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Is the Digital-Divide
Disappearing, or Causing Future Problems?
"Connected to the Future," a
report by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), states that 65% of American
children ages 2 through 17 now use the Internet from school, home, or some other
location. That represents a 59% growth rate since 2000; however, access to the
technology still exists as a problem. Approximately 69% of all students still
say the computer lab is the place where online learning occurs most frequently.
Technology use does not exist in the classroom, but serves as a separate entity
in learning. To read more of the report, see the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
(http://www.cpb.org/ed/resources/connected/)
Did You Proofread?
A study by four University of Pittsburgh researchers suggests that students
who use the grammar and spell-check functions of word processors tend to
place too much trust in the software's ability to catch mistakes, resulting
in more errors than if the students had used their own judgment. Although
a small group of college students participated in the study, there is clear
indication that high achieving students rely on spell-check software to correct
their mistakes.
Thinking about One-to-One
Computing?
The AlphaSmart Inc., Dana is worth
checking out. This latest portable computing solution is a keyboard/computing
tool that provides students and educators with the ability to enter information
via keyboard, stylus, or touch-screen functions. The Palm operating system
transforms the AlphaSmart keyboard from a word-processor to an interactive
computing device. The machines can import and export Microsoft Word and Excel
documents. Students also can print their work directly from an infrared printer.
Check out the Dana at http://www.alphasmart.com
A Great Weather Data Site
The use of real-time data is a powerful way to raise student interest in interpreting
data for prediction and problem solving. Using real-time data is applicable
to standards in math, science, social studies and technology. A good site
for weather data is the National Climatic Data Center NCDC:
(http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html)
Presenting the Heritage of the
American West
Campfire
Stories, created by the Smithsonian Art Museum, uses art,
artifacts, and primary source text to bridge American history, geography,
art appreciation, environmental conservation, and multicultural studies.
The site and its lesson plans were developed in consultation with a
panel of teachers. Visit the site for a wonderful learning experience
even if you are not teaching westward expansion. (http://www.nmaa.si.edu/collections/exhibits/catlinclassroom/cl.html)
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