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$25 Atomic Learning Licenses - Coming Soon! Added on 11/28/2007 The TechSETS website will soon provide updated information regarding 2008 statewide pricing for Atomic Learning subscriptions. Individual accounts will be available for $25 for those who sign up through the California Technology Assistance Project (CTAP) consortium. The information will be posted no later than January 31st. Please click the Training tab and then click on Atomic Learning.
Free My SkillSource Online Tour – Jan. 30th Added on 11/28/2007 Take advantage of this free guided tour of the My SkillSource online training resources! The affordable My SkillSource subscriptions include self-paced tutorials, instructor-led classes, assessments, and searchable online reference libraries. Virtual labs are available for an additional cost. The next online tour takes place on Tuesday, December 11th at 3:30 pm (PDT). Each session can accommodate about 20 participants. A complete course catalog and subscription information are also available. All you need to participate in the free online tour is an Internet-connected computer and a nearby telephone. At the conclusion of the 45-minute tour, you will receive a two-week trial subscription, allowing you to explore the resources on your own. My SkillSource offers a variety of course libraries, ranging from Office Productivity ($40 per person per year) to Computer Professional ($150 per person per year). This is a great opportunity to see if My SkillSource online training resources will meet your staff development needs!
Pre-Registration Deadline for CUE Conference – Feb. 15th Added on 11/28/2007 The 30th annual Computer-Using Educators (CUE) conference will be held at the Palm Springs Convention Center on March 6-8, 2008. The conference features hundreds of concurrent sessions for K-12 educators (beginners to advanced), hands-on workshops, professional development seminars, special interest group (SIG) meetings, captivating keynote speakers, and a statewide Student Technology Showcase. •Save $50 on Pre-Registration (deadline: February 15th)
E-rate Training Modules Available Added on 11/28/2007 For anyone who was not able to attend the Beginning or Intermediate/Advanced E-rate training sessions sponsored by the K-12 High Speed Network (HSN) and California Department of Education (CDE), the PowerPoint presentations and supporting documents are now available on the K12HSN website.
EETT Formula Funding Amounts Now Posted Added on 11/28/2007 Approximately $16 million dollars in formula-funded grants will be distributed to local educational agencies (LEAs) in 2007-08 by the California Department of Education (CDE). This federal funding is provided through Title II, Part D, Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program. The amount of funding is based on each LEA's proportionate share of Title I, Part A funding. The purpose of EETT formula funding is to assist eligible districts in using technology to enhance teaching and promote learning. No application is required. Eligible LEAs must have a current CDE-approved technology plan. If the technology plan requirement is met, then the eligible LEA will automatically receive a grant award letter from the CDE. The letters are due to be sent by late November or early December.
Ed Tech K-12 Voucher Deadline 6/30/2008 Added on 11/28/2007 The deadline to apply for the Ed Tech K-12 Voucher Program funding is June 30, 2008. This program was launched last September and provides vouchers for reimbursing eligible districts and charter schools for certain categories of hardware, software, professional development, and IT support services. Both the California Department of Education (CDE) and TechSETS web sites provide complete information on determining your district’s eligibility, submitting the online application, identifying allowable purchases, and submitting the required documentation for reimbursement.
Give One Get One Laptop Donation Program Added on 11/15/2007 You only have until November 26th to take advantage of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) Foundation donation program. Under the promotional rules, you pay $399 plus shipping (two hundred dollars of the amount is tax deductible) for two laptops. The Foundation donates one XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and you keep the other one for the child in your life.
