Education Week Digital Directions: Trends and Advice for K-12 Technology Leaders

Michigan bill allowing more cyber schools advances

2012-02-08T13:07:27-05:00

SPOTLIGHT: Sycamore classes go paperless

2012-02-08T13:07:50-05:00

Q and A: Imagining a Virtual Education Oasis

2012-02-08T00:01:00-05:00

Fiction writer and techie Ernest Cline, who has a particular passion for education and how it might look in the future, answers some key questions from Education Week Digital Directions.

Picking and Choosing Digital Content

2012-02-08T00:01:00-05:00

Technology is changing the way schools go about crafting curricula and purchasing content, prompting publishers to rethink how they do business.

Necessity Drives Innovation

2012-02-08T00:01:00-05:00

Editor Kevin C. Bushweller says necessity is the fuel that motivates most of us to innovate, try a different approach, or learn a new skill.

Battle for Whiteboard-Market Supremacy Heats Up

2012-02-08T00:01:00-05:00

Companies are making moves to differentiate themselves from the pack and reinvent their products in the age of tablet computing.

Joplin Takes Digital Approach to Rebuilding Education

2012-02-08T00:01:00-05:00

Ambitious 1-to-1 laptop effort emerges in the wake of the tornado that devastated the Missouri district.

Data Tools Aim to Predict Student Performance

2012-02-08T00:01:00-05:00

Some district and state data systems are finally mature enough to look into the future, by using complex analytics to predict which indicators mean students may go off track down the line.

Virtual Education Seen as Understudied

2012-02-08T00:01:00-05:00

Educators, policymakers, and researchers see a need for more and better research as the popularity of e-learning continues to rise.

Rethinking Testing in the Age of the iPad

2012-02-08T00:01:00-05:00

Moving assessments onto mobile devices may open the door to quicker feedback for students and teachers as well as richer data, but integrating them into classrooms can be a challenge.

Tweets aimed at principal stir free speech debate

2012-02-01T08:41:55-05:00

Utah schools start adopting open source textbooks

2012-01-30T08:49:11-05:00

Scandal in 2005 Still Hurts Dallas Tech. Funding

2012-01-20T11:59:04-05:00

The Dallas district was frozen out of E-Rate funding after the former technology chief was exposed in a money-laundering scheme that dealt with computer contracts.

Va. Schools to Offer Social Media Education Program

2012-01-19T15:32:56-05:00

Apple offers software for interactive textbooks

2012-01-19T12:56:03-05:00

Viral Chicago video points to disturbing trend

2012-01-19T08:38:39-05:00

Escanaba High School uses texting to stay in touch

2012-01-18T08:32:04-05:00

Idaho Lawmakers Review Online Learning Rule

2012-01-18T08:32:08-05:00

Colorado considering regulation of online schools

2012-01-11T13:35:18-05:00

With Cyber Charter Competition, School Districts Start to Advertise

2011-12-19T14:52:45-05:00

As online charter school enrollment continues to grow, public school districts across the region and state are facing competition.

Pa. Supreme Court Limits Cyber Charter Payments

2011-11-28T17:54:59-05:00

A state Supreme Court decision issued this week could save area school districts some money by reducing kindergarten tuition costs to cyber charter schools.

As Oklahoma Schools Move Grades Online, Conversations Change

2011-11-28T12:13:17-05:00

The days of students skipping class without their parents finding out or hiding grades may be in the past as school districts embrace technology and instant notifications.

Special Ed. Apps

2011-10-17T07:46:05-04:00

A collection of apps available for students with disabilities.

Districts Tackle Questions Surrounding BYOT Policy

2011-10-17T07:47:09-04:00

"Bring-your-own-technology" to school efforts are prompting schools to determine how to set rules for using student-owned computing devices for learning.

Schools Seek the Right Mix of Digital Computing Devices

2011-10-17T07:13:45-04:00

Educators weigh cost and effectiveness when determining the different types of digital devices they need for their 1-to-1 computing initiatives.

Publishers Turn to Cloud Computing to Offer Digital Content

2011-10-17T07:47:16-04:00

But schools are just beginning to tap into the cloud because most lack the technological resources or knowledge for how to do it.

Building the Digital District

2011-10-17T07:47:23-04:00

The 1-to-1 laptop program in Mooresville, N.C., is producing results and helping other districts develop a strategy to link technology to achievement.

