Now, bolstered by the prospect of new spending on school technology programs, educators are exploring new ways to weave the computer skills seen as essential to this century's workforce into children's daily lessons. "What's exciting about the Obama plan is not just the money," says Elliot Soloway, a computer science professor at the University of Michigan who studies the effect of technology in education. "He's going to help schools rethink what the kids do on a day-in, day-out basis." Giving more kids Internet access could compel teachers to switch from asking students to Google for answers to questions, to assigning more involved research projects, Soloway says.
Julie Lindsay on 24 Feb 09The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is engaged in a Proof of Concept for a Virtual Learning Magnet (VLM) for Space Science and Mathematics with support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). CCSSO's strategic plan calls for setting the education context for a new century, and the Proof of Concept for the VLM supports this by exploring how states can bring together teachers and subject matter experts to support learners with targeted interests in areas of global importance. The VLM is designed to supplement, and not duplicate, the offerings of state-led virtual schools.
