VIdeo Series Teaches Science of the Winter Olympic Games

A free video series from NBC and the National Science Foundation uses the Winter Olympics and athletes to explain scientific principles and could be used as a resource for teachers interested in incorporating the games in Vancouver, Canada -- broadcast from Feb. 12 to 28 -- into their lessons. The videos include a look at how angular momentum allows figure skaters to perform, the role of Newton's Three Laws of Motion in speedskating and other principles

Check it out at:
http://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn

California Physical Fitness Test Results

Posting of Final 2009 Results to DataQuest ***


The final 2009 Physical Fitness Test (PFT) results are now available on the California Department of Education DataQuest Web site at http://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/ as well on the Educational Data Systems PFT Web page at http://www.eddataonline.com/fitness/ (Outside Source).
Please feel free to forward this listserv message to staff you feel could benefit from this information.
If you have any questions regarding the announcement, please contact Linda M. Hooper, Education Research and Evaluation Consultant, at 916‑445‑9449 or by e-mail at PFT@cde.ca.gov.

Opinion: Virtual schools are a critical piece of education’s future

Educational technology expert credits Florida lawmakers for seizing on the promise of virtual academies

By Michael Simonson, Contributor

Technological innovations might be categorized along a continuum from sustaining to disruptive. In education, a sustaining technology might be a SMART Board, which in most applications is a way to present information dynamically and efficiently—a sustaining upgrade to the chalkboard and overhead projector—while a disruptive technology would be a virtual school.

As a matter of fact, most attempts to integrate instructional technology into the traditional classroom are examples of sustaining technologies: data projectors, DVD players, eBooks—all which improve the performance of established products.

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Fitness Testing

More public schools are using FitnessGram tests to replace the Presidential Physical Fitness test, which they say can be embarrassing for some overweight or less-fit students and does little to motivate students to choose a healthier lifestyle. FitnessGram tests were developed in 1982 by a nonprofit health-research center and track individual students' progress toward fitness goals rather than compare students' fitness with that of their peers -- the basis of the presidential test. From Omaha World-Herald (Neb.)

Sony PS3 Motion Controller delayed until Fall 2010

Last official word we had on the launch of Sony's PS3 Motion Controller was Spring 2010. However, we just received a press release from Sony Japan with a revised availability of "Fall 2010." The calendar push affects Japan, Asia, North America, and Europe. In the statement, Kaz Hirai avoids using the "d" word saying only:

"We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users."

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iPhone/iPodTouch Update

A new report Monday from FoxNews.com cites an anonymous source to claim Apple will introduce its tablet, "iPhone 4" and iLife 2010 at next week's event.

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Online Learning Study Looks at Research

Online learning is one of the fastest growing trends in educational uses of technology, according to the recently-released report Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development (www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/opepd/ppss/reports.html).

The impetus for the analysis was the need to develop research-based insights into online learning for K–12 students. A broader set of fields was studied to assemble sufficient empirical research for meta-analysis.

The research literature (1996 to July 2008) found more than 1,000 empirical studies of online learning. On average, students of online learning performed better than those with face-to-face instruction.

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