By Dennis Pierce, Editor, Author at eSchool News

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Recent Posts

The former editor of eSchool News, Dennis Pierce is now a freelance writer. He has spent the last 20 years as an education journalist covering issues such as national policy, school reform, and educational technology. Dennis has taught high school English, math, and SAT prep. He graduated cum laude from Yale University. He welcomes comments at dennisp@eschoolmedia.com.

Opinion: Corporate policy making would result in a net loss

October 29, 2010August 23, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

The future of digital-age learning could hinge on the boardroom deals being made by giant corporations as they seek to head off “net neutrality” regulations—and education leaders ought…

District Management

Are computers for every student a wise investment?

June 16, 2014July 26, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

Daily technology use in core subject-area classes, frequent technology use in intervention courses, and a low student-to-computer ratio can play a critical role in reducing dropout rates, new…

District Management

How to avoid accidental data breaches

July 2, 2010 by By Andrew Sroka

While most CIOs spend their days worrying about the external hacking threats, a university’s greatest vulnerability comes from its own students, faculty, and administrative staff.

IT Management

Summit: Mobile computing is education’s future

April 26, 2011June 21, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

Speakers at a recent education technology industry summit had a key piece of advice for the company executives who make and sell products for schools: Go mobile.

District Management

Editorial: Media illiteracy

October 29, 2010June 1, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

President Obama caused quite a stir among the technorati with his commencement address at Hampton University last month.

District Management

FCC aims to simplify e-Rate, expand funding

November 18, 2010May 24, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed new e-Rate rules designed to simplify the program and bring discounts on networking services to more schools and libraries.

District Management

Editorial: Threats to innovation

November 8, 2010May 5, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

In a recent speech, Education Secretary Arne Duncan argued that schools should have more flexibility in how they get all students to achieve. Unfortunately, his rhetoric doesn’t match…

eClassroom News

Survey reveals gaps in school technology perceptions

May 6, 2010May 5, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

The results from a recent survey on education technology suggest that schools are making progress on integrating technology into the curriculum—but the survey also reveals key disparities in…

District Management

Microsoft, ePals team up on collaborative tools

November 5, 2013April 22, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

In a move that could spur more widespread use of online tools for communicating and collaborating within K-12 education, software giant Microsoft Corp. has announced a strategic partnership…

District Management

Arkansas TIEs into technology training

June 21, 2010April 1, 2010 by By Phoebe Bailey

How do you get a whole state integrating technology effectively into teaching and learning? How do you get teachers excited about using new technology and saying things like,…

District Management

Critics: Obama’s ed policies no better than Bush’s

October 29, 2010March 12, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

When it comes to education policy, President Obama is repeating the most grievous errors of his predecessor, charge a trio of venerable education policy analysts, including one—Diane Ravitch—best…

District Management

Commentary: Data undermining

May 31, 2012February 17, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

Unions are taking heat for their stance on using data to measure teacher quality, but school districts bear some responsibility, too.

District Management

AASA keynote: Focus on children, or risk nation’s status

November 23, 2010February 14, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

Referring to the significant challenges facing public education today as a crisis that threatens the nation’s status as a global leader, educational trailblazer Geoffrey Canada urged school leaders…

District Management

Duncan offers ‘guiding principles’ for rewriting NCLB

November 23, 2010February 14, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

Calling No Child Left Behind a “blunt instrument” that placed more emphasis on defining failure than encouraging success, Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Feb. 12 outlined the Obama…

District Management

Duncan: Superintendent prep programs must change

November 23, 2010February 13, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

States and school systems, with the help of the federal government, must work harder to improve the way superintendents are trained and prepared to lead the nation’s schools,…

District Management

Four things every student should learn … but not every school is teaching

July 15, 2010February 8, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

An awareness of the views of those in other countries, an understanding of how Google ranks the results of a web search, a knowledge of the permanence of…

District Management

Commentary: A new era in school district leadership

October 2, 2012January 28, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

Skillful leaders are able to articulate their vision clearly and inspire their communities to action—and the winners of our annual Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards epitomize this idea.

