District Administration - April 2009 - (Page 8)

Advertiser Index 3LCD CV2 www.3LCD.com Adaptive Curriculum 9 www.adaptivecurriculum.com Casio 19 www.casioeducation.com CDW-G 5 www.CDWG.com/K12education DA Web Seminars 49 www.DistrictAdministration.com/webseminars E & I Cooperative Purchasing 17 www.eandi.org eChalk 41 www.echalk.com/setda2020 Elmo USA Corporation CV3 www.elmousa.com Epson CV4 www.epsonbrighterfutures.com/7231 ISTE-NECC 46 www.iste.org/necc LG Electronics Corporation 7 www.LGcommercial.com Naviance LLC 3 www.naviance.com Nestle Juicy Juice 11 www.juicyjuice.com Nova Southeastern University 45 www.FischlerSchool.nova.edu/DistrictAdmin Nova Southeastern University Law School 33 www.nova.edu/law OnCourse Systems for Education LLC 43 www.oncoursesystems.com Pearson Digital Learning 2 www.PearsonSchool.com/MathIntervention Peplink 22 www.peplink.com/edu~discount Real Asset Management International 4 www.realassetmgt.com Seton Hall University 24 www.shu.edu/go/execedd Sodexo Inc. 39 www.sodexo.com Subway 30 www.subway.com TechEra, Inc. 13 www.MountDirect.com/k12 The College Board 15 www.collegeboard.com/sbfaqs Vertex Standard 25 www.vertexstandard.com WIMBA 51 www.wimba.com/K12 Letters Phones Open Door for Possibility In response to DA’s Tech Disruptions blog post of February 15, which criticizes Pennsylvania lawmakers’ proposed ban on cell phones in K12, a reader says: Ever since the iPhone came out I have been very interested in the educational possibilities of such a device. Being able to have a scaled-down computer with the capabilities and portability of a mobile phone is opening a whole new world of possibilities in mobile learning. Having a mobile phone creates fertile ground for exploration and creation of educational applications. Without doubt, educational institutions need to be open-minded and start exploring all the possibilities and benefits that this kind of technology is bringing to the table. Luis J. Hernandez, bilingual teacher, Garland (Texas) Independent School District manufacturer has different functionality. The article also assumes that every student’s personal device would have unlimited connectivity for text, Web browsing, streaming video and other features. “Outsourcing wireless networking to a telecommunications company” might make “good economic sense” to administrators, but will it to the telecommunications company and its users? Can we force that additional burden on families? Mike D. Skara, technology coordinator, Berkeley Heights (N.J.) Public Schools Celebrating Acts of Kindness The district profile (“Deep Is the Heart of Texas,” November 2008) is a very touching snapshot of a district that provides an excellent example for many other districts to learn from. With so many stories in the media focusing on what is wrong in schools, it was refreshing to read how the Rockwall (Texas) Independent School District is helping its students build character and spread kindness and caring. Thanks. Robert D. Rettmann, Crisis Prevention Institute, Brookfield, Wis. But Will Phones Revolutionize K12 Education? I am becoming more concerned about the echo chamber in which the pundits of educational technology appear to be seated. In the Tech Disruptions column (“The Impending Mobile Mega-Disruption,” January 2009) the writers claim the potential of the ubiquitous penetration of personal cell phones will revolutionize educational technology. I agree the big question is “What pedagogical value do mobile devices have?” They may have their place. However, the assertion that a “candy-bar sized gadget is on par with a desktop or laptop computer” cannot be true because their functionalities are by design not the same. These devices would highlight the distinction between the affluent and the not-affluent. Some students have iPhones and Blackberry Storms, while others use a cheaper version. Another issue with personal devices is that a teacher cannot know every nuance of every device. Each Clarifying Georgia’s Security In the story on Georgia’s school security plan (“School Security Plans Skirt Law,” February 2009), I found that if you read the law, you would find that nowhere does it state that the school district must have approval from Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA). Only if the district is asking for funding does GEMA have to sign off. It does state the district must have a plan submitted and approved by the Local Emergency Management Agency. James E. McCoy, superintendent, Commerce City (Ga.) Schools Letters to the editor may be sent to jhartnett@districtadministration.com, or mailed to Judy F. Hartnett, District Administration, 488 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851. Selections that are published may be edited for length and clarity, and become the property of District Administration. District Administration 8 April 2009 http://www.3LCD.com http://www.adaptivecurriculum.com http://www.casioeducation.com http://www.CDWG.com/K12education http://www.DistrictAdministration.com/webseminars http://www.eandi.org http://www.echalk.com/setda2020 http://www.elmousa.com http://www.epsonbrighterfutures.com/7231 https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1108/index.php?startid=28 http://www.iste.org/necc https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1108/index.php?startid=28 http://www.LGcommercial.com http://www.naviance.com http://www.juicyjuice.com http://www.FischlerSchool.nova.edu/DistrictAdmin http://www.nova.edu/law https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0109/index.php?startid=84 http://www.oncoursesystems.com https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0109/index.php?startid=84 http://www.PearsonSchool.com/MathIntervention http://www.peplink.com/edu~discount https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0209/index.php?startid=12 https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0209/index.php?startid=12 http://www.realassetmgt.com http://www.shu.edu/go/execedd http://www.sodexo.com http://www.subway.com http://www.MountDirect.com/k12 http://www.collegeboard.com/sbfaqs http://www.vertexstandard.com http://www.wimba.com/K12

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - April 2009

District Administration - April 2009
Contents
From the Editor
Letters
News Update
Assessment
Conversations
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Education’s Shot in the Arm
Lessons Learned from Columbine’s 10th Anniversary
An Interview with Columbine’s Superintendent, Cynthia Stevenson
Keeping Track of Technology
Classroom Technology Integration
How Well Does This Web Site Work?
Professional Opinion
Research Center
New Products
Product Focus
Online Edge

District Administration - April 2009