Links - Technology

There are vast number of links included on the SchoolGrants site - all were accurate at the time of posting.  However, due to the ever-changing nature of the WWW, it is possible that you may encounter "dead links."  If you do, please let me know which one gave you problems! If you will include the Web page the link is on, it will be a tremendous help to me in finding it.

Technology-Related Links

Earn Technology for Your School!

The FundingFactory makes school fundraising as simple as collecting empty laser and inkjet cartridges and used cell phones.  Your qualifying cartridges and cell phones can be redeemed for valuable educational technology and recreational equipment! 

Here are the facts about using the FundingFactory's recycling process to earn points for your school:

     Participation is totally free – there are no registration costs.
      Collection boxes are supplied at no cost. 
      Prepaid shipping labels are already attached to boxes.
      Name, address, and account number are included on labels.
      Online ordering of collection boxes is available 24-7/365.  
      View points accumulated in real time, not quarterly.
      Redeem points for thousands of brand-name technology 
         and recreational products
      Over 18,000 education organizations are already participating 
      In business since 1996!

Technology Briefs Available
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) emphasizes the importance of using the power of technology in all areas of education and requires states and local districts to develop plans that effectively integrate its use into the curriculum. The Northeast and Islands Regional Technology Consortium (NEIRTEC) has created a series of technology briefs (Technology Briefs for NCLB Planners) to help state and district leaders understand how to use technology to improve curriculum, assessments and teaching. The briefs are directly related to U.S. Department of Education requirements and provide you with effective strategies, questions, and resources.  The 66-page PDF document takes awhile to download if you don't have a fast Internet connection so be patient!

E-Rate

If you haven't been taking advantage of e-rate discounts, you should check it out this year.  

E-rate is administered by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company.  The SLD Web site is thorough but if you haven't applied for e-rate before, you should start reading and learning early!  Keep in mind that the discount is well worth the headaches involved in navigating the bureaucracy.  SLD provides a brief summary of the process in PDF format that you should download if you're new to it.

New Guidance on CIPA Certifications
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an order on Friday, June 28, 2002, which suspends enforcement of FCC rules implementing section 254(h)(6) of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), relating to filtering requirements for computers with Internet access in libraries. Suspension of enforcement of filtering requirements applies to public and private libraries.  It does NOT apply to schools or school libraries; CIPA's filtering requirements as applied to schools and school libraries have not been challenged and remain in effect.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
The Consortium for School Networking, a non-profit association that promotes the use of telecommunications to improve K-12 learning, has launched "Taking TCO to the Classroom” to help school leaders understand the long-term costs involved in building and operating a network of computers. You should take some time going through this resource - the cost of technology goes way beyond the initial purchase of equipment and it is vital that schools plan for all associated costs.

(from the 9/15/03 SchoolGrants Biweekly Newsletter)

(from the 9/15/03 SchoolGrants Biweekly Newsletter)

Earn Technology for Your School!
ETCEP (Educational Technology Conservation Exchange Program) encourages learning institutions across the country to collect empty laser and inkjet printer cartridges from their communities. These include cartridges consumed in both homes and businesses. Collected cartridges earn points, which are then exchanged for new computer technology. In this way ETCEP connects community, education and the environment!  Recently, old cell phones have been added to the list of items that can be sent to ETCEP to earn points for your school.

The FundingFactory.com site provides fund-raising programs that increase student and teacher access to technology products - including computers and software.

ALA's Public Programs Office links libraries, communities, and culture. Find applications and more on this site.

The Computer Learning Foundation is an international nonprofit educational foundation, dedicated to improving the quality of education and preparation of youth for the workplace through the use of technology. To accomplish its mission, the Foundation provides numerous projects and materials to help parents and educators use technology effectively with children.

Computers for Learning will place hundreds of thousands of computers in our Nation's classrooms and prepare our children to contribute and compete in the 21st century. The program is designed to donate surplus Federal computer equipment to schools and educational nonprofits, giving special consideration to those with the greatest need. The Computers for Learning website allows schools and educational nonprofits to register quickly and easily to request surplus Federal computer equipment. Federal agencies will then use the website to donate computers to schools and educational nonprofits based upon indications of need.

CoSN, a non-profit organization, promotes the use of telecommunications in K-12 education to improve learning.

Sun Associates offers this free PowerPoint presentation to help schools write effective and successful grant proposals for technology projects. 

Also, check out Sun Associates' 10 Tips for Educational Technology Grantwriters

The Office of Educational Technology (OET) encourages and leads education improvement efforts by helping educators, congressional leaders, and administrators utilize available resources to reshape instruction, teaching, and learning environments. OET plays an integral role in expanding and improving access to technology and serves as a catalyst in bringing effective uses of education technology into classrooms across the nation. For the "Resource Guide to Federal Funding For Technology in Education", visit http://www.ed.gov/Technology/tec-guid.html 

The Department of Education has also released its technology plan, e-Learning: Putting a World-Class Education at the Fingertips of All Children and the Educational Technology Progress Report.  Both are available at http://www.ed.gov/technology.

