

back to school

it's that time of the year. big yellow busses are filling the streets & teachers are anxiously preparing for new students. in this time of hectic schedules, i'll do my best to routinely update this site. my goal is 4 posts a week, I believe it is obtainable. If you have any new resources, tools, websites, or ideas, please share. i rely on colleagues for inspiration & new ideas.

donate gift cards.

plastic jungle, a website that allows the purchase, sale, or exchange of gift cards, claims the average american household has $400 in unwanted gift cards lying around. there are millions of gift cards throughout the country with low remaining value. if you can't figure out what to do with the remaining $11.86 on a gap card, donate it. owners of idle gift cards typically use plastic jungle to exchange unwanted cards for cash or amazon.com credit, but a new option is now available. you can donate the full value of your gift card to a school in need with plastic jungle's new partnership with donorschoose.org.

obama's dollars for reform.

president obama & his education secretary, arne duncan, are attempting to influence state education law through the promise of federal stimulus funding. ultimately, their goal is to increase the number of charter schools & hold teachers accountable for standardized test scores. this continues the debate over the role of standardized tests in our education system, a debate that has raged since former president george w bush's landmark no child left behind legislation. some states, such as california, are already in the process of overturning laws that prohibit the use of standardized test scores to determine a teacher's effectiveness in order to receive federal dollars. obama's new plan will place an even greater emphasis on high-stakes tests.

test optional.

the new york times reports that there are an increasing number of schools no longer require sat or act scores for admission. although the trend has always been popular with technical or religious schools, now many liberal arts schools are joining. the article looks to investigate the affect of dropping mandatory test scores has on recruitment and enrollment. Mr. Epstein reports that in the increasingly competitive search for talented students, "test-optional policies become alluring." Some cite test-optional policies simply aim to drive more applications, making an institution appear more selective. Other schools rely on standardized test scores to distribute merit aid.

race to the top.

last friday, presdient obama announced a new program for public schools across the nation. the prize for the winner? part of $4.35 billion in federal grant money. how does a state win? obama states the fund "will reward eligible states for past accomplishments & create incentives for future improvement." the focused areas for improvement include more rigorous academic standards, better recruitment and retention of teachers, tracking the performance of students & teachers, & turning around failing schools. the $4.35 billion is one component of the $787 billion stimulus package, enacted by the federal government in february 2009.

communist teachers.

in the 1950s, the red scare was tearing through america. senator joseph mccarthy was on a mission to rid the united states of "foreign" ideologies. oppressive police interrogations, red-baiting, & blacklisting led to the job-loss & imprisonment. in a frenzy of fear, accusations, & paranoia not seen since the salem witch trials. with grave disregard to the first amendment in the name of security, thousands of americans were targeted by mccarthy's forces. even major league baseball, concerned it would be targeted as a soviet sympathizer, changed the name of the cincinnati reds to the cincinnati redlegs. the red scare impacted all americans, even teachers.

apple profits.

the new york times reports that apple has recorded its best nonholiday quarter in the company's history. pc shipments declined 3 to 5 percent while apple reported an 18 percent increase over its previous quarter.  the introduction of iphone 3gs & mac price drops have been cited as a major factors in the company's success. it's also important to note that steve jobs was absent from his ceo duty for the quarter (march - june). the record success is further evidence that apple has one of the best management teams in the industry.

we choose the moon.

prepare to ride with neil, michael, & buzz as they become the first to visit the moon. 

 wechoosethemoon.org is run by the john f kennedy presidential library & is constructed in honor of the 40th anniversary of the apollo 11 space mission. the website will go live on july 16, 2009 at 8:02am, just in time for the 9:32am launch time, exactly 40 years after the historic maiden voyage to the moon. the website offers archival photos, videos, & audio all presented in real-time (you can even follow the mission on twitter). this is a great opportunity for many americans to witness the apollo 11 mission for the first time.

 

field notes.

i know that the title of this blog is technology&education, but allow me to digress for this instant. call me old-fashioned, but i enjoy pushing pen on paper as much as the next guy, but with my quick-paced & mobile lifestyle, it is difficult to lug a notebook & pen with me wherever i go. i have carried a moleskine notebook around in the past, but i find it too cumbersome to become a part of my everyday wardrobe. my friend, ricky, introduced me to a great compact notebook that is perfect for my need. it is with this pay it forward mentality that i'd like to extoll the praises of field notes.

independence.

just wanted to take a moment & say happy independence day. 233 years ago some great men got together & literally put their lives on the line for the untested ideals of the enlightenment. the american revolution is not only important here in america, but reshaped the entire globe. for the first time in history, it was acceptable to question authority, voice your opinions, & even overthrow inept leadership. although we can debate how closely modern america mirrors the founding fathers' vision, we cannot debate the importance of american independence as a catalyst for the global adoption of enlightenment ideals.