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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, JUNE 05, 2006 Looking for Broader Participation Teacher Cracks Down on Problem Students Spammer Settles, Experiences Change of Heart LOOKING FOR BROADER PARTICIPATION A new initiative aims to change the perception of computer professionals as a bunch of guys who lack social skills by encouraging a broader range of students to pursue degrees and careers in computer science. The Stars Alliance is an organization currently representing 10 colleges and universities, though officials said they hope to attract more institutions. The organization will send undergraduate and graduate students in computer science into middle and high schools to talk to students. Not only will these visits expose younger students to the idea of going into computer science, it also gives college students an opportunity to talk about technology with people who are likely not as computer-savvy, a skill employers say many technical staff lack. Other efforts of the alliance will include exposing students to Web-development and multimedia courses earlier in curricula, giving them a taste of what lies ahead, rather than bogging down first-year students in "weed-out" math classes. Larry Dennis, dean of the College of Information at Florida State University and a coprincipal investigator of the alliance, said, "We're looking at curricular and infrastructure changes to make these courses more attractive to everybody. Not just women and minorities, but everybody." The alliance has been given a three-year, $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Chronicle of Higher Education, 9 June 2006 (sub. req'd) http://chronicle.com/weekly/v52/i40/40a02902.htm TEACHER CRACKS DOWN ON PROBLEM STUDENTS A head teacher in a south London school for students whose behavioral problems got them tossed out of mainstream schools has taken a new approach to changing their attitudes. For some students with persistent problems, Duncan Harper of New Woodlands School in Lewisham confiscates computers, TVs, and video games from their homes. According to the British Dietetic Association, schoolchildren spend 20 percent of their time playing video games, using the computer, and watching TV. Noting that students are typically "gobsmacked" when he appears at their homes, Harper said the parents support his methods, often saying they wish they had enough authority to remove distractions themselves. In four years, Harper has taken nine computers from students' homes. In one case, after Duncan took a television from a student's room at home, the student saw such an improvement in his behavior that he declined getting the TV back when it was offered. Steve Bullock, the mayor of Lewisham, said, "The kids these days have so many temptations to use electronic equipment that they need more--not less--guidance." BBC, 5 June 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/5047724.stm SPAMMER SETTLES, EXPERIENCES CHANGE OF HEART One of the most notorious spammers has reached a settlement with Microsoft and the state of Texas and said the experience has been "a serious reality check." Under the terms of the agreement, Ryan Pitylak will pay $1 million to settle charges that he sent as many as 25 million spam e-mails per day. He will also forfeit many assets he gathered as a spammer. Pitylak said he has changed teams, as it were, and will now work to limit spam. "I am pleased to announce that I am now a part of the antispam community," he said, "having started an Internet security company that offers my clients advice on systems to protect against spam." In his heyday, Pitylak, now 24 years old, was fourth on Spamhaus's list of world's worst spammers. CNET, 5 June 2006 http://news.com.com/2100-7348_3-6079868.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your settings, or access the Edupage archive, visit http://www.educause.edu/Edupage/639 Or, you can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName To UNSUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SIGNOFF Edupage If you have subscription problems, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE RESOURCES The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of IT in higher education. To access resources including articles, books, conference sessions, contracts, effective practices, plans, policies, position descriptions, and blog content, go to http://www.educause.edu/resources ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/31 ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2006, EDUCAUSE
