Having Trouble Understanding eRate?

Schools and Libraries offers a Training Site where you can learn more about correctly completing forms required for eRate funding. Training includes FCC Forms 470, 470 Interview, 471 with online Item 21 attachments, 471 Interview with online Item 21 attachments, 486, and 486 Interview. Remember that if you are interested in going through the training, you’ll need to, as with all eRate forms, use Internet Explorer 6 and above as your browser. According to Schools and Libraries, other browsers may result in errors. In addition to the Training Site, for problems, you can check Tips and Troubleshooting, find detailed instructions for each form, submit a question or call the service line (1-888-203-8100).

Virtual Leadership Conference Targeting Mobile Learning

The FetC Virtual Leadership SUMMIT, Taking the Lead in Mobile Learning, will be held Tuesday, December 11^th, from 12:45-5:30 p.m. If you want to learn more or are confused about strategies for learning and teaching in the Age of Going Mobil, this free, Web-based conference is a must. It will feature national experts, moderated discussions, interactive online environment, and networking opportunities.

FETC Virtual Conference

The Florida Educational Technology Conference & Expo has always been known as one of the best in the nation. Maybe, you’ve not been able to travel to Florida to attend one, but you can take part in the 2012 Virtual Conference on Thursday, October 18^th from home or school. Cheryl Lemke, well known for her work in promoting effective uses of technologies in schools, will give the keynote address. There will be an opportunity to attend interactive sessions with leaders in ed tech. At the Conference, you’ll find a virtual networking lounge where you can connect with other educators and educational leaders. There’s a virtual exhibit hall at the conference complete with product and service demonstrations.  You’ll also get free content downloads and presentations to take with you.  Registration is complimentary, but you must RSVP.

Bullying and Cyberbullying: Who Is to Blame?

With the wealth of information that’s been in the media about bullying and cyberbullying, it’s on just about everyone’s minds. We know that growing up isn’t exactly easy. We adults face problems with bullying, but we’ve learned how to handle it or perhaps we ignore it.  I’ve watched students let uncomplimentary remarks slide off like water on a duck, and I’ve seen children who are highly sensitive to any slight.  We know that the middle years are usually the toughest when it comes to kid nastiness, but we also find it from the elementary grades on. There are young people everywhere who are trying to find their place among their peers. Sometimes it goes beyond normal, day-to-day kid behavior and can cause lasting problems for those bullied or ignored. Teachers, parents, coaches, and others who work with children watch for bullying, but as we know, it often happens when adults aren’t around or anonymously online. Who is to blame for the bullying mentality and how might we stop it? A generation ago we confiscated the so-called Slam Books that featured inappropriate information about students in our classes.  Today we continue to watch during lunch sessions for “cool tables” for the in-crowd, try to keep up with school-related social interaction online, work with students on thoughtfulness and respect, and do our best to keep parents informed on the topic. Recently I asked a group of eighth graders who is to blame for bullying, cyber or otherwise. They agreed that the kids who do it were the problem. I asked if schools and teachers were to blame. The answer went something like this, “No, not everyone is nice. That’s the problem and kids should remember that. If a teacher sees bullying and doesn’t do anything, then the teacher is wrong, but usually teachers don’t see it. Who would do something not nice when teachers and parents are around?” When I asked what is the answer to the problem of bullying, one said, “Stay with nice kids. Don’t try to get into a group that does things that aren’t nice.”  Nice seems to be the answer, but how do we get everyone to take on that quality?

Cyber Communication: Progress or Problem—What Kids Say

This year’s Optimist International Oratorical Competition for students focuses on the topic: Cyber Communication: Progress or Problem. After listening to many student speeches, these thoughts went through my mind. (1) Students, at least the ones participating in this competition, know the dangers of the Internet. (2) They know social networking sites have a minimum age, but they ignore it—it’s like it’s not there and doesn’t matter. (3) They realize cyber communication is here to stay and say people should get used to it and learn how to use it correctly. (4) They have no idea what to do about the problem of cyberbullies, but they know that it happens and feel for those who have been victims. (5) Although they text and video chat mostly, and still use email and instant messaging, many love to get written letters—one speaker even wrote an obituary of a love letter and then recited from one of Abigail Adam’s letters to John.  (6) They can’t imagine carrying a dictionary around or having to look words up in a dictionary. (7) It’s foreign to them not to be able to type their essays into the computer. “I couldn’t just sit down and write my stories on paper,” one commented. (8) They see cell phones as a necessary part of their lives, but they do not think parents should give cell phones to young children. (9) They are not sure about the option of technology to locate where they are. “That’s scary,” according to some. Others thought it could be useful for parents but noted that parents might purchase a cell phone for young children for this reason and not realize the other dangers present in cell phone options. (10) They see that cyber communication can be a powerful force for good in our world even though they realize that everyone doesn’t use it as they should—one speaker said, “You’ve got to remember that everyone isn’t nice.” Another said, “Alexander Graham Bell didn’t invent the telephone so that people could make crank calls or threatening calls. We must step forward with the technologies we have today thinking how we can help our world.”

