Report: Reinvent schools for digital age
Educators can’t truly deliver 21st-century instruction in schools that reflect Industrial-Age designs, with rigid schedules, inflexible facilities, and fixed boundaries between grades, disciplines, and classrooms, according to a new white paper from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21).
Key concepts: P21, 21st century skills, learning environment, digital age
How to defend your campus IT budget
Campus technology officials have joined the ranks of department heads vying for shrinking funds in a sagging economy, and many IT chiefs say defending their budgets is complicated by jargon that some university decision makers don’t fully understand. Key concepts: college budget, university budget, budget cut, educause, sarah lawrence college, college of new jersey.
‘UnderTheMicroscope’ aims to support, and inspire, young women scientists
The Feminist Press at the City University of New York recently launched UnderTheMicroscope.com in conjunction with IBM in an effort to increase public awareness of the need for women in science-related fields. The site aims to celebrate the achievements of women in science, while openly discussing the challenges they face, and also inspire more young women to pursue science careers by providing a social-networking forum for students, working scientists, teachers, counselors, and parents
Gaming is the future of classroom instruction
Gaming is moving out of the entertainment domain and into other areas, said Jim Brazell, president of ventureRAMP.com.
Key concepts: FETC, video gaming, Jim Brazell
Study suggests the ‘Obama effect’ could be real
Educators and policy makers, including Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, have said in recent days they hope President Obama’s example as a model student could inspire millions of American students, especially blacks, to higher academic performance. Now, researchers say they have documented this so-called Obama effect, reports the New York Times.
Michigan offers video contest for teens
Young people are bombarded by many warnings from adults about the dangers of underage drinking, so an effort by the Michigan Secretary of State’s office aims to have their peers send the messages instead, reports the Detroit Free Press.
Technology brings a rising tide of change
It is up to educators to inspire their students to become environmental leaders and help restore and protect the world’s oceans, said Philippe Cousteau, chief ocean correspondent for Animal Planet, at the opening general session of the Florida Education Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando.
Key concepts: Philippe Cousteau, environment issues, FETC
Gates Foundation to give $22M for education
In its efforts to ensure that students graduate from high school ready for college and success in the future workplace, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced more than $22 million in new grants to support the development of data systems and research initiatives in K-12 education.
Key concepts: gates foundation, decision making process, education grants
West Point will tell soldiers’ stories on the web
Lt. Col. Paul Owen, West Point Class of ’90, came back to the academy to tell his story about Iraq. Sitting before a video camera in his dress uniform, Owen described the oppressive heat, the “moon dust” sand, and a string of some 300 night raids in search of insurgents. Owen’s recorded recollections will be transcribed and posted on the web as part of an ambitious oral history project under way at the U.S. Military Academy’s new Center for Oral History.
Stories are being solicited from old soldiers and those just back from deployments. They are being asked about not only what happened on the battlefield, but what was going on under their helmets, too.
Key concepts: west point military academy, west point academy, web videos, us military academy, usma
Colleges convert cooking oil into biodiesel fuel
Forgive the students at Sinclair Community College if they get the munchies when they pass the tractors that cut grass, blow leaves, or sweep snow on campus: Oil that once cooked french fries and onion rings is being used to power the vehicles. Key concepts: biodiesel fuel, green technology, state university of new york.