Before choosing to restrict the use of social and mobile tools in schools, policymakers and education leaders have to consider the negative impact such restrictions will have on learning. That's the premise of a new policy report released jointly this week by more than a dozen prominent education associations and advocacy groups.
One high school is using text messaging and free cell phones to keep students and teachers in constant contact with each other, and seeing dramatic results.
Twenty-four percent of K-12 schools ban cell phones altogether, and 62 percent allow phones on school grounds but ban them in the classroom, according to the most recent national data available. But it's about time for those schools to rethink those bans, said Kevin M. Thomas, assistant professor of education at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY, who spoke at the 67th ASCD Annual Conference & Exhibit in Philadelphia this weekend.
In a statement yesterday, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the expansion of the Universal Service Fund's Lifeline program to include broadband internet access for low-income, disadvantaged, and rural Americans. However, in response, the Civil and Human Rights Coalition expressed concern with the program's timeline and cost-controlling measures.
Samsung moved to the top position among smart phone manufacturers worldwide in the third quarter, bumping Apple, Nokia, and Research in Motion out of the way in the process.
Cisco has created a new TelePresence solution for small to medium-sized organizations with limited budgets and IT staff.
ParentLink has released a new suite of e-mail tools for its communication platform designed to improve e-mail communications between schools and parents.
Tegrity has released an updated version of its lecture capture system, Tegrity Campus 2.0.
In an effort to support a slate of school technology initiatives, a district in New Jersey has moved its underlying communications network to high-speed fiber.
Worldwide sales of mobile devices grew an enormous 18.98 percent in the first quarter of 2011. That growth was dominated by smart phones, where Google's Android OS took over the lead position--beating out mobile behemoths Symbian and iOS.