'In the News' Category

IT News (May 26-June 1, 2008)

Published by Zornitsa Vodenska on June 2, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

NComputing, AMD and BRAC Join Forces to Expand Computing in Bangladesh
NComputing, a leading provider of desktop virtualization software and hardware, and AMD, a leading global provider of innovative processing solutions in computing, graphics and consumer electronics, are collaborating to empower people in emerging countries with tools and skills to help them succeed in today’s modern world. Similar to previous 50×15 deployments, BRAC followed AMD’s proven learning lab methodology, which includes providing tools, techniques and training to maximize educational impact. BRAC, NComputing, and AMD plan to apply the successes and lessons learned in these labs to future deployments. — CNN Money

Can Kindle inspire educational technology?
As Amazon.com discreetly introduced a price cut of 10pc to its Kindle eBook reader from US$400 to US$360, it may be that this gadget is aiming at the wrong end of the market with high-end consumer electronics and should be looking to education. OLPC (One Laptop per Child) founder Nicholas Negroponte unveiled a brand new Children’s Laptop, in fact it was not a laptop at all but a low cost eBook reader targeted at children’s education in developing economies. This eBook, unlike the Amazon Kindle, is a touch-sensitive, full-color dual screen which will be priced at US$75, in comparison to Kindle’s US$360. — Silicon Republic

Gerri Sinclair: Time to embrace your avatar
Gerri Sinclair is a true Renaissance woman. In fact, she was a Renaissance drama scholar before turning her mind to computers, entrepreneurship, and thought leadership about on-line avatars in virtual worlds. Having sold her Internet company to Microsoft Corp., Ms. Sinclair has been a company director, government adviser, and, recently, head of a pioneering masters degree program in digital media in Vancouver. — The Globe and Mail

Schools and Programs in the News (May 26-June 1, 2008)

Published by Zornitsa Vodenska on June 2, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

Groundbreaking ‘education learning system’ puts East Midlands schools at the forefront of personalised learning and e-safety
Over 600,000 students from across the East Midlands in England are now benefitting from a groundbreaking £45m service that is helping to boost learning, whilst protecting their online safety. The East Midlands Broadband Community, a procurement partnership of 8 local authorities, has teamed up with IT specialist Synetrix to develop one of the most extensive and advanced learning systems in the world. As well as having safe and secure internet access in over 2000 schools, pupils are able to access and share their schoolwork and teaching online, chat and e-mail to each other and create their own personalised web sites within a secure community of registered users. — 24dash.com

Science and Technology: Computers coming to Albanian primary schools
By the end of the year, all primary schools in Albania will have computers and IT centres, the education ministry announced on Sunday (May 25th). About 44% of Albania’s 600,000 primary school pupils have so far benefited from the project, titled “Schools with IT and Communication”. — Southeast European Times

School leaders get advice on ‘green’ computing
Educators can reduce energy consumption by holding online meetings and video conference calls to save on gas and printing costs, programing computers to automatically enter energy-saving “sleep” modes after 20 minutes of idle time, and offering more virtual coursework and professional development. “Going green is a long-term investment. — E-School News

The Value of a Textbook
A genetics Professor and textbook author offers a somewhat controversial defense of textbook prices in view of their value as an investment in education and personal earning power. — Inside Higher Ed

For poor, a gaping digital divide
Chicago heralds itself as one of the largest cities launching WiMax, a wireless network that will provide consumers high-speed Internet access almost anywhere in the city. Yet thousands of its residents, including schoolchildren, won’t be logging on because they can’t afford home computers or Internet access. The significance of such a barrier isn’t lost on Nicol Turner-Lee, founder of the Neighborhood Technology Resource Center, a non-profit where Marie learned computer skills and now is an instructor. People with computer skills in places like India, China and African countries are quickly advancing in the global economy, Turner-Lee said, while Americans without such skills are slipping further behind. — Chicago Tribune

Awards in the News (May 26-June 1, 2008)

Published by Zornitsa Vodenska on June 2, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

$4.9 Million in Grants Help Organizations Further the Cause of Literacy and Basic Education
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is awarding grants totaling $4.9 million to 327 nonprofit organizations in the fight against illiteracy. Adult basic education, GED preparation, English as a second language, family literacy and workforce literacy are among the initiatives supported by these grants. — Literacy News

HP announces university grants
HP has announced that it will donate technology education funds to 15 universities around Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as part of its Technology for Teaching scheme. The HP grants are aimed at promoting the “most innovative student projects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics”, the company said at the launch of the scheme five years ago. — ZDNet

Conferences in the News (May 26-June 1, 2008)

Published by Zornitsa Vodenska on June 2, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

