Telecommunications
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IT Infrastructure & Management
Schools Set to Adjust to Revamped E-Rate Policies
A new version of the E-rate program will include funding for school and library wireless-technology projects, and phase out support for services that federal officials see as outmoded.
IT Infrastructure & Management
FCC Prepares to Vote on E-Rate Overhaul
Schools and libraries hungry for faster and more reliably funded Wi-Fi connections will be watching the July 11 open meeting of the Federal Communications Commission closely.
IT Infrastructure & Management
3 Districts Making Progress on High-Speed Internet
Experts say that fiber-optic cable is still the "gold standard" for providing schools with high-speed connections to the Internet, but for many districts, accessing complete fiber networks remains a challenge.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Districts Get Creative to Build Faster Internet Connections
High-speed fiber-optic cable is generally regarded as the best vehicle for satisfying schools' huge appetite for more bandwidth, but only about 40 percent of U.S. districts are believed to have access to it.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Opinion
What if Piaget Had Tweeted?
Some of the biggest breakthroughs in behavioral and education research predate the high-tech era, which makes one wonder about taking a technology break, Malbert Smith III writes.
IT Infrastructure & Management
District Officials Eye Blended Learning, With Cautionary Lessons in Mind
Expanding blended and online learning is appealing in many school systems, despite recent, high-profile disruptions in ambitious, 1-to-1 technology plans, attendees at the recent iNACOL summit said.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Pa. Texting Scandal Highlights Complexities for IT Leaders
The discovery of racist text messages involving a Pennsylvania superintendent has cast new light on the complex challenges faced by school IT directors as digital devices proliferate.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Companies, Ed. Groups Divided on E-Rate Transparency
Telecommunications providers resist calls by education organizations to make public the prices they charge districts for technology services under the federal E-rate program.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Smartphones Evolve Into Popular Tool for High Schoolers
A new nationwide survey reveals the extent to which mobile devices have become an inextricable part of students' and families' lives.
IT Infrastructure & Management
K-12 Districts, Groups Turn to Mobile 'Crowdsourcing' to Solve Problems
One California district built a sophisticated online crowdsourcing platform open to all 4,000 employees and accessible via cellphones, tablets, and other digital devices.
IT Infrastructure & Management
'Real World' Social Media Helps Students Bond, Say Researchers
While socializing virtually can make it harder for students to make deep connections with one another, new studies suggest that situations like video-chats or avatar environments can lead to more natural engagement.
Law & Courts
School Board Transparency a Challenge in Digital Age
With new communications technology, school boards are confounded by how to conduct business and conform to open-meetings and -records laws.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Federal Project Aims to Expand Web Access
Nearly 18 months after its conception, the nonprofit Connect to Compete organization recently launched programs aimed at Americans without home broadband Internet access, including tens of millions of students.
Teaching
Middle Schoolers Turning on Smartphones
A recent survey found that 39 percent of middle school students are using their smartphones to complete after-school assignments.