K-12 Tech Trends :: October 4, 2006
Welcome to K-12 Tech Trends, which replaces T.H.E. Newsletter. Each week we’ll bring you a quick look at the latest news on technology trends and tools and how they are successfully used for instruction and administration. Leading experts and visionaries will share their opinions and insights on critical issues facing you daily. Let us here from you – send your thoughts, ideas, commentary, and news items to Editorial Director Geoff Fletcher, [email protected]
Opinion
E-Textbooks: Points to Ponder on Pixels and Paper
By Dr. Patricia Deubel
Why bother with a printed textbook? Adopting an e-text seems like a no-brainer when you consider the potential advantages of learning in a multimedia environment that can be tailored to the needs of all learners. But can an e-text really meet everyone’s needs? I don’t think so. Let’s take a look at their potential, and some concerns I have.
E-Text Potential
The ideal e-text does not yet exist, but publishers are making in-roads. All of the following would be true of the ideal e-textbook:
It employs all the principles of Universal Design for Learning with multiple supports and scaffolds, and multiple means of expression, representing information and engagement.
It has an intuitive, consistently designed layout with hyperlinks to chapters, sections, subheadings, and pages. Pages download quickly. A search feature is available to help users find related content. The text provides all the plug-ins needed for viewing and interactions. Cross-referencing of resources is available. Supplementary activities are linked to the use of every resource...
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News Briefs
Partnership for 21st Century Skills Calls for Innovative NCLB Reauthorization
The No Child Left Behind Act risks losing relevance if an innovative approach to reauthorization is not pursued, according to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills...
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MySpace Launches Internet Safety Campaign With Guide for School Administrators
MySpace.com has launched an Internet safety campaign with the publication and distribution of parents’ and school administrators’ guides to Internet safety...
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Illinois Governor, Board of Education Announce 1-to-1 Initiative
Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, and the Illinois State Board of Education recently announced the selection of seven school districts across Illinois to participate in the Technology Immersion Pilot Project...
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Alvarion to Provide Broadband to Hillsborough County Schools
Alvarion Ltd., a leading provider of wireless broadband solutions and specialized mobile networks, is providing broadband to more than 200 locations, including all 197 schools, plus various administrative and other district offices, in Hillsborough County, Tampa, FL...
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By the Numbers
Study Compares Popular Anti-virus Solutions for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
A study carried out by VeriTest, the testing service of Lionbridge Technologies, has confirmed that Panda ExchangeSecure, the anti-malware solution for Exchange mail platforms, has a minimum impact on the performance of these servers. The products evaluated in this comparative study, apart from the Panda Software solution, were Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange 5.0.2, McAfee GroupShield for Exchange 6.0, and Trend ScanMail for Microsoft Exchange 7.0. The tests focused on evaluating the CPU usage compared to a server without anti-virus protection installed, the average number of messages stored in the send queue, and the average waiting time for clients. The study showed that with installation of the Panda Software solution, CPU usage only increased 10.89 percent. The rest of the products resulted in a much larger increase in CPU usage: 17.84 percent for Trend Micro, 34.76 percent for McAfee, and 39.3 percent for Symantec...
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Show Me the Money
Staples Launches Invention Quest for Kids
Staples Inc. has launched its third annual Staples Invention Quest, challenging its customers to be the brains behind the next great office product. New this year is Staples Invention Quest Kids. In collaboration with By Kids for Kids Co., Staples is giving kids up to the age of 18 the chance to bring their ideas for easy school or office products to fruition. Furthering Staples’ commitment to making it easy, Staples Invention Quest helps uncover even more new office products that simplify the work day. The deadline to enter Staples Invention Quest is Nov. 27, 2006, and the winner will be announced in April 2007. Everyone is invited to enter Staples Invention Quest at any Staples store nationwide for an entry form and complete list of rules and eligibility requirements. Eight semifinalists, consisting of four kids and four adults, will be awarded cash prizes of $5,000 and the possibility to have their idea created and sold by Staples...
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Products & Services
Print-Limit Pro Gets an Upgrade, Adds Support for Mac OS X Servers
The latest version of GenevaLogic’s Print-Limit Pro can be installed on Mac OS X servers. Version 6.2 of the print management solution allows educators to easily and efficiently manage printing across large, multiplatform environments...
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Wireless Generation Releases Innovative Digital Pen and Paper-Based Software for School Evaluation, Improvement
Wireless Generation, the company that pioneered the use of handheld technology in preK-6 classrooms for assessment, reporting, and individualizing instruction, has introduced mCLASS:SEE software for conducting school evaluations and developing improvement plans...
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Coming Up
THE Journal Opportunities
Share Your Best Practices
T.H.E. Journal is currently looking for the following types of articles for future issues and for our eNewsletter, T.H.E. SmartClassroom:
- School Perspectives - discuss a specific topic, trend, or concern about education technology.
- Case Studies – have you implemented technology and learned a lot from the experience? If so, share your efforts about what worked -- and what didn't.
If you have a potential article, or questions about the above topics, please e-mail [email protected]
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