TechSETS 2.0 Launches Web Update Project Added on 10/29/2007 The TechSETS team is always asking for your input on our services and our website at www.techsets.org. You’ve been giving us feedback, and you will be pleased to know that we are taking action. As we write this, our technical wizards are busy developing a new web site with targeted improvements, due for release by July 2008. Here is a preview of some of the changes being considered: 1.Add a friendly welcome screen for new users, with links to short video segments that explain TechSETS services and resources. 2.Enable a “search” that will access the entire website (replacing the section-by-section search tool). 3.Simplify navigation for our various user groups, so that technical staff, administrators, teachers, support staff, and students are able to find relevant TechSETS resources quickly and easily! 4.Eliminate the redundant side menu 5.Perform work “under-the-hood”, in compliance with the California Department of Education’s Technology Service Division standards. 6.Place the website behind a login, which will allow customization options based on the user’s profile, as well as allow for a possible future single sign-on with the other SETS projects. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please email us at info@techsets.org
WiZiQ – A New Free Virtual Classroom Added on 10/29/2007 WiZiQ (Wiz-IQ) brings students and teachers together regardless of boundaries. With absolutely no cost to join or use its state-of-the-art virtual classroom, WiZiQ is becoming a vital tool in an online teacher’s or a student’s toolkit. This product is similar to Elluminate, but free. As members meet with other WiZiQ members, teachers and students who share subjects of your interest: 1. Find, share, download or upload Powerpoints on educational subjects and topics. 2. Use an intuitive interface to schedule sessions with a single participant or a group. 3. Teach and learn live, online in WiZiQ’s virtual classroom technology that needs no downloads and launches with just a few clicks.
What if You Had Time to be Creative? Added on 10/29/2007 What if we ran schools like Google runs their business? At Google, employees are allowed to spend one day a week working on a personal project. From those projects come some of the best new ideas! What would happen if students and teachers could do the same? Check out the two You Tube videos at this site to learn more, and then ask yourself this question, "What would my project be if I had one day each week to work on it?"
California Wildfires CDE Attendance Rules Added on 10/29/2007 School facilities will not lose Average Daily Attendance (ADA funding if they were used as community shelters or forced to close during the recent October 2007 fire storm. In addition, Class Size Reduction calculations will be modified for classrooms that had to accept additional students due to the fires. For students who missed CELDT, CAHSEE, STAR, or NAEP tests, flexibility is allowed.
Getting Started with Moodle Added on 10/4/2007 Moodle is a free learning management system, similar to Blackboard and WebCT. Many schools are using it to either offer online or hybrid courses, or as a digital space for a face-to-face class where students can submit homework, view resources, or have online conversations. This blog discussion provides a five-step strategy for a successful Moodle implementation.
Spring 2007 eDigest Podcast Added on 10/4/2007 TechSETS offers short (15-minute) podcasts of our popular eNewsletters. The Spring 2007 eDigest discusses a checklist to use for the technology acquisition process, as well as additional features of interest to busy school technologists.
New to TechSETS? Added on 10/2/2007 The TechSETS website is filled with resources for our members and guests. We have added a new “First Time Visitor” link on our homepage that invites new visitors to take a video tour of TechSETS resources. Additional tours will be added in the coming weeks.
A Must-Attend Panel Discussion at CETPA Added on 10/1/2007 TechSETS is hosting a provocative panel discussion at CETPA that you won’t want to miss! We have selected teams of superintendents and technology leaders who will share their strategies for successful CEO-CTO collaboration. Learn from the very best as superintendents respond to questions such as, “What would be the ONE piece of advice you would give to your Technology Director?” Identify with your peers as they respond to, “What would be the ONE piece of advice you would give to your Superintendent?” Please reserve Wednesday, October 10th from 1:30 – 3:20 in the Barcelona room. Also, bring your own questions for the interactive Q & A session following the main presentation.
MyTechDesk! Did You Know it is FREE? Added on 10/1/2007 Some California schools mistakenly think that only part of the MyTechDesk program is free. In the past, there were two versions of MyTechDesk: Free and low-cost. Not now! All K-12 schools and districts in California have access to MyTechDesk Standard at no cost, as a service provided by the California Department of Education’s TechSETS project. Why pay as much as $4,500 per year for a comparable commercial product, when this excellent solution is FREE? Check it out.
