Who Should Teach Keyboarding and When Should It Be Taught?
http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/ate/keyboarding/Articles/Who%20Should%20Teach%20Keyboarding.htm
Keyboarding Information, Resources & Sample Lessons
http://www.lisd.net/intra/elemcurr/keybrdht.htm
Education Week - State Data on Computers in the Classroom
http://www.edweek.com/sreports/tc01/tc2001_default.html
Analysis by Lori Meyer
"With record gains being made in providing students with access to computers and the Internet, more schools are shifting their priorities toward other areas that have been simmering on the back burner—namely, figuring out how to integrate technology into the curriculum in meaningful ways.
But that's not the only challenge, according to a review by Education Week of data on technology access, capacity, and use in schools. To begin with, many schools are still using older, less sophisticated machines—a reality often masked by improving student-to-computer ratios. And, beyond that, access to first-rate technologies—such as Internet-connected and multimedia computers—is still greater in schools in wealthier communities and those with small percentages of minority children.
Technology is also being more closely examined for its role in the movement for higher academic standards. Should states have educational technology standards for teachers and administrators as well as students? If they do, what should those standards measure?"
"Feds Elated With E-Rate," Wired News, 9/12/00.
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,38729,00.html
Two studies released by the Department of Education have proponents
of
educational technology cheering.
On Monday, Education Secretary Richard Riley discussed the results of
one of
them: E-Rate and the Digital Divide: A Preliminary Analysis From the
Integrated Studies of Educational Technology
(http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/eval/elem.html#technology),
conducted by the
Urban Institute. The report found that e-rate funding is accomplishing
what
it was established to do, namely improving internal connections in
the
nation's poorer schools and getting them connected to the Internet.
<snip>
A second study released Monday from the National Center for Education
Statistics, Teachers' Tools for the 21st Century: A Report
on Teachers' Use of Technology
(http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2000102)
showed that 99
percent of teachers have access to computers or the Internet at school,
but
not all of them have the skills to use it effectively. <snip>
[Source: Benton Foundation Digital Divide Listserv.]
"Tech Companies Offer Classes In Schools," The
Washington Post, 9/12/00.
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50046-2000Sep11.html
Companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Cisco Systems increasingly
are
showing interest in shaping high school technology education programs.
Forest Park High School in Virginia, for example, offers classes in
areas
such as computer networking and digital media that are partially designed
by
tech companies. Critics of such programs say that heavy involvement
by
powerful corporations like Cisco might encourage students to ignore
other
aspects of a school's curriculum. The tech companies, however, argue
that
the tangible computer skills gained are helpful to students.
Computers 4 Kids based out of Waterbury solicits
donations of
computers, refurbishes them, helps schools and community organizations
implement technology programs, and trains others to establish local
refurbishment centers. Well-done website makes it easy to find
out more:
http://www.c4k.org.
"Laptop Computers in the K-12 Classroom" is an
online research digest prepared May 2000 by Yvonne Belanger for
the ERIC Clearinghouse on
Information & Technology, available at
http://ericir.syr.edu/ithome/digests/EDO-IR-2000-05.html.
Addresses:
Emergence of laptops in schools
Transitions to laptops
Portable alternatives
Classroom experiences
Does research support the use of laptops?
Equity controversy
Sources of further reading
(ERIC - the Educational Research Information Center - and its various
Clearinghouses are funded by the U.S. Dept of Ed.
http://www.accesseric.org/.)
Minnesota was the first state to adopt a law allowing Charter Schools to operate. Minnesota currently has 20 approved charter schools with 17 currently in operation. These charter schools are designed to try out innovative ideas as well as provide individualized instruction. These schools work outside of the normal school board system and have become an "incubator of promising ideas". A listing of the names of each school, the city it is located in, the date the school opened, the grades the schools cover, and the "key focus" each school functions on are located on this website. For example, the charter school located in the city of St. Paul focuses on the innovative ideas regarding hard to teach learners. In Winona, the charter school has a Montessori Curriculum and in LeSueur the focus is on computers and a multidisciplinary approach (Note: See Harding High School).
The subtitle for this website is "InnerSpace Ideas for Classroom Teachers"
The course comes from Arizona State University.
This is an excellent source for obtaining general information
on how courses are outlined for the teaching of and uses of computers in
the classroom. It outlines very clearly all areas a classroom teacher would
need to know: knowledge of software and hardware for the teaching of various
concepts, how to make databases for classroom information management, the
uses of spreadsheets for creating electronic gradebooks, how to make lists
and sort classroom materials and how to use the internet and web sites.
