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

With their problem-solving techniques and technologies engineers are well-positioned to help render U.S. healthcare more efficient, effective, and affordable. And as new and different models are conceived, engineers can help design and support them, analyzing if and how well they are working.

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Filed under: Special Features | 1 Comment »

Tags: Computer Engineering, Computer Programming, games, Healthcare, Systems Engineering

The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) wants to tap into the collective brain power of super-smart high school geeks. The Pentagon agency is spending $10 million on a project that would have teen braniacs using Web 2.0 social-networking skills to speed up and improve defense manufacturing technologies.

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Tags: Computer Engineering, Computer Programming, Computer Science, DARPA, Grades 9-12, Programs for Students, Social-networking

Despite the growing importance of information technology, schools – and students – still resist computer science curricula in K-12 public schools. A recent Google-sponsored conference at the University of Washington suggested ways to combat the stereotypes and increase appeal.

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Tags: Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Research on Learning

The RealWorld-InWorld NASA Engineering Design Challenge encourages students in grades 9-12 to explore and build skills essential for successful careers in STEM subjects through two phases of project-based learning and team competition, working with the Webb telescope.

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Tags: Competitions for Students, Computer Engineering, Contest, Engineering Design, Engineering Design Process, NASA, Science Contest

Micron Foundation’s Chip Camp for Boise, Idaho area seventh and eighth graders offers students an opportunity to learn more about the intricate business of designing and manufacturing semiconductors and integrated circuits. This year’s three-day Chip Camp sessions will run June 15-17 and June 22-24 at the Dehryl A. Dennis Professional Technology Center in Boise and will serve 120 students from 40 different schools. No new information available at this time.

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Tags: Computer Engineering, Outreach, Summer Camps & Programs (Students), Summer Programs (Students)

A Houston area school district plans to open an Academy of Game Design this fall at Willowridge High School. Students will learn the basics of game design, including 2D and 3D animation, graphics, lighting, and sound mixing. Computer game developer Rodney Gibbs applauds the idea. His work invovles a great deal of calculus, physics, engineering, computer science,” he says. But for young people, “video games are like the cheese on broccoli.”

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Tags: Computer Engineering, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Curriculum

Give kids a laptop and a wireless broadband connection and just watch them search, chat, and network. But that’s not good enough, says the Computer Science Teachers Association, which wants more schools teaching students how computers actually work.

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Filed under: K-12 Education News | 1 Comment »

Tags: Computer Engineering, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Curriculum, Software

To help take the pressure off local libraries, and to further its agenda to give more Americans access to broadband Internet connections, the Federal Communications Commission has OKd a rule change that will allow public schools with government-funded computers to make them available to the general public in off-hours.

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Tags: Computer Engineering, Public Policy