Karen Cator, former director of education leadership and advocacy for Apple Inc. and a long-time education technology leader, will serve as the new director of the Office of Educational Technology (OET) for the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Key words: Karen Cator, Department of Education, Apple Inc., educational technology

Students from six universities are pitching news stories and supplementing national reports for ABC News in a high-pressure program that uses technology and video-editing software while training students for future journalism careers. Key words: ABC News on Campus, journalism education, journalism school, educational technology

As education leaders align their programs with the goals set forth by Education Secretary Arne Duncan under the Obama administration, a major point of emphasis is turning around underperforming schools and stemming the nation's dropout rate. Key words: dropout prevention, national dropout rate, Obama education, educational technology, Pearson Prevent, NGA

Blackboard Inc. and Northwestern University have teamed up on a project to make the education version of Google Apps available to students using the Blackboard Learn platform with a single sign-on. Key words: Blackboard Inc., Northwestern University, Google Apps, educational technology

While most people were turning their clocks backward over the weekend, Microsoft research chief Craig Mundie was moving his forward, five to 10 years into the future, reports the Seattle Times.

In Denmark, the government has taken the bold step of giving pupils full access to the internet during their final school-year exams, reports the BBC News.

Greater Atlanta Christian Schools has launched a massive Apple technology initiative that will put new laptops in the hands of more than 1,200 students--and higher tuition bills in the mailboxes of parents, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ever wonder how the deafening gunshots and explosions on the "Halo" video game are created? Or the crushing sounds of a quarterback sack in the Madden football games? Beginning next month, reports the Pasadena Star-News, Pinnacle College in Alhambra, Calif., will offer a 16-month program in video game audio production--the nation's first accredited degree program in that field, according to Eitan Teomi, the program's director.

Indiana University is celebrating its new $32 million data center--built to protect its computers from floods, power outages, tornados, and other emergencies--by giving a reception and opening the facility to the campus community, reports the Associated Press.