T.H.E. News Update :: February 4, 2009 -- THE Journal

Spotlight

Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools for Young Learners
Gail Lovely is adamant about the nature and potential of Web-based learning tools. "Web 2.0 is about trust," she said at a recent talk. "It's about sharing and collaborating." And, she insisted, it's about putting the power to learn and create in the hands of the students. More
Good News for Ed Tech in the Economic Stimulus Bills
The House has passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the economic stimulus plan, and a bill has been introduced into the Senate. Congress intends to pass the bill by the middle of February, and Speaker Pelosi has said the House members will not have their Presidents' Day recess until they pass a bill. More

Google Earth 5 Goes Underwater, Travels to Mars
Google has released the Google Earth 5 beta, a major update to its geographical exploration software. The new release adds features for exploring below the oceans and also incorporates features for exploring the surface of Mars. More
Texas District Deploys SIF Integration Tools
Frisco Independent School District in northeast Texas has chosen Mizuni SIF Integration Tools for its growing technology and data processing needs. The district, which enrolls about 31,000 K-12 students, has experienced annual growth of between 12 percent and 30 percent over the last decade, and its demands for more efficient and reliable data management have subsequently skyrocketed. More
Chicago Parochial School Deploys WLAN To Support Classroom Technologies
Frances Xavier Warde School in Chicago has deployed Aruba Networks' 802.11n Access Points WiFi network at its Holy Name Cathedral and Old St. Patrick campuses. More
Pennsylvania Ed Tech Initiative Shifts Students to Project-based Learning
Pennsylvania's three-year Classroom for the Future (CFF) initiative has borne fruit, according to a recent study conducted jointly by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and education IT provider CDW Government. More

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Survey: Younger Educators More Likely to Embrace AI Tools

While educators across the United States agree that AI has enhanced classroom engagement, enthusiasm for AI's benefits is strongest among young teachers, according to a recent survey from learning technology company D2L.
ED Grant Portal Target of Phishing Campaign

Threat researchers at BforeAI have identified a phishing campaign spoofing the U.S. Department of Education's G5 grant management portal.
OpenAI Launches AI-Powered Web Browser

OpenAI has unveiled ChatGPT Atlas, a standalone browser that places ChatGPT at the heart of everyday web activity. This release represents a major expansion of the company's efforts to reshape how users search, browse, and complete tasks online.
Google Launches Lightweight Gemma 3n, Expanding Emphasis on Edge AI

Google DeepMind has officially launched Gemma 3n, the latest version of its lightweight generative AI model designed specifically for mobile and edge devices — a move that reinforces the company's focus on on-device computing.