TechSETS Now Provides Sample Organizational Charts! Added on 10/1/2007 Technology needs for K-12 school districts will vary significantly based on variables, such as Board of Education goals, the size of the district, funding levels from programs such as E-rate, and the maturity level of the technology organization. TechSETS recently launched a new addition to TechJOBS that provides sample organization charts, job descriptions, and salary ranges that are intended to assist schools and districts in understanding, implementing and expanding their technology resources. Information for this site was obtained from California school districts and from websites such as EdJOIN. Content may be copied and/or modified to assist school districts in expediting their technology goals.
MySkillSource: Professional IT Training Added on 10/1/2007 My SkillSource is a one-stop training and support resource for IT staff, K-12 educators, and administrative support staff. Affordable 12-month subscriptions deliver a range of resources for all learners, including self-paced and instructor-led courses, online books, hands-on labs on live equipment, and $40 Office Productivity training (includes Microsoft Office). My SkillSource offers a cost-effective way to support yourself and your IT team with high-end technical training.
CareerAcademy.com: Video-based Technology Training Added on 10/1/2007 TechSETS is pleased to announce the addition of CareerAcademy.com as an online training partner! Utilizing the latest multimedia technologies, Careeracademy.com provides interactive online technology training that combines the power of expert video instruction, hands-on lab simulations, and testing modules. Each training course is presented in full-motion video and audio, allowing viewers to see all the steps, hear the detailed explanations, and perform the tasks. The Learning Zone offers live mentoring, including live chat, for individual subscribers. Learning Zone may also be added to site and classroom licenses for an affordable fee. For $200 per year, a subscriber receives access to the complete CareerAcademy.com course library, with topics ranging from popular desktop applications to professional certification tracks. Site licenses, classroom pricing, and lab packs are also available. Additionally, CareerAcademy.com will be offering a free preview course each month on the TechSETS web site.
TechSETS Evaluation Report 2007 Added on 10/1/2007 TechSETS appreciates the feedback that members provided as part of our evaluation process. Our TechSETS Annual Evaluation Report 2007 is now available and here are some highlights: TechSETS has experienced steady growth in membership with 6,455 members (up from 5,489 in 2006). Members are from all facets of technology support, including IT staff and a growing number of teachers. CTAP Region 4 and 9 have the highest number of members. School districts with under 12,000 students comprise the largest percentage of users. We found that users were very satisfied with TechSETS services (between 91% - 98.5%, depending on the type of user).
A Social Network for Teachers Added on 09/26/2007 Yahoo is in the beta release of a new social networking site where teachers share ideas and lesson plans. Visit the site, watch the introduction video, and sign up to be notified when the site goes live.
Google Adds Presentation to Google Docs Added on 09/26/2007 Google has added a presentation feature to its web-based document and spreadsheet suite. Presentations -- whether imported from existing files or created using the new slide editor -- can be edited, shared, and published using the familiar Google Docs interface, with several collaborators working on a slide deck simultaneously, in real time. When it's time to present, participants can simply click a link to follow along as the presenter takes the audience through the slideshow. Participants are connected through Google Talk and can chat about the presentation as they're watching. Visit this blog and view the YouTube video, and the links that may just convince you to try it out!
Getting Started With Podcasting Added on 09/20/2007 Podcasting delivers audio content to iPods and other media players (including your computer) on demand. Here’s the basic process: 1. Publishers create audio content and post it to a web server, usually as an MP3 file. 2. They then publish an RSS newsfeed that provides descriptive information about the podcast, along with an “enclosure” of the actual audio file. 3. End-users subscribe to the RSS feed, using a free application, such as iPlodder or Feedburner, which is able to separate the descriptive information from the enclosed audio file and sync the audio file with the appropriate media player preferred by the user. 4. End users are then able to listen to the podcast on demand.
TechSETS Summer eDigest Added on 09/20/2007 The Summer eNewsletter is now available on our TechSETS homepage at www.techsets.org. This edition includes articles on topics such as the 2007 E-rate and CTF training schedules, Ed Tech K-12 Voucher Program updates, CIO / CEO partnership strategies, and the use of data from the California School Technology Survey. Are you too busy to read it all right now? Check out our eDigest, which contains a short podcast of the eNewsletter highlights.
