If you’re at all interested in technology, you’ve probably heard a lot of buzz lately about “net neutrality.” Net neutrality is the principle that, basically, all content on the internet is equal. With a “neutral” net, people use the internet in any lawful way they like without anyone judging what they should or shouldn’t be able to do.

In October, the recently appointment chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, released a notice in support of net neutrality.  Some of his recommendations stated that broadband internet service providers could notRead more...

I have to preface that I have not fully taken the plunge to shopping online but I know many people who have. After getting up and going shopping at 3 am on Black Friday I wondered if I had missed an opportunity to fully use technology to enhance my shopping experience. Many of the stores also support online retail and the deals that were present in the stores were also available online. Would I have been better off shopping from home in my pajamas instead of getting dressed and going out in the cold and rain to get the deals I desired? I decided that I didn’t have enough information to make an informed decision and should research some alternatives so I can make an informed decision next year. Read more...

A recent article in the Oregonian, “High School Life with No Cell Calls and No Texting,” describes a new cell phone policy at Clackamas High School. If teachers or administrators see a cell phone, at any time during the day, in class or out, they confiscate the phone and return it to a parent.

While the author, Andy Parker, refers to student indignation at the policy, the final word in the article comes from the principal. He attributes a significant drop in behavior referrals to the cell phone ban, stating, "We've eliminated a significant distraction to learning. Our teachers are very happy."

The comments on this article are overwhelmingly supportive of the policy, with one, lone dissenting voice--“10 years from now, people will laugh about decisions like this.”

So where does the technology-savvy educator stand on this issue? Are cell phones distractions or can they be harnessed to improve student learning? Is it easier to “just say no” to cell phones than to develop policies that support their constructive use?Read more...

What Is a Portfolio?
One of the best assessment tools to help students become more self-directed and reflective is a portfolio—a collection over time of student work and reflections. As you probably know, there are two main kinds of portfolios: showcase portfolios that show a student’s best work and working portfolios that document a student’s learning. Some schools and school districts also require portfolios that demonstrate student learning and are passed on from teacher to teacher. Here, I’m going to be writing about working portfolios.Read more...