The EDGE: Obama announces plan to roll out broadband to schools

Why some schools use mixed-platform environments | IPads bring changes to R.I. middle-school math class | Can music education hit the right note with technology?

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June 7, 2013

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Why some schools use mixed-platform environments
In this profile, officials from four school districts highlight reasons why they have adopted both iPads and Chromebooks to support student instruction. Scott Ely, curriculum director at Spring Lake Public Schools in Michigan, says his district uses iPads with younger students because of the vast number of applications available for the age group. However, he notes that as students get older and have more writing assignments, Chromebooks make more sense. Jennie Magiera, digital learning coordinator for the nonprofit Academy for Urban School Leadership agrees, but adds that iPads often are the best choice for math instruction, regardless of age. T.H.E. Journal (6/6)

IPads bring changes to R.I. middle-school math class
IPads have changed the experience of students in Rob Gouvin's class at Westerly Middle School in Rhode Island. Gouvin, who received a grant to purchase the devices, said the iPads have allows students to work at their own pace, show their work, collaborate with other students and receive instant feedback about how they are doing in class. The Westerly Sun (R.I.) (6/5)

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Can music education hit the right note with technology?
GigaOm (6/6)
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Get 1-on-1 Expert Help for Your School
Common Core, teacher evaluations, student achievement—education experts are finding new ways to solve today's big challenges. Learn firsthand how they're doing it at SIIS 2013, July 8-11. Hear from Heidi Hayes Jacobs (Common Core implementation), Janice Poda of CCSSO (InTASC implementation), Alan November (technology in the classroom), and more.

Systems Management

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Tenn. district trains teachers to use technology in lessons

As the Knox County, Tenn., school system works to provide every student and teacher with a high-tech device, hundreds of educators recently received training to use technology in new ways to improve teaching and learning. Among the approaches are to ask students questions and let them use technology, such as Google, to answer them. Instead of exams, students are completing PowerPoint presentations, and teachers and students also are using technology to connect with outside resources and people. WATE-TV (Knoxville, Tenn.) (6/6)

How are schools killing the love of reading? In Readicide Kelly Gallagher outlines four damaging instructional practices, and offers suggestions on how teachers can cultivate lifelong readers. Click here to read Chapter 1: The Elephant in the Room.

Managing Budgets

New student-information system helps district cut costs
A school district in New York state expects to cut its administrative costs by $40,000 by switching to a new student-information system. The transition to Follett's Aspen Student Information System is expected to begin in the upcoming school year, and officials say the system also is expected to help the district improve its processes and communication. T.H.E. Journal (6/4)

Schools and Social Media

White House holds virtual chat about school technology
Students and teachers at three high-tech schools were selected by the White House to take place in a virtual chat about technology in schools. The "show and tell" event took place via a Google+ Hangout session for the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, Chappell Elementary School in Green Bay, Wis., and Loris Elementary School in Loris, S.C. The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) (6/7)

Last Byte

How cognitive-skills training can help close the achievement gap

While there is some debate about the role of cognitive-skills training in education, recent research conducted by early-childhood education researcher Sarah Avtzon shows such training may help close the achievement gap for students with learning disabilities. In this blog post, Avtzon highlights findings from a recent study of 40 elementary-school students with specific learning disabilities "Implications from these results include that training of cognitive processes for students with learning disabilities can result in significant academic performance," she writes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education (6/6)