New E-Rate Training Materials Added on 09/20/2007 It is time to set up a new notebook for Year 11 E-Rate documentation! Now is the time to review the training materials for 2007-2008 and/or attend a training session within your region. This year there are few changes, and the major focus is “Back to Basics.”
NEW: Podcast eNewsletter Summaries Added on 09/12/2007 The complete edition of each TechSETS eNewsletter is available on our homepage at www.techsets.org. The latest Summer 2007 edition includes articles on topics such as the 2007 E-rate and CTF training schedules, Ed Tech K-12 Voucher Program updates, CIO / CEO partnership strategies, and the use of data from the California School Technology Survey. Would you rather listen to eNewsletter summaries on your iPod or computer, while you jog or relax? Check out our new eDigest issues, and enjoy short podcasts of the eNewsletter highlights. Simply click the eDigest link for the issue you wish to review.
Implementing Technology with Peer Coaching Added on 09/11/2007 The Peer Coaching Program, sponsored by Microsoft, is designed to help schools implement a professional development model that can enhance standards-based instruction by assisting teachers to offer students engaging, technology rich, learning activities. The Peer Coaching Program trains teacher leaders to serve as peer coaches for colleagues. As coaches, these teachers assist their peers in identifying ways that technology can strengthen classroom curriculum and enhance their students’ academic achievement. Be sure to check out the Portfolios tab.
Eight More Reasons for Educational Technology Added on 09/11/2007 If you are trying to “make the case for technology”, here are eight more reasons to add to your list.
Technology From 1890: “The Charge of The Light Brigade” Added on 09/11/2007 Thomas Edison sent his agents to the Poet Laureate, Lord Tennyson’s home to record his voice on wax cylinders in 1890. Listen to the poet read his work, and then reflect on the impact of your own work today. (Requires Real Player).
Google Image Copyright Rules Revisited Added on 09/11/2007 Is it legal to copy an image found during a Google search and paste it to your report? Here are some suggestions to consider: • Check for copyright notices at the bottom of the Web pages where the image was found • Never put copyrighted material up on the Web without permission. (Fair Use allows a one-time use. limited to a classroom - not for a multimedia presentation where others may download that image.) • If in doubt, ask for permission. (This means leaving time for receiving permission before using something.) • Create your own graphics. There is no more important literacy skill than learning to communicate. Visual communication is very important today. Always give credit to the original creator of anything you use. • Use a Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org) license on your own work on the Web that will make it clear that others can use it.
Web-based Graphing Calculator Added on 09/11/2007 HRW provides the biggest interactive graphing calculator you've ever seen — it fills the screen. Use this free tool to plot points, graph equations, or to find intersection points.
How Will Web 2.0 Impact the Future of Education? Added on 09/6/2007 On September 6, 2007, “Office 2.0”, a San Francisco futurist conference, will discuss ten impacts that Web 2.0 will have on education. Review the forum discussion on these important topics: 1. Is Web 2.0 a good fit for education? 2. Is Web 2.0 significant to future student achievement, workplace skills, information literacy, and digital citizenship? 3. Do we need to start teaching "digital citizenship?" 4. Are the formal structures of education changing because of online learning, and what roles can Web 2.0 software play in those changes? 5. Technology decision-making in schools: The divide between IT and the classroom, and why is it so hard to implement new technologies in education? 6. How much commercialization should be allowed in the classroom and in the school? 7. The conflict between school security issues and the innovative technologies of Web 2.0 8. Publicly shared lives: how transparent should students lives be, and is it appropriate for students to be "clickable?" 9. The training gap: professional development and rapid technological change. How do we train a huge workforce in skills that are just being understood? 10. How important is equitable access to technology, and do the tools of Web 2.0 change that?
