Browsing all posts in September, 2009.

The Future Is Digital

Our kids are more adaptable and resourceful when it comes to integrating new technology into their everyday lives. Snail mail is a thing of the past. Board games seem antiquated peculiarities. Oddly enough, textbooks seem steadfastly in place. Which one doesn’t look like the other?
The Textbook Doledrums
The textbook industry is massive, earning about $4.3b annually. [...]

Call for Beta Testers of NETS Draft Rubric

ISTE’s NETS for Students, the widely recognized and adopted education technology standards were updated in 2007 to reflect the rapid changes in technology, instruction, and learning environments. We recently developed a summary rubric for NETS*S across grade bands and are seeking comments from educators before the end of November, 2009.
Here’s a sample rubric from the draft, looking at Communication and [...]

Truth and Reconciliation for Plagiarizers

I’d like to see some sort of truth and reconciliation initiative for student plagiarizers. I see too many good teachers spending a lot of time anticipating, seeking, and punishing plagiarism.
I’ll admit that I have been both a minor perpetrator and a recipient of plagiarism. A few times in high school I paraphrased and pilfered from [...]

U.S. Administration Official Talks Ed Tech with ISTE Connects

ISTE Connects cameras caught up with several luminaries at the September 15 launch of HP Digital Assist in Washington, DC.  Among the officials present and interviewed was Steve Robinson, then Special Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, and now with the White House Domestic Policy Council. Robinson talks with DC-based Eduflack blogger, Patrick [...]

Do You Know a Young Educator Who Deserves Recognition?

ISTE is offering an award for an “outstanding young educator“! Do you know someone who demonstrates vision and innovation in their use of technology to improve teaching and learning? Do you think that their work reflects ISTE’s mission and purpose? You can also nominate yourself if you meet the same criteria!
According to the official rules, [...]

What Has LinkedIn Done for Your Professional Goals?

Are you a member of LinkedIn? The recent tweets about the Ed Tech Start Up Group has me thinking about the potential usefulness of this networking site.
In their LinkedIn for Dummies post, Avangate describes the networking site’s benefits as:
•    Networking
•    Hiring
•    Posting jobs
•    Get business advice; expertise
•    Find high-quality passive candidates (people who are not [...]

Crowdsourcing The Best of Learning & Leading with Technology

Crowdsourcing is taking the writing world by storm!
I’ve seen authors in various fiction genres host their entire publicity tour online, asking readers to take pictures of their books in bookstores, of people reading their books, and of the books in funny situations. The authors offer prizes drawn at random or for the most creative photo. [...]

The Digital Assist Competition Kickoff – Updated!

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) will be working with HP and the NBA Cares program to kickoff the HP Digital Assist education grant competition. ISTE, HP, and NBA executives will be at Jefferson Junior High School in Washington, D.C. on September 15th, 2009, along with basketball all-star Antawn Jamison.
See below for video [...]

Are You Ready for a New Global Perspective?

As we start this new semester we have to acknowledge the fact that we are living in a world that seems to be in a serious stage of re-thinking. We over-consume, over-pollute and leave a lot of the world hungry and full of preventable diseases. If we as adults are affected by the depressing nature [...]

Register Now for ISTE 2010 in Denver, Colorado, June 27–30

Excitement is building for our 31st annual conference in the breathtaking city of Denver! We’ve set our sights even higher this year, building off our amazing conference in Washington, DC, in June 2009.
Plan now to keep ISTE 2010 in your sights and budget. ARRA/stimulus monies, including formula and competitive grant monies, can be used to [...]