From one-to-one learning initiatives to laptop carts, schools all over the country are using portable computing models to achieve flexible technology access. To maximize learning and engagement at a sustainable cost, selecting the appropriate computing device is of utmost importance to best meet the needs of teachers and students. After all, a…

Given the financial constraints facing U.S. schools and the expense of cutting-edge technology, partnerships between schools and corporations that specialize in technology are becoming more vital in the quest to remain competitive in today's educational market. Schools can benefit from these partnerships by receiving the latest hardware and…

Based on the "Educational Software Preview Guide," this article discusses trends; lists selected software titles related to the Internet, arts, multilingualism and multiculturalism, multimedia and edutainment, and authentic experience, cross curricular and alternative assessment; and describes how to conduct a software evaluation…

Education technology leaders are ever seeking new ways to eliminate the traditional social and geographic boundaries that hinder communication and collaboration for both K-12 students and educators. Larger districts with geographically dispersed schools often find that innovative ideas for technology use and integration are balkanized into…

Each August, teachers from around the state gather for the Arizona K-12 Center's Tech Camp, a week-long immersion in technology for the classroom. The Arizona K-12 Center's mission is to improve teaching and learning in Arizona's schools through high-quality professional development and teacher leadership. The formula Tech Camp follows is a simple…

Discusses whether schools should somehow filter the information available to students via the Internet. Highlights include censorship versus an individual's right to information; fear for children's safety as motivation; filtering legislation; deciding what to block; rating Internet sites; filtering options for schools; and recommendations. (LRW)

In higher education, the number of computer projectors in classrooms has doubled every year for the past five years. A similar trend in K?12 education is occurring now that capable classroom projectors have become available for less than $1,000. At the same time, large-screen displays are becoming common in society; a trend being acceleration by a…

Computer studies courses should incorporate as many computer concepts and programming language experiences as possible. A gradual increase in problem difficulty will help the student to understand various computer concepts, and the programming language's syntax and structure. A sidebar provides two examples of how to establish a learning…

Provides advice for making school Internet-use guidelines. Outlines responsible proactive use of the Internet for educators and librarians, discusses strengths and weaknesses of Internet blocking software and rating systems, and describes acceptable-use policies (AUP). Lists resources for creating your own AUP, Internet filtering software, and…

Discusses the use of electronic portfolios as an alternative student-assessment method. Highlights include reasons to use technology to store portfolios in multimedia format; context; teacher-centered approach, student-centered approach, and mixed models; multimedia software; authoring software; and multimedia presentations versus electronic…

Civilization, Colonization, and SimCity are three CD-ROM simulation programs that provide authentic learning experiences for elementary and secondary level social studies. Benefits include a problem-solving design structure; student-controlled experiential learning; transferrable skills; and improvement of cognitive skills and reading…