Hidden Assets

Microsoft’s Web page had an article on the talent shortage that it faces. The article suggests that the company should tap into the “disconnected youth.” It said that the young people are technologically fluent and have potential to excel in an IT career, but they lack formal training. Microsoft is offering grants, programs, training and careers to younger people to help fill the talent gap.

Links:
Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/issues/essays/2007/11-19UnlockingNY.mspx

Computers are they the wave of the future?

Older teachers shy away from them, younger teachers want them. Computers are the wave of the future with endless possibilities. Julie Stephens, high school English teacher at Wilson Classical High School, has three working computers in her classroom for a class size of about 30 students. Richard Marengo, computer and Spanish teacher at Jackie Robinson Academy, has four computers that his class of 20 plus uses for projects. Both schools have computer rooms but the teacher must sign up for the room for that day. Computers in the classroom can have a big affect on student’s opportunity for learning. Can the wave of the future be reality or is it just a dream?

Links:
Jackie Robinson Academy
http://www2.lbusd.k12.ca.us/robinson/homepage.htm

Wilson Classical High School
http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/wilson/index.php

New technology to help students in Mathematics

The Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) is using new forms of media to students learns. The most recent CD-ROM they made is designed to teach mathematics problem-solving skills to students. The name of the video is called Fraction of the Cost. The seven minute lesson, three middle school students plan to build a skateboard ramp with the money and materials given them. They then have to solve the problem using math skills of converting, calculating percentages, reading plans and working with fractions. The CD contains other models to help students’ strengthen their problem solving skills.

Links:
Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER
http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/news/coverStories/new_technology_advances_research.php

Creative games for learning

Center for Children & Technology (CCT) was asked by Global Kids to help them in their innovative curriculum for engaging undeserved youth in developing and disseminating of online games, called Playing 4 Keeps (P4K). The Games are designed to educate the youth around the world on important social issues. “Global Kids will conduct P4K annually as an after-school program, enabling the students involved to publish one web-based game each year,” said Shelley Pasnik on CCT’s Web site. CCT will develop and administer surveys before and after the game.

Links:
Center for Children & Technology
http://cct.edc.org/project_summary.asp?numProjectId=3060

Local school learns about China with technology

Gone are the days when students learned from book.
Students of Anaheim hills are learning about China with a three-minute video clip from Discovery Atlas. The program called KOCE-TV is used to distribute lessons for teachers using different media forms, like video clips from United Streaming, questions with Web sites to find the answers and KOCE provides lesson plans for teachers.The program is a product of Telecommunications of Orange County, a 30-year-old program providing multimedia instructional materials to teachers nationwide.
Technology is making life easier for teachers and students, but at what cost? Is all the visual stimulation a good thing? Does it stifle a students creativity? These questions can only be answered in time.

Link:
Orange County register
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/communities/anaheimhills/article_1547102.php

Running Springs Elementary School
http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/schools/elementary/runningsprings/

KOCE-TV
www.koce.org/