The Nebraska Department of Education unveiled on Friday, October 30, 2009, a new iTunes U tool that will deliver informational videos to educators and, in the future, homework help for students.
"iTunes U is a mobile learning tool that will allow Nebraska educators to access information developed for them here in Nebraska," said Mike Kozak, Education Technology administrator at the Nebraska Department of Education. Kozak unveiled the project today (Friday, October 30, 2009) at the Administrators' Technology Conference in Kearney.
To learn more about NDE iTunes U please click here.
Nebraska Department of Education will be providing Web 2.0 professional development opportunities to Nebraska's secondary and postsecondary educators via Nebraska iTunes U. Web 2.0 applications are web applications, which facilitate interactive information sharing, multiple operations, user-centered design and collaboration on the World Wide Web.
$500 grants will be awarded to each instructor who creates Web 2.0 learning objects for iTunes U.
To learn more about Web 2.0 applications and this particular opportunity click here.
The Education Technology Center provides leadership and support for the introduction and integration of technology and innovation into Nebraska elementary and secondary schools in order to provide quality education and equal opportunity for Nebraska learners. The Nebraska Department of Education Technology Center provides grants for model educational technology projects to Nebraska schools and educational service units. Grant awards are given to schools or educational service units for projects which have the greatest potential to enhance the quality of instruction in Nebraska schools or to broaden the educational opportunities for Nebraska learners.
Nebraska statutory authority: Sections 79-1302, 79-1303, 79-1304, 79-1305, 79-1306, 79-1307 and 79-1310.
To provide clearinghouse services for information concerning current technology projects as well as software and hardware development
To serve as a demonstration site for state-of-the-art hardware appropriate to an educational setting
To provide technical assistance to educators in working with hardware and software
To provide in-service and pre-service training for educators, in conjunction with other public and private educational entities, in the use of computers, telecommunications, and other electronic technologies appropriate to an educational setting
To sponsor activities which promote the use of technology in the classroom
To serve as a liaison between business and education interests in technology communication
To experiment with various applications or technology in education
To assist schools in planning for and selecting appropriate technologies
To design, implement, and evaluate pilot projects to assess the usefulness of technologies in school management, curriculum, instruction, and learning
To seek partnerships with the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission, the University of Nebraska, the state colleges, educational service units, the Nebraska Library Commission, and other public and private entities in order to make effective use of limited resources
To encourage sharing among school districts to deliver cost-efficient and effective distance learning
To establish an electronic data network and access to appropriate data bases for learners and educators through purchase of necessary hardware, software, and licenses for national data bases. The center shall provide assistance to schools for training communication costs and, through work with Nebraska educators and learners, shall develop state-level data bases
To identify, evaluate, and disseminate information on school projects which have the potential to enhance the quality of instruction or learning.