AEL >> RTEC >> Hot Topics

Adult and Family Literacy

National Center on Adult Literacy (NCAL) http://www.literacyonline.org/ncal NCAL provides resources and training opportunities relating to technology planning and technology integration.

E-Rate

The E-Rate: U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology http://www.ed.gov/Technology/eratemenu.html This site provides up-to-date news and publications related to the E-Rate. Understanding the E-Rate http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Technology/uerate.html This helpful on-line handbook was developed by the Virginia Department of Education. What's an E-Rate? Do You Have an E-Rate? Should You Care? http://www.sreb.org/Main/LatestReports/tech/Erate/E-Rate_Report.html This informative easy-to-read report was written by Bill Thomas of the Southern Regional Education Board. State E-Rate support: Kentucky Department of Education Universal Service fund Main Page http://www.kde.state.ky.us/oet/planning/usf/usf.asp Virginia Department of Education Universal Service E-Rate Information http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Technology/erate.html West Virginia Department of Education FCC/USF E-Rate http://access.k12.wv.us/erate/index.htm

Funding

BellSouth edu.pwr3 http://www.bellsouth.com/education/ This two-year program will distribute $10 million in grants to help school leaders, teachers, and students make the best use of instructional technologies. eSchool News Technology Funding Center http://www.eschoolnews.org/funding/ This on-line component of eSchool News is updated regularly with new funding opportunities. It is free to all school technology professionals. The Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org/ The Foundation Center fosters public understanding of foundations, in general, by collecting, organizing, analyzing, and disseminating information on foundations, corporate giving, and related subjects. This extensive Web site supports the Foundation Center libraries with tips, answers to frequently asked questions, and a wealth of resources for novice or expert grant seekers. Grants and Other (People's) Money http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/top/grants.html This extensive list of grant opportunities focuses on science, math, engineering, and educational technology. U.S. Department of Education Funding Opportunities http://www.ed.gov/funding.html This site includes regulations, forms, and other helpful information concerning applying for funding opportunities from the U.S. Department of Education. Federal Register (October 1995 to date) Announcements http://gcs.ed.gov/fedreg/announce.htm This is a comprehensive and up-to-date list of funding opportunities from the U.S. Department of Education. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology Educational Technology Grant Programs http://www.ed.gov/Technology/TOCedgrant.html This site features links to the many funding opportunities offered by the Office of Educational Technology. What Should I Know about Education Grants http://gcs.ed.gov/grntinfo/grantz.htm This information is important for new or experienced grant seekers.

Planning for Technology

Building the 21st Century School Now! http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/IDT/ This is a helpful decision support tool for school technology and facilities planning. The information is useful and timely for administrators and technology leaders alike. The site is funded by the North Central RTEC and developed by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and the Integrated Technology Education Group. NCRTEC Resources for Guiding Questions for Technology Planning http://www.netc.org/cdrom/guide/html/gqres.htm The North Central RTEC compiled this list of on-line articles and other resources across the Internet in a helpful format. This site poses common questions pertaining to technology planning and the resources, from across the Web, are presented in response. Revising the 1996 National Educational Technology Plan http://www.air.org/forum/default.htm The Office of Educational Technology is seeking input regarding the revision to the 1996 National Educational Technology Plan, Getting America's Students Ready for the 21st Century: Meeting the Technology Literacy Challenge. Due to rapid advances in the development and application of technology, the Office plans to complete a strategic revision of the original document by fall 2000. Taking TCO to the Classroom http://www.cosn.org/tco/about.html Developed by the Consortium for School Networking, this Web site highlights publications, tools, procedures, and other resources necessary for helping school and technology leaders understand the concept of the "total cost of ownership" so technology can be used in the most cost-efficient way.

Standards

Developing Educational Standards. Putnam Valley Central Schools, Putnam Valley, NY http://putwest.boces.org/Standards.html This comprehensive collection of links includes national and all state standards as well as links by subject area. It addresses issues and research regarding standards development. International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards Projects http://www.iste.org/Standards/index.html This site introduces the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Project for instructional standards for students and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards. Nonprint Media and Technology Literacy Standards for K-12 Teaching and Learning: A Report from the Panel on Educational Technology http://cela.albany.edu/standards/ The Panel on Educational Technology developed this report based upon existing standards created for educational technologies, information literacy, and the English language arts. Technology Standards for Teachers http://www.sreb.org/Main/LatestReports/Tech/TechStandards/tech_s tandards.htm This report by Jennifer Burke of the Southern Regional Education Board examines the status of technology standards in southern states, August 1998. Instructional standards for Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia