1998 News Archive

NSF Honors Teachers Who Integrate Research Into Instruction

Some 400 recipients of the NSF CAREER and White House PECASE awards along with 100 deans and department chairs convene this week in Washington, DC.


Third International Conference on the Learning Sciences

Cosponsored by AACE and the EduTech Institute at Georgia Tech, this December 1998 event focused on educational research from the dual perspectives of human cognition and computing techonologies, and the application of this research in design, cognition and social contexts.
CTC Conference Wrap Up

Be sure to check this site, with reports (and papers) presented at this year's Camden Technology Conference - "The Transformation of Learning" , held October 23-25.
A Project Where Summer Never Ends

NSF reports on 4 teachers who spent this summer in the Arctic, and 10 who are preparing to leave now for summer in the Antartic. (10/8/98)

Plant Genome Research Kicks Off "The Century of Biology"

The 21st century -- often called the century of biology -- has begun early. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is providing a boost to plant biology research through 23 Plant Genome Research Program: Collaborative Research and Infrastructure Projects awards totalling $85 million over the next five years. (9/29/98; update article 10/8/98)
NSF Awards $12.5M in Grants to 36 Universities for High Performance Connectivity

Vice-President Gore announced the grants to enable Universities to link into NSF's very high performance Backbone Network Service (vBNS) or other NSF- approved high performance networks, allowing scientists and engineers to collaborate and share powerful computing and information resources. The vBNS is crucial to the President's Next Generation Internet (NGI) and serves as the initial interconnect for Internet2 member institutions. (9/18/98)

Presidential Awards Honor Mentoring in Science, Mathematics and Engineering

The White House has announced ten individuals and eight institutions as recipients of the 1998 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, a three-year-old award administered and funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF). The awards recognize outstanding individual efforts and organizational programs designed to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in mathematics, engineering, and science in kindergarten-12th grade and through the graduate level. (9/10/98)

An Educational Technology Happening

Why are Alan Kay, Bob Metcalfe, Seymour Papert, Roger Schank, John Sculley, Elliot Soloway and Antonia Stone all heading for Maine this October? Check our report on the Camden Technology Conference to find out! (8/27/98)

Focus on Intelligence

America's ability to pinpoint targets in the Sudan and Afghanistan so quickly after the terrorist attacks in Tanzania and Kenya are credited as an "intelligence victory". Do your students know what the government and news media mean by "intelligence"? Do they know where Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Afghanistan are located? What other countries are they near? Check out our special report on intelligence sites on the World Wide Web, including detail maps of the world from the CIA collection at the University of Texas. (8/22/98)

Are We Alone???

A relatively small group of dedicated astronomers and other scientists are actively searching for signals from extraterrestrial civilizations, but an even larger group of researchers are working in the field of bioastronomy, the search for life in the universe. Visit the Planetary Society to learn more about the programs on this world that are seeking information about life on other worlds. (8/2/98)


Report from Ed-Media/Ed-Telecommunications '98 Dave Keefe reports from International Conference on Applications of Multimedia and Telecommunications in Learning (6/29/98)

TIMSS, RHYMES WITH DIMS, AS IN WITTED Gerald Bracey takes issue with the accuracy of the reported TIMSS findings. (4/14/98)

FEDERAL RESOURCES FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE (FREE) Secretary Riley announces a new initiative for the Web supported by 45 Federal Agencies and Organizations (posted 4/10/98)

AN OPEN LETTER TO RICHARD RILEY...
Gerald W. Bracey questions the accuracy of recent Dept. of Education conclusions on US Mathematics Capabilities. (4/10/98)

THE SECRET TO THOSE HIGH ASIAN TEST SCORES...
Gerald W. Bracey continues our new series with a report showing the effect of parental factors. (4/10/98)

"HOW TECHNOLOGY ENHANCES HOWARD GARDNER'S EIGHT INTELLIGENCES"
... Dee Dickinson, CEO of New Horizons for Learning, is our guest contributor this week with excerpts from her book by Allyn and Bacon. (posted 4/5/98)

Anne C. Lewis Reports from the American Association of School Administrators Conference: (posted 3/23/98)
• GET SMARTER ABOUT SPENDING MONEY, ADMINISTRATORS TOLD
• BETTER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING, ADMINISTRATORS ADVISED
• DISTRICT TAKEOVERS STRAND SCHOOL BOARDS
• PUTTING SCHOOLS INTO MARKETPLACE DOESN'T WORK

LOOK LOCAL FOR TEACHER CANDIDATES
Anne C. Lewis reports on DeWitt Wallace-Readers Digest Fund sponsored study (posted 1/14/98)

PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ITS DISCONTENTS
Always thoughtful, often thought-provoking, Gerald W. Bracey brings a fresh perspective to many of the key issues in American Public Education. Watch for more articles during the new year.(posted 12/29/97)

WARNING: IDEAS ARE GETTING TOO `BRAINY'
Anne C. Lewis review of Educational Research article... (posted 12/9/97)

NOT DINOSAURS AFTER ALL
Anne C. Lewis on a report of how teachers of teachers view Public Education. (posted 11/2/97)

