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June 21 2005 - Vol. 6, No. 25
TechLearning News
- The Federal Communications Commission has launched a broad inquiry into the management, administration and oversight of the Universal Service Fund, inviting public comment on all aspects of the program, including the E-Rate.
- A bill creating the Oregon Virtual School District passed the Oregon Senate. Establishing a state-level entity is meant to ensure that students from across the state have access to the same opportunities, with uniform accountability standards and guidelines for course development.
- Sixth graders at PA's Southern Lehigh Middle School participated in a 30-minute videoconference with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. The session was broadcast to all high school and middle school students through the district's closed-circuit television system.
- People not traveling to Philadelphia to attend NECC this year will have more options than ever before to keep tabs on what's happening. They can look in via webcasts, listen to podcasts or interact with a variety of bloggers.
Weigh in on the E-Rate
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched a broad inquiry into the management, administration and oversight of the Universal Service Fund (USF) Though the inquiry is broader than just the E-Rate, it could result in significant changes both to the way USF is administered and the way the E-rate in particular is implemented. E-Rate, the program that funds Internet access and telecommunications equipment and services for the nationýs schools and libraries, is one of four USF programs. The FCC anticipates that a multi-year application process for telecommunications services for the E-rate would simplify the process while guarding against potential abuse. To that end it seeks comment on, among other things, reducing or consolidating application forms and adopting deadlines and other criteria to provide certainty to program applicants. Commenting on this section of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Commissioner Martin suggests the use of a formula, based on enrollment, to distribute E-Rate funds directly to schools, libraries, and rural healthcare providers. In the interest of improving its oversight of the program, the Commission is also seeking comment on improving the debarment rules, establishing independent audits for certain USF beneficiaries and contributors and establishing rules for recovering USF monies that were not used in accordance with program rules.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
OR Explores Virtual Schooling
Oregon is exploring consolidating its current scattershot approach to virtual education by launching the Oregon Virtual School District. Establishing a state-level entity ensures that students from across the state have access to the same opportunities, with uniform accountability standards and guidelines for course development. Currently a dozen ESDs, school districts and university K-12 programs, operating independent of one another. provide 365 public credit-bearing course offerings. The legislation proposes transferring $2 million from the state schools budget to fund the virtual school's startup costs. Senate Bill 1071 establishes a framework that includes a fee structure that creates a self-supporting delivery system. This seamless system will have common course numbering, uniform data, and a shared technology system statewide. Learning from other statesý experiences, the bill also includes a clause that requires online charter schools to draw at least 50% of their students from their home district, reducing the potential impact of virtual schools on public school enrollment across the state. The bill is supported by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Oregon Education Association, the Oregon School Boards Association and the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators. SB 1071 now goes to the Senate Special Committee on Budget.
Source: OregonLive.com
Calling Outer Space
Educators often describe distance learning as a way to expand their studentsý horizon. For the sixth graders at Pennsylvaniaýs Southern Lehigh Middle School, the horizon expanded to include outer space as they participated in a 30-minute video conference with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. The session was broadcast to all high school and middle school students through the district's closed-circuit television system. NASA has an extensive educational outreach program. While in space, crews regularly participate in live in-flight education downlinks designed to involve students and teachers in space exploration. Flight engineer John Phillips engaged in a lively question-and-answer session with the class, which included his niece, Hannah. Phillips told students that a major part of the mission was simply learning more about how to live in space. He encouraged students who are interested in a career with the space agency to stick with their math studies. And in what has become an iconic picture from space missions, he demonstrated the lack of gravity by floating upside down.
Source: The Morning Call
Multicasting NECC
The National Educational Computing Conference kicks off on Monday, June 27. People not traveling to Philadelphia to attend NECC in person this year will have more options than ever before to keep tabs on whatýs happening. They can look in via webcast, listen to podcasts or interact with a variety of bloggers. Several of this year's Keynote, Spotlight, and Concurrent Sessions will be Webcast live and recorded for archived video-on-demand viewing through a partnership with KidzOnline. Sessions will be available for video-on-demand viewing within 24 hours of the live event, for one full year, through June 27, 2006. A slate of educators will also be blogging and/or podcasting their NECC experiences! NECC visitors are invited to join in by posting their own comments. NECC also hosted a number of preconference online forums designed to stimulate interest and conversation amongst NECC attendees. These special electronic learning communities, accessible via the NECC website through September 30, feature moderated discussions, virtual presentations, and resource sharing by many of NECC's outstanding presenters and other area experts.
Source: International Society for Technology in Education
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