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Posts with tag school

Colleges Handing Out iPods to Incoming Freshman

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Aug 21st 2008 at 4:02PM

iPhones in Class: Distraction? or the Wave of the Future?
We've spoken before about schools dolling out iPods, iPhones, and generally going high tech. In fact, luring kids in with flashy gadgets is becoming less the exception, and more the rule (Duke, MIT, Abilene Christian University, and Drexel University have all gotten in on the trend). Colleges seem to be encouraged by the potential for innovative education applications and a constant line of connection with students. Of course, giving out digital devices shows that the university is hip to cutting edge technology.

However, some educators do worry about the distraction such devices provide. Students already carry cell phones and laptops with them, but an iPhone or iPod touch provides a level of distraction comparable to a laptop or the quick and quiet access of a cell phone.

Most expert agree that mobile electronics will play a bigger role in education, but that the movement is still very much in its infancy. Schools and teachers have experimented with lectures on iPods and Zunes, software on Nintendo DS's, and iPhone specific applications. What, if anything, will stick to the wall? We're not sure, but it is an exciting time to be an educator or a student. [From: NY Times]
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School Lets Students 'Phone a Friend' on Exams

by Tim Stevens, posted Aug 20th 2008 at 5:52PM

Open Book Tests Become Open Phone Tests
As the Internet becomes increasingly important in our day-to-day lives, some are getting worried that it's making us, well, stupid to put it bluntly. The fear is that, with access to the world's knowledge instantly available at our fingertips, we're not learning as much as we should, becoming co-dependent on technology to remember things. Some aren't so worried, though, seeing this as inevitable and ultimately for the greater good. Administrators of a private school near Sydney, Australia definitely fall into that latter group, and they now allowing students in some tests to use their cell phones to call friends for help and look up answers on the Internet.

The school is the Presbyterian Ladies' College at Croydon and it is encouraging its students to use all the resources they have available to them in the same way that they will later in life:
In their working lives they will never need to carry enormous amounts of information around in their heads. What they will need to do is access information from all their sources quickly and they will need to check the reliability of their information.
They are required to cite all their sources when relying on extra-curricular avenues of information retrieval, so they can't just pull any information they like. Their answers still need to be right to pass, after all. [From: textually.org]
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Is It Okay for Teachers to Communicate With Students Via Facebook?

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Aug 17th 2008 at 6:07PM

Teachers Walk a Fine Line, Online
Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace are breaking down barriers between teachers and students, and, predictably, not everyone is happy about it. While many teachers are thrilled with the connections they're able to form with students outside of the classroom on the site, they also admit there is a fine line they must walk.

A flurry of student-teacher sexual relationships has set off alarms with those who worry that Facebook and MySpace are just new places place for teachers to communicate with their students without supervision. CNN reports that legislators, teachers and parents nationwide are concerned, and a group in Missouri, specifically, is considering a bill that would make it illegal for teachers to befriend students on social networking sites.

Others, however, see the services as helpful for creating connections with struggling students who might be afraid to speak up in class or in person. Teachers are afraid to lose any weapon in their arsenal that helps them reach out to kids.

Sadly, we don't see a simple answer. The pros seem to outweigh the cons, but just barely. It is important here, as always, that parents play a role in monitoring their children's relationships with their teachers, even online. [Source: CNN]
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Educational Twitter Leads to Class Moving Online, for Free

by Tim Stevens, posted Aug 17th 2008 at 9:03AM

Educational Twitter Leads to Class Moving Online, for FreeDo your professors twitter? Do they blog, or even e-mail? Professor Dave Parry from the University of Texas at Dallas does all of the above. Now, after twittering to solicit some ideas for taking one of his classes online, Parry is taking things a step further by opening up the seminar to (almost) anyone who wants to join in, free of cost -- assuming his school goes along with it.

Online classes are of course nothing new, the Internet equivalent of correspondence courses of yore, but the one Parry hopes to offer to anyone is a bit different. The course is a graduate seminar on emerging media, entailing a lot of reading and discussion, but very little classroom-heavy presentation, which makes it ideal for moving into the online world of chat rooms and forums. So, yes, the class is free and open to anyone -- but right now Parry is thinking of limiting it to only 10 and to grad students at other universities. If you're interested, better apply soon! [Source: ars technica]
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Queen Guitarist Brian May Writes Astrophysics Thesis

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Aug 5th 2008 at 6:15PM



For Brian May, playing guitar for legendary rock band Queen was just a distraction from his quest for a doctorate in Astrophysics. The guitar god's thesis titled 'A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud' examines the phenomena of Zodiacal light, a dim cone of light that can be seen in the western sky just after sunset and in the eastern sky before dawn.

The light is caused by the reflection of sunlight off of interplanetary debris and dust, though in dark rural areas the glow has been confused for the first light of dawn. May's thesis focused on a series of measurements taken in 1971 and 1972 by the The Fabry-Perot Spectrometer in the Canary Islands.

