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Volume 2, Number 48, May 25, 2007 |
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| Editor's Note | |
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Last week the Heller Reports hosted its monthly Virtual Roundtable – Department of Education Technology Effectiveness Report: Response from Industry Thought Leaders. Nelson and I were joined by Kristin De Vivo, VP, Research & Validation, Scholastic; Cheryl Lemke, CEO, Metiri Group; Mark Schneiderman, Director of Education Policy, Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA); and Mary Ann Wolf, Executive Director, State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). Mark shared information on the background of the study and discussed some of its perceived weaknesses, especially around the issue of proper implementation of the various software products, while Kristin spoke from the perspective of a publisher who had a product included in the evaluation. Mary Ann and Cheryl talked about other responses to the negative evaluation findings, including 10 state-level grants funded by the US Department of Education to conduct scientifically-based evaluations of how technology impacts student achievement in elementary and secondary education.. In light of this discussion about positive research findings, I was struck by several of this week's headlines reporting research studies that document positive impacts for technology products. SRI reported its evaluation of the SimCalc program. SimCalc, developed with National Science Foundation funds, is an interactive software-based curriculum designed to teach higher-level mathematics through an approach that integrates technology, curriculum and professional development. Two units have been developed, consisting of student workbooks, a teacher's guide and corresponding SimCalc MathWorlds files. Teachers used these materials daily over a 2-3 week period, replacing their regular lessons on the same topics. A diverse group of approximately 1600 students and 95 teachers from 74 schools participated in this experiment, in which scientists randomly assigned schools to use either SimCalc materials or their usual textbooks to teach rate and proportionality. Researchers found that students using Texas' typical curricula increased their test scores by an average of 19%, while students using the innovative SimCalc materials gained an average of 46%. Statistically, the size of the SimCalc effect was measured at 0.84, which is considered a large effect in education. The technology use here was much more targeted and very tightly integrated into daily lessons, which may help account for the significant effect. Watch for additional reports on this research project. In its latest report, U.S. Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) indicates that I CAN Learn® Education System's I CAN Learn® Algebra and Pre-Algebra programs have demonstrated "Positive Effects" in teaching math skills to a diverse range of students, including minority and those considered at-risk. The report cites strong evidence of positive effects in raising students' scores on NCLB high-stakes criterion reference tests. The WCC awards System's I CAN Learn® Algebra and Pre-Algebra its highest rating -- strong evidence of a positive effect with no overriding contrary evidence. WCC had previously reported that Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor had strong evidence of a positive effect with no overriding contrary evidence. That report is currently undergoing revision. The bottom line is that there is good news out there. But there are also broader issues. During last week's roundtable Cheryl Lemke pointed out that we need to better define what it is we are trying to accomplish with technology. We also need to develop better metrics with which to measure those goals that go beyond test scores to skills like problem-solving visualization and communication. And a last minute note. On May 23, the Achievement Through Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) Act was introduced to Congress, supported by a coalition of industry organizations, including Consortium for School Networking, International Society for Technology in Education, Software & Information Industry Association, and the State Educational Technology Directors Association. You'll find a link to their joint press release included below in this week's Feature Story section. The legislation aims to make significant improvements to the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program as part of the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), by better focusing funds on “professional development and systemic reform that leverage 21st century technologies, prioritize funding to schools in need of improvement, and require states to assess whether students have attained technological literacy by the eighth grade.” |
