Engineering Education

Springfield campus reports record enrollment for spring - Paul Wood, News-Gazette

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:01 GMT

Students majoring in degree programs at UIS that are fully online are at an all-time high for a spring semester as well, said Ray Schroeder, director of UIS' Center for Online Learning, Research and Service. The total number of students with online majors is 1,290, which is an increase of 9.7 percent over last spring.

TEL.A.VISION White Paper Validates Neuroplasticity is key to Drop Out Prevention - Sue Hanson, eSchool News

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:40 GMT

TEL.A.VISION, the proven Web 2.0 online curriculum that inspires youth to create and share visions of hope and possibility through personal ?vision videos? released a white paper that documents the ? importance of ?neuroplasticity,? that thoughts can rewire the brain. This demonstrates the need to promote positive thoughts and eliminate negative thinking. When students envision hope and

Digital Resources: The National Science Digital Library - Shonda Brisco, School Library Journal

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:35 GMT

As budgets get tighter and educational requirements grow broader, it's become more difficult to find science and math databases that won't devour the entire library budget. However, there's one digital database that provides standards-based instructional resources, K-12 lesson plans, digital downloads, streaming video, and 2.0 collaborative tools for math and science and, best of all, it's

A recommended reading list on 2.0 and its impact on education - Steve Hargadon, School Library Journal

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:30 GMT

I love books, especially the actual physical ones. I madly scribble notes in the margins, and stuff them with related articles as if they were file folders. I can think of no better afternoon than one spent indulging in the discovery of ideas within a library or bookstore. Here are some titles that I think significantly inform the conversation about Web 2.0 in education, along with their

FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited - Declan McCullagh, CNet news.cnet.com

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:26 GMT

The FBI is pressing Internet service providers to record which Web sites customers visit and retain those logs for two years, a requirement that law enforcement believes could help it in investigations of child pornography and other serious crimes. FBI Director Robert Mueller supports storing Internet users' "origin and destination information," a bureau attorney said at a federal task force

Barnes & Noble rolls out second Nook update - David Carnoy, Cnet news.cnet.com

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:20 GMT

Barnes & Noble says its version 1.2 software upgrade adds features to the Nook and improves performance. A new software upgrade is now available to owners of Barnes & Noble's Nook e-book reader. This is the second upgrade since the device launched in early December and it appears to be more substantial than the first, which arrived shortly after the product shipped and addressed a handful of

Add-ons in Firefox's first mobile browser - Jessica Dolcourt, Cnet news.cnet.com

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:15 GMT

In week since Mozilla released the first Firefox browser for mobile phones, we've had a better chance to explore the Web on the Nokia N900. Firefox for Maemo, as it's called, is also available for the N810 Internet Tablet. We go over some of our observations in the First Look video here, pointing out that extensions, in particular, are the browser's most notable innovation for Firefox mobile.

More on Online Language Learning - ERIC A. TAUB, Gadgetwise New York Times

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:10 GMT

Last week?s article on online language learning apparently hit a nerve; not only was it widely e-mailed, but a number of individuals told me about other language courses that I had missed in my research. In addition, a few factual corrections to the story are in order. Starting with the latter, the free language courses at the BBC?s web site may not work in all countries. For example, the videos cannot be played in the U.S., but other elements of the program do work.

From the Campus to the Future - Diana G. Oblinger, EDUCAUSE Review

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:05 GMT

The purpose of higher education is to equip students for success in life ? in their workplaces, in their communities, and in their personal lives. Yet though this purpose has remained constant for centuries, colleges and universities themselves are undergoing major change. The campus, the library, the refereed journal article, the classroom, and the traditional-age student ? common features of higher education today?may be inadequate in describing higher education tomorrow.

Innovating the 21st-Century University: It?s Time! - Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams, EDUCAUSE Review

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:02 GMT

At first blush, the university seems to be in greater demand than ever. Yet there are troubling indicators that the picture is not so rosy. And we're not talking just about the university endowment reductions caused by the current financial meltdown. A dismal 58 percent of entering freshmen actually graduate from the same college within six years.4 More and more students are questioning the "bang for the buck" as college tuition has risen in cost more than any other good or service since 1990, leaving students with $714 billion in outstanding student-loan debt in the United States alone.5 Students around the world are increasingly choosing alternative models of higher education.

