The PhET Interactive Simulations Project at the University of Colorado at Boulder has received grants totaling $2.5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the O'Donnell Foundation to expand its reach to middle school science. The team of scientists, educators, and software engineers for the ongoing project design online simulations that demonstrate how scientific concepts apply in real-world scenarios.
- By Scott Aronowitz
- 12/03/10
Autodesk is releasing an update to AutoCAD WS, the free AutoCAD app designed for iOS devices like iPad and iPhone.
Pearson has added four new courses to NovaNet, its digital learning platform for students in grades 6 through 12, as well as adult learners.
- By Scott Aronowitz
- 11/29/10
InfoLogic has released MathMagic Pro 7.12 for Mac OS X and 5.3 for Windows.
Every ethnic and gender group saw statistically significant gains in math in the 2009 national exam. In reading, the results were mixed--with some groups statistically flat and others making gains--though overall scale scores improved from 2005, and no groups declined.
The Government Information Technology Executive Council (GITEC) has opened its 2011 awards program. Each year GITEC provides scholarships for up to eight high school students looking to pursue majors in IT-related disciplines, including computer science.
Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) of Upper Marlboro, MD has received a full computer systems upgrade, thanks to a partnership with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and aviation and aerospace technology giant Lockheed Martin.
- By Scott Aronowitz
- 11/10/10
Ed tech developer TenMarks has made its online teaching and learning resource free for K-12 schools and educators.
Hoping to motivate middle and high school students to undertake projects focused on water and its part in the environmental concerns of their own communities, environmental education nonprofit EarthEcho International (EEI) has partnered with Discovery Education to launch Water Planet Challenge, a Web site offering the interactive tools and access to resources necessary to design and implement such projects.
- By Scott Aronowitz
- 11/04/10
Student response systems at Campbell County Middle School in Kentucky have allowed teachers to gauge student readiness on the fly, providing visibility into the strengths and weaknesses of individuals and whole classes. One science teacher shares her experiences with "clickers" in the classroom--the advantages for teaching and learning and some of the hurdles when getting started.
- By Denise Harrison
- 11/03/10