 

Frontline: Growing Up Online

The Frontline report, Growing Up Online, features information and discussions on the questions, “Just how radically is the Internet transforming the experience of childhood?” It tackles questions related to students and their beliefs about privacy, private worlds of teens online, teens sharing personal information, teachers and tech, and traditional teaching methods.  The section, Keeping Kids Safe, focuses upon what parents need to know about their children and the Internet, fear of predators, cyberbullying, and state and federal efforts to keep kids safe. You can watch the full program online, view the follow-up report, and read what people who saw the program had to say about it. If you want, you can add your comments about the Internet’s impact on your students. Don’t forget to check out the readings and links, teacher’s guide, and information on what we’ve learned abut kids and the Internet and how our digital generation is doing.

Is the Cloud the Answer to Tech Problem?

“Up, Up, and Away”, an article by John K. Waters in the January 2010 issue of THE Journal, describes how use of cloud computing “saved” the Minnesota Online High School (MNOHS). Administrators, who had been swamped with copying and distributing CDs to students, say cloud computing ended their tech nightmare. With cloud computing everything from the software to student work can be online. The idea of having access to apps online (in the cloud) is appealing to many, although not all, tech folks and school administrators. It could save money on equipment and software and avoid the worry of student loss of assignments, hard drives that don’t work, and applications not being on a computer, etc. Access to the cloud could be through inexpensive computers and digital devices such as iPods. If you are interested in reading more about cloud computing, check The Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing; Google Giving Its Cloud to the Masses; Don’t Worry, Be Scrappy: Good, Cheap Tech for Schools, Cloud Computing and More; and 8 Ways Cloud Computing May Change Schools.  When considering a move to a cloud, you’ll need to carefully consider the following: will what’s available through the cloud do what you want it to do for your students, teachers, parents, and administrators; will all your data be secure; and what will it cost?

The Battle of the Budget

With technology in fast forward, what is it wise for schools to purchase?  Aaron Eyler in his Synthesizing Education Blog addresses the problem in  “The Battle of Education Technology: Software, Hardware, & Funding (And What to Do About It)”. He suggests spending budget money on those items that will develop school infrastructure, like networks, bandwidth, wireless connections, and servers; purchasing netbooks and other student-centric devices, rather than laptops and desktops; and using GoogleDocs and Open Office instead of software like Microsoft Office. To prepare for the future in our schools, Eyler advises that we support school IT departments, enhance the home-school tech connections, and prepare for the future. What are your ideas about what we should be doing with our tech budgeting and future planning?

ISTE Season Pass for Webinars & More

The International Society for Technology in Education offers a Season Pass for all the Webinar sessions throughout the year, along with use of ISTE resources and archives. If you sign up, you’ll have access to all the Webinars that have been held since August 2009 in addition to the rest of the Webinars for this year.  Past Webinars have tackled topics such as: Screencasting, Project-Based Learning, 21^st Century Skills, Assistive Technologies, Open Source Software, and New Media Literacy. A list of future Webinars includes: Battery-Powered Computers, Emerging Technologies, Podcasting, MMORPG (What it is and how it can help students), Twitter, Math and Technology, and many more. The Pass is available to members for $200 and to non-members for $500. Admittance to individual Webinars is listed at $50 for members and $125 for non-members.

Confused about Google Tools & Docs in Education?

If you look at Google’s Term of Service, you’ll see that those using it must be of legal age to sign a binding contract, which means in most places 18 or older. This seems like an obstacle if you want to use free Google tools and docs with your students, but if you sign up to create accounts for you and your students, that’s okay. You are making the contract. Students using the accounts must be 13 or older. If you go to Using Google Docs in the Classroom: Simple as ABC, you’ll not only find information about using Google docs, but also an account creation link. There are videos and other information that show you how to create accounts. Creation will depend upon whether students already have school email accounts, don’t have email accounts, or have their own email accounts. Don’t forget to check out the Google Tools for Educators page.