Right in time for graduation, SOUNDPRINT presents a special six part series on education. Learning differences, equity in schools, standardized testing, and the impact of videogames. Today's education is more complicated than ever. We delve into the classroom with six half hour programs on education and technology.
1. The High Stakes of Today's Testing, produced by Katie Gott, aired 11/14/03:
Standardized tests have been around for years in the United States. What?s different now is that schools and teachers are being held accountable for the results of these tests. Add to that new federal legislation, and the stakes are raised even higher, with threats of federal funding being cut off to underachieving school districts. Then there is the question of how and what the children are being tested on. We follow the paths of two failing schools, one in Maryland and the other in Virginia, to understand how each state applies its testing policy, and how testing impacts schools, teachers, parents and children. What happens if these schools don't make the grade after the scores are in?
2. After Graduation: Meeting Special Needs, produced by Alyne Ellis, aired 11/28/03:
Many learning disabled students are finding that they learn more readily with a variety of technology assistance and human support in their classrooms. But what happens once they leave school? Whether moving into the workforce, or on to higher education, most high school graduates discover they must adjust to new environments on their own and learn to advocate for themselves. Alyne Ellis takes a look at how some schools and universities are trying to ease the transition of learning disabled students to a life after graduation.
3. The Enabled Classroom, produced by Alyne Ellis, aired 2/14/03:
How can technology help students with learning disabilities? From academics and hardware manufacturers to teachers in the field, hear about the technological advances for teaching everyone from elementary to university students grappling with learning disabilities. Producer Alyne Ellis delves into the advantages, controversies and problems of these merging technologies.
4. Game Over, produced by Chris Brookes, aired 5/30/03:
Video games dull the brain and turn children into violence craving delinquents. That apparently is the popular opinion but not one that is entirely factual. Psychologists do see an increase in violent tendencies after game playing but they also note that students who play video games learn new technologies faster in school. What if video games could be educational and improve knowledge of math, science and social studies? That is what some video game developers and educators are working on. Combining curriculum with state of the art game software, they are testing how games can improve education and student participation in the classroom. Game Over takes a look at how video games are making a comeback in the educational world.
5. Snacktime, Naptime, Computer Time, produced by Barbara Bogaev, aired 5/23/03:
Computers in classrooms are a given in elementary schools across the nation. Now new technology initiatives are bringing computers into preschools, driven by the assumption that if children don't begin early, they fall behind. But is this really true? And are computers essential learning tools for very young minds? How do very young children learn, how do their brains develop, and does pointing, clicking and hyperlinking affect their neurological and social development? Early childhood education specialists weigh in on a government funded statewide program that aims to make toddlers computer literate.
6. The Tale of Two Computer Labs, produced by Richard Paul, aired 2/21/03:
This program takes a look at the digital divide between two schools, Herndon High School in wealthy Fairfax County, Virginia which has 800 computers, and C?sar Ch?vez High School in the District of Columbia which has 50 computers. We look at how this disparity affects student learning and explore whether the sheer number of computers is what makes the difference, or whether it is the application of the technology with clear program goals, robust professional development and great teaching.
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Right in time for graduation, SOUNDPRINT presents a special six part series on education. Learning differences, equity in schools, standardized testing, and the impact of videogames. Today's education is more complicated than ever. We delve into the classroom with six half hour programs on education and technology. 1. The High Stakes of Today's Testing, produced by Katie Gott, aired 11/14/03: Standardized tests have been around for years in the United States. What?s different now is that schools and teachers are being held accountable for the results of these tests. Add to that new federal legislation, and the stakes are raised even higher, with threats of federal funding being cut off to underachieving school districts. Then there is the question of how and what the children are... Show full description
