In this week’s EdTech News Roundup, check out articles about $10,000 college degrees, prep for iPads in schools, the truth about blocked websites at schools, and more.
1. Texas Could Offer a Stripped-Down Degree for Just $10,000, Commissioner Says
Everyone involved acknowledges that the idea is ambitious, but as Raymund A. Paredes, Texas’ Commissioner of Higher Education, says, “I hope we’ve established that this isn’t a crazy idea.” Online courses would likely be a significant part of the plan. Read more in this article from The Chronicle of Higher Education.
2. Prepping for iPads in Schools
There’s been plenty of discussion about whether or not iPads are worthwhile additions to the classroom. But once the decision has been made to hand them out to students, what kind of preparation is required? Read more about one Florida high school’s journey to integrate iPads and address concerns about safety and teacher preparation, in this article from THE Journal.
3. Straight from the DOE: Dispelling Myths About Blocked Sites
There’s a lot of confusion about federal mandates to block certain websites: what sites are required to be blocked, whether teachers are allowed to access those sites, and whether schools will lose all funding if they break certain rules. In this post from MindShift, Karen Cator (the DOE’s Director of Educational Technology) clears up the confusion.
4. New Director of MIT Media Lab Talks of Encouraging Openness
Joi Ito, the new director of the MIT Media Lab and former CEO of Creative Commons, has plenty of ideas to encourage more open-knowledge projects at the MIT Media Lab, one of the world’s top computing labs. Read more about Joi Ito’s affinity for World of Warcraft (and other things!) in this article from The Chronicle of Higher Education.
5. Campuses Not Meeting Demand for Hybrid Classes
Hybrid classes, which involve both web-based and in-person components, have often proven more popular (and perhaps even more effective) on college campuses. Still, many colleges are not meeting the demand. Read more in this article from eCampus News.
Read the full article: EdTech News Roundup: Prepping for iPads in Schools, High Demand for Hybrid Classes, and a College Degree for $10k?