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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AI-Powered Teaching Platform Provides Personalized Recommendations, Resources

Ed tech company Brisk Teaching has introduced Brisk Next, and AI-powered platform for planning, creating, and delivering instruction.
New Turnitin Bypasser Detection Feature Helps Identify Use of AI Humanizer Tools

Turnitin has expanded its AI writing detection capabilities with AI bypasser detection, a feature designed to help identify text that has been modified by AI humanizer tools.
Khan Academy Revamps Platform for School Districts

Khan Academy has reimagined its Khan Academy Districts platform, the paid partnership program that offers strategic implementation tools, data, and services for optimizing the use of Khan Academy district-wide.
Edthena Launches AI-Powered Classroom Observation Tool

Professional learning platform Edthena has introduced Observation Copilot, an AI tool for principals designed to streamline the process of writing up framework-aligned teacher feedback from classroom observation notes.