District Management

November to educators: Let students use online social tools

November 5, 2013January 28, 2010 by By Dennis Pierce, Editor

The most important change that technology brings to education is that it enables students to take charge of their own learning, said ed-tech consultant Alan November. Yet, this…

District Management

Editorial: Different animals

September 29, 2009July 20, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

In the July issue of eSchool News, we published the text of the final speech given by Craig Barrett as chairman of Intel Corp. In his speech, Barrett--who…

District Management

Unused eRate funding totals billions

May 14, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

About $5 billion of the estimated $19.5 billion in eRate funds committed to schools and libraries from 1998 to 2006 were never used, according to a recent report…

Teaching Trends

Schools should see stimulus funds next month

March 11, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

School districts should begin receiving billions of dollars in stimulus funding within a few weeks, and administrators are advised to "spend carefully" and keep detailed records of their…

District Management

AASA: Educate the ‘total child’

December 15, 2009March 3, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

Three days after his confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan reportedly called Dan Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators, to arrange a…

District Management

TCEA 2009 aims to accelerate change

December 16, 2009February 27, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

At the Texas Computer Education Association's 29th annual conference earlier this month, educators heard an impassioned plea to open their students' eyes to the world around them--and were…

District Management

AASA hears what’s about to disrupt schools

December 15, 2009February 23, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

If Harvard Business School's Clayton Christensen is right, half of all instruction will take place online within the next 10 years--and schools had better get into the online-learning…

District Management

Crisis survival tops agenda at AASA meeting

December 15, 2009February 20, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

The tanking economy and its devastating effect on education budgets, as well as the freshly signed economic stimulus package that promises billions of dollars in new money for…

District Management

Saving school budgets in a recession

July 26, 2010February 20, 2009 by Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

Buying from large group contracts, aligning budgets with school improvement plans, starting an educational foundation, and mastering the art of passing school bond issues were among the strategies…

eClassroom News

Ocean explorer brings undersea science to life

February 9, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

Famed ocean explorer Robert Ballard says he's just a few months from the culmination of a 28-year dream--and he'll be taking students along with him virtually as he…

eClassroom News

Web 2.0: What does the future hold for schools?

February 6, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

In Web 2.0 technologies, schools finally have the optimum tools for learning, said speakers at the 29th annual Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) conference in Austin Feb. 5--but…

Teaching Trends

Ling to educators: Tell the world’s stories

February 4, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

Journalist Lisa Ling had strong words of rebuke for the current state of the U.S. news media--and an inspiring message of hope for the thousands of educators attending…

Teaching Trends

‘…Truly a 24-7 learning experience’

February 4, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

The Texas Computer Education Association's 29th annual conference opened Feb. 4 with a dynamic, student-produced video demonstrating how technology is transforming education and empowering kids at Klein Independent…

eClassroom News

Gates Foundation to show excellent teaching

January 27, 2009 by By Dennis Pierce, Managing Editor

Billionaire philanthropist and former Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates says his foundation hopes to post online videos of exemplary teachers plying their craft as a way to inspire…

Opinion: Corporate policy making would result in a net loss

Are computers for every student a wise investment?

How to avoid accidental data breaches

Summit: Mobile computing is education’s future

Editorial: Media illiteracy

FCC aims to simplify e-Rate, expand funding

Editorial: Threats to innovation

Survey reveals gaps in school technology perceptions

Arkansas TIEs into technology training

Critics: Obama’s ed policies no better than Bush’s

Commentary: Data undermining

AASA keynote: Focus on children, or risk nation’s status

Duncan offers ‘guiding principles’ for rewriting NCLB

Duncan: Superintendent prep programs must change

Four things every student should learn … but not every school is teaching

Commentary: A new era in school district leadership

November to educators: Let students use online social tools

Editorial: Different animals

Unused eRate funding totals billions

Schools should see stimulus funds next month

AASA: Educate the ‘total child’

TCEA 2009 aims to accelerate change

AASA hears what’s about to disrupt schools

Crisis survival tops agenda at AASA meeting

Saving school budgets in a recession

Ocean explorer brings undersea science to life

Web 2.0: What does the future hold for schools?

Ling to educators: Tell the world’s stories

‘…Truly a 24-7 learning experience’

Gates Foundation to show excellent teaching

Why interactive solutions are a smarter investment for schools

Lerner Publishing Group Launches Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s Genius and Joy Curriculum

School Specialty LLC Announces Acquisition of Nasco Education U.S.

100 Learning Spaces Transformed, $5 Million Invested: School Specialty and College Football Playoff Foundation Celebrate Impact Across Schools Nationwide

ACT and Texas Instruments Collaborate to Enhance Student Success in Mathematics

Big Ideas Start Young: Games for Change Opens 2026 Student Challenge to Game Creators and Innovators Ages 10–25

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