EdTech Show Daily

American Public University System Receives Grant from Next Generation Learning Challenges to Enhance Student Outcomes Through Sakai Learning Management System

American Public University System today announced that it has been awarded part of a $250,000 grant from Next Generation Learning Challenges as a member of the Open Academic Analytics Initiative. Designed and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates and William & Flora Hewlett Foundations, NGLC is focused on identifying and scaling technology-enabled approaches to dramatically improve college readiness and completion, especially for low-income young adults, in the United States.

“As a large, fully-online institution with a commitment to quality education, APUS will provide a unique opportunity to research best practices associated with implementing academic analytics in online courses”

The OAAI consortium, led by Marist College, also includes Cerritos College, College of the Redwoods, Howard University and Savannah State University. It will collaborate on technical work, pilot activities, and exploratory research in support of the Sakai learning management system. In addition, APUS will continue to work with IBM on local Sakai implementation, according to APUS Scholar-in-Residence and former Provost Dr. Frank McCluskey.

“We’re very pleased to be recognized by NGLC for our collective effort to develop and pilot the application of academic analytics in a diverse range of educational environments,” said McCluskey. “We successfully began implementing Sakai at APUS last year to help monitor student trending data to help better predict and intervene when they may need help in the classroom. Coupled with our past recognition by the Sloan Consortium for excellence and best practices in online education, this initiative further validates our standing commitment to provide the optimum student experience and learning outcomes.”

Washington state schools get $30M worth of Microsoft training for $2M

Randy Dorn, Washington’s superintendent of public instruction, announced Monday that the state has reached a $2 million deal with Microsoft to get $30 million’s worth of training and certification on the software company’s products. Through the program, Washington IT Academy, teachers and students can get online training and Microsoft materials for certification with the programs. As part of the deal, Dorn said, Microsoft gives support to every high school in Washington.

Website to Trade Nintendo Wiis for Homework Questions

StudentOfFortune.com, a Los Angeles-based homework help website, will initiate their Wii-A-Day Giveaway promotion starting on April 1st, according to the company.

The promotion will involve giving away a Nintendo Wii each day of the month of April to members of Student of Fortune. Non-members will be able to sign up for an account on the website.

To enter the contest, members will need to post a "homework related" question on the site, including anything from a question about math to help with physics homework. Each day, the Student of Fortune staff will hand select a posted question and award that member with a new Nintendo Wii.

The company is also using Twitter as a means to spread the news about the contest and attract prospective members.

Members can also use Twitter as a way to enter the contest. By posting a predetermined tweet, users will earn another entry into the Wii giveaway, thereby doubling their chances to win each day.

With about 30 Wiis to give out, the company hopes the magnitude of the promotion will attract a lot of attention. Sean McCleese, the founder and CEO of the company, claims this promotion will be one of the biggest contests launched by Student of Fortune thus far.

"We have yet to launch a promotion of this size," said McCleese. "If this contest goes according to plan, we will certainly consider hosting many more promotions in the future. But for now, we're just crossing our fingers."

Student of Fortune certainly aims to make the promotion a big success, but either way, there will be a lot of happy Student of Fortune members come April.

Education and Business Community Applauds Congressional Effors To Restore Federal Funding For School Technology

Recognizing the essential role education technology plays in both strengthening schools and the economy, 14 U.S. Senators called on the Senate Appropriations Committee to restore funding for the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program to the FY 10 level of $100 million. The move follows an ongoing and growing call from the education community to invest in technology-based education innovation through EETT.

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Education Association (NEA), National School Board Association (NSBA), Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), and the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) have been leading efforts to maintain funding for EETT, an essential program that is helping transform our nation’s schools and is providing educators across the country the support necessary to integrate technology into the classroom.

These groups released the following statement, “We applaud Senate leaders for recognizing what educators in all 50 states have long understood: EETT is an essential component to supporting 21st century education and ensuring a strong, relevant, and meaningful education for all students. While the dollars for EETT may be perceived as relatively small, the impact and ROI for our schools and our children is immeasurable.”

CoSN Launches Access4Ed.net – A New Online Community of Practice Focused on Providing Access to Online Environments in K-12

Got Access? Attendees of CoSN’s 16th annual conference – CoSN 2011: Mastering the Moment – may have wondered what all the “Got Access?” stickers and signs were all about as they hurried from one conference session to the next. It became clear when CoSN launched Access4Ed.net, a brand new online community of practice focused on innovative approaches to providing access to online environments in K-12 schools and districts. The new community of practice is launching in conjunction with the release of a draft of a new report on the state of online communities of practice in education. Both are part of a three-year initiative, Connected Online Communities of Practice, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and implemented in partnership with the American Institutes for Research and five other organizations, of which CoSN is one.

CoSN’s new online community will serve district technology leaders, superintendents, school boards and educational service agencies, and many other education stakeholders. The online community of practice will first focus on student-owned devices, followed by broadband. Future areas of focus may include cloud computing, mobile computing, enabling home access, wireless access and network design, among many others.

Luidia's eBeam Technology Helps California Educators Make the Classroom of the Future a Reality

Luidia, Inc., the award-winning leader in development of interactive systems that allow users to create, capture and share digital content and deliver it in an engaging way, today debuted its dynamic collection of new products and interactive education capabilities to the California audience at Computer-Using Educators, Inc.'s annual CUE 2011 Conference. Luidia's ecosystem of interactive education products provide affordable interactive solutions to teachers and schools in a time of mounting budget pressure.