A Free Stanford Mozilla Worldwide Conference Added on 09/6/2007 On September 14 – 16, the Stanford Center for Innovations brings us “Mozilla 24”, a worldwide, 24-hour open discussion that connects community members, academics and Web visionaries from Asia, America and Europe, in person and over the broadband video WIDE network. Mozilla 24 will feature industry leaders who will present on Web trends and technologies that will help shape the future of the Web.
New Epsilen Educational Community Added on 09/6/2007 Is there a respectable MySpace for educational professionals? That’s what some users call Epsilen (by Times Magazine), which places social networking and ePortfolios in the center of global eLearning, and creates a totally new environment for the next generation of learners and professionals. If you have an email address that ends in “.edu”, you can set up a professional portfolio for free. Institutional subscriptions are also available.
Tech-support Costs on the Rise Added on 08/29/2007 A new report prepared by the research firm Quality Education Data (QED) has found that “…tech support is the fastest-growing cost area for school technology budgets.” In 2002-03, QED found that tech support accounted for about 14% of the technology budget. This amount has doubled to 28% in data released in 2006. The newest report indicates, sadly, that most schools make poor decisions when trying to reduce costs (such as limiting professional development). The article provides some good suggestions for making long-term decisions to help reduce costs.
Myths that Keep Girls Away From Technology Added on 08/29/2007 The National Science Foundation has found that one of the most effective interventions to help young women choose and sustain a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) educational path and subsequent career is mentoring. What are you doing to resolve the five myths below? 1. Most girls are less interested in STEM than boys are. (FALSE for grades K-1, TRUE for grades 8) 2. Classroom interventions geared to increase girls’ interest in STEM run the risk of turning off the boys (FALSE. Interventions work for both.) 3. Science and math teachers are no longer biased toward their male students. (FALSE) 4. When girls aren’t interested in STEM, parents can’t do much to motivate them. (FALSE) 5.At college, some women are “weeded out” of STEM programs. (TRUE) Danica McKellar, the actress who played Winnie on the ‘90s hit television show, “The Wonder Years,” just released a new book, “Math Doesn’t Suck.” Her book shares her struggles and successes as she went on to major in math at UCLA. She even co-authored a groundbreaking mathematical physics theorem (the Chayes-McKellar-Winn Theorem).
Success Strategies for On-Line Professional Development Added on 08/24/2007 The need to meet the ISTE NETS and NCLB technology training requirements for teachers and students, will seem overwhelming if you try to establish traditional face-to-face training solutions. You may want to study and adapt the successful professional development program implemented by St. Mary Parish Schools in Louisiana. Their ‘Professional Development in Your Pajamas,' or ‘PDNPJ,' program uses InfoSource Learning, an online curriculum that supports individualized learning from anytime, anyplace. The successful Louisiana model established innovative tracking and incentive programs and has resulted in an increase of the ISTE NETS-T proficiency levels (in all six areas) of 720 teachers from 12% to 29% in just two years. The project is also just as successful with students. Although the InfoSource Learning curriculum was used in this success story, other solutions, such as MySkills Source or Career Academy (offered at greatly reduced costs by TechSETS), may apply the same program implementation to achieve similar results.
Advice for Educational Job Seekers Added on 08/22/2007 This site is filled with helpful information for teachers and others who are looking to change careers, locations or positions. From portfolio and resume creation to credential and transition strategies, you will find good advice. You can even search for available jobs.
Clearinghouse Releases Reading Program Results Added on 08/22/2007 The What Works Clearinghouse, from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, was created in 2002 to produce research on “what works” in education. The clearinghouse has recently released its research results that focused on the impact of reading interventions for students in the areas of alphabetics, reading fluency, comprehension and general reading achievement. Once again, the clearinghouse has given few of its coveted positive ratings. Review the results quickly on a chart that compares 24 different beginning reading programs. The programs which received a “...strong evidence of a positive effect…” score in one or more areas include DaisyQuest, Earobics, Fast ForWord, Kaplan SpellRead, Reading Recovery, and Stepping Stones to Literacy.
