Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

Student data privacy: The role of policymakers and schools

Federal laws provide important safeguards for protecting data and preserving student privacy

data-privacyAs states move to collect, store, and interpret student data, education leaders should be familiar with important federal laws that safeguard student data and protect student privacy.

Efforts by the U.S. Department of Education officials and the Data Quality Campaign to create clear-cut explanations for how student data will be protected, and how privacy plays an important role, are regular parts of data discussions. A number of federal laws and resources are designed to help protect data privacy, while at the same time ensuring data is used to inform teaching and learning.

On Nov. 19, DQC will release Data for Action 2013, the ninth in a report series detailing state efforts to use and safeguard student data. A primer on student data and privacy may be useful for educators and policymakers in the interim.…Read More

1 2

Cloud classrooms: The next big thing in education

Following the trend of mass cloud adoption in other industries, educational institutions have started rapidly shifting to mobile learning and more interactive communication through cloud computing, TechBytesEdu reports. Even though there are still many educators who don’t feel very comfortable about adopting new technologies, it is obvious that the cloud is conquering educational institutions all over the world. Certainly, cloud computing has a lot to offer to schools and colleges – from simplifying administration and admission processes to enabling faster information access and easier communication. Here are some of the most important ways in which cloud technology positively affected current education transformation…

Read more

…Read More

Schools signing up for the Hour of Code

Schools pledge to learn how to code and support computer science education

hour-codeHave you signed up for the Hour of Code? If you haven’t, chances are you know someone who has–more than 11,000 coding and computer science events are planned, involving nearly 1.8 million students in 144 countries.

The Hour of Code is an initiative that asks students, teachers, parents, and schools to introduce students to computer programming during Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek), Dec. 9-15, for just one hour. Activities include introductions that teach students coding basics, an intro to JavaScript, “Robot Vocabulary” and unplugged computer science, how to create your own app, and more.

Students are encouraged to sign up for the Hour of Code, and teachers are encouraged to highlight Hour of Code activities in their classrooms.…Read More

1 2

Sometimes, paid technology may be better than free

Sometimes, paying for technology might be better than using a free product

technology-paid-freeI am fortunate to speak to educators across the U.S. about student-centered learning and technology integration. It’s thrilling to see a teacher’s eyes light up when I share a powerful, free web tool. After all, what could be better than amazing technology that students love and that costs nothing to use?

The answer to this question, sometimes, is a web tool that comes with a fee. This may seem like a contradiction, but as much as I love free technology, what I hate is using an amazing free website or application, only to see it completely change later and move to an expensive fee-based model.

Educators can connect and follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #eSNBestPractices.…Read More

1 2

Going solar atop school buildings

In 2012, The tiny Centerburg School District in central Ohio installed 5,600 solar panels on the rooftops and grounds of its elementary and high schools that are anticipated to provide 80 percent of the electricity the two buildings will use over the 2013-14 school year, AASA’s School Administrator reports. The 1.5-megawatt solar system will save the 1,140-student school district approximately $50,000 in electricity costs in just the first year of the project. Centerburg is not alone in turning to solar energy generation. More and more K-12 schools are turning to renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, to power up their facilities. Solar is an attractive option for schools for several reasons…

Read more

…Read More

Google+ links teachers, virtual field trips

Google+ virtual field trips will support community of teachers and academic partners

google-field-tripIn an effort to boost teacher collaboration and cultivate digital skills in students, Google+ on Nov. 4 launched Connected Classrooms, a program that connects K-12 teachers with virtual field trip resources and best practices.

Virtual field trips have always been available on Google+, but the Google+ Education Partnership Team sees Connected Classrooms as a more formal way for teachers to locate virtual field trips and connect with other educators in a thriving community.

“This is really just the beginning of where we see Connected Classrooms going,” said Lisa Jiang, Google+ Education Partnerships Lead. “We see this as an opportunity to not just attend a virtual field trip, but for teachers to become more proactive in using digital tools to help equip their students with the skills they need for digital citizenship.”…Read More

1 2

We have what we need: The next steps in education technology

We have SMART boards. iPads. Laptops. Cellphones. We have learning management systems like Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle, the Huffington Post reports. Cloud storage systems like Dropbox, and notetaking apps like Evernote. We have the ability to connect with individuals around the world and talk about everything from the basics of addition and subtraction to the complexities of international relations. We have the ability to provide free educational modules to thousands upon thousands of individuals at one time, and many educators who are already doing so. We have what we need…

Read more

…Read More