I’ve been domiciled in Virginia now for over 6 months, and I enjoy learning the nuances of the Commonwealth.  Today, I learned that Virginia is the first state in the nation to mandate that public schools offer Internet safety classes for all grade levels.  I’m now curious to see what the actual regulation(s) look like, and to find out how schools and school divisions are handling this requirement (is it a one-time workshop?  is it ongoing?  who “teaches” this stuff?).  I’m also wondering about jurisdictional issues.  I wonder why schools have become the space for teaching about Internet safety.  Lots of bad things (mass shootings, predation, etc.) happen in malls.  Are schools also required to teach about mall safety?

Tags: Internet, policy, safety, schools

OK, one more “finding” (see post below).  The figure below points out a trend that shows up in all of the data I’m analyzing, and the trend that led me to the phrase “digital horserace.”  You’ll notice that the states that are above the national average in student use of the Internet for math are all in the Southeast.  Additionally, most of the states in the Northeast are below the national average.  My interpretation is that, in large part, one or two states jumped on the ed. tech. bandwagon early and then their “neighbors” developed a need to “keep up” (hence the horserace).  I know, for example, that West Virginia made huge commitments to ed. tech. a long time ago.  That led Kentucky to jump aboard the bandwagon along with, eventually, other states in the Southeast.

Anyway, some numbers to go with the graphic.  Among the sample of fourth-grade students across the nation, 42% said that they did use the Internet to learn things about math (58% said no).  The state with the highest percentage of students who reported using the Internet to learn things about math?: Louisiana (56%).  That state with the lowest percentage?: Vermont (26%).

Tags: computers, education, Internet, math, NAEP, technology

ljjail

Originally uploaded by foaquin

I met with an advisee today who works as a teacher for the Department of Correctional Education. He teaches 11-16 year olds. They have computers; plenty of them. BUT, no Internet. I don’t know much at all about correctional education. But, NO INTERNET?

I’m willing to accept that I may be too much of a softy, but…

What do you think?

Tags: 8th Amendment, computers, education, Internet, prison