Education IT News For VARs — May 27, 2014
By Amy Taylor, contributing writer
In the news, the Louisiana State Senate approved a bill that prohibits student data from being sold for commercial use. Also, tablets are a trend in classrooms, with 3.5 million expected to be purchased by schools this year, and a study shows more students are favoring teachers’ use of technology in the classroom.
Student Data Gets Protection From Louisiana Senate
The Advocate reports student data cannot be sold for commercial use under legislation approved by the Louisiana State Senate on Thursday. The Senate Bill 685 was sent to the House and “finds that in a time when the personal data of individuals has become a valuable commodity, the information held by schools and school districts gives rise to serious concerns regarding the security of this information.”
Tablets Revolutionize Classrooms Across The Country
The Washington Post reports on tablets in the classroom and how teachers are able to abandon textbooks or efficiently manage the academic day because each of their students has a school-issued iPad. U.S. schools are expected to purchase 3.5 million tablets by the end of the year, according to industry analysts.
Purchasing A Few Tablets For Students And Teachers Make A Difference
SmartData Collective reports on an annual study by the research arm of Educause that found more students favoring a teacher’s use of technology in the classroom. The study found that 70 percent of students said they learn best in a blended learning environment and more than 50 percent of students are actively engaged in classes that use technology, but wish instructors used more open educational resources, simulations, and games.
Google Launches Learning Management System For Educators
Education Week said that Google is entering the world of “learning management systems” with the pre-release of Classroom. Classroom is an app tool that gives teachers a way to create and collect assignments, provide real-time feedback to individual students, make announcements, ask questions, and organize folders by assignment or by student. The official launch is slated for September.
Education IT Talking Points
The Huffington Post ran an article on “Why MOOCS Might Be Just Right for Schools,” exploring the benefits of online learning.
In “3 Significant Challenges in Education Technology Today,” Government Technology reports the current challenges in education technology, including personalized learning, privacy concerns, and keeping education relevant.
THE Journal said that technology is driving six critical shifts happening in education. One main shift is integrating technology into the professional development of teachers and evolving teaching approaches and practices with technological advancements.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Education IT Resource Center.