The course "...model(s) teaching with technology." and is comprised of
six modules:
1) Hardware
2) Software
3) Networks
4) Classroom
Integration
5) Teacher
Resources
6) Collegial
Communication through the E-Mail.
The course is not an example of a "virtual
university" because it requires weekly attendance in the classroom
on campus. (Note: See Distance
Learning).
This is a small company which has been working to develop a variety
of software for Macintosh and Windows. The company's initial goal was to
pursue consulting contracts for the development of Windows and Macintosh
software. Education and Technology Solutions (EATS) has developed 2 applications
for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The
first application was part of a project called Project 2061 Curriculum
Resource Information System (CRIS). The application has a "relational database
system" which is currently being used by curriculum developers working
on an AAAS Education Reform effort. This application allows the user to
link together educational resources and pieces of curriculum and national
standards into a framework for analyzing Project 2061's progress toward
its own goals. This is an excellent example of how technology is being
used in one aspect of educational
reform.
This is a report which aims to discuss the major issues in school reform
and the resultant connection between technology and educational change.
It goes on to discuss how the results of these reforms have given technology
a major role in reducing professional pressures and increasing student
comprehension.
It gives a very clear history of school reform beginning with the report
of 1983, "A Nation
At Risk" followed by a description of what actions were taken (i.e.
standardization). Recent developments on school reform are also discussed.
The recent reforms are titled "Systemic Reform" and the document defines
this as comprising of two major concepts:
1) Across the board change
2) Education policy integrated around a set of clear and definable
outcomes.
Examples of systemic school reform are: school choice (Tuition Vouchers /Pro: Tuition Vouchers/Con), a better understanding of the learning process (active learning over passive learning), peer competition a.k.a. Cooperative Performance Incentive (CPI), professionalization (Teacher Empowerment), and changing the role and structure of the school itself (Contracting- where a company controls and makes all the reform changes).
This is an example of "virtual university" or "distance learning". It is entitled, "Directed Autonomous Learning" and has the software, InterQuest, which allows the student to develop their own "path of learning" which does not conflict with their cultural beliefs or values. Two or more instructors work in collaboration (as opposed to the one instructor lecture style approach).
The Fundamentals of Educational Reform and Multimedia
This is a discussion of the relationship between the use of student multimedia projects and the fundamentals of educational reform. Student multimedia projects (when properly organized) allow the teacher to play a facilitator/guide role and allows the students to make use of their individual strengths, work collaboratively with their peers, and work on independent research projects.
College of Education/Letter from the Dean
This is an example of the current changes in the mission(s) of higher education. The main focus and excitement is in preparing for the creation and/or the participation in the unfolding of new "learning paradigms". ( CAUTION: Contemplate the statement, 'Education is the best investment'.)
Harnessing the Power of the Web, Improved Learning, and Educational Reform
This resource is excellent for a teacher newly acquainted with the Web and its uses in the classroom. It is very informational and offers an explanation of why the WWW is so popular and powerful. The beginning tutorial offers current information pertinent for teachers and their students. Two exciting events (called "project-based learning experiences") are described in the tutorial (ThinkQuest and International Cyberfair '96: Share and Unite).
The purpose of this tutorial is to emphasize student project-based learning activities, Web publishing as a multimedia presentation tool, and communications on the Internet to foster peer and community review and feedback. The tutorial shows you how to use the web as a presentation tool for student-centered and project-based learning activities.
This web page is entitled, "Globle School Network (GSN)" which is sponsored
by BBN's National School Network Testbed which in turn is funded by the
National Science Foundation.
WWW Constructivist Project Design Guide
The is a design guide for educators to create "constructivist, cooperative
learning projects around the WWW." Live Text, out of the Institute for
Learning Technologies, and its developments are, "...premised on the belief
that the educational applications enabled by
networked multimedia technologies will provide the opportunity for
educational reform...".
This web site is organized into the following seven sections:
1) Introduction
2) Web
Page Design
3) Preparation
4) Student
Surfing
5) Concept
Formation
6) Research
7) Exhibitions
Computers In The Classroom: Advantages and Disadvantages
This is a compilation of information regarding the advantages
and disadvantages of using computers in the classroom. The paper also offers
ideas in classroom management if you only have one computer in the classroom.
One solution is the use of an LCD.
NOTE: This document was last updated on: 5/5/96