District Administration - September 2006 - (Page 30)

CurriculumUpdate Steps to Improve Computer Science er i zed world. he New Educational Impera- U.S. for help in planning new and T 5. Create and support profes- tive : Improving High School innovative curricula are now taking siona l development opportunities Computer Science Education, the lead in computer science educa- that help computer science teachers recently released from the Computer t ion. Here are five of the 10 ways ensure that their technical and peda- Science Teachers Association, found school leaders can help our country gog ica l skills keep pace with student what many people already suspect: regain our reputation and improve learning needs. Countries that once looked to the high school computer science education. 1. Promote funding for com- csta.acm.org/Publications/ p u t e r science courses, equipment CSTA-WhitePaperNC.pdf and materials. 2. Identify how much is being spent on computer science educa- A F T E R- S C H O O L t ion in your district and determine if there have been cutbacks on com- P RO G R A M S puter science education. Junior Achievement, which recently 3. Put policies in place to ensure launched three new after-school that only qualified teachers are programs, surveyed more than 1,000 teaching computer science courses and enforce those policies. teens aged 13 to 18 about after-school 4. Review your current computer programs. Here are some of the results. science curriculum to determine 45% whether it provides sufficient oppor- attend after-school programs t u n it ies for students to gain the other than sports knowledge and skills they need to 55% succeed in an increasingly comput- do not attend after-school programs 4 out of 10 teens don't attend after-school programs due to lack of interest An Easy Way to Teach Patriotism 1 out of 10 don't attend because of cost One of the first projects high school Spanish teacher Phyllis Lee plans to or lack of transportation undertake this year is a lesson in community service. Her students at Wilson High School in Florence, S.C., will communicate in Spanish with U.S. troops What factors would increase interest in via a new Web portal, Connect with the Troops. My students will get to reach after-school activities? out to the Hispanic soldiers and let them know how important they are to 94% us, says Lee. Community service is extremely important in our IB program. opportunities for Sometimes my students are surprised by what a difference they can make in college scholarships other people's lives. 92% Connect with the Troops ties patriotism into the curriculum college-credit programs by letting students express support for U.S. troops or indi- 76% vidual soldiers. The site is also sponsoring a nationwide leadership-skills programs scrapbook initiative in which teachers and students can 69% download free scrapbook templates to be decorated and e- mailed for inclusion in the scrapbook. business-development programs w w w.connect withthetroops.com S ourc e : JA Worldwide, 2006, www.ja.org 30 September 2006 District Administration DA_906_currup.w.indd DA_906_currup.w.indd 30 8/14/06 11:36:06 AM http://csta.acm.org/Publications/CSTA-WhitePaperNC.pdf http://www.connectwiththetroops.com http://www.ja.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - September 2006

Contents
Editor?s Letter
Snapshots
Update
Inside the Law
Curriculum Update
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Unveiling the School of the Future
Are wireless VoIP handsets worth the cost?
Smart ways to detect and manage cyberbullies
Scared Straight
Up for Debate
In the Spotlight
Growing Community Schools
Learning Styles
The Online Edge Odvard Egil Dyrli
Speaking Out Gary Stager
Problem/Solution
Research Corner
Computer Literature
Leadership Books
New Products
By the Numbers

District Administration - September 2006