Technology & Learning - October 2007 - (Page 4)

» News & Trends By T&L Editors Bulletproof backpacks are the latest must-have school accessory, Negroponte brings his XO home, and a new tool for your own rubric. Hello, Home-Schooling! A disturbing new sign of our increasingly violent times comes in the form of Backpackshield.com’s bullet-resistant portable shields for student backpacks. For $249, users can buy “standard size” shields available in a variety of colors, featuring removable Velcro for easy washing. Additional reassurance can be gained from knowing the newly released product’s Level 111A protection means it “can stop even the hardened full-metal jacketed, high-velocity handgun bullets, including 9 mm and 44 Magnum that pass right through a level 11 bullet-proof liner. Voters Unsatisfied Overall Right Direction/ Wrong Direction 15% Not-So-Strongly Wrong Direction 22% Not-So-Strongly Right Direction rubistar.4teachers.org/ index.php Need to create a rubric but don’t have the time? Enter Rubistar, a free Web site powered by 4Teachers.org that provides comprehensive, highquality rubric templates in 10 curriculum areas, such as science, research and writing, music, and multimedia. Included are built-in models with pull-down menus detailing a range of evaluation categories. For example, a Lab Report menu suggests error analysis, background sources, materials, calculations safety, variables, and other key information you might include in an assessment. There are also plenty of rubrics addressing the more-difficult-to-measure, 21st-century skills, such as digital storytelling. Additional features include edit and save and analyze options, as well as tutorials. Check it out! 35% Strongly Wrong Direction 6% Donít Know 22% Strongly Right Direction A national survey commissioned by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills has found that the majority of Americans are unsatisfied with the direction our schools are taking. Public Opinion Strategies and Peter D. Hart Research Associates surveyed 800 registered voters nationally in September 2007. When asked, “Would you say our country is moving in the right direction or the wrong direction in educating our youth to make sure they have the skills to compete in a global economy?” 50 percent responded in the negative. For the complete survey results, visit www.partnershipfor21stcenturyskills.org. In other Partnership news, Route 21, the group’s new interactive Web site showcasing 21st-century teaching and learning best practices is due to launch November 7th. The site will focus on addressing the 360-degree support—from standards to professional development to assessment and more—that needs to be interconnected in the process. For more information on the Partnership’s activities, e-mail: info@21stcenturyskills.org. 4 | www.techlearning.com http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php http://4Teachers.org http://www.partnershipfor21stcenturyskills.org http://www.techlearning.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Technology & Learning - October 2007

Technology & Learning - October 2007 Editor’s Desk News & Trends Product Guide Reviews How Fast Is Fast Enough? Cover Story: Career Education in the Digital Age Getting It Wrong Higher Ed Point of View How To Bottom Line What’s New Emerging Tech

Technology & Learning - October 2007

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