Surrattsville High's computer class taught without computers - Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:41 GMT

Every day, students file into a computer class at Surrattsville High School that is taught without computers, without enough textbooks and with no permanent teacher. The struggle to find a qualified computer teacher at the Prince George's County school, just a dozen miles from an education department that is investing millions in science and technology education, shows the basic problems that

Students use iPods, iPhones to grade Obama?s address - Dennis Carter, eSchool News

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:35 GMT

Abilene Christian students answered 50 questions on their iPhones and iPods during Obama's address. It?s the stuff that makes political pollsters salivate: 30 Abilene Christian University students used iPhones and iPod Touches to respond to President Obama?s Jan. 27 State of the Union address in real time, and a campus technology official said the exercise offered insight into boosting student

Laptop Buying Guide: Making Sense of the Specifications - Jason Cross, PCWorld

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:29 GMT

Once you figure out which category of laptop best suits your needs, it's time to examine the specifications. You'll have to choose from among a host of options for the processor, RAM, graphics, display, and other features. Deciding what you need and what you can live without is difficult, but it's essential to selecting a laptop you love at a price you can afford. If you don't understand the

Olympics to athletes: Go ahead and tweet - Ina Fried, CNEt news.cnet.com

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:25 GMT

The International Olympic Committee on Friday made it clear that athletes should feel free to share their experiences via Twitter at the upcoming Games in Vancouver. In a post on its own Twitter feed, the IOC pointed to its detailed rules (PDF) for bloggers, but summarized its position with the succinctness called for in a tweet. "Athletes go ahead and Tweet as long as it is about your own

The Apple iPad: First Impressions - David Pogue, NY Times

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:20 GMT

Apple finally unveiled its tablet computer, the iPad. Thus concludes Phase 1 of the standard Apple new-category roll-out: months of feverish speculation and hype online, without any official indication by Apple that the product even exists. Now Phase 2 can begin: the bashing by the bloggers who?ve never even tried it: ?No physical keyboard!? ?No removable battery!? ?Way too expensive!? ?Doesn?t

Bogus Tech Measurements - David Pogue, New York Times

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:15 GMT

Most people get cranky about politics, or the economy, or what passes for music these days. But you know what gets me cranky? Bogus measurements. Measurements for Barnes & Noble?s Nook e-book readerDay in and day out, the electronics industry manipulates us. They publish ?speeds and feeds? in big bold type?measurements that turn out to mean almost nothing. It?s all just misdirection.

Google to Push Google Voice, Google Wave to Businesses - Clint Boulton, eWeek

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:12 GMT

Google Enterprise President Girouard said Google will release Google Wave, the company's real-time collaboration platform, for all consumers and businesses in 2010. Google, which currently offers the open-source Wave platform by invitation only, has rolled the platform out to more than 1 million users. Wave lets users communicate in via instant messaging, and enables multiuser document editing and social networking all in real time on one user interface. As such, it is a sort of lively incarnation of many of the Google Apps programs. Girouard said parts of Wave will show up in other Google products, but it is unclear how this will take shape. For example, Wave and Gmail may be integrated. Wave could easily leverage the word processing, spreadsheet and presentation programs in Google Docs.

Bill Gates looks to improve online learning through grants - Staff and Samantha Lockhart, the Manitoban

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:10 GMT

Bill Gates has recently announced in his 2010 annual letter that he will be offering grants from his foundations to further the usage of online learning. One aspect of online learning is the availability of video lectures online. Many free lectures from universities appear on such websites as AcademicEarth.org, whose goal is to ?bring the best content together in one place and create an environment in which that content is remarkably easy to use and where user contributions make existing content increasingly valuable.?

Report reveals spike in online learning enrollment - Dennis Carter, eSchool News

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:04 GMT

Three-fourths of public colleges believe online courses are "critical" for long-term success. The 2009 Sloan-C report on online education confirmed what campus officials have seen during the country?s economic downturn: Americans are flocking to web-based college classes. The seventh annual study, based on responses from more than 2,500 colleges and universities and funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, reported a 17-percent increase in online course enrollment, with more than one-fourth of U.S. college students taking at least one web-based class during the fall 2008 semester.

Top 8 Higher Education Trends of the Decade

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:01 GMT

Those of us in the higher education field learned a lot during the 2000-2009 period, mainly that nothing stays the same. Things evolve at record speeds as technology develops, mindsets change, and trends take hold. Here are 8 of the biggest higher education trends I witnessed during the last decade:

1) Online Learning ? A decade ago, the idea of earning a degree from your home computer sounded a little shady. Fast forward, and over 3.5 million people are taking online learning courses today, with most major colleges and universities offering online degree programs. The concept of ?point, click, study? is officially mainstream.

Is $99 too much for Office 2010? - Christopher Dawson, ZDnet

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:40 GMT

Have you used the beta of Office 2010? I have. It?s incredibly slick, well-done software. I really like Office 2007, but 2010, even in beta form (much as Windows 7 beta was to Vista) is a real leap ahead. The interface is polished and it has everything a power user could want, from Access to Word. Microsoft announced pricing for it today and, while volume licensing hasn?t been hammered out, the

Why is cyberbullying different? - Christopher Dawson, ZDnet

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:35 GMT

To some extent, I think we can credit a generally increased sensitivity to the needs and struggles of our students. However, cyberbullying adds an entirely new dimension of permanence, public humiliation, and viral propagation to bullying. When threats and insults are posted on a social network for all to see (or at least the circle of acquaintances that matter to students), the effect can be

