Page 3 - THE Journal, March 2017

thejournal.com
March 2017 | Volume 44, No. 2
COLUMNS
4 Editor’s Note
Teachers Versus the Test
12 Keynote
Elementary school teacher combines STEM with innovative, real-world systems.
29 Viewpoint
Making the Digital Shift? Your Greatest Asset May Already Be in Your Building!
33 Index
34 Ed Tech Insights
Broadband in Schools
FEATURES
14 5 Ed Tech Trends on
the Way Out in 2017
Education technologies shift with the passing years, so it makes sense to revisit what may be on the wane as topics of interest to educators. A panel of K–12 experts offers its views.
18 The ‘Things’ Are Coming!
How will the more than 24 billion connected devices projected by the beginning of the next decade — that’s more than three for every human on the planet — affect school networks? And how can districts prepare for them?
27 Virtual Charter Schools
Aim to Boost Student Engagement
Amid greater scrutiny, online charter school operators are investing more in support. Researchers have recently uncovered disappointing results in analyzing the performance of virtual charter schools. But some students thrive with the increased independence and flexibility.
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6 THE EVOLUTION OF THE MODERN MAKERSPACE
The conceptual boundaries of making things in the classroom are expanding. However, teachers struggle with tying new, cool activities back to Common Core standards and other fundamental lessons.
By Greg Thompson
22 BROADBAND: HOW FAST IS FAST ENOUGH FOR EDUCATION?
The FCC’s recommended speeds for internet access for schools are general targets, but actual needs depend on scale of digital learning initiatives and usage data.
By Leila Meyer
MARCH 2017 | 3
Image: Samantha Edwards, Fogelsville Elementary School, Breinigsville, PA