Twenty-nine rising high school 12th grade students participated in a 4-week summer program designed to increase their interest in science and technology. The program was a blend of hands-on biology, chemistry, and technology modules that addressed the global issue of obesity. Student groups developed websites to address obesity in one of five…

Digital technology is providing a growing variety of methods for school leaders to connect with parents anywhere, anytime--a tactic mirroring how technology is used to engage students. Through Twitter feeds, Facebook pages, and text messages sent in multiple languages, school staff members are giving parents instant updates, news, and information…

The North Carolina Virtual Public School completed its first session during the summer of 2007. Evaluation results revealed differences between accelerated and credit recovery students, including a significantly higher likelihood for accelerated students to rate their courses as high quality, to express interest in taking another online course,…

In this technology intensive society, most students are required to be proficient in computer skills to compete in today's global job market. These computer skills usually consist of basic to advanced knowledge in word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet applications. In many U.S. states, students are required to demonstrate computer…

Novice teachers today struggle to integrate engaging pedagogy into their standards based curriculum. 21st century students have been immersed in technology from birth and are accustomed to multi-tasking with several types of technology each day. Students no longer rely on the traditional ways of communication and absorb their information via…

Attributes of North Carolina school systems that account for discrepancies in students' opportunities to learn about and with computers were investigated in this study, which explored relationships between microcomputer availability and financial and demographic data for a sample of 141 school districts to explore the dimensions of equity in…

The "Computer/Technology Skills Standard Course of Study" describes the progressive development of knowledge and skills in six strands: Societal and Ethical Issues, Database, Spreadsheet Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desktop Publishing, Multimedia/Presentation, and Telecommunications/Internet. In the primary grades, the objectives…

The Computer/Technology Skills Standard Course of Study describes the progressive development of knowledge and skills in six strands: Societal and Ethical Issues, Database, Spreadsheet Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desktop Publishing, Multimedia/Presentation, and Telecommunications/Internet. In the primary grades, the objectives focus on…

This workbook offers tips for staff development planners who train teachers about technology. The first six sections are "Getting Started with Competencies and Context,""Looking at Learner Needs,""Taking School Technology Inventory,""Outlining Parameters for Program Design,""Selecting Resources and…

The computer literacy and education program described in this brief narrative report was undertaken by North Carolina schools after the General Assembly provided $28.4 million in funding. The goal of the program was to achieve a ratio of one microcomputer for every 50 students to permit 30 minutes of computer access per week for each student. As…

This final report analyzes computer literacy and the use of computers in the public schools and community colleges of North Carolina, based on testimony from educators and administrators at the university, community college, and public school levels; from organizations concerned about education; and from corporations that produce computer hardware…

To assist school systems in establishing computer competencies for inservice teacher training and personnel hiring guidelines, the North Carolina State Board of Education in 1985 approved the recommendations of a state task force, and identified three levels of computer competencies for teachers (K-12), i.e., competencies needed by all educators,…

The North Carolina State Board of Education, as part of the Quality Assurance Program, initially established a computer proficiency requirement for diplomas issued to the Class of 2000. In October of 1995, the Board modified the requirement by making it effective beginning with the graduating Class of 2001. Students who were in grade eight for the…

This report contains aggregate and disaggregated state-level results from administrations of North Carolina's computer skills tests (performance and multiple choice) in 2000-2001. The report also provides limited information about the performance of school districts and charter schools. Additional data are included in this report about the…

This volume of the "Teacher Handbook," a product of the extensive audit and revision of curriculum carried out by the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction in 1984 in order to develop a basic education program for the state's public schools presents a competency-based curriculum in library/media and computer skills.…