Teaching for the Future: TftF 73: The Role of Handheld Tech in Schools

NEWS:
Lousy test question for fourth graders from BoingBoing: Mark from Boing Boing was helping his daughter prepare for a standardized test when he came across this question. If I had handed in this question in an assessment class I would have been in trouble. It's questions like this that make kids and teachers so stressed out about these tests.

"Sara wants to measure how much applesauce she made this fall. If she uses metric, which unit should she use?

A) gram
B) liter
C) kilogram
D) centimeter"

CNN To Release June Debates Under Creative Commons via Slashdot: I would think a public debate about important public issues done on public airwaves should be available to the public. MSNBC disagrees.

Law Firm Rescinds Offer to Ex-AutoAdmit Director from the WSJ: This is another cautionary tale of a student who's social networking came back to haunt them. (See Episode 72, 67) A 3L student from UPenn has lost his firm offer because of his involvement with the AutoAdmit Forum. If you are not familiar with AutoAdmit it is a controversial forum where law students can discuss classes and other students.

Teaching for the Future on BostonNow.com

EDITORIAL:
The Role of Handheld Tech in Schools:
There is a lot of change happening recently education technology in schools. As many one to one laptop programs are being scratched because schools are disappointed with the results. (NYTIMES /Slashdot). While at the same time schools are also banning iPods (Computer World) and cell phones (CBS News) are as schools are starting to think about how they want students to be using technology.

Though many schools are really starting to see a lot of hand held technology as a distraction some schools are going in completely other directions. One school, Georgia Gwinnett College, is building mobile phones right into campus life and using them for scheduling, safety alerts, course material, and even assessment. (The Chronicle of Higher Education requires a login for the full article)

OTHER LINKS:
The Answer is not always C from College Humor (Parts of sight NSFW)

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