From: "TechLearning" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: TechLearning News <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wed, 15 May 2002 14:50:21 -0700 Subject: TechLearning News, May 15, 2002 - No.10
TechLearning News A bi-monthly update brought to you by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and Technology & Learning. May 15, 2002 - No.10 IN THIS ISSUE 1. Technology Counts 2002 2. New Report on Protecting Children Takes the Middle Road 3. Apple Introduces eMac for the School Market 4. The Agony of Link Rot. 5. City Contemplates Becoming Its Own ISP 6. CoSN News 7. New at TechLEARNING.com --------------------------------------------------------- This issue of TechLearning News is sponsored by: Control your Networked Classroom with NetSupport School Classroom Instruction and Monitoring software - Teachers can demonstrate applications, show their screen to students' screens, monitor student progress, nominate group leaders, send out and collect coursework, annotate, group collaboration and more for as little as $450. For a free 25 user trial download: http://www.techlearning.com/redirect/051502_ns.html --------------------------------------------------------- IN THE NEWS Visit TechLEARNING.com for the full story: http://www.techlearning.com/content/ednews TECHNOLOGY COUNTS 2002 Technology Counts 2002-the fifth edition of Education Week's annual 50-state report on educational technology-examines the trends and issues surrounding e-learning from many different perspectives. "E-Defining Education" is subtitled "How Virtual Schools and Online Instruction Are Transforming Teaching and Learning." Source: Education Week http://www.edweek.com/tc02/ NEW REPORT ON PROTECTING CHILDREN TAKES THE MIDDLE ROAD The National Research Council has released "Youth, Pornography, and the Internet," a 420-page study focused on keeping children safe on the Internet. The panel took a moderate stance, advocating for teaching children how to use the Net safely. Source: Wired News http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,52257,00.html?tw=wn_ascii APPLE INTRODUCES EMAC FOR THE SCHOOL MARKET Apple Computer, concerned about growing competition from PC vendors, introduced the eMac, a machine designed exclusively for the school market. The all-white desktop computer, available only to schools, teachers and college students, will be priced from $999 to $1,999. Source: MSNBC http://www.msnbc.com/news/745080.asp?cp1=1 THE AGONY OF LINK ROT "Broken Links: The ephemeral nature of educational WWW hyperlinks," will be published in the Journal of Science Education and Technology in June. It documents the work of two researchers at the University of Nebraska who set out to track so called "link rot." Source: Wired News http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,51700,00.html?tw=wn_ascii CITY CONTEMPLATES BECOMING ITS OWN ISP The city of Cumberland, MD, population 21,000, has the phone companies and Internet service providers up in arms. Tired of being locked out of high-speed Internet access, the city is looking into expanding an existing wireless network to serve local homes and businesses. Source: The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/25/technology/circuits/25BROA.html ---------------------------------------------------- NEWS FROM COSN Visit CoSN.org (http://www.cosn.org) for information on advocacy and leadership development. DOT KIDS LEGISLATION CLEARS THE HOUSE The House of Representatives is once again considering legislation to create a new Internet domain especially for children. The House Energy and Commerce Committee favorably reported the Dot Kids Implementation and Efficiency Act of 2002 (H.R. 3833). A new domain would mean that children's web site addresses would end in ".kid.us" The dot kids domain would be overseen by the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The bills most recent amendments ban chat rooms, e-mail services and hyperlinks that take children away from dot kids web sites. The full text of H.R. 3833 can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:H.R.3833: SBC TARGETS GRANTS TO CONQUERING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE The Southern Bell Foundation argues that in the near future not knowing how to use technology will be the equivalent of not knowing how to read or write. Its $10 million competitive grants program targets initiatives that use technology to improve education or community development. Applicants must have 501(c)3 tax status, and qualifying projects must fall within one or more of the following funding focus areas: technology access; technology education; and technology workforce development. Funding is for projects within the SBC service area and proposals are due June 3. The proposed programs must target: economically disadvantaged areas in urban and/or rural settings; and/or populations widely considered to be disenfranchised by the Digital Divide, including community-based organizations, low-income individuals, people with disabilities, seniors, at-risk youth, adults with elementary or less education, and racial and ethnic minorities. The RFP can be found at More information can be found at http://www.sbc.com/press_room/press_kit/regional_RFP.doc GET ON IAETE'S SOAPBOX A group of experts take to their soapboxes to discuss the dichotomy between what is widely accepted as good teaching with computers and everyday classroom practice. Beginning on May 13, educators from around the country are invited to join in an in-depth, online forum titled "The Constructivist Software Struggle." The forum panel includes David Benoit, Dr. Anne H. McCormick, Dr. Seymour Papert and Dr. Alexander Repenning. The Soapbox discussion series (http://www.iaete.org/soapbox) comes from the Institute for the Advancement of Emerging Technologies in Education (IAETE) at AEL. Soapbox is designed to generate a wider discussion among educators, education researchers, members of the educational technology community, and other interested individuals, on technology's role in advancing education. ALL YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MUSEUMS Teachers looking for high-quality resources related to a unit of study will find the resources found at http://www.museumstuff.com MuseumStuff.com is dedicated to creating a web based guide to museum related information. Information includes links to museum websites and virtual exhibits, educational and entertaining games and activities, and extensive learning resources concerning topics typically promoted through art, science and history museums. The virtual exhibition section offers 55 topics ranging from African American, to motorcycles, to zoos/ animals. Viewers can search for museum events by organization name, month, and specific day, or perform an advanced Search using a combination of selections GUIDE TO LAW AND TECHNOLOGY The National School Boards Association (NSBA) recently published the second edition of "Legal Issues & Education Technology: A School Leader's Guide," a book that provides preK-12 school leaders with information about the legal implications of using the Internet and other technologies. The book emphasizes the learning possibilities associated with education technology, but advises school officials to be aware of liability concerns and legal obligations, and to act wisely in developing district policies. The 146-page softcover book is available for $35 from the NSBA Distribution Center, (800) 706-6722; fax (301) 604-0158. JOIN COSN'S NETWORK OF TECHNOLOGY LEADERS If you are involved in making sure that information technology has a direct and positive impact on student learning, then you should be a CoSN member. For nearly a decade, CoSN has been in the forefront of efforts to improve learning in K-12 classrooms via the Internet and telecommunications. Our mission is to ensure that the powerful resources of the Internet, telecommunications and networking can be used to improve student learning. Our goals include leadership development, advocacy, coalition building and emerging technology. As a CoSN member you will receive information on key issues impacting K-12 school networking, fast breaking news, timely updates and the latest information on how the Internet is changing education. CoSN also provides an organizational framework for cooperation among members and member organizations for sharing information and resources that contribute to goals we share. Membership information can be found at http://www.cosn.org/join/ or call 1.888.604.5209. ---------------------------------------------------- NEW AT TECHLEARNING.COM Technology & Learning was selected by the Association of Educational Publishers (EdPress) as Finalists in three Distinguished Achievement Awards categories - for our TechLearning.com Web site in the E-zine category, for the June 2001 How-To article (Deconstructing a Grant), and for TechLearning News, this email newsletter that's a joint effort with CoSN. In addition, T&L was nominated as Finalist for the Best Media Kit in the Ed Press 2002 Distinguished Marketer Awards. Visit TechLEARNING.com for the latest features and departments from the new issue of Technology & Learning magazine plus reader-written articles and Web tours. http://www.techlearning.com/content/about/tl_current.html http://www.techlearning.com/content/new/new.html NEW T&L FEATURES * Strategic Planning: Lessons Learned from a "Big-Business" District An insider's perspective on how a mammoth school district creates and maintains a successful technology program. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2002/05/business.html * Not Your Parents' Library In the first of a two-part series, we examine how today's technologies have caused a major upheaval in traditional school libraries. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2002/05/library.html * Readiness Tools for Tykes Kids join Clifford, Pooh, and a host of other colorful characters for skill-building adventures in these six early learning programs. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2002/05/tykes.html MORE@TECHLEARNING * Mammals Kids of all ages love learning about mammals. Here are some wonderful resources to enrich students' journey through this part of the animal kingdom. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/mammals.htm * Endangered Animals in the News - From Tragedies to Triumphs The animal kingdom has its share of problems. But all is not gloom, for many once-endangered species are now doing much better. Here is a list of some Tragedies, and, happily, some Triumphs. http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/WCE/archives/joanrene.htm TOP-NOTCH TIPS * Need a hot tip for a cold network? Or a cool idea for a hot system? Check out The IT Guy's tips for keeping your technology humming smoothly. Here you'll find service with a smile. http://www.techlearning.com/content/outlook/itguy/index.html * Need the best of the Web for teaching and learning? Check out Site of the Day every day - and take a look at the archives too. http://www.techlearning.com/content/outlook/webpicks/archive.html T&L CONTESTS * Calling all Teachers, Technology Coordinators, and Administrators! Enter Technology & Learning's 2002 Ed Tech Leaders of the Year contest. http://www.techlearning.com/content/contest/etloy/index.html * Technology & Learning invites K-12 students to participate in this year's digital photography contest. http://www.techlearning.com/content/contest/photos/index.html ---------------------------------------------------- PASS THIS ON If you like this newsletter, please forward it to a colleague. 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