Technology in Meet Space

There have been a spate of posts of late that talk about the role of technology in general and Web 2.0 technologies specifically in the classroom and also about the larger question of the acceptance of technology in general as a teaching and learning tool. Not surprising, is it, that these threads would pop up as school begins, at least here in the Western World.

Jeff Utecht started by writing about “Transition Techies” and lamenting the fact that technology is still seen as an option to most educators, not a requirement.

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Blending models of technology professional development

This is the third part of a series of blog posts inspired by the book, Meaningful Learning Using Technology: What Educators Need to Know And Doby Elizabeth Alexander Ashburn (Editor), Robert E. Floden (Editor) (Amazon link) and specifically a chapter Fostering Meaningful Teaching and Learning with Technology: Characteristics of Effective Professional Development written by Yong Zhao, Kenneth Frank, and Nicole Ellefson of Michigan State University Michigan State University (MSU).

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The 2006/07 California School Technology Survey - Sources of Technology Support

TechSETS, the California state support service for educational technologists, has just released its annual survey of California School Technology. The survey has some interesting data with implications about how technology support impacts use in schools.

One of the major findings of the survey is that students are a “significant source of support” — something that I’m pretty happy to have confirmation of. Many schools in which students participate in technical support activities think that they are the only ones doing it. So instead of student support being a well-regarded part of the solution to tech support, it is viewed as a one-off patchwork solution. This survey should help to alleviate that mis-impression.

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Timing of gift questioned

Timing of gift questioned MATC gives computers to Germantown libraryBy TOM KERTSCHER
tkertscher@journalsentinel.comPosted: Dec. 14, 2007

Five years ago, after the Germantown village administrator complained about services being provided by Milwaukee Area Technical College, MATC responded by donating wireless laptop computers and related equipment worth $65,000 to the Germantown public library.

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Wanted: Top teachers

Wanted: Top teachers High-needs MPS schools find it hard to recruitBy ALAN J. BORSUK
aborsuk@journalsentinel.comPosted: Dec. 2, 2007

A voice came from the crowd:

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HFM BOCES wins $650,000 state grant to build network of technology mentors with Generation YES

The Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery (HFM) BOCES in New York has been awarded a $650,000, two-year Enhancing Education Through Technology grant that in part will give middle school students the chance to teach their teachers about technology.

Area teachers and students from 30 public and private middle schools in the HFM BOCES and Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex (WSWHE) BOCES region will collaborate to use technology as a tool to improve student performance in English language arts, mathematics and science. The state is offering this grant to help meet the federal goal that all students will demonstrate technology literacy by the end of eighth grade.

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Growing new interest

Growing new interest Schools planting fresh mix of ag, tech ed coursesBy AMY HETZNER
ahetzner@journalsentinel.comPosted: Nov. 10, 2007

Just minutes after puzzling over the difference between tubers and roots, the Oconomowoc High School students stood inside their school's greenhouse, pruners in hand, taking cuttings from flowering and scented geraniums.

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$15 million gift boosts MU

$15 million gift boosts MU Generac founder, wife designate funds for planned engineering centerBy ERICA PEREZ
eperez@journalsentinel.comPosted: Oct. 29, 2007

Marquette University's College of Engineering has received a $15 million gift from Generac Power Systems Inc. founder Robert Kern and his wife, Patricia, to help pay for a new building, college officials announced Monday.

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Gilmore Middle School second to get boost for technology efforts

Gilmore Middle School second to get boost for technology efforts Grant pays for portable lab with 3 dozen laptopsBy DANI McCLAIN
dmcclain@journalsentinel.comPosted: Oct. 25, 2007

Racine - Gilmore Middle School will become the second Racine Unified school to reap the benefits of a federal grant aimed at ramping up students' technology savvy.

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Practicing Writing Essays for the MCAT and PCAT

MCAT: Practice MCAT WS topics are available through e-mcat for free, although you will have to register in order to get access to them. Essay topics can come from several categories, including government, education, and ethics. You do not need to have any outside or technical information in order to answer the essays, and you will not be asked to write about the science concepts that you are being tested on during the multiple choice portions of the exam.

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