Lead of the Week A
LEAD FOR YOU FROM QED's SCHOOL PURCHASING MONITOR WHAT: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Management System |
Contents Feature
Story K-12 Market Headlines Higher Ed Market Headlines Internet/Telecom International Headlines Financials/Mergers/Corporate Product
Announcements She Snoops for Scoops: The
Personal Side of the EdNET |
Feature Story Education and Technology Industry Leaders Hail Introduction of ATTAIN Act; New Bill Would Revamp No Child Left Behind Support for Instructional Technologies Washington, DC - A coalition of education and industry groups lauded today's introduction by U.S. Representatives Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Judy Biggert (R-IL) and Ron Kind (D-WI) of HR 2449 the Achievement Through Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) Act. The legislation will make significant improvements to the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program as part of the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), better targeting the educational needs of today's students through technology. The ATTAIN Act is based upon input from education stakeholders, including the Consortium for School Networking, International Society for Technology in Education, Software & Information Industry Association, and the State Educational Technology Directors Association. Find the full story here. |
K-12 Market HeadlinesNSTA and the Amgen Foundation Unveil the New Science Teacher Academy for Early-Career Science Teachers (National Science Teachers Association, May 23, 2007) Zogby & TutorVista Expose Truth about Education & Tutoring; 99% of Americans Say Government Does Not Provide Sufficient Access To Tutoring (TutorVista, May 22, 2007) Antioch Elementary School Incubator for Next Generation of California Scientists with Innovative Inquiry-based Learning (Pearson Scott Foresman, May 21, 2007) Interwrite Learning Solutions Supports Windows® Vista (Interwrite Learning, May 21, 2007) SRI International Study Shows Increased Middle School Mathematics Learning with Technology-Based Approach (SRI International, May 21, 2007) Wireless Generation Introduces Complete Response to Intervention (RtI) Solution, mCLASS®:RtI (Wireless Generation, May 21, 2007) Discovery Educator Network Selects 140 Educators To Take Part in its National Institutes (Discovery Education, May 17, 2007) Panel of High School Students at The Cable Show 2007 Highlight Teen Tech Savvy Ahead of Schools, Parents (Cable in the Classroom, May 17, 2007) I CAN Learn® Algebra and Pre-Algebra Math Programs Earn Top Honors from U.S. Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse (I CAN Learn® Education Systems, May 17, 2007) California School District Selects TeleParent™ Educational Systems for Automated Parental Notification System (TeleParent Educational Systems, May 16, 2007) Duval County Public Schools Expands Fast ForWord® Use District-Wide (Scientific Learning Corporation, May 16, 2007) There's More To A Camera Than Snapping Pictures!; New Crayola Digital Camera Includes Creative Art Software (APTE, May 3, 2007) |
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Higher Ed Headlines clearTXT Launches Ubiquity To Facilitate Daily Campus Communication Across Multiple Devices(clearTXT, May 22, 2007) Scantron® Announces Next Generation Course Evaluation with Class Climate 3.0 (Scantron Corporation, May 22, 2007) PLATO Learning Introduces New Academic Systems® Algebra Series (PLATO Learning, May 17, 2007) Troy University Extends Relationship with GoalQuest into Yield Window (GoalQuest, Inc., May 17, 2007) Top-Ten IT Issues in Higher Education: EDUCAUSE 2007 Survey Results (EDUCAUSE, May 4, 2007) |
Internet/Telecom Introducing ClickN' READ Phonics: Reading Made Easy "One Click at a Time"(ClickN' KIDS, Inc., May 22, 2007) With ThinkingStorm, a Personal Tutor for All, You Needn't Attend Andover or Exeter To Afford One (ThinkingStorm, May 22, 2007) New K-12 Online Learning Guide Released for Educators, Policymakers, Parents (North American Council on Online Learning, May 17, 2007) Atomic Learning Releases Online Training Tutorials for Moodle (Atomic Learning, Inc., May 16, 2007) Cinergy Communications Signs E-rate Manager Agreement with Funds For Learning (Funds For Learning, LLC, May 10, 2007) |
International Headlines (World Book, May 17, 2007) |
Financials/Mergers/Corporate PaperThin Turns To Channel for Continued Growth(PaperThin, Inc., May 22, 2007) Halyard Education Partners Acquires GoalQuest (Halyard Education Partners, May 21, 2007) PRIMEDIA Inc. Announces Sale of Its Films Media Group (PRIMEDIA Inc., May 21, 2007) |
Product Announcements (CoSN, May 18, 2007) The Schools Interoperability Framework Association Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary (Schools Interoperability Framework Association, May 8, 2007) |
| She Snoops for Scoops: The Personal Side of the EdNET | |
 |