Apple's new iPad 'underwhelming' - Larry Magid, Mercury News

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:30 GMT

Had Apple called this device the "iPod touch 2," I would have praised it as a really good follow-up to an excellent product. It's great to innovate, it's great to introduce new ideas to the market and it's great to "throw it against the wall and see if it sticks." After all, experimentation, including experiments that fail, are an important part of what drives innovation. But this was more than

Apple's iPad May Include Built-In Camera, Suggest Reports - Nicholas Kolakowski, eWeek

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:25 GMT

Apple's iPad, the company's upcoming tablet PC, may contain a built-in camera, at least according to an Apple product repair company that posted photos of an alleged iPad frame with a space for a camera module. Other sources have posted photos from the device's Jan. 27 launch event showing what could be a camera hole on an iPad held by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Whether these rumors pan out in a

Backup and Delete - Lincoln Spector, PC World

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:20 GMT

Dwight Schoffer wants to know the downside of backing his data to a flash drive, then deleting it from his hard drive. Making one backup, then deleting the file from your hard drive, is no better than not backing up at all. You're still violating Spector's First Law of Computing: Never have only one copy of anything.[Ed Note: I also am a big fan of http://dropbox.com]

Make the Most of Your 'Home' and 'End' Keys - Rick Broida, PC World

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:15 GMT

You know me: I love a good keyboard shortcut. The Home and End keys aren't shortcuts in the traditional sense, but many users never bother to lay a finger on them--and that's a mistake. Indeed, you may hold Home and End in the same regard as Pause/Break and Scroll Lock, but while those keys are downright useless, your Page Up/Page Down neighbors most certainly are not.

New online learning chemistry course offers students greater flexibility - Rick Moore, University of Minnesota

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:10 GMT

For months last year, U chemistry instructor Michelle Driessen dreaded the lectures for her fall 2009 class, Introductory Chemistry. It?s not that she doesn?t love to teach. It?s just that she knew she?d be teaching in a room with no students. Such is life when you?re taping lessons for a new online course.

Hybrid courses to shift costs - Michelle Miron, Press Pubs

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:03 GMT

Mounds View Schools will soon be addressing how its offering this fall of 19 hybrid courses ? those that combine online learning with classroom time ? will affect costs incurred in teaching and other factors. District Superintendent Dan Hoverman said a conference he and other school officials attended recently at the St. Paul-based education technology collaborative TIES brought up points about how the shift may lessen costs for textbooks and other materials.

More Colorado Students are Choosing Online K-12 Schools - KUNC

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:01 GMT

More and more Colorado K-12 students are leaving traditional brick and mortar schools in favor of online education. Colorado is one of 24 states to offer students the option of going to virtual schools full time - and last year enrollment numbers jumped to 11,641 students. That's according to an annual report released this week by the Colorado Department of Education. Pam Ice is director of the Department's Unit of Online Learning. She says last year's 12.5 percent increase in student enrollment is actually down from the previous school year.

Google Expands Social Search Test - Juan Carlos Perez, IDG News Service

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:40 GMT

Google's Social Search service, which includes public content from users' social networks in search results, is getting promoted to Google.com from the company's Labs site, meaning it is no longer considered an early prototype. In the coming days, Google will let English-language users of its search engine see relevant links to items their social-networking contacts have posted publicly on the

Professors File Petition Against Google Books Settlement - Allie Bidwell and Emma Anderson, Daily Cal

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:36 GMT

From UC Berkeley to Cornell University, more than 80 professors have signed a petition against a pending settlement agreement between Google Inc. and authors and publishers. The petition calls into question provisions within the settlement which, although providing authors and publishers with some monetary compensation, allows Google to have a "de facto monopoly" over books scanned in a digital

Technology changing how we work, play, shop - ROY WENZL, The Wichita Eagle

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:30 GMT

Our avatars are coming. Those mobile and 3-D and interactive technologies being created around us are about to beam us into a new world, filled with workday holograms, avatars and stuff we called magic only a few years ago. Some of the new magic is being created in Wichita. It?s going to enrich and disrupt our lives. It?s going to delight us and plague us.

How to make the iPad a better music device - Matt Rosoff, Digital Noise CNet.com

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:25 GMT

I was at Apple's iPad launch on Wednesday, and maybe it was just Steve Jobs' reality distortion field, but I don't quite understand why the haters are piling on. A lot of PC-centric commentators are dismissing the iPad as an overpriced gadget, wondering why it's lacking features that are standard on even the cheapest notebook computers, like Flash support, multitasking, USB inputs to connect

A Video Demonstration of the iPad - NEW YORK TIMES

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:20 GMT

Brad Stone, who covered the introduction of the Apple iPad on Wednesday, got his hands on the device for a few minutes of play. The video shows just how fast the apps open.

