Tech-savvy teachers have long been irritated by firewalls and content filters installed on school computer systems to protect students’ safety and privacy. But Teacher magazine reports that complaints seem to be ratcheting up, and suggests why.

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Tags: Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Education Policy

A number of schools around the country are helping to provide local broadcasters with up-to-date weather reports in conjunction with WeatherBug, a weather information company. In the process, they’re finding a new way to teach science, technology, and math.

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Tags: Corporations, Meteorology, Weather

The ACE Mentor Program, which introduces high school students to careers in architecture, construction and engineering, doesn’t think small. At one school, it asks students to design an imaginary museum dedicated to peace. At another, they’ll design a whole high school.

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Tags: Architectural, Architecture, Programs for Students

Students at Sadler Arts Academy in Muskogee, Okla., can’t get enough of Leonardo da Vinci. The quintessential Renaissance artist, engineer, and inventor is the subject of a semester-long extra-curricular activity for gifted and talented classes that are studying – and channeling – his life and notebooks.

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Tags: Art and Engineering, Engineering in History, Science Curriculum

The U.S. Army has announced that registration is now open for the eCYBERMISSION STEM competition. Students in grades six through nine must utilize innovation, creativity, and interest in STEM education in the free, web-based contest. Students on winning teams can get up to $8,000 in U.S. EE Savings Bonds. Registration for teams closes December 17, 2010.

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Tags: Competitions for Students, Contest, Grades 6-9, U.S. Army

Once a week, 11-year-olds at Ashmount Primary School in North London settle in front of computers and put on headsets. A few minutes later, they’re connected online to math teachers thousands of miles away in the Indian state of Punjab. Ashmount is one of three British state schools that outsource part of their teaching to India through BrightSpark Education.

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Tags: International K-12 Education, Math teachers, Mathematics, STEM education

Teacher Stephanie Rick was honored recently by the National School Board for her innovative uses of technology in the third-grade classroom. Her students maintain a class blog, write to “e-pals” in England, and use hand-held devices on practice tests.

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Tags: Classroom Technology, Elementary Education, Technology Education, Technology for Learning

In the ongoing push to fix America’s public schools, policymakers are overlooking principals, argues New York Times Columnist Andrew J. Rotherham. He says principals should come under closer scrutiny, and they “play a critical role” in education, but are “evaluated almost as an afterthought.”

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Tags: Education Policy, Principals, Research on Learning, School Budgets

Tuition continues to rise at public four-year colleges and universities — increasing this school year by an average 7.9 percent – but record increases in federal grant aid will help provide some relief for students, according to a new report from the College Board.

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Tags: Education Policy, Higher Education, Public Policy, Research on Learning