Students can become published authors
Entrants in the Citizen Writer contest can select from four very different kinds of writing prompts, designed to match a student interests and stretch their creative skills. For…
Year: 2011
eSchool News March 2011
Highlights 33 eSN Special Report Keeping students on a path to graduation. — Jennifer Nastu 46 Curriculum Focus Poor test ... Read more
Viewpoint: Scarce resources, insufficient talent threaten to sink public education
Our disadvantaged students are about to encounter the “perfect storm”: a lack of resources needed to ensure they are not left behind and an insufficient number of talented…
Students excel in STEM gaming challenge
Twelve students in grades 5-8 are winners in the first-ever National STEM Video Game Challenge, a competition to motivate interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education…
Knowledge of Civil War history could lead to college scholarships
High school students who know their Civil War history can turn their knowledge into college scholarships in the National Civil War Student Challenge, a timed online competition launched…
Indiana GOP pushes ahead with big voucher program
Indiana's Republican leadership is pushing ahead with a proposal that would be the nation's broadest use of school vouchers, allowing even middle-class families to use taxpayer money to…
New program brings solar panels, and education, to schools
With energy efficiency becoming a universal concern, it seems natural that the conversation should move to schools. Johnson Controls’ Solar for Schools program brings the focus to the…
Student pushes back against college gossip site
Hurling online insults is easy when you’re anonymous. Putting a name to that invective changes everything—and that’s what University of Southern California freshman Haley Winters is banking on.
Experts outline challenges facing math instruction
Numerous studies point to a fact that cannot be ignored: U.S. students’ math and science performance trails that of several other countries, and the nation’s classrooms need qualified,…
Obama says too much testing makes education boring
President Barack Obama said Monday that students should take fewer standardized tests and school performance should be measured in other ways than just exam results. Too much testing…
Poll: Are we testing students too much?
President Obama recently said during an event that today’s standardized tests make learning boring for students and are often used ... Read more
New online-learning rule could have worst impact on small states
Colleges with online programs might withdraw from states, mostly in the northeast, that have small populations and stringent requirements for distance education courses when the Education Department’s “state…
ACLU demands high schools remove anti-gay filters
Several public high schools on March 28 received letters from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), as well as local ACLU arms from Michigan, Kansas, and western Missouri,…
Ousted principals quickly find new education jobs
After Red Lake High School was labeled one of Minnesota's worst schools, its board moved quickly to dismiss the principal. It didn't take long for Ev Arnold to…
New ed-tech products aim to solve challenges, improve learning
New software for managing mobile devices as they connect to a school’s network, a digital workspace where students can synthesize the information they find through online search engines,…
Hardware, furniture, and AV systems
Washable headphones, a turnkey solution for delivering 3D video, and an iPad storage cart that can synch up to 30 devices to iTunes from a single USB connection…
Curriculum and instructional technology
A new way to deliver digital content that combines video distribution with the functionality of a learning management system, reading software that uses music to engage both sides…
New communication and collaboration tools for educators
A system that lets school districts deliver seamless access to online services through a single sign-on process, and the addition of parent accounts to a free online learning…
School IT solutions
A program for managing mobile devices as they connect to a school’s network, and energy-saving software that automatically powers down idle computers, were some of the new products…
School administrative services
New software programs for finding substitute teachers, sending emergency notifications, creating digital forms, improving classroom behavior, and involving students in the creation of their IEPs were a few…
Professional development and consulting
Services that help school leaders apply for e-Rate discounts, foster schoolwide improvement, and find other sources of funding were among the highlights from Feb. 2011 ed-tech conference exhibitors.
February 2011 conference exhibitor index
Looking for coverage of a specific company from the 2011 FETC, TCEA, or AASA conferences? Then use this handy index to find the information you need. Clicking on…
5 myths about teachers that are distracting policymakers
There’s a lot of talk today about making our schools better and our teachers more effective. Researchers confirm that the right teachers can make a big difference in…
How Miami students can get a free college education
College tuition is going up and financial aid is on the chopping block in many states, but in the Miami area, one college is offering successful high school…
Taiwan’s AsusTek launches Android-powered tablet
AsusTek Computer Inc. unveiled a sleek tablet computer on Friday, after the Taiwanese firm saw the sales of its once popular line of mini-laptops stall following the launch…
Ten of the best Android apps for education
After we published a report on "10 of the best apps for education" for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices, many readers wondered when we would produce a…
9 bills that would put creationism in the classroom
State governments are grappling with massive budget deficits, overburdened social programs, and mountains of deferred spending. But never mind all that. For some conservative lawmakers, it's the perfect…
iCub robot ‘learns’ from its experiences
Scientists in Wales are taking part in a project to help develop robots which can learn and behave like babies and young children, the Associated Press reports.
Gadgets you should get rid of (or not)
The common rap against technology is that it leads to an accumulation of devices. But the nature of technology is changing, reports the New York Times.
Possible Republican 2012 hopefuls criticize public schools
Three potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates expressed hostility toward the public school system at a home schooling rally on Wednesday in the early presidential caucus state of Iowa,…
USDA funds more fruits and veggies for school kids
According to Reuters, state agencies will get more federal funding to provide fresh fruits and vegetables at schools, the Department of Agriculture announced on Wednesday.
Survey: Teachers want more access to technology, collaboration
The second part of a national survey on college and career readiness and the challenges facing U.S. teachers reveals that educators consider the ability to differentiate instruction for…
Readers: How to stop cyber bullying
In a recent story, we reported on new efforts by the Obama administration to help curb cyber bullying. But many readers say these efforts don't go far enough—and…
Solving our document dilemma with Enterprise Content Management
It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in – we’ve all heard the term “paperless office” too many times to count. It’s a term so undefined and it often…
Qwizdom launches game-based platform for learning and practicing K-8 skills
Qwizdom has developed a free online learning platform for students in grades K-8, called Qtopia, with thousands of ready-to-use practice materials--including educational activities, games, and homework--that are accessible…
Judge’s study finds New Jersey budget cuts fail schools
A New Jersey judge on Tuesday said the state's school budget cuts fail to meet constitutional standards for education, dealing a political blow to Republican Gov. Chris Christie…
Mayor counters teachers’ ads with his own
After being pilloried for weeks in advertisements from the city’s teachers’ union accusing him of threatening to fire teachers, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg hit back on Tuesday by…
Diplomas, and an uncertain future, for Japanese pupils
Schools here begin class in April and hold graduation ceremonies in March; like spring, they represent renewal and rebirth. On Tuesday morning, in a school meeting hall in…
State board boosts math requirement
Getting admitted to a four-year public university in Massachusetts just got harder, reports the Boston Globe.
Samsung reboots tablet strategy and beats Apple on price
Samsung has changed its tablet strategy and this time the company has an approach that is a lot more competitive with the Apple iPad on price, form factor,…