Cover Story: Ready for Open Source? by Miguel Guhlin
From word processing and spreadsheet programs to concept-mapping and e-mail tools, increasing numbers of districts are looking to open source software to get the job done inexpensively.

Digital-Age Assessment by Harry Grover Tuttle
E-portfolios can be a great way for educators to track student progress and inspire them to examine how and what they learned — and what they need to work on.

Making the Most of Alert Notification Systems by Sheila Riley
Two administrators talk about strategies for making alert notification systems work, from switching up call times to foil sneaky students to tracking call quantity and quality.

Product Guide
Enterprise Resource Planning Software by James Careless
Tracking every product and dollar spent using a unified system can be an IT manager’s dream. But is the cost of ERP systems worth it for your district?

Reviews
Adobe Digital School Collection by Carol S. Holzberg
This collection—Photoshop Elements 5.0, Premiere Elements, Acrobat Professional 8, and Contribute 4—will inspire students to create and share digital content.

What's New
A new interactive personal response system from Smart Technologies, Allegro Rainbow’s piano instruction software for Macs, MapleSoft’s upgraded assessment system, and more.

Editor's Desk
Raw Materials for Innovation by Susan McLester

News & Trends
Apple's iPhone, the power of infinite thinking, and what teens reveal on MySpace. Plus: Florida Educational Technology Conference report. by T&L Editors

How To
Lean and Mean by Jeffrey Branzburg
Does your PC run like an old jalopy? Here are some quick tips to get it running smoothly.

Emerging Tech
Help Is on the Way by Michael Simkins
Bibliography mashups can give educators the resources they need to help struggling students find the perfect book.

Bottom Line

• Going Corporate by Susan Brooks-Young
  With a little planning, your district can benefit from corporate grant initiatives.
• Grants & Contests by Susan Brooks-Young
  Funding, recognition programs, and resources.

MORE@techlearning.com

• How To Take Notes Online by Julia VanderMolen
  Students will actually enjoy taking notes for their projects with this assortment of Web-based note-taking tools.
• Cornerstones of Technology Integration, Pt. 2 by Frank Rudnesky
  How one New Jersey school solved the problems of professional development and technology integration by using a well-designed peer-mentoring program.
• Classroom Web-controlled Receivers by Kevin C. Wise
  The Web has made shortwave radio accessible to all, and now it can provide some fascinating learning in science as well as in social studies and literature.