'Capturing Kids' Hearts' Initiative Focuses on Relationship Building

2011-10-17T07:47:49-04:00

Educators in Mooresville, N.C., say the initiative has been just as integral to improved achievement as its heavy emphasis on digital learning.

Moving Digital Learning Beyond the 'Wow' Factor

2011-10-17T07:48:07-04:00

Students in Mooresville, N.C., have come to expect regular access to digital learning tools, which have become as commonplace as pencils and paper.

ACLU Puts Pressure on Districts to Ease Internet Filtering

2011-10-17T07:48:22-04:00

Access to online information related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues and resources is being blocked by some district Internet filtering systems.

States, Districts Move to Require Virtual Classes

2011-10-17T07:48:39-04:00

But the new graduation requirements raise concerns about the equity of access to online learning tools and the technological costs of supporting such measures.

Professional Development

2011-10-17T07:48:55-04:00

Teachers report the number of hours they spent in professional-development activities for educational technology.

Nev. District Testing New Data Technology to Track School Performance

2011-10-14T10:09:40-04:00

The Clark County School District unveiled prototypes of websites to measure academic achievement and operational efficiency.

Renaissance Learning Suitor Ups Bid

2011-10-10T14:47:16-04:00

Renaissance Learning Inc. said it has received a higher purchase offer from a Minnesota investor, one of two suitors bidding for the education software company.

Experts Wary of New Tablet for Babies, Toddlers

2011-09-20T10:49:47-04:00

Rullingnet Corp. launches Vinci, a 7-inch touch-screen tablet that sells for $389 to $479 and is marketed exclusively for children 4 and younger.

After Hacking, Texas District Offers ID-Security Help

2011-09-14T10:13:29-04:00

After a hacking into the El Paso Independent School District's intranet network, the district has reached an agreement with a company to provide discounted protection, but some say the price is still to high.

Student Hacker Who Changed Grades Gets 30 Days in Jail

2011-08-29T12:32:20-04:00

The former Orange County high school student pleaded guilty to two felony counts of commercial burglary and one felony count each of altering public records, among other charges, court records show.

E-Textbooks Zip Into College Market

2011-08-22T11:59:36-04:00

A new generation of electronic textbooks enables college students with tablet computers to interact with history, science and other subjects, and connect with students anywhere in the world studying the same book—for a lot less money than a paper textbook.

Tenn. Fears 'Virtual School' May Drain Taxpayer Funds

2011-07-25T10:15:56-04:00

State officials are anxious to see how many students across Tennessee enroll in a public "virtual school" run by a for-profit Virginia company—and how much state taxpayer money automatically follows them.

Digital Eyes Keep Schools Comfy, Cut Utility Bills

2011-07-18T10:30:49-04:00

Columbus schools are expected to save $1.37 million a year through a new electricity contract. In the future, solar panels could become part of the energy mix.

Penalty for Sexting

2011-07-12T09:43:58-04:00

A bill making its way through the California Senate could provide public school districts the power to suspend or expel students for sexting.

Bullied Girl's Family Files Defamation of Character Lawsuit

2011-06-17T10:01:51-04:00

Who sues kids for cyberbullying? A Houston lawyer does when his daughter becomes the target of a nasty video posted on Facebook, according to a lawsuit filed this week in Texas.

Programming Digital Fun Into Science Education

2011-06-15T07:23:00-04:00

Despite a lack of hard-hitting research linking video games and simulations to learning gains, educators are showing increasing interest in using them to teach.

Video Tools Take Panoramic View of Classrooms

2011-06-15T07:23:20-04:00

Technology aims to help teachers see how things are going in all parts of their classrooms and then make instructional adjustments.

'Second Life' Struggles to Catch On With Educators

2011-06-15T07:23:38-04:00

The amount of training required to become proficient with "Second Life" has discouraged many educators from using it for professional development.

Taking Risks and Achieving Results

2011-06-15T07:24:02-04:00

A former New York City schools principal recalls the path he took to transform a struggling school into one of the best in the city.

Educators Eye iPad Alternatives

2011-06-15T07:24:09-04:00

As more schools and districts explore using tablet computers, some are beginning to think beyond the iPad.

Educators Evaluate Learning Benefits of iPad

2011-06-15T07:24:16-04:00

In the wake of the iPad 2 release, teachers are still determining best practices for the different versions of the tablet computing device.

Schools Struggle to Balance Digital Innovation, Academic Accountability

2011-06-15T07:24:22-04:00

Using educational technology in new and different ways to improve student learning is often at odds with standardized testing and other traditional measures of achievement.

