Ever wonder how stories covered by popular edtech outlets – such as edSurge, eSchoolNews, Tech & Learning, and THE Journal – get selected?
Filter bubbles are bad, including in educational technology.
Here’s what caught my eye this week – news, tools, and reports about education, public policy, technology, and innovation – including a little bit about why. No endorsements; no sponsored content; no apologies for my eclectic tastes. Strong opinions may be loosely held.
A Thinking Person’s Guide to EdTech News (2017 Week 9 Edition)
Students selling notes online a legal gray area, schools say | ArkansasOnline →
University of Arkansas faculty members are debating how to best deal with the selling of lecture notes by students, spurred on by the practices of online study resource companies known for aggressive recruiting tactics.
Tagged on: March 5, 2017
Global Evolution of EdTech | Navitas Ventures →
A look at over 20 years of edtech company evolution through $16b of investment around the world.
Tagged on: March 4, 2017
Most of the time, innovators don’t move fast and break things | Aeon Essays →
Because of their importance, it’s essential to reflect more critically on our collective myths about innovation.
Tagged on: March 4, 2017
State auditor introduces legislation to protect students' personal information | The Turner Report →
Missouri Senate Bill 478 would require school districts to notify parents or guardians of a data breach involving student information.
Tagged on: March 4, 2017
Glastonbury (CT) Schools Phishing Scandals Impacts 1,600 Workers | NBC Connecticut →
Another school district W-2 phishing victim.
Tagged on: March 4, 2017
Algorithm Tips | Computational Journalism Lab →
A growing list of potentially newsworthy algorithms used by the U.S. government.
Tagged on: March 4, 2017
Introducing the Field Guide to Open Source in the Newsroom | Knight Foundation →
The guidebook helps newsroom developers, technologists and journalists work through the entire open-sourcing process—from the first release to handoffs and sunsets. Useful beyond the newsroom, too.
Tagged on: March 3, 2017
Tyler ISD issues statement after employee W-2 forms sent in 'email spoofing attack' | KLTV.com →
Another K-12 school district victimized by W-2 phishing: Tyler ISD in Texas.
Tagged on: March 3, 2017
How to Tell a Secret in the Digital Age | New York Times →
Education reporters take heed. Fascinating story of what happened when the New York Times released a set of tools for readers to anonymously submit information that might be of journalistic interest to the Times.
Tagged on: March 3, 2017
Safekeeping in 2017 | Tech & Learning →
A terrifying look at the present of cyberbullying prevention: massive, pervasive digital surveillance of children and youth in schools. The article puts a positive spin on it, but this is not ok.
Tagged on: March 3, 2017
A new report presents a framework and self-assessment tool developed to drive, sustain, and scale up blended learning. It incorporates case studies to demonstrate how the framework and its dimensions could be operationalized, and how the gaps identified in the self-assessment exercise could be addressed.
Tagged on: March 3, 2017
Betsy DeVos: President Trump delivers on education promises | USA Today →
This is an incredible statement: "Trump has delivered on his promise to support school choice and offer students access to quality options.“ He gave a speech and devoted 150 words to education and choice. Agree or not, but hardly 'mission accomplished.'
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
Suggestions from Citizen Lab on how best to confront the lack of accountability in the commercial spyware trade.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
Apple’s Devices Lose Luster in American Classrooms | New York Times →
With Google products rising in popularity, Apple is losing its grip on American classrooms. At stake: "technology companies have long used to hook students on their brands for life."
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
Facebook brings suicide prevention tools to Live and Messenger | TechCrunch →
I have so many questions about this: Facebook is unveiling new tools to provide support to people who may be suicidal, as well as resources for friends of those who are feeling suicidal.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
AERA Announces Most Read Education Research Articles of 2016 | AERA →
AERA Open dominates the list of most read education research articles in 2016. Who would have ever guessed that open access publishing leads to the wider dissemination of ideas?
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
Technology takes largest bite out of Scituate schools’ capital budget | Wicked Local Scituate →
Unremarkable story except that these technology expenditures shouldn't be made from a capital budget. A very bad deal for taxpayers.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
ASU's teachers college nationally recognized for its innovative technology use | The State Press →
The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College won a national award from the AACTE for its technology use in the classroom. This is how folks are defining innovative edtech use in teacher's colleges.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
Examity Grabs $21M for Online Test Proctoring Services | Xconomy →
A big business verifying the identity of online test takers and making sure they don’t cheat.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
Levy advances technology for Columbia Heights Public Schools | Sun Focus →
The capital projects levy provides $1 million annually, for a total of $10 million over a decade, to address capital facilities and technology needs in the district. Except purchasing student computing devices is not a capital expenditure. A bad deal for taxpayers.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
Pilot Program Tracks Student Attendance Via ID Scanners | The Cambodia Daily →
Thousands of students across the country are scanning identification cards and their thumbprints at school as part of a pilot program aimed at encouraging attendance.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
Coding bootcamps commit to transparency in reporting around job placement | TechCrunch →
The move comes as these “accelerated learning programs” across the country push for greater validation among educational institutions — and a share of the massive state and federal dollars that come with accreditation.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
K-12 Predictive Analytics: Time for a Better Dropout Diagnosis | RealClearEducation →
Is this sponsored content? RealClearEducation doesn't say, but the company who writes this has a vested interest in the answer, and the piece acknowledges no privacy or civil liberties issues whatsoever in their argument.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
Eugene (OR) School Board considering whether to more narrowly define student 'directory information,' personally identifiable information that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
Yukon Public Schools Data Breach Notification →
Another W-2 phishing victim.
