CoSN's Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO underlies everything we do. Created by and for experts, it provides an in-depth exploration of the diverse skills CTOs need to thrive in their professions. As you're gearing up for a new school year, be sure to get yourself back into the swing of things by brushing up on the Framework. It will also give you a leg up on your CETL preparations, as the CETL exam is directly based on the content of the Framework.
For an entire school year Hillsborough, New Jersey, educators undertook an experiment, asking: Is the iPad really the best device for interactive learning? It's a question that has been on many minds since 2010, when Apple released the iPad and schools began experimenting with it. The devices came along at a time when many school reformers were advocating to replace textbooks with online curricula and add creative apps to lessons. Some teachers welcomed the shift, which allowed their students to replace old poster-board presentations with narrated screencasts and review teacher-produced video lessons at any time.
Getting exact numbers for device adoption is an imprecise science. But according to Education Market Research, there are "approximately 13.2 million computing devices in K-12 schools, composed mainly of desktops (4.7 million), laptops (3.9 million), and tablets (2.3 million)." Chromebooks, it finds, "appears" to have surpassed the 1 million mark. And tablet spending is expected to increase by 8.6 percent during the 2014-2015 school year.
Legislation introduced in the United States Senate would restrict the use of students' personal data for commercial purposes, limit the transfer of such data and require records to be kept of any entities that have access to students' information. The bipartisan Protecting Student Privacy Act, introduced today by Senators Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, would amend the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. It aims to slow the propagation of student information without parental consent, curb the use of student data in commercial applications and secure data held by private companies.
For an entire school year Hillsborough, New Jersey, educators undertook an experiment, asking: Is the iPad really the best device for interactive learning? It's a question that has been on many minds since 2010, when Apple released the iPad and schools began experimenting with it.
Allowing students to bring their own devices to class can be a cost-effective way to quickly get access to the internet and to the many useful tools those devices carry. But students don't always get the chance to use their devices, especially in low-income schools. As we previously reported, a 2013 Pew study revealed that only 35 percent of teachers at the lowest income schools allow their students to look up information on their mobile devices, as compared to 52 percent of teachers at wealthier schools. And while 70 percent of teachers working in high-income areas say their schools do a good job providing resources and support to effectively integrate technology into the classroom, only 50 percent of teachers in low-income areas agree.
The FCC's new E-rate rules set aside $5 billion over the next five years for the equipment needed to extend broadband access within schools and libraries, including routers, switches, wireless access points, wireless controllers and other Wi-Fi equipment. The new rules include changes that will spread this funding to a large number of applicants, ensuring support for schools that haven't received E-rate discounts on internal connections before.
Student data is a hot topic these days, and as the new school year kicks off, educators and school leaders are examining their data storage and data security practices to ensure that sensitive student information remains private and secured. Most school information security approaches are multi-layered and come together from different angles to offer protection from a variety of threats.
Blended and online learning platforms are changing K-12 pedagogy by providing students with some control over their path, time, pace and place of learning. This sharp departure from the traditional factory-based model of teaching and learning is increasing student engagement and freeing up time so that teachers can provide one-on-one instruction with each of their students.
When the FCC approved E-rate 2.0, it must have felt a little like Christmas for some district technology directors. A divided FCC voted in July on a package of massive changes to its 18-year-old telecommunications subsidy program for schools and libraries. The newly revised E-rate adds $1 billion to target wireless broadband connections in schools and libraries, with another $1 billion the following year. It also eases the process for schools and libraries to apply for these funds and lowers the barrier of entry for high-poverty applicants.
Registration is now open for the NAPR & NALTO® 2018 Annual Convention, March 7-9, 2018, at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, Orlando, Florida. This year’s convention features expanded networking opportunities, including both golf and spa events. Register today!
NAPR’S Member Spotlight gives you the opportunity to learn more about NAPR members. This week, the spotlight is on Paul Estrada, Chair of the NAPR Communications Committee. READ MORE
Why do some staffing firms struggle while others keep their candidate pipelines consistently filled with qualified talent? The answer lies in the candidate experience. Fostering a positive candidate experience is critical, as it translates to a positive working relationship and an improved reputation. If you want to improve the candidate experience, you need to assess every aspect of your process from before you even speak with a candidate to long after you’ve placed them in a role. READ MORE
You need to market your recruiting business to two groups: potential clients and potential candidates. These two groups must know about your agency so you can generate more job orders, candidates, and income. Create a recruitment agency marketing plan to reach these two groups. Below are marketing ideas for recruitment agencies that you can use. Each strategy can be used for both groups; you'll just have to tailor your messaging. READ MORE
Whether you want job security as a recruiter or to simply understand the future direction of recruiting, understand that the recruiting function is already beginning to undergo a strategic shift toward the “talent advisor model.” READ MORE
The fast growing “gig economy” that focuses on temporary work — or “gigs” — accounted for 30 percent of new jobs and created new income sources for 2.1 million people in the United States between 2010 and 2014, according to a 2015 American Action Forum Report. The gig economy shows no sign of slowing. According to a report from Intuit, 7.6 million people will be part of the on-demand gig economy by 2020, and that slice of the labor market will grow by 18.5 percent per year over the next five years. These numerous part-time services should still be subjected to some sort of background check process, although the process may require a different approach than what is used in the full-time economy. READ MORE
In a highly regulated industry, it’s the little things that matter. Each location is visually different, and therefore it offers a distinct lifestyle opportunity. Physician recruiters can use these variations to appeal to job seekers. Here’s how.
