Can a high-tech lab spark students' interest, creativity? Students in an Ohio school district will have access next year to a one-of-a-kind learning space. The Innovation Creation Space -- provided by the Discovery Learning Program and located on an elementary-school campus -- will foster students' creativity through the use of 3D printers, holographic screens and work stations that allow students to transfer academic lessons into real-world situations. Doug Hiscox, city schools deputy superintendent for academic affairs, said the lab will help support the district's overall goal of expanding learning in science, technology, engineering and math. The Vindicator (Youngstown, Ohio) (7/17) | Study explores game-based learning in middle school If playing a computer-based game is a two-person exercise, then it's a good idea to have students take turns using the controls or assign the student not controlling game-play to complete other key tasks while the other student has the controls, according to a recent pilot study conducted by researchers at North Carolina State University. The findings will help researchers identify best practices for teaching computer science in middle school. PhysOrg.com (7/15) Why one teacher decided to redesign her classroom -- without desks When second-grade teacher and author Erin Klein decided to redesign her classroom, she sat down in one of her students' seats and discovered that the room's layout did not support collaboration or comfort. Klein, who previously studied interior design, writes in this blog post that she had to seek the funding and resources and design it herself, including seeking input from her clients, her students. She writes that teachers have a responsibility to make change happen, even if they face opposition to an idea such as getting rid of desks. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education (7/16) Other News | Ark. Gov. Beebe forms panel to study schools' broadband needs Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe has appointed a task force to study schools' broadband access after the state's Department of Education said Arkansas lacks the bandwidth to implement Common Core State Standards in public schools, according to a published report, which says the group is called FASTER Arkansas. Beebe reportedly met last week with dozens of officials from Internet service providers, who were said to be skeptical of the education officials' warnings. Arkansas Business (7/15) Other News | Can schools trade in expensive technology for free alternatives? Arthur Beltran, who is pursuing an educational doctorate, writes in this opinion article about the possibility of schools trading in expensive technology systems for free -- openly available -- alternatives. He offers some examples of free and open-source software, including OpenOffice.org, which is an alternative to Microsoft Office, and Moodle, an online management system. Using such tools, he writes, can help free schools from the commercial software market. eSchool News (free registration) (7/17)
| What steps have been taken in your school or district to inform the community -- including parents and students -- about the Common Core State Standards?  | Information provided on district/school website | | Updates given in school/district newsletters | | Updates offered via social media, e-mail or other electronic communication | | Press releases to news media | | Information offered through regular or special public meetings |  |
Guide your students to deeper reading and engagement using tools ranging from online word walls to comic-creation websites. Reading Amplified helps the tech-savvy and tech-novice alike address real-world classroom management and technology challenges. Online, feature-packed Read & Watch PD format. Click here now for details! |
 | Forecast: U.S. remains dominant force in global IT spending The world's businesses and governments will spend more than $2 trillion this year on IT products and services, with software accounting for the lion's share of the pie, according to a new forecast from Forrester Research. According to the analysis -- which does not include consumer spending on IT -- the U.S. will remain the biggest overall consumer of IT, and by 2014 it will parallel Western Europe and Asia combined in total outlays. TechCrunch (7/15) |  | A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business." -- Henry Ford, American industrialist | | Please contact one of our specialists for advertising opportunities, editorial inquiries, job placements, or any other questions. | | Publisher, Education Group: Joe Riddle P: 202.407.7857 ext. 228 | | | | |
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