We Can iHandle It, AT&T Says - JENNA WORTHAM, New York Times

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:15 GMT

During a call to investors and analysts on Thursday, John Stankey, president of AT&T?s operations division, said the company was gearing up for the introduction of new smartphones and the iPad on its network. ?We?ve got an aggressive plan to benefit everyone,? Mr. Stankey said. The company said that this year it plans to pour an additional $2 billion into its wireless network and the wired data

High schools rely more on online learning - Kalen Ponche, St. Louis Today

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:10 GMT

In a recent first-hour class at Francis Howell Union High School, a class of 10 students worked on biology, history or business. Their teacher, Ed Nelson, wasn't leading the various lessons. Instead, each student sat in front of a computer, working through an online program on the course he or she needed to pass to graduate. The students at Francis Howell Union - an alternative high school - take the majority of their courses online.

Online learning classes could net scholarships - Rena Delbridge, Alaska Dispatch

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:05 GMT

One of the big concerns surfacing about Gov. Sean Parnell's proposal to offer merit-based scholarships to Alaska high school graduates bound for the state's universities and job training programs is a core curriculum requirement. There's some question as to whether the core classes that students would have to take in order to meet eligibility for the Governor's Performance Scholarship are available throughout the state, especially in rural areas where class sizes and offerings can be pretty small. The House Education Committee is going to look into that a bit on Wednesday morning with a round-table presentation by Alaska Education Commissioner Larry LeDoux. He'll go over existing on-line high school programs and talk about possible expansions that could make a wider variety of courses available to students anywhere in the state.

Online learning classes help students get ahead, ready for college - JEFF WALD, Northfield News

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:01 GMT

What do the three Northfield High School students all have in common? They?re all pursuing college through TORCH. The program, Tackling Obstacles and Raising College Hopes, offers post secondary education classes to minority high school students who might not otherwise have the chance to go to college. They are likely to be the first in their families to attend college. The three take online classes up to three days a week through Riverland Community College in Austin. The college also has facilities in Austin and Albert Lea.

Measuring the iPad's Potential for Education - Bridget McCrea, Educational Technology

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:40 GMT

Thanks to the fact that Pinellas County high schools release early on Wednesdays, Catherine Nothstein didn't even have to skip school to watch the live feed of the Apple iPad announcement on her home laptop. While the iPad's capabilities wowed Nothstein, a long-time iPod and MacBook fan, her initial feedback came with a hint of disappointment: "I can't believe they made this without a camera,"

IPhone users can now make Internet-based calls - David Sarno, LA Times

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:35 GMT

Users of Apple Inc.'s popular iPhone may now be able to save money by making Internet-based phone calls over AT&T Inc.'s cellular network. Apple this week allowed new versions of several Voice over Internet Protocol services to begin working on the iPhone, according to those services. Previously, iPhone users needed a wireless Internet connection to make such calls, but the change will allow

Using Technology to Keep Kids from Skipping School - Steve Simon, KIAH

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:30 GMT

In a Montgomery County courtroom, you'll see a number of teens who should be in school instead of in front of a judge. Justice Of The Peace James Metts is giving 15,16 and 17-year-olds a lesson in what happens when you skip class. Those who miss out on A's B's and C's--now get to know about GPS. "It works, it just works." Metts said.

Results of Study on Cellphone Use Surprise Researchers - THE NEW YORK TIMES

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:25 GMT

Over on our sister blog, Wheels, Cheryl Jensen writes that laws banning cellphone use while driving have not resulted in a reduction in car crashes. The study was conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute. ?The new study, which was completed in December, looked at crashes (and not just at those involving cellphones) in those four places and found no decrease in accidents, despite the bans?

Verizon Expects to Cut 13,000 Jobs in 2010 - Don E. Sears, eWeek

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:20 GMT

Land lines are not what they used to be, and telecommunications workers are feeling the pain. For the past two years, Verizon has been divesting legacy telephone-based services and moving toward a wireless and Internet-only business while finding smaller companies to take on its debt.

Will Strong iPad Sales Undo ATandT's San Francisco, NY Efforts? - Michelle Maisto, eWeek

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:17 GMT

Apple surprised many people during its iPad launch by sticking with AT&T as its mobile carrier. AT&T, which faced quite a few jabs in about its iPhone service in 2009, says it's addressing network issues in its two most problematic cities, New York and San Francisco. But will a successful iPad launch add stresses AT&T can't afford?

Online learning opportunities - Shea Conner, St. Joe News

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:10 GMT

Between layoffs and pay freezes, more and more people are seeking a college education. The problem is that many can?t quit their full-time jobs to go back to school. Others have been out of school for so long that they feel uncomfortable returning to classrooms full of 20-somethings. For these folks, an online learning or distance-learning program provides a perfect remedy. They can earn a degree without driving through the cold Missouri winter to a campus. Not to mention, they can set their own hours.

Summer classes in Des Moines moving to online learning mode - CYNTHIA REYNAUD and JARED STRONG, Des Moines Register

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:05 GMT

Summer learning programs in classrooms across Des Moines schools are being eliminated as the district searches for ways to save money in light of a budget shortfall. The district announced Friday that high school students will be offered online classes to make up most course work they fail this school year. Last year, teachers taught most of the makeup classes.