Sun Associates offers this free Powerpoint presentation that schools can use to evaluate their technology's impact on teaching and learning.

The STAR Center's "Excellence and Equity through Technology Network". Find Technology Plan templates, success stories, links, strategies, and grant opportunities on this site.

ExplorNet links business/government with schools and works with teachers and students to develop and adapt the curriculum; and helping communities increase volunteerism in the schools. ExplorNet also negotiates with equipment vendors to ensure schools get computer hardware like motherboards, CD-ROMs and hard drives at the lowest possible price. ExplorNet makes no money on the equipment sales. Currently operating only in Arkansas, Mississippi,  North Carolina, North Dakota, and South Dakota but you should keep checking back as they continue to expand operations.

ExplorNet offers links to online resources for those who encounter problems while rebuilding computer equipment

ETCEP (Educational Technology Conservation Exchange Program) encourages learning institutions across the country to collect empty laser and inkjet printer cartridges from their communities. These include cartridges consumed in both homes and businesses. Collected cartridges earn points, which are then exchanged for new computer technology. In this way ETCEP connects community, education and the environment!

This 2-page publication available through Public Education Network provides tips for teachers who want to integrate technology into their curriculum and link school work to the real world.

Free on-line service for teachers to use to create their own class web sites with class-specific information and communication tools.

The Internet in the Classroom site whose mission is to provide support and services for schools, teachers and students to fully utilize the Internet, and its underlying information technologies, as a basic tool for learning.  Find online interactive projects, grant opportunities and much more here.

This report features ten case studies that demonstrate how rural communities can use telecommunications and information technologies to improve access to education, health care, social services, and the arts. This information may be helpful as you generate ideas for your community and prepare future grant proposals.

The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping schools -- and the students they serve--reach their full potential. NCREL specializes in the educational applications of technology.

The Open Studio Toolkit serves as an archive of resources gathered during the Open Studio project from 1996-2000. The Toolkit was Open Studio's online learning resource for technology trainers, artists and arts organizations.

PEP: Resources for Parents, Educators & Publishers - a state, national, and International Directory of agencies that facilitate donations of used computer hardware for schools and community groups

Sun Associates provides a comprehensive list of resources useful to educators in conducting technology planning and evaluation.

Effective strategies to assist young people in acquiring knowledge, decision-making skills, motivation, and self-control to behave in a safe, responsible and legal manner when using the Internet and other information technologies.

Schools Online works with local education partners in the U.S. and around the world to select schools, train teachers and distribute Internet equipment.

You will find snapshots of the steps each state has taken to use computerized testing as well as statistics on technology use in schools.

To help educators better understand the benefits and drawbacks of e-learning, Technology Counts 2002—the fifth edition of Education Week's annual 50-state report on educational technology—examines the trend from many different perspectives.

Education Week's 4th edition of Technology Counts presents evidence that, despite the rapid infusion of technology into schools, inequities still persist.  Student access to educational technology and the ways that technology is used to enhance learning varies greatly among schools. This report includes  in-depth articles, state data tables, and state-by-state updates.

AmeriCorps and IBM worked together on Project FIRST, a project designed to integrate technology in the curricula and to increase community involvement in the process. This report offers insight into the project.

Serving educators with ideas, tools, and resources for integrating technology into the K-12 school, classroom and curriculum.  techlearning.com is produced by Technology & Learning Magazine, the Well Connected Educator and SchoolTech Expo & Conference, with contributions from hundreds of teachers, administrators and other experts in the field.

This handbook is designed for those who seek to:  engage stake-holders in a technology planning process to enhance learning opportunities and school improvement efforts; learn from research findings and case scenarios about problem-solving technology practices implemented in schools today; and identify technology needs and evaluate implementation progress.

Hosted by Wired Digital Inc. , WebMonkey is a way to teach your students in grades 4-12 all about Web design in a fun, yet educational, way.

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On occasion, I am asked about clip-art resources for school Web sites.  The following links represent a few resources schools may wish to check out.

The About.com guide has researched the 'Net for the best Web clip art available. The list is continually updated with new resources added frequently.  Check it out!

Many images are arranged by category, which makes it easy to find specific images. Each site's graphics are described based on the type, number and quality of the images. Also included are: GIF animations, assorted icons & buttons, bullets, photos, backgrounds, lines, bars, rules and even sound files.

Pics4Learning is designed as a place for teachers and students to find resources as well as share their own resources with others. The Pics4Learning collection consists of thousands of images that have been donated by students, teachers, and amateur photographers. Unlike many Internet sites, permission has been granted for teachers and students to use all of the images donated to the Pics4Learning collection. 

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