FCC plans to move forward with broadband plan
The Federal Communications Commission said April 8 that it intends to move forward quickly with key recommendations in its national broadband plan, reports the Associated Press—even though a federal appeals court this week undermined the agency’s legal authority to regulate high-speed internet access.
Changing fonts could help schools save money
A Wisconsin university expects to save up to $10,000 a year by making a small change in computer users’ habits: Changing the fonts in the documents they print.
New design technique allows software to run faster
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new approach to software development that will allow common computer programs to run up to 20 percent faster and possibly incorporate new security measures, the university reports.
Microsoft creates Office plug-in for Moodle
Microsoft is releasing a free add-on that could make life easier for teachers, professors, and others who use the online educational system Moodle, CNET reports.
Could net-neutrality ruling hinder online education?
A federal court threw the future of internet regulations and U.S. broadband expansion plans into doubt April 6 with a far-reaching decision that went against the Federal Communications Commission. The ruling poses a major hurdle for federal policy that school and college administrators hoped would ensure the growth of online education and make high-speed internet affordable for even the smallest school systems and campuses.
Stanford researchers launch new web site to monitor app security
With the launch of Apple’s iPad, developers are scrambling to create new applications. But are they safe? That’s the question a new web site hopes to help answer, reports the Associated Press.
‘Suicide’ query prompts Google to offer hotline number
Last week, Google’s search engine started automatically suggesting where users can call for counseling if they type in a search term that appears to focus on suicide, reports the New York Times.
Social media: Colleges’ newest battlefield for students, alumni donations
Colleges’ unending campaign to attract more students and alumni donations has higher-education officials looking to two technologies that consume a growing chunk of people’s free time: social media and video games.
New test measures students’ digital literacy
Educators have a new way to determine a student’s baseline digital literacy with a certification exam that measures the test-taker’s ability to assess information, think critically, and perform a range of real-world tasks.
College dean adds human touch to distance education
Douglas E. Hersh, dean of educational programs and technology at Santa Barbara City College, believes video technology might hold the key to solving an old problem that has plagued distance education since its beginnings, USA Today reports: the retention gap.