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Feb. 15, 2001
Trend Watch by T&L Editors
Discovering the Virtues of e-Learning
Former Secretary of Education William J. Bennett, who argued last year in his book The Educated Child that when it comes to cyber-education, "there is no good evidence that most uses of computers significantly improve learning," apparently has changed his mind.
In an intriguing about-face, Bennett has launched K12, an Internet company that will provide a complete Web-based elementary and secondary education. The venture primarily targets homeschoolers and parents wanting to get their kids extra tutoring. Among his staff is Yale professor David Gelernter, who has called educational technology applications "games to kill time."
Web-Based Commission Calls for Action
After more than a year of investigation, the Web-Based Education Commission recently urged the Bush administration to focus specifically on "e-learning" in our national education agenda. Among the commission's primary concerns are the digital divide and the huge discrepancy between what U.S. industry is spending in technology per worker (up to $5,500) and what schools are spending on technology per student (typically $200)-which could result in a workforce unprepared for the new century.
The commission's seven-point call to action includes the following:
- make Internet access more widely and equitably available
- step up technology training and support for educators
- build a new research framework around Internet-age learning
- develop high-quality online educational content
- revise outdated regulations that impede innovation and anytime, anywhere, any pace learning
- protect and maintain the privacy of online learners.
Reactions from both the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers were positive overall, but both expressed concern that strict controls be maintained over the quality of educational coursework online. AFT president Sandra Feldman also added that she feels it imperative for undergraduate learners to have "an appropriate balance between online and in-person learning."
Apple Delivers the Digital Goods
At last month's Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Apple CEO Steve Jobs reassured a rapt audience of Mac enthusiasts that the personal computer is not dying, but rather evolving into a "digital hub" for devices such as digital cameras, MP3 players, and handheld organizers.
To that end, Jobs unveiled iTunes, free software for playing and managing MP3 music files; and iDVD, a drag-and-drop program for creating DVD discs. iDVD comes bundled with Apple's high-end, 733MHz Power Mac G4, one of four new Power Mac models introduced at the show.
The piece de resistance, however, eliciting an impassioned "I want one!" from the crowd, was the new titanium PowerBook G4, a 1-inch-thick, 5.3-pound notebook that Jobs called both "powerful and sexy." With prices starting at $2,599 for the 400MHz model, however, it may not be so sexy to educators for a while yet.
Among the throngs of followers was 14-year-old Michael Matas, a student at Garfield High School in Seattle who flew down for the conference. What impressed him the most? "Definitely the new DVD-burning capabilities. I could see taking videos for school projects and burning them onto DVD," says Matas, who added that schools don't take enough advantage of video.
Xara X: An Affordable e-Palette
What's new in the world of computer design and illustration? We recently spotted a just-released print and Web design tool that school art departments on a budget might appreciate. Xara X, from Xara Ltd., joins a competitive field that includes favorites like Macromedia FreeHand and Adobe Illustrator. This latest e-palette bills itself as an affordable alternative to its competitors that still offers all the perks: sophisticated design tools, easy export capabilities, and vector graphics precision.
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