Of course, Brian May isn't the first musician to fly his geek flag or to spend time pursuing academic accomplishments. Here are a few more famous musicians who are probably smarter than you are:
  • Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine graduated From Harvard. As did Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.
  • All of the founding members of Devo attended Kent State University.
  • Colin Greenwood, bassist for Radiohead, graduated from Cambridge University.
  • John Mayer is an avid tech geek and Blackberry fiend.
  • Dexter Holland of Offspring was a PHD candidate in molecular biology at USC.
  • Art Garfunkel has both a BA in Art History and a Master's in Mathematics from Columbia University.
[Source: USA Today]
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LEGO Comes To the Classroom With WeDo Robotics

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 3rd 2008 at 2:01PM


There was a time when the world was more innocent and Lincoln Logs in elementary classrooms were a given, but now that teachers are looking to squash every ounce of fun between 8AM and 3PM (okay, so maybe we just had a rough experience or two), LEGO's taking the back door in. The WeDo robotics kit is marketed toward elementary schools and the younger kids within them, with each package containing 158 blocks, gears, levers, etc., a USB hub for connecting to your Mac / PC, OLPC XO or Intel Classmate, a motor, one motion sensor, one tilt sensor and a CD with a smattering of sure-to-be-riveting activities. Mum's the word on pricing for now, but considering your tax dollars will be paying for 'em, it's not like you'll really benefit from knowing.

[Via BoingBoing]
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Top 10 Hi-Tech School Supplies

by Evan Shamoon, posted Jul 14th 2008 at 5:03PMFeatured Story

It's not here quite yet, but it's coming. You know, the time when you (or someone you birthed) heads back into the somber fray of study, working tirelessly to make ample use of the thousands invested in his or her education. Here are a few ways to make the learning process a bit more enjoyable (depending on whether you're the spender or the spendee).



Apple MacBook/Gateway P Series

Picking the right laptop is difficult, particularly on the PC side (on the Mac side, a MacBook is usually powerful enough for anything, except video work, for which a MacBook Pro is much better suited.) On the PC side, our pick is Gateway's P-Series notebooks. They can handle gaming, movies and media (and "word processing"), and really any reasonable task you throw at them (including video and graphics work).

Though a bit bulkier, the full-sized keyboards on the 17-inch screen makes writing papers a bit more comfortable. If you're a young Luddite or don't play many games, then go with a Mac; if you're a gamer and online-app head, then your only choice is a PC.

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Nintendo DS Comes to School in Japan, Teaches English

by Christine Whitney, posted Jun 30th 2008 at 6:06PM

Nintendo DS Used as Teaching Aid

As we recall, our early school years were not that fun. We got in trouble for asking to go to the bathroom and were made to do timed math problems next to the kid who always got nosebleeds. Sometimes we feigned illness so we could stay home and watch 'Treasure Island' and play 'Ninja Turtles' on Super Nintendo.

Nintendo has come a long way since then. And so has school!? Maybe...

The Japanese have again proven their coolness by incorporating Nintendo DS into the classroom. At least in one Tokyo girls' school, the portable gaming device is now doubling as an educational tool! Seventh-graders at Joshi Gakuen Junior High play with DS as a part of their English curriculum, using a talking software program replete with spelling exercises and language drills.

The program is part of a larger course intended to emphasize English conversation and communications skills, and to break away from traditional techniques of rote memorization and boring grammar exercises. Though some dissidents are not yet convinced of the DS' value as an educator, the girls at Joshi Gakuen are into it. One student claimed the English software was her favorite game, trumping even 'Mario Kart' and 'Animal Crossing'. [Source: AOL News/AP]
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Engadget

Local Students Get Free Lesson-Equipped Zunes

by Ryan Block, posted Jun 30th 2008 at 12:04PM

The latest edu-gimmick to hit small-town America: 100-plus media players -- Zunes, to be specific -- are being handed out to local high school and middle school students in Liberty, Missouri and Fort Sumner, New Mexico for listening to lesson-supporting podcasts in the hopes of saving them "lost class time."

Surely this will raise test scores, right? Or at least improve the Zune's cachet? Who knows -- even the district superintendent said, "Is it the next great thing? I don't know. Maybe. But it is another tool."

Maybe the Kindle might make a better tool, but either way, Microsoft apparently intends to release data on the case study later this year. [Source: Yahoo]
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Teen Faces Up to 38 Years in Jail for Hacking School Computer

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Jun 21st 2008 at 11:08AM

Teen Faces Up to 38 Years in Jail for Hacking School Computer
Note to our younger readers: Installing spyware on school computers and hacking your way into the system to change your grade is a terrible idea. A pair of teens in Orange County, California are accused of exactly that and now one of them faces a maximum prison sentence of 38 years in jail on multiple counts of second degree burglary, identity theft, computer access and fraud, removing and secreting a public record, and altering and falsifying a public record.

