Friday, January 28, 2005

The Science Fair is changing with the advent of PowerPoint: The New York Times > Technology > Circuits > PowerPoint Goes to the Fair

Online student in Colorado have a higher attrition rate and repeat grades more often, according to the Colorado Department of Education: DenverPost.com - LOCAL NEWS

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Sponsored by C-Span, this essay contest about Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address is open to middle school and high school students. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2005: Essay Contest from C-Span

Can't get enough of blogs? Here's C-Span's list: C-SPAN.ORG: Resources, Blogs Page

The Girls' Leadership Workshop is held each summer at Stone Cottage at Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt's country retreat in Hyde Park, New York. The program is for sophomore and junior girls in high school and "empowers young women by advancing their knowledge and leadership skills in a nurturing environment." Deadline for applications is February 25, 2005: Girls' Leadership Workshop

Friday, January 21, 2005

Nice article about third graders creating a movie about healthy eating: Schools & Youth - StatesmanJournal.com

Thursday, January 20, 2005

From The Washington Post, an article about the General Assembly's vote to request NCLB exemptions: Va. Requesting Exemption From 'No Child' Rules (washingtonpost.com) (Free login required)

From The New York Times, an article about how technology is changing even that most staid of institutions: the freshman lecture course. The New York Times > Education > Education Life > 101 Redefined (Free login required)

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

From Dr. Jo Lynne DeMary, Superintendent of Public Instruction, some clarification regarding the Standards of Quality Technology Staffing Standards: Standards of Quality (SOQ) Technology Staffing Standards for the 2004-2006 Biennium

Interesting article from the New York Times about different types of learning: The New York Times > Education > Education Life > How We Learn

More on merit pay from the Sacramento Bee: Politics - Teachers wary on risk, rewards of merit pay - sacbee.com

Editorial from the San Francisco Chronicle by Lowell Milken, chairman of the Milken Family Foundation, and Lewis Solomon, executive vice president of the foundation, espousing the need for performance pay for teachers. The Milken Family Foundation has created a Teacher Advancement Program that has been put into place in several states:

Monday, January 17, 2005

From the New York Times, an article about the new test of "information literacy" developed by the Educational Testing Service: The New York Times > Technology > Measuring Literacy in a World Gone Digital

Article about the Huygens probe that landed on Saturn's moon Titan on Friday. It includes links to sound files as well as photos provided by the probe: PhysOrg: Sights and Sounds of Titan

Thursday, January 13, 2005

I have been publishing the VITALNews for two and a half years as part of my work with the Virginia Inititative for Technology and Administrative Leadership. This month, VITALNews moves to its news home at Virginia's Community of Learning: Virginia's Community of Learning: VITALNews

From the Danville Register Bee, an article about the New College of Virginia, proposed for the Southside. The State Council of Higher Education has recommended putting the proposal on hold for a year to do more research but the legislators want to move forward: Southside university plans on hold You can read the report at SCHEV's website.

No Child Left Behind focuses on teacher quality and demand a "highly qualified" teacher in every classroom. Just what that means varies from state to state. The National Council on Teacher Quality offers reports related to teacher qualifications: NCTQ

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

From Houghton Mifflin, lots of social studies activites including very cool interactive maps: Houghton Mifflin Social Studies for Kids

Monday, January 10, 2005

For all you Mac users out there, this year's Macworld trade show promises some interesting moves by Apple: Macworld '05: A New Direction?

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

From The New York Times Technology section, an article about how colleges and universities are using the web for recruitment: The New York Times > Technology > Circuits > College Recruiters Lure Students With New Online Tools (Free registration required)

Article from USA Today about issues of school boards using email to discuss policy: Public officials look to limit e-mail that may violate open meetings act

Interesting article about the theme schools in New York. While it's not about technology per se, I was intrigued by the comment towards the end that, at the architecture theme school, they were considering eliminating the two required architecture courses next year so they could free up the architecture teacher to help the other teachers integrate her subject in their classes. Sounds a little like what's happening with technology.

Some of the reasons why the program isn't succeeding shine light on education in general: The New York Times > Education > Learning Curve: Early Gains and Losses at City's Themed Schools (Free registration required)

Tuesday, January 04, 2005

From Cindy, a great article about blogging from Time Magazine: TIME Person of the Year 2004: 10 Things We Learned About Blogs

An e-book dedicated to digital media. Requires a free login:Digital Media in the Classroom

Want to know President Bush's latest job ratings or what issues concern the American public in 2005? This is the website for you with reports of new polls: PollingReport.com - Public Opinion Online

Hard to believe that 62% of Internet users do not know what a blog is! Especially after the most recent election where boggers were given press credentials for the conventions. Want to learn about other interesting statistics about the blogosphere? Try this new report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project: Pew Internet & American Life Project: Blogosphere

Monday, January 03, 2005

We mark the passing of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress. Ex-Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm Dies

Here's a nice collection of Chisholm quotes: http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/shirleychisholm.htm

It's the one-year anniversary of the Spirit Rover on Mars. NASA will be having a live webcast to celebrate at 1 PM today: NASA Rover Hit the One Year Mark on Mars