If you are interested in news and issues in higher education, you would most likely read The Chronicle of Higher Education. If you try this link, you will find that full online access requires a subscription.
Inside Higher Ed – a new and free online source – appears to be attempting to take advantage of the “fee issue” to launch a competing service. I would guess the idea is support this alternative through ads.
The web works in mysterious ways. Maybe not – it is either fee based or ad based.
The feds have just released a new survey concerning K-12 use of the Internet.
Parstad, B. & Jones, J. (2005). Internet access in U.S. Public Schools and classrooms: 1994-2003. (NCES 2005-015). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics
Yes – I realize 2003 and new survey should not be used in the same post when describing the Internet, but it may have taken some time to get results through the editorial process. 😉
Some key findings (if schools have Internet connection):
1) 93% of instructional rooms have Internet access
2) 32% have wireless access
– wireless access is one variable sensitive to SES differences (ranging from 36% to 25% across grouping variable)
3) ratio of students to Internet-enabled computer is 4.4:1
– varied with SES differences (4.2:1 to 5.1:1)
– overall change since 1998 12.1 to 4.4
4) 48% of schools allow students to use computers outside of regular hours
5) 82% provided professional development to staff on use of Internet in instruction
Zemsky and Massy discuss the reality of elearning and change in higher education. This is a nice account of where the assumptions we made were wrong and why change will occur (but slowly).
Why blog? I sometimes wonder. Why do so many people try it once or twice and then quit? Too much time I suppose – the idea of writing a personal blog sounds appealing, but there is a certain reality that involves a long term commitment. So many ideas for personal development are like this – read a book, work out, etc.
Bill Ives offers a nice analysis of personal and institutional benefits (just in case anyone from my institution ever wonders why I spend my time doing this).
The gender inequity in IT employees has always been an issue. Now, it appears that women are also leaving the IT field at a higher rate. It appears the field changes too quickly and nonwork issues make keeping up too stressful. NewsFactor.com
What is the deal with naming generations with letters and how quickly can a new generation emerge? The Kaiser Family Foundation reports the discovery of a new generation – Generation M. I guess the M stands for media ’cause it appears 8-18 year olds are increasing time spent with computers, the Internet and video games without reducing the time spent viewing television and listening to music.
Maybe M stands for mult-tasking – the report indicates families have the television on while eating meals, listening to music while studying, etc. — sounds a lot like my house even though I am an OG (old guy).
By the way, the Kaiser Foundation offers a streaming media summary and a panel discussion related to their findings. Something about this struck me as funny. Maybe it was some of the concerns raised about Generation M and suggestions for parents (take the TV and computer out of the kid’s bedroom). I will try to resist watching the video and reading the report at the same time.
A new wiki type, Wikimedia Commons, offers organized collections of multimedia resources. This could grow into a great resource for educators.