Blog Juice for Educational Technology

There is increasing concern about political lobbying by Internet service providers (ISPs) for laws that would allow them to privilege certain Web content with better service than other content. In other words, web sites that paid ISPs more money would load faster and work better on end users’ computers. The…

37 Signals, maker of other innovative web-based tools, has decided to enter the K-12 market with its new product, Chalksite. Chalksite allows teachers to manage classes and grades, send messages, post assignments, and create blogs and web pages. There is a free version as well as four tiered pricing levels;…

Here’s an interesting article from Diane Ravitch on how Bill Gates, and the Gates Foundation, can really be of help with the schools. Her suggestion is an intriguing notion? Thoughts / reactions?…

Schools and districts are required, both legally and professionally / ethically / morally, to monitor employee and student use of technology tools when those tools are used for professional or instructional purposes. School organizations that don’t must face the legal and public relations ramifications of ignoring potential employee / student…

Short-sighted. Foolish. Dare I say ‘idiotic?’ The President has proposed, YET AGAIN, to eliminate all funding for the federal Enhancing Education Through Technology program. I tend to try and stay out of political disputes but, as someone who’s interested in our nation’s future (who isn’t?), I’m frustrated. Do we intend…

A few days ago, Doug Levin from Cable in the Classroom made a post about a recent report from Education Evolving that discussed what it’s like for technology-savvy students in text-dominated schools. I strongly encourage everyone to read that report - there’s lots of good stuff in there. Doug’s post…

Just for fun… SnapShirts lets you make a word cloud from the most prevalent words in your blog. Then you can make a t-shirt!…

Investments in universities’ online learning are investments in the state’s future. This is the argument made by the UNC-Chapel Hill student newspaper editorial board. Seems like this is equally applicable to other states, of course, as well as K-12 education….

To put some numbers to an issue we all know occurs… 1 in 4 online teens say they’ve talked online about sex with someone they’ve never met in person. 1 in 5 online teens report that they have been asked by someone they only know through virtual communications to meet…

Doug Johnson, who is the Director of Media and Technology for the Mankato Public Schools and one of our most phenomenal ed tech resources in Minnesota (and nationwide), recently posted on his blog an encapsulation of a recent discussion on student blogging that should be required reading for all school…

Are you, your staff, or your students using blogs? If so, check out Jakob Nielsen’s blog usability guidelines. I’m guessing you’ll take away at least one important idea for your blog(s)… Good stuff!…

CoSN is launching its new webcast series, which is co-sponsored by Horizon Wimba, on October 5 with Digital Learning Spaces 2010, which will address what school technology leaders need to know in order to prepare their schools to be able accommodate high-tech learning scenarios. CoSN’s webcasts are always top notch…

There’s a movement afoot to provide virtual courses and/or tutoring to students who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Check out VSKOOL, sponsored by Cable in the Classroom, NACOL, and the SIIA. Kudos to these organizations for their creative response to a horrible situation……