Getting students to learn new technology skills can be a challenge. After all, they know everything about computers and the Internet, right? Ninth grade students in Mrs. Aszklar's Digital Media Tools ("Digitools") class at Spanaway Junior High in Washington state quickly discovered they might not know as much as they thought. From…

From using virtualization technology to accepting lunch payments online, school districts are seeking money-saving methods. In this article, the author discusses some methods used by school districts that allow them to save money from using virtualization technology to accepting lunch payments online.

In the tug-of-war between researchers and IT for supercomputing resources, a centralized approach can help both sides get more bang for their buck. As 2010 began, the University of Washington was preparing to launch its first shared high-performance computing cluster, a 1,500-node system called Hyak, dedicated to research activities. Like other…

Shawn Brixey's "Altimira" is a decidedly strange work of art--so strange that he has not, to date, put it on public display. He turns on a device, housed in a basketball-size glass chamber, and it converts rapidly pulsating radio signals emanating from pulsars--collapsed stars that spin violently, sweeping their poles like lighthouses…

As technology grows more pervasive in education, the data recovery issues that school systems encounter are becoming increasingly problematic, as districts work to accommodate a range of concerns that do not encumber commercial businesses. State and federal laws often require schools to report on student populations and educational progress…

Discusses the use of technology in higher education and cites statewide plans in California and Washington that have recently been criticized for an overemphasis on technology. Topics include knowledge as a static commodity and as a dynamic process; new paradigms of knowledge; and where information technology can make a difference. (LRW)

This final report for the Washington State Technology Plan for K-12 Common Schools provides a vision, long-term framework, and recommendations for implementation. Following an executive summary and a list of committee members, the first section of the report discusses technology in K-12 schools of tomorrow, including legislative charge, vision,…