Joyce Valenza’s Neverending Search

Two stories from eSchoolNews caught my eye this week.

1. The fourth annual Speak Up survey revealed student, teacher, and parent attitudes relating to educational technology. The study found that students want to increase integration of technology into such subjects as science and math. Students cite communication as their number one use of technology.

Here are some other results from the survey:

•97 percent of students think cell phones should be allowed at school for emergencies and connecting with parents, compared with 77 percent of parents and just 56 percent of teachers.

•Use of digital cameras, MP3 players, and laptop computers in grades 3-12 has increased significantly during the past two years of the study.

•53 percent of students in grades K-12 use video games on a weekly basis. Girls are just as likely to be playing as boys until high school. •75 percent of teachers believe the use of technology in schoolwork has resulted in increased student performance and achievement.

•One-fourth of students are eMailing their teachers.

•One-third of students are interested in taking an online class.

•When asked how well they think their school is preparing students for working in the 21st century, 48 percent of parents and 47 percent of teachers said well. More than 50 percent of parents said not well.

2.  And watch out college music downloaders. RIAA looks to change students’ tune. The Recording Industry of America is escalating its war on illegal music downloading, targeting 23 universities.

The group’s new approach, which began last month, calls for pre-litigation letters to be sent to a number of different universities each month, informing the schools that a copyright-infringement lawsuit against one of their students is forthcoming; students can settle with the group within 20 days to avoid being sued.

In a related personal story, Matthew surprised me a few weeks ago coming down from his room wearing a new t-shirt.  “You see, I listen, Mom.”