With so much money at stake, and a byzantine application process, the E-rate is the source of nightmares for many participants. Yet, despite the program's complexity, three out of four applicants say the E-rate is meeting its goal of connecting schools and libraries to the internet, according to a comprehensive new survey--and many applicants say they couldn't do without it.
Despite significant gains in high-speed connectivity among schools in the last decade, most schools' broadband access is still not sufficient to accommodate current and future technology needs, according to a report released this month by SETDA. High-speed internet access is vital for U.S. education and global competitiveness, and ensuring broadband access for all students has become a...
For educators who think real life does not offer enough opportunities to practice their profession, thereās Second Life , an Internet-based virtual environment that counts thousands of educators among its enthusiasts.
Todd A. Fishburn's instructional resources for K-12 teachers (from Seaford School District, Delaware).
"While I donāt think it really falls under a copyright/fair use issue, it still breaks the Terms of Service of the site; however, when put in a difficult place of not being able to use content due to circumstances beyond your control, many teachers could justify using other means to obtain content from YouTube that isnāt covered in their Terms of Service."
The Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) illustrates how teachers can use technology to enhance learning for K-12 students. The TIM incorporates five interdependent characteristics of meaningful learning environments: active, constructive, goal directed (i.e., reflective), authentic, and collaborative (Jonassen, Howland, Moore, & Marra, 2003). The TIM associates five levels of technology integration (i.e., entry, adoption, adaptation, infusion, and transformation) with each of the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments. Together, the five levels of technology integration and the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments create a matrix of 25 cells as illustrated below.
Now the last time that I wrote about censorship of websites at my school I was jokingly accused of biting the hand that feeds me by my schoolās tech director. While I agree with my tech director that authority should be respected, and the decisions that those in leadership roles make are an honest attempt to protect our students, Mr. Warlickās comments got me thinking. Is it in our studentās best interestsā to rethink the traditional top-down model of filtering and censorship when it comes to using the Internet and communication tools in school?
Youāve likely heard of podcasting by now. Countless universities, colleges and K-12 classes worldwide are using the technology to deliver recorded lectures, news and information to students. In fact, nothing has had a greater impact on students since the invention of the paddle. OK, I kid, but I?m also making a point hereāpodcasting has taken education by storm, and the technology cannot be ignored.
Beyond proficiency in core subject matter, students now must be media and information literate, globally aware and skilled at online collaboration if they are to be successful digital and global citizens. School administrators no longer can afford to be unfamiliar with what constitutes effective technology-infused pedagogy.

Welcome to the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) Small District Technology Leadership wiki.
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) is the country's premier voice for K-12 education leaders who use technology strategically to improve teaching and learning. The objective of this wiki is to provide a space for collaborative work around topics regarding effective planning for and use and implementation of technology.
There are a variety of sources on this wiki. CoSN, in conjunction with a grant from SRI International and support from the National Technology Activities contract with the U.S. Department of Education, has created the Small District Technology Leadership wiki to support systematic planning at the local level for district- and school-based technologies. The objective of this project is to develop a set of resources that fits the needs of small school districts, those with student populations of 2,500 or less. The content may prove useful for any district but is particularly focused on the specific needs and challenges of small school districts.