THAT'S HISTORY: MEDIA GOT STANDARDS STORY WRONG
Education writers learn background on history standards / media misrepresentations. (posted 9/28/97)

PUBLIC STILL SUPPORTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT MAY BE MOVING AWAY
Anne C. Lewis reports on 1997 Phi Delta Kappa / Gallup Poll results (posted 9/16/97)

STRONG SIGNS THAT REFORMS ARE TAKING HOLD
Anne C. Lewis reports from the CRESST annual meeting (posted 9/14/97)

NO BULLIES, NO BASKETBALL, NO RITALIN
Microsoft's Trends in Education Series features report on Home Schooling by 15 year old "HomeSchoolee" Micael Novello(posted 9/2/97)

ON THE BRINK OF A REVOLUTION: COMPUTERS AND LEARNING
Microsoft's Trends in Education Series features report by Mark R. Anderson(posted 8/26/97)

THEODORE ROOSEVELT
New TV productions focus attention on this unique and interesting historical character, the first U.S. President to serve a complete term in the 20th century. (posted 8/3/97)

>

1997 News Archive

• UPDATE ON AMERICA'S PROMISE CAMPAIGN
  General Colin Powell issues progress report on "America's Promise -- The Alliance for Youth," a national campaign to propel the mission of the March 1997 Presidents' Summit into the 21st Century. (posted 8/2/97)
• EDUCATION COMMISSION OF THE STATES 1997 AWARDS
  ECS Honors Five Students, Senator Claiborne Pell, Maryland Representative Howard "Pete" Rawlings (Posted 7/14/97) See additional reports on ECS by Anne C. Lewis
  
  

• HIGHLIGHTS OF NECC '97
  Focus on teacher and student leaders; Lucas premieres "Learn & Live"(Updated 7/7/97)
  
  

• RELEASING THE GENIUS OF ALL CHILDREN
  Asa Hilliard keynote draws standing ovation from Early Childhood leaders (posted 6/26/97)
  
  

• VP & TIPPER GORE HOST FAMILY RE-UNION 6
  Focus is education at conference co-sponsored by Vanderbilt University and University of Minnesota (posted 6/25/97)
  
  

• PRESIDENTS' SUMMIT FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE
  Mentoring, volunteerism highlighted at historic meeting in Philadelphia April 27-29
• THIRD "BAYER FACTS OF SCIENCE" REPORT ISSUED
  Bayer Foundation funded study uncovers what the nation's students think of the science education they are receiving, how they would improve it if they could, how they think they learn science best, and how they rate their parents and teachers when it comes to science. (4/18/97)
• MAKING SCIENCE MAKE SENSE
  A Bayer initiative supporting hands-on science education and a nationwide campaign promoting science literacy (4/18/97)

