Simulations help faculty ID at-risk students
Some students are cranky and irritable. Others are nervous and uneasy. College classrooms can include a variety of behaviors, and judging whether these behaviors could indicate something more troubling beneath the surface can be difficult. Now, a computer simulation is helping professors identify and approach so-called “at-risk” students and recommend a visit to a campus counselor. Key concepts: At risk youth, city university of new york, American College Health Association, Virginia tech, college counseling
Fair-use guide offers copyright protection for educators
Hoping to clear up the confusion over the “fair use” of digital materials in teaching and learning, a panel of university professors has developed a “Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education.” The document clarifies how fair use applies to the most common situations where media-literacy educators make use of copyrighted materials in their work, and it offers guidance for instructors so they can make more informed judgments about using these materials
Is virtual education the answer to school budget cuts?
Virtual instruction might provide school districts with a way to save money during the poor economy, reports Channel 10 News of Tampa Bay, Fla.
Tracking equipment leads to recovery of stolen school computer
Thieves had better think twice before stealing a computer from the Fort Worth, Texas, school district, reports the Dallas Morning News: Fort Worth school officials say police have recovered a laptop computer taken from one of their schools because a tracking device had been installed on it.
eMail intervention teaches internet safety
More than half of U.S. teenagers in a recent study mentioned risky behaviors such as sex and drug use on their MySpace pages, according to researchers. But the study also suggests that simply reaching out to teens via eMail can help them learn safe and responsible internet use. Key concepts: university of wisconsin madison, social networking sites, low-income families
FCC chief drops filters to save free broadband
Before he steps down as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Kevin Martin still hopes to win approval for his plan to auction off a slice of the airwaves for a free, nationwide wireless broadband network. To increase the chances that his proposal will win the support of his fellow commissioners, Martin said he has removed one especially contested element: a requirement that the provider of the wireless network filter internet content to block any material deemed inappropriate for children. Key concepts: kevin martin, internet filter, internet filtering, broadband internet wireless, t mobile usa
Teachers’ lessons go viral on education video web site
Just as YouTube gave regular people a stage to become famous, teachers are now sharing videos and gaining attention beyond the confines of their classrooms, reports the Dallas Morning News.
Waivers free Michigan students to study online, off-campus
Eleven Michigan school districts and one charter school now can allow students to take more courses online and off-campus, reports the Detroit Free Press–a move that could further cement the state’s reputation as a leader in online education.
How to create a successful virtual campus
Higher-education leaders are learning that starting a virtual program is a wholly different venture than opening a traditional campus, and the recipe for success requires a different approach. Among the chief mistakes many schools make: Not investing heavily enough in marketing and recruiting, and not getting faculty buy-in and support. Key concepts: umass online, regents university, university of illinois urbana, university of illinois champaign, virtual campus
Denver superintendent goes to Washington
School leaders soon could have another ally in Congress: Michael Bennet, superintendent of the Denver Public Schools, was named Jan. 3 by Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter as his choice to fill the remaining two years of the Senate term of Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar, who is awaiting confirmation as interior secretary for President-elect Barack Obama.
Key concepts: denver public schools, ken salazar, colorado senator, michael bennet