Schools Ban Outside Help

Schools Ban Outside Help

Whether it be teachers’ and principals’ egocentrism, bitter sentiment of not having the Internet and other resources while they were in school or simply wanting students to spend more time on homework, some have banned their students from any and all outside sources on homework assignments, according to an article in the Washington Post.               This means students cannot look to the Internet, other students, their parents, other textbooks, or even possibly a private tutor to complete homework assignments or seek further knowledge.     &nbs ... Read More About Schools Ban Outside Help

Education Tech Trends For 2011

Education Tech Trends For 2011

Here are five emerging technology trends in K-12 classrooms as we step into 2011: Increase in use of mobile devices - cellphones and iPad devices have replaced the desktop computer as the tech tool to use. Increase in web-based instruction  - scales easily and allows for remote access. Increase in tech-based monitoring and assessment - for the most recent implementation, see the New York Time's article about the Gates Foundation backing a massive push for webcams in classrooms that monitor teacher performance. Increase in cloud-based applications - ever used Google docs before? Increase in teacher professional development that focu ... Read More About Education Tech Trends For 2011

Using Technology To Engage Students

Using Technology To Engage Students

            Falling asleep in class, there’s the hooded sweatshirt pulled over the head, hide your eyes as you rest your head on your hand or the-I’m-just-going-to-hope-teacher-doesn’t-see-me approach, is something that just happens at times, despite actual effort or interest.             However, teachers are wising up and using new ploys to catch and wake up students, ploys more effective than the if-you-sleep-or-daydream-I-will-catch-you ploy. Teachers, in attempts to keep students awake, paying attention and engaged in their classes ... Read More About Using Technology To Engage Students

Rise Of Online College Courses

Rise Of Online College Courses

The percentage of students taking college courses online has nearly tripled since 2002, according to an article in The Washington Post.             The Washington Post cited a study that stated 29% of college students took at least one online course in the fall of 2009, compared to 10% in 2002.             The 2010 study, Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010, noted that online education has been growing continuously. Online enrollment increased from 1.6 million in 2002 to 3.2 million in 2005 to 5.6 million i ... Read More About Rise Of Online College Courses

Nationwide Reading And Math Abilities

Nationwide Reading And Math Abilities

12th grade students’ reading/math scores increased slightly, since their record lows in 2005, according to federal results released November 18th, cited by an article in The New York Times.             These reading and math tests comprise the National Assessment of Education Progress test. The Department of Education administered this test to what it determined to be a representative sample of about 50,000 12th grade students nationwide in the spring of 2009.                The Department of Education stated tha ... Read More About Nationwide Reading And Math Abilities