• Reports from QuEST, the annual meeting of the American Federation of Teachers:
  • AFT PUSHES PROGRAMS THAT IT SAYS `WORK'
    encourage nationwide adoption of six education improvement programs. (posted 7/30/97)
  • STATES DOING MORE OF WHAT AFT WANTS
    says quality of the content standards for students adopted by the states has improved. (posted 7/30/97)
  • NEW AFT PRESIDENT WANTS TEACHERS TO CLOSE BAD SCHOOLS
    Sandra Felman stakes her positions in first speech to 940,000 member teachers' union (posted 7/28/97)
  • NEA AND AFT UNITS TALKING UP SCHOOL REFORM TOGETHER
    locals from the two unions have been sitting down together for two years to talk about how the unions can push school reform. (posted 7/28/97)
• SAME COLLEGES PULLING MOST OF THE WEIGHT ON MINORITY DEGREES
  Black Issues in Higher Education Magazine releases results of its latest study. (posted 7/27/97)
• COLLEGE AFFORDABLE FOR ALMOST ALL,
  according to a study by Sallie Mae, the largest source of college funds in this country. (posted 7/27/97)
• Reports from the annual meeting of the Education Commission of the States:
  • CHECK THAT UNION SHEEP
    is the promise of greater NEA / AFT collaboration a wolf in sheep's clothing? (posted 7/18/97)
  • AN EFFICIENT URBAN SCHOOL SYSTEM?
    Houston Independent School District to use technology as the basis for a comprehensive classroom performance system. (posted 7/17/97)
  • GOT STANDARDS? NOW COMES THE HARD PART
    NSF's Luther Williams provides some guidance at ECS annual meeting. (posted 7/15/97)
  • HEAT ABOUT VOUCHERS TURNS ON UNIONS AND POLICYMAKERS
    session on "what do we know about vouchers" turned into a heated discussion of "what do we think about policymakers and unions." (posted 7/14/97)
  • ECS STARTS K-12 COMPACT FOR SERVICE LEARNING
    objective is to coordinate and promote service learning much as the highly successful ECS College Compact has done for higher education. (posted 7/13/97)
• STATUS OF AMERICAN CHILDREN IS "MIXED," SAYS GROUNDBREAKING REPORT
  National Center for Health Statistics releases interagency report (posted 7/7/97)
• HIGHER STANDARDS TO GET "WORKOUT" IN TV SPOTS
  Ad Council series to feature Major League Ball Players (posted 7/7/97)
• ARE WE A KID-HATING SOCIETY?
  Research report from The Public Agenda Foundation shows disturbing trends (posted 7/7/97)
• ADMINISTRATION TO TRY AGAIN TO NET THE INTERNET PORN
  Administration to convene leaders to discuss other ways of stopping pornographic material from reaching children (posted 7/7/97)
• Risks Around Kids Divide Country in Half
  Annie E. Casey Foundation releases KIDS COUNT 1997 Data Online (posted 6/23/97)
• Skills Standards Work Redefining Jobs for Young People
  National Skills Standards Board Pilot Project with DECA on retail job standards (posted 6/23/97)
• Why Promising Reform Programs Fail
  A new study published by the Educational Research Service, Inc. provides some answers (posted 6/3/97)
• If Money Goes To Reduce Class Size, Then It Makes a Difference
  a new study from the Educational Testing Service indicates money does improve student achievement--if it is spent on reducing class size (posted 5/30/97)
• Professional Development: Only The Right stuff Counts
  David Cohen lays out evidence useful to policymakers and staff developers (posted 5/26/97)
• Education Writers Association Meeting, May 1-3:
  • Private Uses of Education Winning Out
    historian tells EWA the trend toward private purposes for education, as in choice, charters, and vouchers, is accelerating.
  • E.D. Hirsch and Ted Sizer Square Off On Standards
    Issues go beyond the elementary vs high school orientations of the protagonists.
  • Reading Campaign Misdirected?
    Administration's campaign to ensure all children are reading by the end of the third grade is the right issue but not the right strategy
  • Changes Ahead in Teaching?
    Teaching is transforming, and so are the unions, according to a recent report of the National Commission on Teaching & America's Future, "What Matters Most".
• Gender Plays a Role in Test Scores, But is Hidden
  ETS finds gender differences are more obvious among the "self-selected" tests--PSAT, SAT and ACT
• Latest Report Card On Education Should Earn Grounding
  Educational Testing Service says little has changed in student achievement in five years... student engagement and home support don't come off very good either. (4/16/97)
• Asian-Background Students as Diverse as Everyone Else
  New study from the Educational Testing Service challenges the stereotype of Asian American students as inevitably high-performing and goal-oriented (4/15/97)
• Elementary Principals Think Parents are Disinterested
  Anne C. Lewis reports findings of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (4/14/97)
• Annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association:(3/31/97)
  • New National Tests Off the Drawing Board
    American students will be taking nationally developed tests in reading and math by March of 1999, according to plans outlined by Clinton Administration officials.
  • Searching for Solutions to Inadequate Schools
    Policymakers are devising all sorts of ways to improve schools, but researchers are finding no silver bullets.
  • Breakthroughs in Understanding School Finance
    Policymakers are on the verge of a "breakthrough" in school finance that will move the issue from what is efficient to what is effective, a panel of experts on school finance agreed during the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in Chicago.
• Message for State Policymakers: Increase Child Care Funding (3/24/97)
  The Future of Children Project reports the financing of child care needs reform as well as a substantial increase.
• All Children Can Learn at High Levels, But...(3/24/97)
  The Johns Hopkins University Center for the Social Organization of Schools reports on a three-year study
• Chiefs Endorse National Voluntary Tests(3/24/97)
  Council of Chief State School Officers endorses Clinton proposal for voluntary individual student testing.
• Average Teachers' Salaries Fall (2/24/97)
  Education Research Service issues annual report
• U. S. Education Secretary Riley's State of Education speech (2/18/97)
• American Association of School Administrators...(2/17/97)
  • Message to School Leaders: Stop the Divided Society
  • High Schools Deciding to Change
  • Charter Schools... an Unknown Quantity
  Reports from the AASA Annual Convention
• Teenagers Want Their High Schools to be Tougher, Academically (2/10/97)
  reports Public Agenda Foundation study
• State Policy Makers Baffled by Problems of Urban Districts (2/6/97)
  exclusive report on Education Commission of the States Meeting
  

• Nations Governors Address Early Childhood Issues (2/3/97)
  
• Emphasis Placed on Birth Through Age Three (2/5/97)
  exclusive reports from the winter meeting of the National Governors' Association
• Congress Set to Act on Education Issues (1/27/97)
• Conference at New Getty Center Reaffirms Importance of Arts Education (1/16/97)
• An update on the status of Charter Schools, and a recently commissioned project to study their effectiveness. (7/2/96)
• Report on political issues involving education from the American Youth Policy Forum meeting.in Washington, D.C. (5/5/96)
• Perspectives on the Education Writers Association Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota (5/5/96)
• Exclusive conference coverage on AERA - the 1996 Conference of the American Educational Research Association (4/15/96)
• "Behind the scenes" reports on the National Governors' Association meeting with selected Business and Corporate Leaders at the 1996 National Education Summit in Palisades, NY on March 26 and 27. (5/27/96)
  Also, see the Summit's web site containing additional coverage, speeches and an interactive forum, giving you an opportunity to be heard on important education reform issues.