EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY NEWS

From the New Hampshire Department of Education

Office of Educational Technology

Date:                June 6, 2002    

Volume:           2002.06.01

 

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IN THIS ISSUE

-           CIPA Requirements Message

-           Technology Plan Questions

-           TLCF Round 5 Unspent Monies

-           Sypware Computer Problems

-           Technology Infrastructure Grants

-           Critical Shortage List

-           Job Openings

-           NH Certification Programs

-           Online Degree Programs

-           NHSTE Summer Workshops

-           McAuliffe Conference Presentations DUE NOW!!!

-           Book Scanning Service

 

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ET News is sent from the Office of Educational Technology at the New Hampshire Department of Education.  Please note that, while ET News is forwarding information about technology related products and services, we have not conducted a formal evaluation of such products/services.  We encourage you to let us know if you find a particular item of high quality and value to your school.  You can find previous issues of ETNews on our web site at www.nheon.org/oet/etnews .

 

 

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CIPA Requirements Message

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The following message originated from the USAC Schools and Libraries Division:

 

“A three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled on Friday, May 31, 2002, that Sections 1712(a)(2) and 1721(b) of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) (applying to libraries) are facially invalid under the First Amendment and permanently enjoined the government from enforcing those provisions.  The court found unconstitutional section 254(h)(6), which set out a requirement that a library receiving E-rate discounts have a technology protection measure for its computers with Internet access.  Thus, public libraries receiving E-rate discounts are not required to filter their computers with Internet access.

 

The Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act, which amended 47 U.S.C. Section 254 by adding subsection (l), is not affected by the Court's decision and remains intact.  Thus, a library receiving E-rate discounts is still required to have an Internet safety policy that addresses: (1) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web, (2) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications, (3) unauthorized access, including hacking, and other unlawful activities by minors online, (4) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors, and (5) measures designed to restrict minors' access to materials harmful to minors.  Section 254(l) also includes a public notice and hearing/meeting requirement, which remains in force.

 

It is important to note that the decision did not address CIPA requirements as they apply to schools.  Those requirements remain in full force and effect, and schools will continue to be required to meet CIPA requirements as spelled out in FCC regulations in order to receive funds from the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism.”

 

Visit the Schools and Library Division website for updates at: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/

 

 

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Technology Plan Questions

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Several districts have contacted OET with questions about review and approval deadlines for local technology plans.  We have temporarily stopped reviewing plans, since we are in the process of revising the Statewide Educational Technology Plan in order for NH to qualify for No Child Left Behind dollars. (You may review and comment on the current draft by visiting http://nheon.org/oet/stateplan/nhtp2002.htm.) 

All school district plans will have to be correlated to the new requirements in order to be eligible for federal funding.  We do not anticipate these being much more rigorous than the current requirements, however any changes will be posted online via an announcement on ETNews and the online Tech Planning Guide at www.nheon.org/oet/tpguide will be updated accordingly.

 

We expect to have the state plan approved before mid-July 2002, at which time we hope to have available an electronic crosswalk for all school districts to indicate where in their tech plan they address each item. School district technology plans will be due at the NHDOE in early October 2002 in order to be eligible for the next round of federal dollars. In the meantime, any district which has a current tech plan on file and needs a  letter for E-rate application should contact Chrys Bouvier at cbouvier@ed.state.nh.us .

 

 

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TLCF Round 5 – Unspent Monies

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Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Round 5 (final round) monies must be expended and reported on the June quarterly.  Any unspent monies will be reallocated by September 2002. For further information please contact Chrys Bouvier at 271-8049 or cbouvier@ed.state.nh.us

 

 

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“Spyware” Computer Problems

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The following tip comes from Teri Blouin: “If any of you suspect "spyware" problems with your computers - (the new generation of "cookies") here is a link to a program (Ad-aware 5.8) to clean things up.  We ran this on a school library computer and found six areas needing clean up!  http://www.lavasoft.nu/ .  Symptoms of spyware include:  slowing down of your internet conneciton, crashing of your computer, pop-up ads appear on your computer, porn email.... “      [Thanks, Teri!]