Online Learning: The Web Way to Learn a Language - ERIC A. TAUB, New York Times

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:01 GMT

Online courses are either fee-based, free or a combination. Starter kits of fee-based programs may cost just a few hundred dollars, but the cost to reach higher levels of comprehension and speaking can easily be $1,000. While that may sound expensive, language company executives say it isn?t; college courses often cost many thousands of dollars to reach the same level. So, cost aside, how do you choose which program to use? The answer is that one size doesn?t fit all.

Future of eReading might not be iPad, but Blio - Meris Stansbury, eSchool News

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:40 GMT

Blio's makers say it will allow students to interact with textbooks in full color. Despite all the buzz about Apple?s iPad tablet and how it could be useful for reading electronic textbooks, a new software program on the way might hold even more promise for education. Blio, a free eReader program that is expected to be available in February, reportedly will allow users to read more than a million

Apple's iPad Falls Short of Expectations - Mauneel Desai, Seeking Alpha

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:35 GMT

This After years of wait, speculation and euphoria, Apple Inc.?s (AAPL) CEO, Mr. Steve Jobs finally unveiled the Apple iPad. I was one of the people eagerly looking forward to the launch. So, what?s the verdict? Well, the iPad is a pretty nice mobile device. It fits Apple product line between the MacBook Pro and the iPhone. It has many of the rumored features but it does falls short of

Doyle declares Data Privacy Day in Wisconsin - Joe Campana, Examiner

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:30 GMT

Governor Jim Doyle proclaimed January 28, 2010 Data Privacy Day in Wisconsin. Wisconsin joins North Carolina, Arkansas, Washington, Maryland, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, West Virginia and other states in celebrating the dignity of the individual expressed through personal information. A special focus of the awareness education surrounding International Data Privacy Day is on children andteen use of

IT Infrastructure: Google Leans on GeoEye-1 Satellite for Celestial Views - eWeek

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:25 GMT

When the earthquake devastated Haiti Jan. 12, Google sprang into action, launching satellite imagery from Google Earth and Google Maps to help the world see how the quake leveled the island. To do this, Google relied on high-resolution imagery from the GeoEye-1 satellite. Google and satellite maker GeoEye have enjoyed a fruitful partnership, with Google using GeoEye-1 imagery for the 2009

Handheld Cell Phone Bans Not Reducing Crashes - Roy Mark, eWeek

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:20 GMT

The Highway Loss Data Institute reports that laws banning using handheld mobile phones while driving or sending text messages while driving didn't lead to reduced numbers of collision claims.

Apple iPad Challenges Google's Chrome Cloud Computing Designs - Clint Boulton, eWeek

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:14 GMT

Apple stands ready to challenge Google in the cloud computing wars with the new iPad, Gartner analysts say. The iPad is geared to provide the most compelling mobile Internet experience users have seen to date, but Google later in 2010 is expected to bring its own vision for mobile Web consumption in the form of netbooks based on its Chrome Operating System.

UT TeleCampus caters to frenzied schedules - Julie Bissinger, Daily Texan Staff

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:06 GMT

More students are opting to take online courses ? so many that online enrollment through the UT TeleCampus increased by 30 percent between fall 2008 and fall 2009. The increase is almost double the national average increase of 17 percent in online course enrollment, according to The Sloan Consortium, a leadership organization that advocates online classes. The convenience of taking classes online has attracted younger students to enroll, said Darcy Hardy, the executive director of UT TeleCampus. For some students, taking online courses is more compatible with their busy schedules.

Grading professors gravitates online - Jennifer Parli, Kentucky Kernal

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:04 GMT

Students might be seeing one less scantron sheet at the end of the semester. Teacher and course evaluations are slowly transitioning into using online methods to get student input about classes, said Roger Sugarman, director of Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness at UK. The online evaluations were first used in Spring 2008 and 83 courses participated. That number jumped to 825 courses using the online forms in Fall 2009. Sugarman said the use of online evaluations is still just an option at this point because he wanted faculty to feel more comfortable before making the switch a requirement.

Cyber Schools: Future of Education? - Katie Kim, WILX

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:02 GMT

Dropping and picking up your children from school may become a thing of the past. Instead, instruction could come to your home. "A cyber school is a school where you don't have students inside of a physical classroom," says Gary Naeyaert from the Michigan Association of Public School Academies. Naeyaert says qualified educators would teach the same curriculum as in a traditional school, but learning would be done online. Naeyaert says this model best serves at-risk students. "Students who have already dropped out of the traditional school system or are in a situation where because of their personal life, or where they work, or what their family situation is where they just can't attend school from 8 until 3," says Naeyaert.