ATTAIN Senate Act Expands on EETT Added on 08/16/2007 The ATTAIN (Achievement Through Technology and Innovation) Senate Act will update the existing Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program in several areas to improve technology curriculum, professional development and research.
Internet Safety Revisited Added on 08/16/2007 As part of starting up a new school year, it’s a good idea to see what is new with Internet safety. I-SAFE, Inc. is a non-profit foundation whose mission is to educate and empower students, parents, seniors, and community members to safely and responsibly take control of their Internet experiences. Update your own skills in personal safety, predator identification, and intellectual property issues, and browse the curricula for teachers, students and parents.
Crafting a Service-level Agreement for Educational IT Added on 08/16/2007 IT Directors often include Service-Level Agreement (SLA) requirements in RFP’s for IT goods and services. This two-part article provides instructions on how to set up an SLA for educational users on such issues as network uptime and hours allotted to solve technical problems.
New K12 TCO Calculator Available Added on 08/16/2007 Technology planning should be integrated into annual budgeting, training, data gathering, and assessing school performance. The K12 TCO Calculator can help you estimate the multiyear costs of implementing and maintaining technology systems in a K-12 school. The new calculator is now easier to use and more flexible. Enhancements include district summary reports, construction figures based on regional profiles, revised professional development criteria, and more.
ISTE Administration and Supervision Certificate Program Added on 08/16/2007 ISTE has partnered with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) to offer an 18 credit online Graduate Certificate in School Administration and Supervision. The ISTE JHU Certificate is designed to provide aspiring administrators and supervisors with effective strategies and tools for infusing instructional technology to ensure student success. The deadline to apply for the 2008–2009 ISTE JHU Administration Certificate is April 11, 2008. This cohort will kick off in June at NECC 2008 in San Antonio.
Free iLife for Windows Added on 08/14/2007 This Wiki provides excellent help for PC users who want to use the free Web 2.0 tools Picasa, Photostory, Audacity and Movie Maker for educational purposes. Picasa is a free software from Google that helps you locate, organize, edit, add effects, and share the photos on your computer. Photostory allows you to create and share slideshows, add special effects and soundtracks (including your own voice) to your digital presentations. Audacity is all about audio editing and Movie Maker is a free video-editing tool that will allow you to turn home movies into awesome videos.
Technology News From a 9-year-old Added on 08/14/2007 Meet Adora Svitak, a 9-year-old, tech-savvy news correspondent who has already written hundreds of short stories, maintains her own blog, and has been featured on CNN and Good Morning America. In this article, she discusses how students can use iGoogle.
Plan Your 2007-8 Technology Conference Attendance Now! Added on 08/14/2007 California educators have an array of excellent conferences to attend this year. Review the following offerings and submit your travel paperwork soon. • The school year starts out with CETPA (California Educational Technology Professionals Association), which is scheduled for Indian Wells October 9-12. This is nearly a month earlier than prior years, so register now. • The California League of Middle Schools and the League of High Schools will present the Digital Immigrants, Digital Natives Conference in Monterey November 29 – December 2, 2007. Visit http://www.cue.org/2007/06/16#a439 for more information. • CUE (Computer Using Educators) will be in Palm Springs March 6-8. Visit http://www.cue.org/2007/06/11#a438 for more information.
Network Security Recommendations for Schools Added on 07/10/2007 Experienced technology leaders share and discuss their educational-technology security recommendations. They suggest: a) tracking student behavior, not just filtering content, b) authenticate all network users, and don’t use generic logins, c) involve teachers with pre-selecting Internet content, d) block proxy sites so students can’t set up their own proxy servers, e) enforce acceptable use policies, f) use tools to search Internet history files and discipline as necessary, g) work together and stay one step ahead.
NECC Conference Highlights Added on 07/5/2007 The need to produce a generation of students who are creative thinkers and innovators was a key theme at this year’s National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in Atlanta. Enjoy several short eSchool News TV conference videos, including the keynote speaker Andrew Zolli, a futurist who offers suggestions on how to encourage creativity.
