The US Department of Education recently released data revealing a large increase in enrollment in online classrooms among high school students. 

The public school district in St. Louis, Missouri was awarded an Innovative Technology Education Fund grant to buy iPads for all students with autism in six autism-specific classrooms. This seems to be an example of utilizing an emerging technology in an excellent way with proper teacher training, rather than using technology for technology's sake. The schools will be advised on how to implement the iPads by an autism science and advocacy organization and have two full days of professional development planned.

This list is not directly technology related, but it is interesting because these are seven people who are transforming education through innovation on a mostly local level.

Tennessee Technology Centers (a "career-training program" that is state funded) is using strictly enforced scheduling to help retain students with 1 in 4 odds of completing their program. The school is taking the opposite approach that most higher education schools take. Instead of having the freedom to create their own schedule, they work with the school to determine a schedule from the beginning which is permanent throughout the duration of their time at the school and is strictly enforced. The school is hoping to increase retention of students in 1 to 2 year programs that have low graduation rates, and produce more graduates in emerging technology fields.

Connecticut State University created a workspace for students to work remotely, giving companies such as Cigna the opportunity to outsource jobs within the United States. 

Last year's runner-up states in the "Race to the Top" initiative can now apply for a part of $200 million set aside for STEM education funding. 

This article discusses ways to use mobile technology in a higher education setting, including uses to increase engagement among students and to provide safety and emergency information. The author fails to include any uses that actually involve learning or improved communication and transparency between students and teachers, which I believe is an oversight that many schools have when considering implementing mobile technology in their schools. 

This articles featuring various stances on technology in the classroom. Arguments are made for technology-heavy curriculum, classrooms free of technology and responsible and effective technology use with thorough professional development and teacher facilitation. Another voice adding their two cents to the technology in the classroom conversation. I think that the most well informed angle expressed in the article is the opinion that we need better teachers and careful use of technology when it's inclusion will improve the learning potential more than if it weren't used.

PBS Kids has developed its first augmented reality mobile phone app that overlays graphics onto real world environments. The game aims to teach math skills.

US News & World Report is adding online college programs to its rankings this year, sparking skepticism that it can accurately be done. This acknowledgement is significant for online learning programs, and puts them into the more mainstream higher education category rather than a fringe alternative to a brick and mortar program.

A new iPad app uses immersive technology to convey a richer video experience.

This article discusses one school's plan to implement effective learning technologies into the classroom. They looked at examples that were working in other parts of the world and incorporated them into their idea which includes many augmented reality applications. They discuss the divide between using technology effectively in our personal lives and not in education, so the classroom remains the same as it has been for 100 years. As we have discussed in class, the education system must use technology in the classroom to help prepare students for jobs that require skills adaptable to technologies that do not yet exist.

This is an article on why the classroom PC is out and mobile learning is in, though challenges are expressed such as getting teacher's on board and properly trained on mobile devices. 

This article features an augmented reality reading app for preschoolers and kindergarteners that includes teacher resources such as video tutorials and lesson plans.

The New York TImes continues their efforts to get an explanation from the Department of Education of NY on their reasons behind the cell phone ban. It seems that the district is not budging on their policy and is so far unwilling to listen to educators vouching for phones as useful learning tools. 

This is Microsoft's updated take on what the future looks like with augmented reality. It seems to be an update on the video Chris Dede showed us at the beginning of the semester. Similar, but more reflective of the current zeitgeist. 

Cell phones are banned in NYC public schools, but it is the norm for students who attend schools without metal detectors to bring their phones anyway. If caught teachers are confiscating phones for up to a week, or longer, at their discretion. At schools with metal detectors small businesses have popped up around schools, storing students' phones for the school day for a small fee, similar to a coat check system. Instead of harnessing the power of mobile phones that almost every student already has, they are punishing them and/or causing them to pay money to keep them stored for the school day so that they can have them before and after school. I think this is a missed opportunity for the NYC school system not only because they are missing out on mobile learning opportunities with technology the district doesn't have to buy, but they could also be teaching the students responsible and appropriate use of mobile phones in public spaces.

Boston area Landmark High School received a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam grant, which seeks to foster innovation and focus on STEM fields. These students will work on creating a water desalination system for countries with low rainfall. This type of project has a lot of potential to develop 21st century skills and teach complex problem solving skills.

This article describes a new iPad app that turns reading into an interactive learning experience by interjecting activities related to the book such as games and interludes where the reader plays songs on the iPad piano. The child can be read to by the app or read the story on their own. 

This article details the findings of a recent study of 6th, 7th and 8th graders in Arizona that found that the students that used a new math and science curriculum called Adaptive Curriculum scored higher on post-tests and assessments than students with the traditional curriculum. The new treatment teaches conceptual understanding of math through content and technology, and emphasizes real-world, informal applications of math and science.