Omar Khan, 18, faces these most severe charges, while his accomplice, Tanvir Singh (also 18) faces lesser charges of conspiracy, burglary, computer fraud and altering a public record and faces a maximum sentence of three years in jail.

Kahn and Singh are accused of breaking into their school to steal tests and alter records, as well as hacking the schools network to change not only their grades, but the grades of 12 other students in the schools computer system. Why is Khan in so much more trouble than his pal Singh? Namely, it's the the identity theft and computer fraud charges, both heavy-duty felonies.

Okay, so you've got some brains, guys, but next time, try cracking open a book! [Source: Channel Web]
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Matrix-Style Brain Downloads in 30-Years?

by Tim Stevens, posted Jun 2nd 2008 at 10:45AMBreaking News

Matrix-Style Brain Downloads in 30-Years?Perhaps the most thrilling sequence in the original film, 'The Matrix' was the rooftop helicopter escape scene. It begins with Neo seeing a helicopter and asking Trinity "Can you fly that thing?" She replies "Not yet," then proceeds to download the required knowledge straight into her cranium. It's science-fiction right now, but will be for real within 30-years, according to a senior member of Britain's Ministry of Defense.

Chris Parry, who is also Chief Executive of the Independent Schools Council, a group of private schools, believes that soon kids will be able to download certain lessons straight into their brains. He gives entire foreign vocabularies as an example, enabling you to effectively learn the basics of a language instantly, only having to actually take the time to study the grammar rules afterward. This of course will mean a drastic change in the way kids are taught, potentially turning years-long educational programs into instantly downloadable files.

You know what that means: more time for video games! [Source: The Economic Times]
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Campuses Moving Online to 'Second Life?'

by Terrence O'Brien, posted May 30th 2008 at 3:01PM

Campuses Moving Online to 'Second Life?'
It used to be that getting a degree online was a joke. Internet colleges were the new mail-order diploma -- saying you got your degree online was like saying your diploma was found at the bottom of a Cracker-Jack box.

Times have changed. Not only is it now acceptable for classes to be taught online, but schools are considered behind the times if they don't have some online element. Dozens of reputable colleges offer online courses, Ivy league institutions like MIT and Yale offer lectures and course materials for free online and as downloads via iTunes.

San Jose State University has decided to take things even further, moving the entire campus online in the increasingly popular online world of 'Second Life.' Students interact, complete assignments, and give presentations all in a virtual class in a virtual world. San Jose State isn't the only university to buy up land in 'Second Life,' but it is one of the few that has developed it and put it to use.

Is 'Second Life' the future of the online classroom? Maybe, but probably not. Interacting with avatars is likely just a stepping stone to high quality streamed audio and video that makes taking a class online exactly like being there, though it will make it harder to discreetly make eye contact with the cute girl across the room. [Source: Yahoo! News]
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Virginia First State to Require Internet Safety Courses for Kids

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Apr 8th 2008 at 3:39PM


Virginia has become the first state in the nation to mandate some form of Internet safety courses for public school children. Details on the program are scant at the moment, but the courses came out of concern for teens and pre-teens who may be the target of sexual predators.

As part of presentation in a Richmond, Virginia high school, the state's assistant attorney general, Gene Fishel, showed images of a social networking profile of a convicted sex offender who pretended to be a 15 year-old girl.

It's nice to see a state reach for education as a solution to the problem instead of censorship.

From Slashdot

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University Lets Students Trade Windows Laptops for MacBooks

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 3rd 2008 at 1:20PM

Oklahoma Christian University Will Let Students Trade in Windows Laptops for MacBooks
Oklahoma Christian University (OC) is the latest in a long line of schools to get on the Apple bandwagon. Handing out new MacBooks to incoming students is hardly unique, but this new exchange program is.

Most of these programs are for new students only, but OC will offer current students an opportunity to trade in their Windows laptops for brand new Apple machines. And if that isn't enough, students will also be offered an iPhone or iPod touch.

OC's Apple hocking programs and campus-wide Wi-Fi put the university at the cutting edge of technology and education, so we're big fans.

From TUAW

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University Gives iPhones to Freshmen

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Feb 27th 2008 at 5:03PM

Texas University Gives iPhones and iPod Touches to FreshmanYou're about to wish you attended ACU (Abilene Christian University) in Texas. Why? The university is about to hand out iPhones and iPod Touches to incoming freshmen. Jealous? We know we are.

Giving electronic gadgets to students is becoming the norm for universities and colleges ever since Duke first experimented with handing iPods to incoming students in 2004. Other schools hand over laptops. Some of us here at Switched were lucky if we got E-mail addresses when we went to school.

But ACU wants to stay ahead of the technological curve and has invested in creating several iPhone and iPod Touch-compatible applications for students including homework reminders, classroom surveys, campus navigators, and meal planners. The pilot program involving this year's incoming freshman will decide the future shape of the program, or if there even is one.

From ArsTechnica

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