Educators intrigued by Apple?s iPad - Dennis Carter, eSchool News

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:40 GMT

The web-enabled Apple iPad starts at $499. Apple?s new tablet computer, the iPad, could push other companies to bring more color-capable eReaders to the market in a move that could make digital books more commonplace on school campuses, educators said after the long-awaited release of the technology giant?s latest product. Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad Jan. 27, calling it a new third

Obama calls for more school funding - eSchool News

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:35 GMT

Education was a key part of President Obama's State of the Union address. Education is one of the few areas of the federal budget that would not see a spending freeze, if President Barack Obama gets his way this year. In his State of the Union speech on Jan. 27, Obama said his administration will work with Congress to expand school improvements across the country, saying the success of children

Meet 10 of the nation?s techno-savviest supes - eSchool News

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:30 GMT

Tech-Savvy Superintendent Award winners bring technology know-how to their districts. One-to-one computing programs that are turning classrooms into student-centered learning labs and raising achievement; a technology incentive program that is reducing the dropout rate and closing the digital divide; live streaming of school board meetings online, and other efforts to engage stakeholders in

Google phases out support for IE6 - BBC

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:25 GMT

Microsoft has already released versions 7 and 8 of Internet Explorer Google has begun to phase out support for Internet Explorer 6, the browser identified as the weak link in a cyber attack on the search engine. The firm said from 1 March some of its services, such as Google Docs, would not work "properly" with the browser. It recommended individuals and firms upgrade "as soon as possible".

The rise of the web's digital elites - BBC

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:19 GMT

Twenty years ago, the web was colonised by a group of early adopters who believed that the ideal society was equal - every person had a right to get involved, there should be no hierarchy, and rules would be mutually determined for the common good. People like American writer Stewart Brand, critic Howard Rheingold, and the Grateful Dead's John Perry Barlow believed the sanctity of the individual

Deadline looms for Google Books deal - BBC

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:17 GMT

Authors are split over the deal. Amazon has urged a New York court to reject a deal that would allow Google to build a vast digital library. The online retailer says that if Google is given exclusive rights to scan books for use on the internet, it is "likely to lead to a monopoly". Interested groups and authors have until 28 January to file objections to the project to a US court.

Online learning an educational option - Howard Carlson, Wickenburg Sun

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:10 GMT

Online learning is growing at an exponential rate in this country at both the K-12 and college levels, and this pace is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. An article published in the Arizona Republic this week indicated that ?more than 26,000 Arizona students took K-12 online courses last year.? Today?s student, both K-12 and adult, are often times looking for greater flexibility and choice as learners or in some cases may face geographic barriers to learning, which are fueling this dramatic change to the educational landscape. How is this impacting the Wickenburg Unified School District? How will it impact our district in the future? These and other questions are being pondered as we consider how to compete in today?s technologically oriented educational environment.

Digital textbooks cut costs, expand lessons - Michael Woyton, Poughkeepsie Journal

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:05 GMT

When students show up for Kevin Gaugler's Spanish in technology class at Marist College, they don't have to lug around a textbook. The entire class is done electronically. For Gaugler, who teaches the course, not using printed textbooks made sense. "The whole course is task-based learning," he said. "There just isn't a textbook I could choose." While college students frequently have the option of buying used textbooks or even electronic versions that can save them a little cash, purchasing required textbooks can cost hundreds of dollars.

Student enrollment in online K-12 courses up 12.5% in Colorado - Mark Harden, MSN

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:01 GMT

While the explosion in online college education has received a lot of attention, a new state report says that enrollment in high-school and even elementary-school courses offered over the Internet is also growing rapidly in Colorado. Enrollment in online courses offered by Colorado schools is up 12.5 percent in the 2009-2010 school year from the previous term, the Colorado Department of Education reports. There were 13,093 Colorado K-12 students enrolled in online programs for the 2009-2010 term as of October 2009, versus 11,641 as of October 2008.

KQED's QUEST to Serve as Model for PBS Stations Nationwide - Jason Turbow, Media Bistro

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:39 GMT

KQED has a hit on its hands with QUEST, its award-winning science and environment series. It's gone over so well, in fact, that the station will be reaching out to seven of its PBS brethren to teach them about QUEST's multimedia science reporting model. Just how valuable is the series? Paying for the training is the National Science Foundation (NSF), through a $2.25 million grant.