Hello everyone! I know you are already looking towards the long weekend, as am I! Before you head out, check out the scoops for this week…. Educational Insights, Inc. , a designer, developer and marketer of innovative learning products dedicated to teaching children the fundamentals of geography, math, reading, science and other subjects, has announced the promotion of Patricia Sarka to vice president of product development. In this new position, she will be responsible for the Educational Insights' entire product development enterprise, including concept development, instructional design and development, art and production and project management. Patricia, who previously served as the company's vice president of creative development, first joined the organization in 1984. Please join me in congratulating her on this promotion! Learning Resources Inc. has announced the appointment of Terry Morabito as Vice President, Global Supply Chain. In her new role, she will be responsible for the company's purchasing, quality, customer service, logistics and warehousing departments. She will provide operational leadership for Learning Resources and its subsidiary, Educational Insights, Inc., and work with the company's management team to develop strategic direction. Terry recently served as supply chain lead for W.W. Grainger, Inc., a broad-line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and institutions in Canada, China, Mexico and the United States. Prior to that, she served in various operational management positions at Motorola, Illinois Tools Works and United Technologies. Join me in congratulating Terry on her new position! Don't be alarmed, but some of you might well be interested in the newest blog entry of our colleague and friend, Jeff Fromm, Principal with Eiseman Levine Lehrhaupt & Kakoyiannis, P.C. In the posting titled “Executive Termination - Planning for the End”, he begins, “There are some phrases that show up in contracts and simultaneously amuse me and remind me of the importance of careful legal drafting. One such phrase refers to the right of a company to 'terminate the Executive' on certain grounds. After conjuring up images of Arnold Schwarzenegger in one of his most famous roles, I correct the language to say 'terminate the employment of the Executive' or something like that. But that's not what this post is about. This post is about the need to differentiate between types of terminations and, indeed, types of resignations. Whether I am representing the company or the executive, I believe it is important to think in a disciplined manner about each such type and the consequences that should follow a termination or resignation of that type.” He writes then at length about the seven types of terminations and the six types of consequences - a very interesting read. See for yourself! The complete posting can be viewed at www.BusinessLawInsight.com. And here is a scoop for you from The Dairy State! Our friend Charlene Blohm, President, C.Blohm & Associates, has been re-appointed to a three-year term on the Cottage Grove (WI) Community Library Board. She will continue to lead the Library Board's PR Committee and serve as Board Secretary. She shared that it is interesting to compare this work in the public sector to the role she has on the Board of Directors of a small publishing house, saying the two have far more in common than you might think. Both involve policy initiatives, for example, and there are even similarities between the fund-raising for the library and the start-up requirements of the publishing house. Charlene is finding the opportunity to contribute to both boards very rewarding, and they are very fortunate indeed to benefit from her talent and expertise. So, this Memorial Day weekend, when she and her husband Paul are up north fishing with her parents at their cottage, she anticipates having two books with her - one to review for a library series in the local newspaper and another about branding, which will be useful in both roles. That shouldn't bother the fish! I hope you are planning a special weekend - George will be taking off to a car track event outside of Ft. Worth, and I am having out-of-town girlfriends in for the weekend. We both plan a fun time! As we all get ready to relax with family and friends and celebrate this most important Memorial Day weekend, I know you join me in saying a heartfelt thank you to all of those fighting abroad for our safety and to their families as well and to additionally remembering and honoring all of those who have fought in other battles and wars to preserve the freedom we enjoy each day in America. Enjoy your weekend, friends…Vicki, the Snoop
What's happening that you'd like to share? Do you have personal news or know about promotions or job moves? Submit contributions to bighamv@aol.com to share them with the ed tech community. |
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