'Hybrid' Charter Schools on the Rise

2011-06-15T07:24:28-04:00

Loosely based on the idea of combining face-to-face education with online instruction, the blended model of schooling is growing in popularity.

E-Portfolios Evolve Thanks to Web 2.0 Tools

2011-06-15T07:24:34-04:00

New technologies are making it quicker and easier than ever to create digital portfolios of student work, a method of assessment experts say increases student engagement.

The Innovation Balancing Act

2011-06-15T07:24:45-04:00

Editor Kevin C. Bushweller discusses the issue of balancing digital innovation and academic accountability.

Tech-Trends Update

2011-06-15T07:25:30-04:00

This special Digital Directions data section examines the growth of online coursetaking, how often teachers use computers, and the views of educators and students.

Facebook Page Trouble in Ind. Sparks First Amendment Discussion

2011-06-10T10:34:33-04:00

Tenn. House Passes 'Virtual Classes' Bill

2011-05-13T18:02:25-04:00

A Republican-sponsored bill dealing with "virtual classes" in public schools, which passed the state Senate unanimously last month, inspired some hostile questioning from Democrats on the House floor before passing.

District Aims to Sell Online Courses to China

2011-04-21T14:32:40-04:00

Hoping to make money to help relieve property taxes, the Auburn School Department will try to become a University of Phoenix-style developer and marketer of online high school courses for foreign students.

Colo. District Votes to Launch Own Voucher Program

2011-03-16T10:52:17-04:00

Douglas County school board members voted 7-0 Tuesday to launch Colorado's first district-run voucher pilot, using state per-pupil funding to help up to 500 students attend private schools this fall.

Pa. District Trying to Lure Back Cyber Students

2011-03-16T10:13:16-04:00

The Tulpehocken School District is trying to bring students who live in the district back from cyber charter schools to close budget gaps.

DD Writers

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

Meet the people who bring Education Week Digital Directions' stories to life.

Preventing District Data Crashes Requires Anticipation

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

The range and unpredictability of threats to school districts' data systems can be unnerving, making protecting them difficult.

State Cyberbullying Laws Range from Guidance to Mandate

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

At least 44 states have anti-bullying laws, but the cyberbullying aspects of those measures run the gamut from effective to window dressing to possibly unconstitutional.

Ed-Tech Advocates Eye Rupert Murdoch's Move Into K-12 Market

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

Educational technology experts say the purchase of ed-tech company Wireless Generation by media mogul Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. raises questions about how effective the partnership will be over the long haul.

Calif. Ed. Department Opens iTunes U for Teachers

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

With districts and schools under pressure to make every dollar count, California teachers can now download free resources for professional development from iTunes.

'Digital Connectors' Prepares Students for IT Careers

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

A new program helps prepare high school students for careers in information technology. It is operating in North Philadelphia and in 11 other cities, including Chicago, Denver, Miami, and Washington.

Cyberbullying by Gender

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

According to a survey from a large school district in the Southern United States, adolescent girls are significantly more likely than boys to have experienced cyberbullying.

Va. Students' Phones, Laptops Can Be Searched

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

Virginia students' cellphones and laptops can be seized and searched by public school officials if violations are suspected, according to state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

Harvard Planning a National Digital Public Library

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

Harvard University has announced plans for an open, distributed digital network that represents a consensus of the country's libraries, universities, archives, and museums.

Students, Teachers Turn on Math Apps

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

While most students still rely on the printed word to study, many now don’t hesitate to use an iPhone, an iPad, or other mobile device to practice for standardized tests or classroom review.

Mobile Apps for Education Evolving

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

But experts say growth is slower than expected and there isn’t a lot of content designed to fit the needs of face-to-face classrooms.

Students Take a Stand Against Cyberbullying

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

Experts say getting students to help support school policies to prevent cyberbullying is crucial for those measures to be effective.

Schools Tackle Legal Twists and Turns of Cyberbullying

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

Experts say getting students to help support school policies to prevent cyberbullying is crucial for those measures to be effective.

Navigating Through Tech Heaven or Hell

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

Digital Directions Executive Editor Kevin Bushweller says technology builds on good teaching, but it makes bad teaching worse.

Used or Donated Computers Help Schools Save Money

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

But technology officials should be aware that the process of acquiring fleets of older computers can be complex and confusing.

Classroom-Tested Tech Tools Used to Boost Literacy

2011-02-04T00:01:00-05:00

To improve reading skills, many teachers are relying on technologies they already have rather than new tools and software programs.