 

 

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Technology Infrastructure for School Renovations

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NH school districts investigating grant opportunities to fund technology infrastructure should check out the New Hampshire Application for School Renovations, IDEA and Technology Grants 2002-03 available at:  

http://www.ed.state.nh.us/BuildingAid/grant%20app.htm . The application deadline is July 19, 2002.

 

 

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Critical Shortage List for 2002-2003

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The NHDOE Bureau of Credentialing (BOC) has completed an analysis of the teacher supply and demand for the 2002-2003 school year. Included on the list this year are Computer Technology Educator and Media Generalist.  You can view the complete list at http://www.ed.state.nh.us/Certification/crshortage.htm.

 

 

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Job Openings

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Technology Coordinator

Inter-Lakes School District is in search of a Technology Coordinator with a start date of July/August 2002. Deadline for applications is June 30, 2002.  Go to www.interlakes.org and click on Employment Opportunities for more information and an application.

 

Media Generalist

Moultonborough Academy (Grades 7-12) has an opening for media generalist. See http://www.moultonborough.k12.nh.us/msd/jobline.html for details.

 

Visit www.edjobsnh.com for more listings.

 

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NH Certification Programs

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Three NH institutions currently have approved programs for preparing Computer Technology Educators. They are Keene State College, Plymouth State College, and Southern NH University. You can visit the complete list of NH approved credential programs at http://www.ed.state.nh.us/Certification/listof.htm.

 

 

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Classroom Connect -- Connected University licenses

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Connected University will continue to be offered to NH schools through the new No Child Left Behind funding.  The Office of Educational Technology, Division of Program Support at the NH Department of Education is working together with Classroom Connect to enable school districts currently enrolled in Connected University to continue access to these excellent resources.  Those NH school districts that received funding for Connected University through TLCF may continue using those existing licenses until March 2003. 

 

 

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Online Degree Programs

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There are many institutions which now offer online degree programs.  The University of Wisconsin-Extension maintains an excellent clearinghouse website at http://www.uwex.edu/disted/index.html on a variety of distance education topics.  Another good resource on the topic is the “Distance Learning on the Net” website at http://www.hoyle.com/ .

 

One such program that we just heard about is at the University of Missouri.  They have an Educational Technology in Schools program of study, consisting of 32 credit hours leading to a Master of Education with an emphasis in Educational Technology. It prepares K-12 educators and other professionals for effective and innovative use of technology. For information on the degree program and the courses required for this program, you can visit http://www.coe.missouri.edu/~sislt.  You can enroll online by going to http://mudirect.missouri.edu. 

 

 

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NHSTE Summer Workshops

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Get your registrations forms in the mail now for NHSTE's summer workshops. Get your colleagues to do the same. Go to the website at www.nhste.org and click on Professional Development  for a registration form and more information.  Here’s a preview of the list:

 

*** JUNE ***

Windows 2000 Professional

Windows 2000 Server and Active Directory

Using and Designing WebQuests

 

*** JULY ***

Learning and Applying Inspiration

TCP/IP, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know!

SonicWALL Configuration

 

 

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McAuliffe Conference Presentations DUE NOW!!!

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Although we’re all thinking about summer and not about the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference in December, there’s still time to get your presentation application in IF YOU HURRY.  (They can take last minute entries if you get it in BEFORE MONDAY the 10th.  Visit the site at http://www.nhste.org/christa/christa01.htm to print a presentation form. 

 

 

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Book Scanning Service

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Bookshare.org offers a book scanning service, providing books online to disabled readers. There's a $25 installation fee and $50 yearly subscription fee.  Visit their site at www.bookshare.org.

 

 

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Regards,

Cathy Higgins

for the staff at the NHDOE Office of Educational Technology

 

*** Visit us on the NHEON.ORG web site at www.nheon.org