Tagged on: March 2, 2017
"Here you will find the legacy of the Obama administration’s work, and a balanced platform where you can learn about policies and ideas for improving public education."
Tagged on: March 1, 2017
Alabama Republicans divided over collecting student data for workforce development | AL.com →
"People are a little leery of the government gathering data on their kids," said Sen. Dick Brewbaker, R-Montgomery
Tagged on: March 1, 2017
The cost of identity protection services is a small price for Maryland to pay to protect the future of students whose personal information is stolen, Delegate David E. Vogt III told a House committee on Tuesday.
Tagged on: March 1, 2017
School board approves computer science immersion program | KSFY →
The Sioux Falls (SD) school board voted to sign a 5-year contract with Code to the Future to create a computer science immersion program at three elementary schools in the district.
Tagged on: February 28, 2017
Interview: Emily Glassberg Sands, Data Science Manager at Coursera | insideBIGDATA →
Her work at Coursera focuses on supporting data-driven decisions re: product development, including data modeling, data standardization, and reporting.
Tagged on: February 28, 2017
How To Use Technology To Truly Enhance Student Outcomes | Forbes →
"Technologically, much of what needs to change is less front-end than the back-end systems," says Eva Moskowitz of Success Academy Charter Schools.
Tagged on: February 28, 2017
Plum (PA) school leaders consider iPads | TribLIVE →
Proposals to purchase 1,400 devices with cases from Apple so every student in grades nine to 12 could have one for the 2017-18 school year are being considered by the school board. The proposed purchase is not, however, in their 2017-18 budget.
Tagged on: February 28, 2017
In an effort to prepare students for the state’s booming technology job market, lawmakers are considering three bills that would beef up access to computer science classes and provide students with new credentials after they leave high school.
Tagged on: February 28, 2017
School board votes unanimously to purchase 4,000 MacBooks for district | LJWorld.com →
The $2.8 million investment by Lawrence (KS) school board will go toward the implementation of a 1-to-1 device program at Lawrence High School and Free State High School.
Tagged on: February 28, 2017
Online education: Pact inked for Pakistan’s ‘first digital university’ | The Express Tribune →
The Information Technology University (ITU) and the global education platform, edX, have signed a deal to integrate online learning courses in the university's existing degree programs.
Tagged on: February 28, 2017
Redmond schools hit by major employee data breach | KTVZ →
Redmond schools (OR) falls prey to the W-2 email phishing scheme plaguing districts nationwide (which I've covered extensively on my blog).
Tagged on: February 28, 2017
Social Security Numbers Stolen From All Independence School Employees | KCUR →
Independence Schools (KS) falls prey to the W-2 email phishing scheme plaguing districts nationwide (which I've covered extensively on my blog).
Tagged on: February 28, 2017
How not to do privacy and security online: CloudPets left their database exposed publicly to the web without so much as a password to protect it.
Tagged on: February 27, 2017
Using Open Source to Empower Students in Tanzania | Linux.com →
Powering Potential Inc. (PPI) aims to enhance education opportunities for students in Tanzania with the help of the Raspberry Pi and open source technology.
Tagged on: February 27, 2017
CDT argues in this paper that companies should reconsider their concept of deletion and implement sound technical and policy processes to formalize their practices.
Tagged on: February 27, 2017
After experiencing computer problems with the writing test under the current contractor, Nebraska is putting a premium on reliability in the next contract. “I don’t want one where I’m sending an email out to everyone, going ‘Sorry, the technology didn’t work again,’” Nebraska Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt said.
Tagged on: February 27, 2017
The Push for More College Data, With the Challenge of Protecting Student Privacy | EWA →
A 2008 change to federal law prohibits the federal government from establishing a federal student-level data system. Should it be revisited?
Tagged on: February 27, 2017
Limited internet access leaves York Co. students disconnected | York Daily Record →
When Shera Peck researches internet options, the answer is always the same: Sorry, no internet in your area at this time.
Tagged on: February 27, 2017
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