District CIO

This month's New Products column features NaviGate Prepared, a web-based security system by Lauren Innovations, which was adapted for schools and gives first responders access to critical information such as maps, floor plans, emergency protocols, call lists and real-time video into a situation wherever there are cameras.

In the 21st-century classroom, K12 students are no longer practicing math equations at the chalkboard. Instead, math instruction has evolved into online and software-based programs that make learning interactive, challenging, and fun. The following math software programs do just that, as well as adapt to a student’s individual needs and skill level and provide much-needed information to teachers and parents.

At the moment, I’m wondering about the futures of my teen-aged children. It’s not that they’re not smart enough or hard-working enough, or don’t have the personalities to be successful in a career. It’s more about if those careers will still be around in the long-term, and whether or not my children can deal with the consequences if they’re not.

In his ongoing effort to make New York City a technological powerhouse, Mayor Michael Bloomberg today revealed the 20 middle and high schools selected for the city’s new Software Engineering Pilot (SEP) program. As part of the program, the schools will get “comprehensive computer science and software engineering curriculum” for around 1,000 students. The program will launch this September and is expected to grow to 3,500 students by 2016.

The Marblehead (Mass.) School District’s report on the state of its computer infrastructure should be required reading for school officials across the North Shore as an example of how quickly technology can become outdated and how expensive it can be to catch up.

Decades ago, a kid growing up in the metropolitan Detroit area could aspire to the kind of job his dad held working in an auto plant for pretty good money. It’s a lot more complicated nowadays. There aren’t as many manufacturing jobs, the money isn’t as good and what kind of job can women aspire to? A new report sponsored by Automation Alley holds out hope for all of our young people.

Education technology company Ooka Island is targeting parents and communities, not just teachers, in its quest to eradicate illiteracy. Is it a great example of technology's potential or a reflection of a broken school system?

In Arizona’s rural Cottonwood Oak Creek School District, 70 percent of students receive a free or reduced-price lunch. Because many students do not have the resources at home to learn about and interact with technology, the team at Cottonwood wanted to foster improved technology skills, while also promoting student engagement in class.

In this web seminar, an administrator described how the Hardin County (Ky.) School District worked with Enterasys Networks and iboss Security to build a robust network that can detect non-directory aware and student-owned devices, and adjust an individual’s level of access depending on grade level, location, time of day and more.

Neil Armstrong Middle School, in Forest Grove, Ore., has won a $25,000 grant from the Department of Education for its after-school technology program.