In 2009, Ocoee Middle School in Ocoee, FL, underwent a unique transformation. It remains a public middle school, still teaches the usual subjects to the usual suspects, and the Cardinal is still the school mascot. But with a full-scale technological renovation, OMS is now a veritable showcase for technology-enhanced learning.
It's up to America's teachers to get the country's youth involved in critical environment issues. But that's not going to happen if teachers aren't delivering the message in a way that engages students, according to Ed Begley Jr., who delivered the opening general address at this year's FETC conference in Florida. "We have to speak in a language young people understand. And that language," he said, "is technology."
As technology professionals for the St. Johns County School District in Florida, David Futch and Charles Moseley understand the value--and scarcity--of instructional dollars. During their session at FETC 2010 last week in Orlando, FL, the pair conceded, "as the belt gets tighter, the need for creative solutions to instructional problems becomes increasingly critical." Enter Web 2.0.
Which technology tools can help improve teaching and learning? Which can boost productivity? Which are just plain useful for keeping organized? At the FETC 2010 conference last week, education technology veterans shared their lists of apps intended to make life in and out of the classroom faster, easier, and, well, better.
Over the last decade, advances in technology have made dreams of ubiquitous access to digital media a reality, both on the Web and off. From inexpensive cameras to iPods to cell phones to integrated Webcams, capturing, editing, and sharing digital audio and video has become push-button easy. And that, according to University of Central Florida (UCF) professors Robert Kenny and Glenda Gunter, is good news for K-12 educators.
The Greater Educational Opportunities Foundation (GEO Foundation) in Indiana has virtualized its computing infrastructure and upgraded its storage system to reduce costs and energy requirements, expand student access to computers, and improve IT operations. The announcement was made at the FETC 2010 conference, which is going on this week in Orlando, FL.
An education organization in Florida has teamed up with a company that develops learning tools to launch a new service that provides online learning for K-12 schools. Florida Virtual School (FLVS), which delivers online instruction to K-12 students in Florida, is working with Agilix Labs in the launch of BrainHoney, announced at FETC 2010 in Orlando. This solution is intended to provide schools, districts, and states a means to deliver accredited online courses to their students.
Discovery Education has announced it will stream each episode of Discovery Channel's new natural history series Life beginning the day after it premieres on the cable TV network.
In a pilot program announced at FETC 2010 in Orlando, 12 schools in the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) system will replace traditional textbooks with digital content from Discovery Education. The program also includes curriculum alignment services, professional development, and hardware.
At the FETC 2010 conference, underway this week in Orlando, FL, assessment software provider GradeCam released an online version of its test scanning tool, GradeCam Online. The software allows Webcams and other types of cameras to be used to scan multiple choice tests and collect data to be used to aid instruction.