New ISTE Standards for Students (NETS*S) Added on 07/5/2007 ISTE published the new National Educational Technology Standards for Students at the June 24-27, 2007, NECC Conference in Atlanta. Participants in the Refresh Project included representatives from 50 states and 22 countries, ISTE said, including China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. Creativity and innovation head the list of characteristics the new standards seek to measure.
CLRN Guidelines Updated for ELAR Systems Added on 06/11/2007 The revised (5/14/07) “Electronic Learning Assessment Resources (ELAR) Guidelines, Review Process, and ELAR Features” report is now available on the CLRN (California Learning Resources Network) website. The CLRN project provides ELAR selection and comparison information to help school districts make the right decision in this complex market. Study the new ELAR guidelines and compare the various competing software options on the CLRN website at http://www.clrn.org/elar/findRightElar.cfm.
Microsoft Releases Math Software for Home and School Added on 06/11/2007 Microsoft Corp has released a standalone math software product, called Microsoft Math 3.0, that can be downloaded for $19.95 (educational pricing also available). The software is intended to help students (and their parents) tackle complicated problems in pre-algebra, algebra, trigonometry, calculus, physics, and chemistry. The software is intended to help deepen students' overall understanding of these subjects by invoking a full-featured graphing calculator and step-by-step instructions on how to solve difficult problems. It also features tools such as a library with more than 100 common math equations and formulas, a triangle application, and a unit-conversion tool.
Gartner: Hold Off on System Virtualization Added on 05/31/2007 System Virtualization is a technology that is expected to grow from the current 500,000 virtual machines to three million by 2009, and will be part of nearly every aspect of IT by 2015. However, Gartner warns that IT managers should “stick it out” until the current problems with virtualization, such as licensing, support, and emerging technologies, are ironed-out.
Write a Book in a Month Added on 05/31/2007 If you have a book in your head, but lack the time to bring it out, join the National Novel Writing Month project. It’s a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. The goal is to start on November 1, 2007 and write a 175-page novel by midnight, November 30th. In 2006, over 79,000 participants started the project and nearly 13,000 crossed to the 50k-word finish line by the deadline. Sign-ups will begin October 1, 2007.
Cyberbullying: Join the Discussion Added on 05/31/2007 Danah Boyd’s Cyberbullying blog has an active discussion in progress about this topic. She wonders if "cyber" has gained too much emphasis over the "bullying" part of the term. She asks, “What are the tactics that we can teach kids to handle bullying? How can we help them process what’s going on? How can we help them strategize how to handle the bullies rather than run away? What would happen if we put our energies into helping those who are attacked lessen the impact of the blows?”
Green Schools…Green Technology? Added on 05/31/2007 Schools across America are going “green” to cut costs. A recent Washington state study found that green schools cut energy costs by up to 50 percent! Want a challenge? Begin to think about how to turn your technology department green. Start the discussion. Note: You may be prompted to establish a free login to Teacher Magazine in order to retrieve this article.
Clipmarks and Pageflakes: Enhanced RSS-like Tools Added on 05/31/2007 The market is bursting with new Web 2.0 tools to keep you up-to-date with whatever you are interested in. Pageflakes (www.pageflakes.com) is an RSS feed reader that customizes an Internet home page with automatic feeds, stock updates, to-do lists, and more. Clipmarks (www.clipmarks.com) allows users to grab, share, search, and catalog snippets clipped from news or blogs.
CUE Offers Summer Institutes Added on 05/31/2007 Computer-Using Educators (CUE) is partnering with the California League of Middle Schools (CLMS) and the National High School Association (NHSA) to offer two Differentiated Instruction Bootcamp Institutes in Maui, Hawaii, on July 10-13, and in Indian Wells, CA, from July 29 – 31. The cost is $259 for members and $319 for non-members. The registration deadline is June 25th for the Maui Institute and July 16 for the Indian Wells Institute.