Held this year from March 17-19, 2011 in Palm Springs, Calif., this conference brings together classroom teachers, administrators, library media teachers, higher education, school board members, technology leaders, IT professionals, parents and those who support CUE's mission of advancing student achievement through technology.  

Luidia will demonstrate at booth #521 its market-leading interactive education products, including the company's new eBeam® Engage™ interactive multimedia system, which instantly transforms traditional classrooms into 21st century learning centers.

"eBeam Engage is just a lot more convenient," said Robert Pronovost, Second Grade Teacher at Belle Haven Elementary School in Menlo Park, Calif. "I spend less time fumbling with technology and can incorporate additional content during class to better reach my students without losing a moment of instruction."

California is currently at the forefront of the national education reform debate as the state's $26 billion shortfall and Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed plan of tax extensions and reductions to protect K-12 education spending are scrutinized by politicians, teachers, parents and students. According to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office and as reported by San Jose Mercury News, K-12 education cuts could reach $4 billion or more if the temporary taxes expire this year and the Legislature suspends the state's minimum-funding guarantee for schools, making the need for educators to do more with less more urgent than ever before.

Lawmakers, libraries agree on Internet filter bill

Idaho lawmakers and library officials are finally in agreement on a bill that would require library computers to have filtering software to block content deemed offensive to minors.

The Senate Education Committee unanimously passed the bill Thursday and sent it along to the full Senate with a few amendments.

The bill now gives libraries flexibility for blocking content and deciding when filters should be turned off.

Republican Rep. Mack Shirley of Rexburg says the changes emerged from discussions with the Idaho Library Association.

The measure would also not go into effect until October 2012, giving libraries time to make all necessary changes or upgrade filtering software.

A previous version of the bill would have withheld public funding for libraries that didn't comply.

The bill has already passed the House.

Horry County Hosts Technology Literacy Conference

Three internationally-renowned keynote speakers, 42 breakout sessions and an array of exhibitors will be featured at Horry County Schools Adult and Community Education’s first-ever Technology Literacy Conference at the Beach March 31-April 2 at SeaMist Oceanfront Resort.

TLC at the Beach is designed to present “a practical approach to integrating technology into literacy teaching and learning.” Conference presenters and participants include representatives from technology, adult, family, K-12, health and financial literacy, as well as English as Second Language nstruction.

Keynote speakers and leaders of breakout sessions will present current research and best practices currently in place to assure that teachers and students are prepared and competitive in the 21^st Century. Conference attendees will choose among 42 workshops, panel presentations and work share seminars to learn and experience various types of cutting-edge technology covering all sectors of education. An array of vendors and exhibitors will also present their products and services to highlight integrating technology into the literacy curriculum.

Friday morning’s general session begins at 8:30 and features keynote speaker Dr. Willard R. Daggett, CEO of the International Center for Leadership in Education. Dr. Daggett is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move education systems towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students.

TCEA Announces technology literacy assessment for all Texas districts TCEA Announces technology literacy assessment for all Texas districts

The Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) announced a collaboration with Learning.com to offer a technology literacy assessment to all eighth-grade students across the state at no cost to districts. Phase one of the online assessment will launch in Spring 2011, followed by a full roll out statewide in Spring 2012.

The assessment will provide districts with the data they need to understand how well students grasp critical 21^st century skills. It will be based on the Technology Application TEKS (TA-TEKS), and will be updated to reflect the new standards in the 2012-2013 school year assessment. The test uses a blend of interactive performance-based questions and multiple-choice knowledge-based questions to measure and report technology literacy and skills for middle school students. Districts will receive their own data, along with comparison data from statewide results, to support improved student technology learning and help teachers plan how to integrate technology more effectively into the core curriculum.

Districts may find more information about participating in Phase I in Spring 2011 at www.tcea.org/assessment, as well as additional details about the assessment and implementation.

 

Crestron onCue Presentation Controller Makes Classroom Technology Possible For The Tightest School Budgets

Crestron announced today that onCue, the latest addition to its affordable line of easy-to-use AV presentation control systems for classrooms and small meeting rooms, is now shipping. The onCue BPC-8 Basic Presentation Controller provides teachers with an intuitive 8-button keypad controller for simple one-touch control of classroom presentation systems. Each button provides a recognizable pictured icon for power, volume, projector, screen, computer, and DVD control. Ideal for K-12 classrooms, onCue enables educators to install simple classroom technology that makes teaching easier and improves the learning experience despite tightening school budgets.

"onCue is priced right so all schools can get simple one-touch control in every room," says Vincent Bruno, Crestron Director of Marketing. "Now, teachers can control the AV as easy as turning on the lights, and spend more time teaching and less time dealing with the technology."

Mounted discreetly on a wall or in a lectern, onCue is always ready to start a presentation with a single button press. Teachers can simultaneously select a media source such as a DVD player, turn on the projector, and lower the projection screen with just one button press, instantly providing everything needed to begin a lesson, and maximizing class time. One button press also powers down all connected devices at the end of class.

Requiring no control system or programming, installation of a standalone onCue keypad is fast and easy so classrooms can be up and running without delay. For consistent, uniform and intuitive AV control in every classroom, the optional onCue IR Learner enables custom button settings to be loaded to multiple onCue controllers with a press of a button.