Can Your Facebook Account Get You Divorced or Fired? - Darren Wilkins, Daily Observer

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:35 GMT

I am sure when Mark Zuckerberg and his buddies decided to create Facebook while at Harvard University, none of them imagined that the result of their work would exacerbate existing societal issues. Certainly, they did not intend to create a medium that would lead to the destruction of relationships, marriages or jobs. Over the years, however, social networks, especially Facebook, MySpace, and Hi-

Medical Students and Unprofessional Online Content - Jeanne M. Farnan, MD; JAMA

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:30 GMT

Dr Chretien and colleagues1 highlighted the concerns surrounding online posting of unprofessional content by medical students. The majority of deans in this study reported never or rarely using Web 2.0 technologies; this unfamiliarity may contribute to the lack of recognition of not only potential misuse but also the value of these applications. The increasing use of digital media among medical

Twitter Highlights Local Tweets - David Talbot, Technology Review

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:25 GMT

Twitter is launching new efforts to boost usage by suggesting location-centric tweets and improving how it recommends whom you should follow. The moves come as a new analysis shows that the number of Twitter users soared to about 75 million in December 2009--from fewer than five million one year earlier--but that only about 15 million are regular users. The analysis, by RJMetrics, a business

Amazon Expands the Kindle with Apps - Rachel Kremen, Technology Review

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:20 GMT

It's an exciting time for lovers of digital books. Last week, Amazon announced plans to release a software development kit for the Kindle, so that other companies can develop and sell applications for the e-reader. Tomorrow, Apple is expected to announce a tablet device that could be a significant threat to the Kindle's position as the leading e-reader. Susan Kevorkian, program director for

Mobile Touch Screens Could Soon Feel the Pressure - Duncan Graham-Rowe, Technology Review

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:15 GMT

Forget swiping or pinching--the next generation of portable touch-screen devices will be able to distinguish between a gentle touch and a hard poke. Peratech, a U.K. company, has signed a $1.4 million deal to license its pressure-sensing touch-screen technology to Japanese screen manufacturer Nissha, which makes displays for companies including LG and Nintendo. Peratech's technology is one of

Online Learning Gets High Praise From Bill Gates - Zach Miners, US News

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:10 GMT

In his 2010 annual letter, recently posted to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation website, Bill Gates makes a pretty strong case for incorporating different elements of the Internet?specifically, online video and interactive lessons?into both K-12 and higher education. "A lot of people, including me, think this is the next place where the Internet will surprise people in how it can improve things," he writes. It is a fact that "online learning," "educational technology," and "distance education" are buzzwords that are practically ubiquitous among today's teachers, education gurus, and even high-profile business executives

E-learning changing the face of health care education - Tara Bannow, University of Minnesota Daily

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:05 GMT

The six schools and colleges that reside within the University of Minnesota?s Academic Health Center are rapidly beefing up their e-learning offerings ? a trend experts say only makes sense when it comes to health education. ?E-learning is becoming incredibly core to what we do here,? said Barbara Brandt , assistant vice president for education in the AHC. The rumblings will culminate in the unveiling of the AHC?s Office of e-Learning , anticipated to happen this spring.

PBS's FRONTLINE Explores What It Means to Be Human in a World Immersed in Technology

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:40 GMT

"Digital Nation," FRONTLINE's multiplatform project exploring what it means to be human in a 21st-century digital world, will televise a 90-minute documentary on Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 9 to 10:30 P.M. ET on PBS (check local listings). In a unique collaboration with the public that began last March on the "Digital Nation" Web site, award-winning producer Rachel Dretzin ("Growing Up Online") probes

The iPad: Like an iPhone, Only Bigger - Erica Naone, Technology Review

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:25 GMT

Apple announced its latest creation, the iPad, at a special event in San Francisco, CA. CEO Steve Jobs took the stage to unveil the device, which has been the subject of often dizzying speculation and excitement in recent weeks. "We want to kick off 2010 by introducing a magical and revolutionary product today," Jobs said. The expectation and hope for many has been that Apple will revolutionize

Memphis in July?must be Laptops?

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

The digital age has provided me the opportunity to learn through a vibrant and expanding network of amazing minds - my personal learning community. The chance to engage in conversations with colleagues from around the world through blogs, skype, twitter, etc. has exposed me to many ideas that push my boundaries [...] [From: Whip Blog, February 20, 2008] 286399

A New Year

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

I am never sure just how to feel when we return to school in January.� The Christmas Break was much different for me this year - I hardly “worked' at all.� I spent the break enjoying time with my wife, our kids, my new “wiki” (see previous post) and reading about trains and travel in [...] [From: Whip Blog, February 20, 2008] 286400

A Wiki for Christmas?

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

My wife has long shared my love of animals, yet resisted adopting one due to her allergies. While we do have several fish, since my cat passed away three years ago I have not been able to replace him with either a cat or a dog. Last night before our family dinner, a [...] [From: Whip Blog, February 20, 2008] 286401

Extended classroom?a tale of connection.

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

I can be guaranteed to get a reaction from students, colleagues or parents when I talk about learning in the new digital landscape. With ever-increasing connectivity and digital spaces, I have no doubt that going to a physical “school” on a daily basis for an education will be an option for many students. [...] [From: Whip Blog, February 20, 2008] 286396

what Pink Thinks?

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

I am excited about tomorrow….and not just for ANOTHER dump of snow that most teachers and students hope will cancel school. On Sunday noted edublogger Karl Fisch, who calls Arapahoe High School in Littleton, Colorado home, finally made mention of a kewl new project involving two 9th grade honors Language Arts classes at AHS and Daniel [...] [From: Whip Blog, February 20, 2008] 286397

Trying not to sink?