San Diego Unified School District Wins $250,000 Best Buy Teach Award Added on 05/29/2007 Best Buy is pleased to announce that the San Diego Unified School District has received the 2007 Best Buy $250,000 Teach Award for demonstrating exceptional, creative plans to expand technology-inspired teaching in its K-12 classrooms. The district will use the $250,000 Teach Award to launch “Unsung Heroes,” a program where students will help expand awareness of social services available in their communities by documenting and broadcasting the stories of local heroes. To do this, students will use digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, Web sites, and podcasts.
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) for Educators Added on 05/29/2007 Looking for information? Let RSS feeds do the work for you. Check out what’s new with this time-saving technology.
Engaging Students with Digital Cameras Added on 05/29/2007 Learn how Visalia Unified School District uses digital cameras and Picasa (a powerful and free program for editing, organizing, and sharing photos) to engage students and to differentiate instruction for all students, including English Learners and Gifted students. Many specific examples are presented to help you expand your camera use.
Visitor’s Guide to High Performing Elementary Schools Added on 05/29/2007 This California Department of Education's Visitor’s Guide provides a glimpse into some of California’s most successful elementary schools and the practices they perceive to have supported their success. Contact information is provided to facilitate school visits.
The "Other" Microsoft Settlement Added on 04/26/2007 In addition to the Ed Tech K-12 Voucher Program, there is a separate Mircosoft Settlement for "government entities". All California districts are eligible for the government entities settlement, regardless of Free and Reduced Price Lunch percentage. Please visit the TechSETS KI-12 Voucher resource page for a helpful handout on the Microsoft-California Government Entities Settlement.
Should You Install Security Cameras? Added on 04/26/2007 The National Institute of Justice (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/, which is the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, prepared a publication, “The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools” in September 1999. Although an update to the publication is underway, the basic principles of the use of video camera surveillance in schools, as described in Chapter 2, contains excellent advice for districts researching or implementing this technology. The report begins by asking, “Why video cameras?”, and continues by covering topics related to camera placement, mounting, lighting, maintenance, and legal considerations.
Update Your Technology Plan by Using Web 2.0 Tools Added on 04/20/2007 Susan Brooks-Young presents a short 11-minute video that shows how a group of educators in Northern California used several Web 2.0 tools for collaboration and planning. They used AirSet Groups, Calendar, Blog, and Links (www.airset.com) to establish a web-based communication portal for their planning committee members. Wiki-Front Page, Wiki-Plan, and Wiki-Edit (http://pbwiki.com) were used to place project instructions on a website. Members were able to use the wiki to contribute and share work for their respective assignments. The Webtop application, Writely (www.writely.com) was used to place the final planning document on the web for committee review and editing. ("Writely" has since been acquired by Google and is now called "Google Docs".)
San Diego State to Offer Online Ed Tech Masters Program Added on 04/13/2007 San Diego State University has just received approval to offer their internationally-recognized Educational Technology Masters program online, with a curriculum targeting the needs of K-12 educators. For the first time, the online program is available with reduced in-state fees for California residents, although tuition is still quite reasonable for participants from any location worldwide. The program starting this fall will be cohort-based and include extensive opportunities for students to have live interactions with each other and faculty members in a very supportive environment that offers flexibility to accommodate participant schedules. The deadline to apply is May 1. The program starts at the end of August with anticipated graduation in the Summer of 2009.
Does Your Acceptable Use Policy Need Updating? Added on 04/11/2007 Is it OK to film a teacher (or student) without his/her permission…and then post the video on YouTube? Your existing AUP may need an overhaul to account for all the new technology tools being used by students, such as blogging, podcasting, RSS subscriptions, social bookmarking, media and networks, web and video enabled cell phones, etc. This website provides thoughtful questions to consider, and also provides additional links and “…insightful posts and comments … on the topic.”
New Federal Study Provides Disappointing Ed Tech Results Added on 04/11/2007