Contest marks education-technology windfall for schools
Three schools -- including an elementary school in Chevy Chase, Md. -- out of more than 700,000 that applied nationwide, won more than $45,000 in technology equipment as part of the 2012 CDW-G and Discovery Education "Win a Wireless Lab Sweepstakes." Chevy Chase Elementary, N.B. Clements Junior High School in Prince George, Va., and Ella Elementary School in Olivehurst, Calif., shared more than $200,000 in classroom technology, which included Lenovo notebooks, wireless access points, interactive whiteboards and related equipment, and other devices. EdTech magazine (4/2013)

eLearning

3 online programs to help students tell stories
This blog post offers information on three online software packages, of varying degrees of cost, that can merge video, images, texts and other data into storytelling projects. For instance, Zeega, developed by Harvard University design instructor Jesse Shapins and offered for free, allows users to merge online video and other data into a series of Web pages that the audience can click through. KQED.org/Mind/Shift blog (4/23)

Will one-to-one laptop program transform education in Texas district?
Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier says a plan to issue laptop computers to every student at its 18 high schools will transform "what and how we teach." Houston is one of the first large-city districts to undertake a one-to-one program, which is to start in August with distribution of laptops to teachers. Grier's long-term goal is to issue laptops to all of Houston's middle- and high-school students and to some elementary students. Houston Chronicle (tiered subscription model) (4/25)

Systems Management

Maine's schools continue to wait for deal on laptop computers
In Maine, a contract to buy tens of thousands of laptop computers and related services has been delayed for weeks, causing anxiety among school districts that already have adopted their budgets or will be finalizing them soon. A decision had been expected by March for Maine's portion of the contract. The state this year is leading a collaborative approach to buying technology -- along with Hawaii and Vermont. Portland Press Herald (Maine) (4/25)

Managing Budgets

Calif. governor: Fair school funding is a civil rights issue
California Gov. Jerry Brown warned opponents of his education-financing plan that he would not give up easily in his efforts to steer more money toward poor and disadvantaged students and schools. At the heart of his plan is an effort to give school districts greater discretion in how they spend their funds. "This is a matter of equity and civil rights," Brown said. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.) (free registration) (4/26)

Schools and Social Media

Iowa 2nd-graders Skype with students in Uganda for geography lessons
The power of Skype connected teacher Jessie Greiner's second-grade class at Cardinal Elementary School in Eldon, Iowa, with 10 orphaned children going to school in Uganda. The students, who shared their similarities and differences with their new friends in Uganda, have had about 15 Skype calls this year with more planned as part of the Iowa students' geography lessons that also include iPads and Google Earth. "It's part of our conversation and the kids are the lead right now," Greiner said. "I don't even have to be in there leading them through anything." KTVO-TV (Kirksville, Mo.) (4/24)

Other News

Your Views

Schools, districts take steps to protect students from cyberbullying
In this blog post, Katharine Haber, an associate editor for SmartBrief, reveals that nearly 70% of those who responded to an EdTech poll say that cyberbullying is a problem in their schools or districts this year. Also according to the results, 67.5% said their school or district has a policy regarding cyberbullying, indicating that the schools are taking steps to protect students. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education (4/26)

Last Byte

Minn. middle-school students get "screen free" challenge
Students at Lake Middle School in Woodbury, Minn., are being challenged to turn off their video games and computers for a week. Wellness committee adviser Emily Frankfurth says the purpose of "Screen Free Week" is to get students to connect with each other and participate in healthy activities, so after-school events are planned, such as planting a garden and physical-education games. Pierce County Herald (Ellsworth, Wis.)/Forum News Service (4/24)

SmartQuote

Our patience will achieve more than our force." -- Edmund Burke, Irish statesman, author and orator Share: