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Los Angeles freezes its iPad program for schools
Los Angeles' grand dreams of putting iPads in schools came into question a month ago, and they've now come to a screeching halt. Superintendent John Deasy has suspended a contract with Apple to both "take advantage of an ever-changing marketplace" (read: diversify hardware) and, crucially, to investigate recently raised ethical concerns. Allegedly, both Deasy and a top deputy have close links to executives at both Apple and curriculum provider Pearson, calling the whole iPad program into question; it suggests that officials were doing personal favors rather than taking kids' needs into account. Deasy is quick to claim that his team was only working closely with Apple and Pearson on the pilot, not the contract, and offered a deal to another major vendor. Whether or not that's true, the suspension suggests that the vision of an iPad in every LA classroom may never come to pass -- it's more likely that the broader device selection is here to stay. [Image credit: Schooltechnology.org/Lexie Flickinger, Flickr]
Google launches a teaching tool to help schools ditch paper
Google's itching to get Chromebooks into classrooms (and it's doing a pretty good job too), but the search giant just went full steam ahead with another product meant to help it shape the school experience. It's called (unsurprisingly) Classroom, and the free service is finally ready for enterprising Stand And Deliver types to take it for a spin before school starts again in earnest. Haven't heard of it before? Who could blame you -- chances are it won't be as downright crucial to your day-to-day the way Gmail is... unless you're a teacher plagued by too much paper. You see, Classroom lets teachers craft assignments that can be distributed, collected and graded from a sleek web interface, as well as start discussions and issue announcements to students (in 42 languages, no less). The upsides for teachers seem pretty straightforward, but Google's gains are substantial too: between Classroom and all those cheap Chromebooks, schools itching to smarten up could easily pledge their allegiance to Mountain View rather than Redmond or Cupertino.
UK spy agency gives thumbs up to grad degrees in online security
Good internet security isn't just about having the right tools to fend off cyber attacks; you need smart people, too. The UK government clearly knows this, as GCHQ has just accredited Master's degrees in online security that live up to the intelligence agency's "stringent criteria." If you pursue the right grad studies at one of six British universities (including London and Oxford), you'll both be well-equipped to handle digital threats and get an edge when hunting for that first big InfoSec job.
New government plan for school WiFi leaves everyone unhappy
The FCC is ready to start doling out up to $2 billion dollars in grants to American schools to pay for WiFi networks, but it doesn't seem that anyone -- especially the schools -- are happy about it. The new rules under the aging E-Rate program, which is part of the Universal Service Fund, would set aside $1 billion dollars this year and another billion next year to set up WiFi networks in schools and public libraries. Chairman Tom Wheeler says the agency should be proud because "10 million kids will be connected next year who otherwise wouldn't." But Republicans are concerned the program will favor urban areas, while failing to deliver much needed connectivity to rural schools. Of course, GOP lawmakers also steadfastly opposed increasing funding to the E-Rate, which had its budget capped at $2.25 billion 16 years ago and hasn't been adjusted since.
High school students raise thousands of dollars repairing, selling old MacBooks
One of the best things about owning Macs is that they hold resale value far longer than many of their competitors. Students at South Portland High School took advantage of that fact, repairing the district's lot of broken MacBooks and raising thousands of dollars in the process. After converting to Apple's iPads for student use, the school district had hundreds of old MacBooks, which it had purchased from the state, left over. Of the roughly 750 machines that had been replaced, all but 400 were repurposed for other school use, while the remaining machines were too broken or beat up to be handed out in their current state. But rather than simply trash them, the school's 20-student computer repair team began tearing them apart to create new units. Snagging the working parts from the various machines, the students pieces together roughly 200 fully functional MacBooks that it has been reselling for anywhere between US$175 to $450. All told, the team will double its original $6,500 investment through its resale efforts. I think I see some future entrepreneurs on the way.
iTunes U on iPad will let teachers create courses and take your questions
Right now, iTunes U on the iPad isn't a complete educational tool. You can read textbooks, but not much else -- you still need to use old-fashioned email to ask the teacher a question, for example. It's going to be much more useful on July 8th, when Apple releases a major overhaul to the app. The new iTunes U lets teachers create and manage courses entirely from the iPad, plucking source material from other apps and even the device's camera. Students, meanwhile, get some much-needed interaction -- you can now ask questions from the app, or join in class discussions.
Google Play for Education comes to student Chromebooks
If Google really is on a quest for global domination, as some folks loudly proclaim, then it's wisely starting its efforts in the classroom. In addition to attracting schools to its Chrome OS platform, via low-cost Chromebooks, it's now also offering them access to the "Google Play for Education" hub through those devices. This hub contains apps, books and videos that are especially tailored to kids plowing through their primary and secondary education in the US, and it was previously only available to those who had a school-provided Android tablet.
FCC proposal would fund WiFi networks in schools
The FCC's E-rate program has been funding classroom internet access for a while, but it's focused on wired connections; that's a bit short-sighted in an era where many laptops and tablets are WiFi-only. Agency officials are keenly aware of this need to catch up, as they've proposed a plan that uses some of E-rate's funding for wireless networks in schools and libraries. FCC staffers estimate that they could get over 10 million students online in 2015 through the effort, which would devote both $1 billion and modernize E-rate's broadband distribution rules.
Printeer is the 3D printer your kids can use
There's no denying that 3D printers are cool. However, they're not exactly easy to use for kids -- not unless Junior has a knack for modelling software, anyway. If Mission Street Manufacturing's Printeer hits its crowdfunding goal, though, children will have a 3D printer they can truly call their own. All you need to create a plastic masterpiece with Printeer is an iPad and a basic ability to draw. There's no scary-looking CAD programs or other intermediary tools. The machinery itself is also friendly to young creators, with both an easily removable build platform and a transparent shell that shows how all the parts work together. The company hopes that schools will use it to teach the basics of design and engineering to kids who might otherwise wait years to get started.
Sprint will provide home broadband to 50,000 students in the US
Through its ConnectED program, the White House is aiming to connect 99 percent of students with high-speed broadband in the next five years. One year in, Sprint's making an important contribution to the initiative, announcing plans to bring broadband to as many as 50,000 students' homes. It's just the latest effort from a major company to improve educational resources in the US, with Microsoft having discounted the cost of Windows for public schools and Apple, Autodesk and others donating devices and software. Today select schools can apply to receive up to four years of Sprint Spark connectivity, with the program to coincide with the start of the school year in August.
Samsung's tablet for schools carries a tougher shell and extra smarts
We don't envy schools that have to go tablet shopping; many slates can't survive roughhousing by playful kids, let alone impart some wisdom. Teachers will be glad to hear, then, that Samsung has fulfilled its promise of a classroom-ready tablet by releasing the Galaxy Tab 4 Education in the US. Hardware-wise, it boils down to a Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 with a rugged case -- nothing truly special, but enough to survive a fall from a desk. The real highlight may be the software, which includes educational apps, books and videos alongside easy access to Google Play for Education. Samsung's smarter Galaxy Tab carries just a slight premium at $370, although schools will want to tack on another $30 if they want Google Play's help with their lessons.
Microsoft donates $1 billion to help US schools buy PCs (update: not direct funding)
Microsoft isn't just supporting White House's ConnectED education program by lowering the cost of Windows -- it's also giving schools the cash they'll need to buy Windows PCs. The company is donating $1 billion to make sure that students have the tech they'll need for both getting online and learning technology skills. The funding comes alongside a new device pricing program that should make the PCs more affordable -- to start with, it's offering sub-$300 systems from Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Panasonic and Toshiba.
Google's Take Your Classroom to Work Day takes kids on virtual field trips
Take Your Child to Work Day gives a sense of what parents' jobs are like, but Google knows that kids can't always afford go to the office. Accordingly, the company is bringing the office to the kids through its first-ever Take Your Classroom to Work Day. The April 24th initiative uses Hangouts video chats to show workplaces that even the luckiest students might never see in person, such as the Chicago Bulls' locker room and the Stan Winston School of Special Effects. The first internet-based field trips are already underway, but you can check out Google's schedule for upcoming excursions. Suffice it to say that we're a little jealous -- where were these educational adventures when we were in school?
Irish school children are building worlds for the Oculus Rift
If games, wildlife documentaries and virtual strolls in the park aren't enough to validate virtual reality for you, try this one: educational motivation. School children in Ireland have been using a open source version of Second Life to learn coding, 3D modeling and to create virtual spaces of recent field trips. Their most recent project: recreating the monastery of Clonmacnoise and exploring it with an Oculus Rift. Technically the Rift isn't part of the classroom's normal operations -- the founder of the MissionV virtual reality platform the school is visiting brought it with him on a recent visit -- but it did give the students a new perspective on the world they had built. "Whoa," one student exclaimed, looking at the classroom's recreation of Clonmacnoise's McCarthy Tower. "That is humongous."
Adobe backs ConnectED Initiative, sends free software to schools
Microsoft, Apple, Sprint and Verizon have already shelled out millions to help the president bring high-speed broadband to schools and amp up the role technology plays in education. Now Adobe's on the bandwagon too, and it's bringing along gobs of software and educational resources for kids and teachers. Students at some 15,000 US schools get access to Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements, while the staff gets tools from Adobe's Education Exchange, electronic signature software and presentation tech for distance learning. The company's total commitment weighs in at over $300 million, but it's not hard to see what it gets out of the deal. Looking past the potential for a hefty tax writeoff, the company said its plans are in line with the Common Core State Standards Initiative's emphasis on media production and criticism. In other words, Adobe wants to help foster creative skills in youngsters. Getting a new generation of media-savvy kids interested in its production tools is just icing on the cake.
Apple and carriers will donate free devices and broadband to US schools
The White House won't be going it alone as it brings US classrooms into the internet era through its ConnectED initiative -- it just revealed that a host of technology firms will also lend a hand. Apple plans to donate $100 million in iPads, MacBooks and software to underprivileged schools, while Autodesk and O'Reilly Media will give away free software and content. Microsoft, in turn, will heavily discount Windows to lower educational PC prices. Carriers are getting in on the action, too. AT&T and Sprint have both pledged to offer free wireless broadband to schools for multiple years; Verizon isn't giving away service, but it will donate up to $100 million in cash and other commitments. The combined efforts aren't going to fix the American education system by themselves, but they could create a level playing field for schools across the country. [Image credit: Johan Larsson, Flickr]
Google's partnering with Samsung and others for new educational devices this spring
Google began its play for the education market late last year with a student-oriented version of the Play Store. Since then, partners of the Google for Education program have provided their classes with learning software and tools on select Chromebooks and Android-based tablets. Today, Mountain View announced two new devices headed for that very lineup this spring: Lenovo's ThinkPad 11e series and the Toshiba Chromebook, starting at $349 and $299 (respectively). Samsung's also on board with a classroom-ready edition of its Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 set to launch this April. And what's the best way to complement that influx of hardware? Google thinks it's by adding thousands of K-12 books to Google Play for Education, including popular titles like Bridge to Terabithia and Lord of the Flies. The plethora of digital reads are available for affordable access periods (60, 180 or 360 days) to a few select schools as early as today, but arrive for the rest in the coming weeks.
Norwegian school teaches ethics with The Walking Dead
A teacher at Nordahl Grieg Upper Secondary School in Bergen, Norway, is using Telltale's The Walking Dead video game to help teach students ethics. Norwegian news station NRK has a report you can watch above, but we suggest turning on captions - unless you speak Norwegian. As part of his religious studies class, Tobias Staaby has students take anonymous polls which are centered around events of the game. When Glenn wants to save a woman trapped at a motel for example, Staaby asks his students if it's the "right thing" to do. "I want a good catalyst for discussions about ethical theories or ethical dilemmas," Staaby told NRK. "This game provides the students with a space they can navigate and discuss within based on the curriculum." Staaby said he hopes his method will become more common as time goes on. We're inclined to agree, and who says it needs to be limited to ethics classes? Imagine Business 404: Zombies and You. Yeah. You're welcome.
Dell unveils education-focused Chromebook 11, arriving in January for under $300
As promised, Dell has taken the wraps off its first Chrome OS device, the Chromebook 11. The 11.6-inch, 2.9-pound laptop is built with the classroom in mind, and it should ship in tandem with a Wyse PocketCloud app that should make it easy for students and teachers to share their work online. Its 1.4GHz Celeron processor and 16GB solid-state drive are no great shakes, although the system could be the Chrome OS longevity champion -- Dell estimates a 10-hour battery life that could beat out Acer's long-lived C720. Educators who want the Chromebook 11 will have to be patient, though. A version with 4GB of RAM will ship to the US and UK in January. There will also be a 2GB model for cost-conscious schools, but Dell is only promising that it will launch sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Dell expects to sell at least one model under $300.
Age of Wushu introducing school betrayals
Traditionally, your school in Age of Wushu isn't something that changes. Once you've signed on with a school, that's your home forever. But with the upcoming betrayal mechanics, you can move from being a dedicated partisan of one school to being an initiate of another. And you aren't even just limited to changing schools because you were kicked out of the first one, since the game offers several departure options for those who want to see how the other half lives. Betrayal is the obvious choice, which will allow you to immediately leave with the cost of losing your school-specific identity, titles, internal skills, fashion... you get the idea. In trade, you can join any of the seven other schools or one of the new sects launching with the next major update. The Excursion route still takes your identity, titles, and fashion, but your internal skills are merely lowered. Incognito takes this a step further, merely locking your titles and such while leaving your first three skill slots unaffected. These latter two options allow you to explore the new sects with lesser consequence, but both are meant to be more costly and time-consuming. It's up to you if you want to continue to be loyal or start walking the path of betrayal.
