May 2007 archive
When Students Become Accidental Celebrities, What Next?
Every teacher and parent should read the article in today’s Washington Post about the California high school student who’s become an online celebrity, from MySpace to YouTube. Who she is and how she got in this predicament, however, probably isn’t...
D-Day for Julie Amero
Last week, the Connecticut substitute teacher convicted of exposing students to porn was supposed to find out her sentence. Yet once again, her sentencing has been delayed - until D-Day, of all days - and even the press is beginning...
Will Schools Take Advantage of Online Political Video During the Election?
At the Personal Democracy Forum taking place today in New York City, participants are talking about open access to political videos online, particularly candidate statements and debate materials. The public is ready to utilize this treasure trove of civic educational...
Could Wikis Help Achieve Consensus on Edtech Policy?
If you had the opportunity to help craft federal education technology legislation, would you participate? The idea isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds, as politicians are beginning to explore wikis as a tool for collaborative policymaking. And educators could become...
Open Letters on the Role of Education Technology
The U.S. Secretary of Education is asking for your input on the role of technology in the classroom. I hope you’ll respond to her - and tell the rest of us what you think as well....
Avast Ye Knee-Jerk Reactions, Matey!
A pre-service teacher has been denied obtaining her teaching degree because her MySpace profile featured a photo of her with an alcoholic beverage in hand, including the caption “Drunken Pirate.” Pirate or not, she’s suing the university, and generating a...
Schools drop laptop programs - but are they dropping the ball as well?
The New York Times is reporting today that some schools have been dropping their student laptop programs, labeling them a failure. But what’s the actual failure taking place here? I fear it’s a failure of expectations and imagination....
The iPod of the Beholder: Can MP3 Players Enhance Learning?
First it was cell phones, and now it’s iPods. K-12 schools around the country are beginning to ban students from carrying MP3 players, fearing they may use them for cheating. Yet at least one university is embracing the exact opposite...