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

My recent lack of blogging activity has even resulted in a couple of people have inquired as to my health. Truth is, I am fine, just slightly overwhelmed. There has certainly been no lack of blog fodder, with many ideas flowing through my cranium. It's just a pure lack of time. With my day [...] [From: Whip Blog, February 20, 2008] 286398

Overwhelmed? ?Glad it?s Friday!

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

As I was sitting at my desk - staring at my screen - I began to feel a bit overwhelmed. Open was my twitter, skype and netvibes (my current feedreader). I have found lately that skype and twitter have pushed blogs (including my own) to the background. Like our kids, I like the immediacy [...] [From: Whip Blog, February 20, 2008] 286393

Connected to the Top of the Earth?

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

Breaking down the walls of the classroom and having students connect with the world is one of the powerful learning opportunities afforded by Web 2.0. Fredericton native Brian Jones is taking his concern for the environment and for student learning to a whole new level in a couple of months when he embarks on [...] [From: Whip Blog, February 20, 2008] 286394

Wanted: International Middle Schools for 1001 FWT

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

A little over a year ago Korean educator and edublogger Clay Burell and myself were playing around with a number of collaborative tools together online. It was interesting to connect with someone around the world, a full twelve hours away. From there both he and I have gone on to develop vibrant and [...] [From: Whip Blog, February 20, 2008] 286395

Feeling the warmth?

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

I have never been to Australia…at least not until yesterday (today?). Some students at our school are participating in the upcoming middle school writing workshop of the 1001 Flat World Tales project, along with another Canadian school, four US schools and two schools from Australia. After assuming the unofficial role of workshop coordinator - [...] [From: Whip Blog, February 20, 2008] 286392

Aperture 2 is out

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

Apple has got Aperture 2 out now. There is an upgrade price for us Aperture 1.5x users, so I'm thinking that the Education price on this is going to be pretty good as well. It looks like the minimum specs are about the same, so older hardware should be able to run it… not [...] [From: EDITing in the Dark, February 20, 2008] 286390

Sprout

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

I just got my invite to take a look at Sprout, an interesting little widget builder that can take a number of resources and make them “flashed” - essentially you could use this to replace PowerPoint or Keynote if you want to deliver webcentric presentations. If you combine this with Yahoo Pipes or custom feeds [...] [From: EDITing in the Dark, February 20, 2008] 286391

Pic of the Week - Dali?s Clock

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

Dali's ClockOriginally uploaded by idarknight. �Well, with the weather warming up, everything is starting to melt and the kicker is that it's raining outside today. The last time that I was in the rain this winter? London. So I thought this was only appropriate. [From: EDITing in the Dark, February 20, 2008] 286385

Google, what?s with the deal with slow scripts?

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that various Google apps - Reader, Mail and iGoogle are not playing nice with Mac browsers - at least on Macbook Pros? This has happened on two machines that I support - to the point where FF and Google are not playing nice and locking up [...] [From: EDITing in the Dark, February 20, 2008] 286386

A first look at Spore

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

Wired seems to have got the scoop - at least on the screen shots and associated blurbs. I almost picked up Endless Ocean last night, but wanted to read a review first. The reviews all say that it's an incredibly unique game that fills a niche that is unfilled, just as Spore does, of creativity [...] [From: EDITing in the Dark, February 20, 2008] 286387

Spore Disperses Sept 7

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

According to the�Guardian�and �on the official site as�well.� [From: EDITing in the Dark, February 20, 2008] 286388

Throw Sugar out the Window

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

Wired is reporting that the XO rev that is Windows capable is now getting field tested. Wired is saying that this is likely as much to do to ensure that kids in the developing world are “hooked on Windows”. While, I would agree - not being an MS fan - I think there might be [...] [From: EDITing in the Dark, February 20, 2008] 286389

Aperture 2 - first impressions - on an old Mac

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

Well, Aperture 2 is certainly impressing me so far on my old mac - Power Mac G5 (Dual 2 with 2GB RAM and a 64MB video card). There is still a lag when you want to start into some of the more processor intensive tools, but the wait is considerably shorter than what it was [...] [From: EDITing in the Dark, February 20, 2008] 286383

FireFox3b3

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

After having issues with Google and FF2, I decided to try 3b3. Having read that 2 was not very stable and not good on Flash, I tried b2 and watched it die a nasty death on Facebook and several Flash sites. b3 however seems to be running along fine and so far is not having [...] [From: EDITing in the Dark, February 20, 2008] 286384

Idea Sex - yeah the title got my attention too

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:19 GMT

Leave it to The Escapist for titles like this now eh? First from the article: No.2 … Keep the classroom, but change it and everything around it. Make the money in education slosh a different way. Have schools, colleges, communities, businesses and all other parts of the education system talk to each other a little [...] [From: EDITing in the Dark, February 20, 2008] 286382