   | | | Head of the Class |  | | |  | - Educator: Why the textbook is outdated
The textbook -- either in hard copy or digital form -- no longer is necessary because of resources readily available online in the public domain, offers Colette Marie Bennett, the English department chair in her Connecticut district. Bennett also writes in this opinion article that textbooks are heavy, do not foster a love of reading and learning, and are not aligned with a 21st-century education. Bennett writes that teachers would be better served by compiling their own resources online. Education Week Teacher (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (8/8)       | eLearning | | | |  | - Va. adopts online-learning requirement for graduates
Virginia will require all students, who begin ninth grade in fall 2013, to take at least part of a course online to receive a standard or advanced-studies high-school diploma. Under the law adopted by state legislators, the digital courses can be completed in schools and students are not required to earn credit for the classes. The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk) (8/9) - Mobile app could assist teachers with grading
Two recent graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing a mobile application to help teachers with the grading process. The app is expected to be released in January. "Anything that can streamline the grading process for teachers and reduce that time outside school, while maintaining the quality of the assessment, I think will be an excellent tool," said Erin Baumgartner, a former middle-and high-school teacher of French and Spanish. Boston Herald (8/9)  |  | Publish from everywhere to anywhere!
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 | | | Systems Management | | | |  | - How to hold a Digital Family Summit at your school
Joe Mazza, an elementary-school principal in Pennsylvania, describes his experience at a recent Digital Family Summit, in which families from across the U.S. and Canada came together to learn to use digital tools and strategies. "Both tech-savvy parents and non-tech savvy parents loved having the opportunity to be with their kids, to learn digital techniques together, and to have fun with technology together," event organizer Adam Gertsacov told Mazza. It was an experience, Mazza notes, that can be duplicated at other schools. In this blog post, he explains how the summit operated and provides a list of possible session topics. Edutopia.org (8/9) |  |
What are 8 keys to schoolwide math success? Small Steps, Big Changes helps you and your staff set goals, create a culture of mathematical thinking, and translate high-level standards such as Common Core into effective classroom practice. Includes examples from diverse schools across the country. Preview the entire book online! |
 | | - Schools have access to broadband but can't afford to use it
Plans in New Zealand to connect schools to ultra-fast broadband Internet service have been hindered, officials say, by the high cost of using the fiber network. Data show that more schools have access to the service than are using it, in part, officials say because they cannot afford to purchase data from providers. The issue is greatest among disadvantaged schools, and some say the lack of access is creating a divide among schools. Stuff (New Zealand)/Dominion Post (8/5) - New tool scours Twitter for signs of bullying
Computer scientists at the University of Wisconsin have developed a program that can scan Twitter for signs of cyberbullying. The program recently discovered 15,000 bullying-related Tweets issued in a single day. The scientists hope that eventually the tool can be used to help reach out to students and facilitate interventions when necessary. Education Week/Digital Education blog (8/9) | Last Byte | | | |  | - Facebook post leads student to become face of national campaign
A fourth-grade student from Georgia is being featured in a national campaign by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine after her mother responded to a casting call for models in a Facebook post. The group is seeking to create renewed interest in first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" anti-obesity campaign, and eliminate high-fat dairy products from school meals. The Macon Telegraph (Ga.) (8/8) |  | Become a leader in online education. Earn a Master of Distance Education and E-learning from University of Maryland University College (UMUC). Choose from three specializations: teaching and training, policy management or technology. An interest-free monthly payment plan is available, plus financial aid for those who qualify. |
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