Monthly Archives: September 2004

The Baltimore Sun has produced a very informative and eye-opening series of reports looking at the large amounts of money some schools, districts, and states are spending on educational software to meet their NCLB requirements. Expensive programs are being purchased based on often misleading research. Continue reading →

Another legal case over the current draconian copyright law points out the problem of “orphans” – published works that may or may not be in the public domain, and no way of finding out for sure. Much of the published material of the 20th century is caught in this morass. Continue reading →

This is an interesting story about museums and videconferencing. I like the fact that the “virtual visit” is combined with hands-on activities, with items being shipped out to the students before the program happens. This puts it ahead of the basic remote video experience. Continue reading →

There’s an article in Reuters today about a new wireless technology coming in a year or two. It’s called “WiMax”, and it’s intended to replace DSL or cable Internet access with no wires. Intel is promoting it pretty heavily, so … Continue reading →

Microsoft has announced new fingerprint scanners that will work with Windows XP. Once set up and configured, the software/hardware combination will allow to control all of your password access by having the computer read your fingerprint. When it works, anyway. Continue reading →

According to USA Today, Virginia has become the ninth state to require that districts offer alternatives to real dissection in science classes. Students that are opposed to cutting up actual animals need to be allowed to either use models or … Continue reading →

The Washington Post has an article today about online tutoring. (Free registration required.) The profile is of Prince George’s Memorial Library system and its use of Tutor.com. The library buys a regional license to the service, which provides live online … Continue reading →

Right in sync with the new federal educational technology plan, Kentucky is preparing to pilot the use of onine standardized testing. The most powerful benefit of online testing is the rapid turnaround time – days instead of months. The biggest … Continue reading →

An article in GlobeandMail.com looks at schools that have installed building-wide wireless systems. Usually part of a “ubiquitous computing” initiative, the wireless systems allow students to access the school network or Internet from anyplace in the school. Some critics still … Continue reading →