New Agendas for Media Literacy Conference Scheduled For June 6-7 at The University of Texas at Austin
Media education scholars from across the U.S. will come together with experts in gaming, simulations, Second Life, journalism and education to explore the potential of new media for learning at the “New Agendas for Media Literacy” conference June 6 and 7 on The University of Texas at Austin campus. Some of the topics to be addressed during the conference include: preparing teachers for digital learning environment; new media literacy in the formal classrom; and games, simulation and virtual environments. — University of Texas News

Online Education in the News (May 19-25, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on May 25, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

21st Century Learning: Making Technology Relevant in Today’s Classrooms
“21st Century Learning” is currently the hottest catchphrase in education, but what it means has yet to be fully determined. Technology is a part of students’ everyday lives, and substantial advances in technology have profoundly affected the way they learn. As a result, educators are working hard to meet the ever-evolving needs of 21st century learners. Translating the ongoing technological revolution into a learning experience is a fundamental part of that challenge. — T.H.E. Journal

Textbooks face ban under e-learning finance bill
In Arizona, textbooks would have to be eliminated from classrooms that move to a digital curriculum under legislation that would provide a new way for schools to pay for computers necessary for “e-learning.” — Arizona Republic

Research needed to prove benefits of online learning 
In many countries online learning programmes such as the Open University in the United Kingdom have successfully been implemented at higher education level for many years. These programmes have achieved a high standard of education and the virtual learning environment is a standard element in almost all university programmes worldwide. A central concern is the lack of control over the situation and the learning environment. Not all parents are equally equipped to take on such a key role in their child’s education and although the online modules are there to provide adequate teaching, the responsibility of the parent to oversee the child’s learning is central. — Emirates Business 24/7, United Arab Emirates

Teaching Welsh to the world
As part of Adult Learners’ Week, the University of Wales, Lampeter, last week held a series of workshops and study sessions for prospective students. The Welsh department ran Welsh taster sessions and held an afternoon class for more experienced learners, along with an introduction to our e-learning platform www.e-addysg.com. – ic Wales, United Kingdom

Cameroon: ICTs – A Wide Range of Opportunities
It is commonplace today to find young Cameroonians in cyber cafés glued to computer screens hoping to find jobs, business opportunities, marriages, etc. Since the inauguration of the media centre in two Government High Schools in Yaounde in 2000, the government has ensured that many government high schools especially in provincial headquarters have multimedia centres. — AllAfrica.com

IT News (May 19-25, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on May 25, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

Office Live Workspace Beta Released Internationally
Microsoft this week released an international beta of its Office Live Workspace (OLW) suite of productivity tools. The company also quietly launched an Office Live Update last week that takes on performance issues and brings in some additional functionality when working with Office 2007, XP, and 2003. — Campus Technology

Plagiarism Tool Scans 1 Million Papers
CMS/LMS provider Blackboard reported Monday that its plagiarism detection service, SafeAssign, has now been used to scan more than 1 million student papers. Blackboard debuted SafeAssign about nine months ago. — Campus Technology

Adobe Launches Bundles for Online Learning
Adobe this week launched a new slate of bundles and resources for educators looking to use Acrobat Connect Pro in their online teaching efforts. Adobe just introduced the new version of Acrobat Connect Pro about two weeks ago. — Campus Technology

OLPC Lays Down Plans for XO-2 Laptop
One Laptop per Child (OLPC) this week spelled out plans for a second-generation XO laptop (XO-2), as well as an interim update to the systems. OLPC XO laptops are designed to provide students with low-cost access to technology. OLPC said the target price for the next-generation machines will be $75. — T.H.E. Journal

Check on China: ChinaEdu Corporation
Beijing-based educational services provider ChinaEdu Corporation hopes to play a significant role in continuing the trend toward increased education. ChinaEdu’s primary business is providing online courses and interactive tutoring services, but it also operates private primary and secondary schools, and markets and supports international curriculum programs in the People’s Republic of China. — SmallCapInvestor

Games in the News (May 19-25, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on May 25, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

New Online Video Game Teaches Students Chinese
A professor at Michigan State University has created a free online video game to help students learn Chinese.The multi-player role-playing game, Zon/New Chengo, allows users to choose Mandarin phrases to converse with other characters in the game about exchanging money, buying breakfast, and other activities visitors to China would experience. — Chronicle of Higher Education

NASA: Developers should pay for online game
NASA wants to create a massive multiplayer online (MMO) game but doesn’t want to pay for it. The space agency wants a game-making studio to develop the game, which would be used to teach students about technical and scientific work. However, that company would most likely have to sign a nonreimbursable Space Act Agreement, meaning that there would be no funds exchanged between the space agency and the developer. — FCW.com, VA

Research in the News (May 19-25, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on May 25, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

Web worlds learning platform for kids
Virtual worlds can be valuable places where children rehearse what they will do in real life, reveals research. They are also a “powerful and engaging” alternative to more passive pursuits such as watching TV, according to a BBC-sponsored study. The research was done with children using the BBC’s Adventure Rock virtual world, aimed at those aged 6-12. Carried out by Professor David Gauntlett and Lizzie Jackson of the University of Westminster, the research surveyed and interviewed children who were the first to test Adventure Rock. — Zee News, India

Programs in the News (May 19-25, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on May 25, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

NSA and DHS Designate 10 Universities as Centers of Excellence in Security Education
The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have designated 10 universities as new National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. The program is intended to reduce vulnerabilities in the national information infrastructure by promoting higher education in cyber security and increasing the number of professionals with security expertise. — Campus Technology

Dubai eGovernment signs agreement to provide eLearning solutions to Noor Islamic Bank
Dubai eGovernment, a pioneering initiative in the region to provide online services, has signed an agreement with Noor Islamic Bank, to provide a full range of eLearning courses to the bank’s employees. The move is part of initiatives by Dubai eGovernment to improve efficiency among business organisations by helping them achieve 100 per cent adoption of eServices. — Al-Bawaba, Jordan

Computer-Assisted Learning for All
Saudi Arabia is set to spend $15 billion on education, primarily to fund existing and new universities in the Kingdom as part of its movement toward giving top priority to the development of higher education. To keep pace with the latest technological developments, the Kingdom is keen on introducing computer assisted learning in all schools to help the management, teachers, students and parents interact with one another on matters relating to teaching and education. — Arab News, Saudi Arabia

Schools in the News (May 19-25, 2008)

Published by Erica Nielsen on May 25, 2008 in In the News. 0 Comments

American and Brazilian Students Collaborate via Virtual Classrooms
Four universities–two in the United States and two in Brazil–are testing inter-continental distance learning in a program facilitated by technology from Wimba. The U.S.-Brazil Consortium enables global collaboration among teachers and learners at The University of Georgia in Athens, Utah State University in Logan, Universidade Federal do Ceará and Universidade Estadual Paulista, Bauru. — Campus Technology

Michigan Embraces Electronic Transcripts
To reduce paper flow, save money, and serve students better, Michigan State has begun using the services of electronic transcript firm ConnectEdu. Although it will take time, with 46,000 students and 25,000 applicants a year, MSU hopes to eventually see a sizable dent in the paper flow. — T.H.E. Journal

Unified Communications System in Tulsa Powers Virtual Classroom
Tulsa Technology Center, a school district with four campuses that offers career and technology education classes in Oklahoma, will be deploying a Nortel and Microsoft unified communications platform. The district will be using Xeta Technologies, a national provider of converged voice and data communications solutions. The platform is expected to enhance student-teacher communication while reducing school expenses. — T.H.E. Journal

Pueblo SD Rolls Out WiFi for 1:1 Program
Pueblo School District No. 70 in Colorado has deployed a WiFi network across three of its schools to support the district’s 1:1 computing initiative and to support various mobile devices used in the district. The deployment was handled by WiFi developer Xirrus. — T.H.E. Journal

Louisiana and British Kids Share ‘Virtual Sleepover’
Students from a British school were joined for part of their annual reading sleepover by students from two schools in Louisiana. Organized by Renaissance Learning, which publishes Accelerated Reader, the schools were linked together live by video conference. — T.H.E. Journal

Pupils making net gains with online learning
In the U.K., children as young as four are learning lessons online and sharing their schoolwork with a worldwide audience as the technology boom mushrooms across Redbridge. Pupils have been reading books, writing stories and documenting their learning using virtual diaries, videos and audio files known as podcasts, on school internet forums. – Ilford Recorder 24, UK

iQ Academy Arizona Launches Online Middle School
The success of iQ Academy Arizona’s online high school has prompted an expansion of the curriculum to include a complete middle school program for students in grades six through eight. The new curriculum covers core courses such as English and math, as well as a wide variety of electives such as physical education, health, art, music, career explorations and a wide-range of world language courses for everything from Spanish to Chinese. — Earthtimes

Virtual High School offers classes Watertown can’t provide
In Massachusetts, Watertown High School students will have a chance to choose from close to 300 curriculum courses, available to them 24 hours a day with the click of a mouse. Starting in September, a nonprofit organization known as Virtual High School will be offered to 50 students over the course of the school year. — Watertown TAB & Press, MA

Kings Canyon Unified School District to Launch Innovative New Online High School for 2008-2009 School Year 
High school students in the Kings Canyon Unified School District of California will have an innovative option for secondary education starting this August. Dunlap Leadership Academy will offer more than 90 state-certified courses from online learning leader Advanced Academics, Inc., in addition to a Natural Resources/Environmental Science component that will prepare students for entry-level jobs with the U.S. Forest Service. — Earthtimes