The healthcare industry added 21,500 jobs in October, with hospitals contributing 2,800 to that total, according to last Friday's jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. READ MORE
Healthcare has had a tremendous year for job growth. Last year was strong, too, and so was 2015. How good has it been? The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were 11.7 million healthcare jobs in the U.S. in May 2014. Within two years, that number had jumped to 12.4 million through May 2016. Well, for those in healthcare looking for new opportunities and those who hope to join the sector, there's likely going to be plenty of opportunities ahead. READ MORE
While attention has been on the budgetary and coverage impacts of changes to the ACA, the potential loss of thousands of jobs resulting from these proposals has largely been ignored. Focusing on jobs is important given that the healthcare industry has long been considered a job engine for the US economy, especially during the Great Recession (2008–09) when healthcare added jobs while most industries lost jobs. READ MORE
Increasing employee engagement provides strategic benefits to employers and is important to organizations that value creativity, productivity and growth. Organizations with engaged employees typically have better financial and production performance than organizations with disengaged employees. This is because engaged employees generally have a sense of purpose and exert persistent effort in reaching performance goals, as measured by the metrics used to keep engagement efforts oriented to organizational objectives. READ MORE
Owning and running a small business can be an all-consuming endeavor. Things like retirement planning can fall to the wayside amidst more pressing concerns, like paying the bills, yourself and growing the business. But someday, like all things, your days as a small business owner will come to an end, and after a successful run (hopefully), you'll retire. The time you invest now into retirement planning is critical. READ MORE
At the end of the year, health plan data-crunchers forecast health premium increases for the coming year and look back to verify how much premiums actually rose in the year that's coming to a close. Premium renewal rates for employer-sponsored health plans rose an average of 6.6 percent this year — a significant increase from the five-year average increase of 5.6 percent — findings from the 2017 United Benefit Advisors (UBA) Health Plan Survey showed. READ MORE
Just how ready are most Americans for retirement? Most people will need a combination of savings and Social Security to get by, money they might need to stretch over decades. Some are better able to save before retiring than others. And it's almost inevitable that as a person ages beyond 65, they'll pay more for health care. As Americans await the fate of their 401(k) contributions, here are eight facts to keep in mind about the nation's retirement readiness: READ MORE
With ICD-10 compliance date less than five months away, there is still an abundance of common misconceptions associated to this transition. For providers, these ICD-10 misconceptions can prove extremely costly and damaging to the implementation. Pam Klugman, chief product officer of Clear Vision Information Systems specifically warns providers to avoid these five common myths about ICD-10.
A researcher at the University of Idaho is studying the muscle interactions of runners to help companies design better prostheses. Craig McGowan, PhD, an assistant professor of biological sciences, along with the help of students is developing a computer simulation that models the interactions of running-specific prostheses, often called "blades," with the body.
A new study that attempts to isolate the effectiveness of mobilization with movement (MWM) for unilateral shoulder impingement concludes that the intervention can result in significant reduction in pain compared with a sham intervention. Authors believe that the more realistic use of MWM — not in isolation but as part of a multimodal physical therapy plan — could point to even better results for patients with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS).
Based on study results, it appears that resistance training and stretching exercise are complementary activities that enhance strength development when both activities are performed during a workout.
The effectiveness of a loading regimen for treatment of Achilles tendinopathy is well-established, and when it comes to what kind of regimen to use — eccentric training (ECC) or heavy resistance training (HSR) — researchers were surprised to find that both work equally well.
Myofascial release is taught in medical education programs as an effective hands-on approach for many pain syndromes, including those related to: sports injuries, childhood/aging disorders, traumatic and surgical scarring, acute and chronic pain, head and birth injuries, strokes, scoliosis, menstrual and pelvic pain and dysfunction, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and jaw dysfunction.
Clinicient Inc, headquartered in Portland, Ore, recently announced the results of an industry survey, designed to investigate how efficiently outpatient rehabilitation practices perform day-to-day activities. A company news release notes that a total of 759 therapists, practice owners, and administrative staff completed the brand-neutral survey and indicated a widespread industry need for technology and services that improve therapist efficiency. According to the release, in response to the survey's findings, Clinicient published a free 12-page guide intended to assist physical therapy practices in improving the efficiency of their staff.
Subclinical hyperthyroidism was associated with an increased risk for hip and other fractures including those of the spine, according to an analysis that included more than 70,000 participants from 13 studies.
Physical resistance training can lead to physical and mental health improvements for women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, according to a recent study. PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects 5 percent to 10 percent of the female population of fertile age. The condition can cause sexual dysfunction and low self-esteem. Physical resistance training has been shown in past research to improve some body parameters, but its effects on sexual function need more investigation, the researchers wrote in the study background.
So much anxiety and uncertainty hover around ICD-10 that the incoming president of the American Medical Association, Steven Stack, says his organization would prefer to skip it altogether. As the Oct. 1 implementation deadline nears, Seyfried examines four commonly held concerns about the coming changes, and explains whether and why they are valid.
While many ACOs are enjoying success, that hasn't been the case for everyone — especially when it comes to CMS-sponsored programs. As of September 2014, only 19 of the original 32 organizations that joined the Medicare Pioneer Accountable Care Organization program were still involved. Despite the program's total savings of more than $384 million over two years, the economic model didn't work for all participants. Results like those have many healthcare providers nervous about joining ACOs, and with good reason. After all, doing so is a new — and potentially risky — venture. So, how do you know if it's the right move for your clinic?