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Articles by MNEP Staff

Cyber Security: Why CoSN Wants to Help Districts Protect Their Technology Assets new!
Published by DistrictAdministration
February 2004

The mission of a school is to facilitate learning. Learning depends on teachers, buildings, curriculum, materials, and, increasingly, security... FULL ARTICLE

From High Stakes to Embedded Learning: Technology-based Assessment Needs to Change Direction new!
Published by eSchool News
January 2004

The dictionary definition of "assessment" does not include the taking of high-stakes final exams. But that's how the word is being increasingly used. In the context of schools' legal requirements to meet Adequate Yearly Progress goals, assessment means accountability as defined by the reporting requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act... FULL ARTICLE

How to Avoid Useless Program Evaluations
December 2003

Accountability may top everyone's worry list these days, but we all know that most program evaluations are simply a waste of everyone's time and money. And the situation is likely to get worse... FULL ARTICLE

The Next Small Thing: Are Handhelds the Future of Education Technology?
November 2003

A look at handhelds in the context of education technology trends with examples of some of the common ways that educators are using these powerful tools... FULL ARTICLE

Mixing Oil and Vinegar
Published by Public CIO magazine
August 2003

Mixing academic and government networks -- town and gown, city and local school districts, state and higher education -- is a little like making salad dressing. When the mixing is done just right and is properly spiced, the result can be outstanding. Otherwise it's often best to keep the two sides separate... FULL ARTICLE

Ten Tips for Successful Grant Writing

Does it ever seem that the same districts, the same teachers, are the ones that get all the grants? Why are they successful? What are they doing that you aren't? Successful grant writing really isn't rocket science... FULL ARTICLE

Results-Focused Professional Development:
Learning From Project MEET
Published by OnCUE

At the 2002 MassCUE conference, educators from Project MEET schools in Williamstown, Williston-Northampton, Winchester, and Beverly, as well as from Mass Networks and the EDC OnLine Professional Development Center spoke at a panel on Models of Professional Development. This article is based on their input and on the best practices Mass Networks has gathered through its leadership of the Policy Strand. FULL ARTICLE

Embedded Professional Development
Published by OnCUE

Nearly every major study about how to improve the K-12 education system calls for more professional development. This is particularly true in the area of education technology. The latest report, released just before the start of the 1999-2000 school year, found that nearly two-thirds of the nation's teachers felt either "not at all prepared" or "only somewhat prepared" to integrate technology into classroom instruction...FULL ARTICLE

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Education Technology Policy Papers

February 2002
Data-Informed Instructional Decision-Making
http://www.massnetworks.org/programs/data/

Mass Networks organized a series of practitioner discussions about the effective use of school data for instructional decision-making. This report is a summary of one of those conversations.

May 1998
Assessing the Value of Education Technology
http://www.massnetworks.org/resources/netday/edtechvalue.html

Notes from the Policy and Best Practice Roundtable Series on the unique contributions and benefits of education technology and ways to analyze its cost-effectiveness.

February 1997
Highlights of the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia
http://www.massnetworks.org/resources/netday/fairuse.html#fairuse

An introduction to the Guidelines and their development. Presented by Stan Diamond and Deg Farrelly at the 1997 AECT Conference in Albuquerque. PowerPoint format.

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Primers & Guides

Feburary 2002
Total Cost of Ownership: Mini-Presentation
http://www.massnetworks.org/programs/tco/presentation.html

A short introduction to TCO budgeting for the effective use of education technology. PowerPoint format.

May 1998
School Web Page Development Guide
http://www.massnetworks.org/resources/sun/schools/

General guidelines for creating school home pages as well as a list of content ideas to help you select appropriate material for your own school's home page.

May 1998
Introduction to the Internet for Teachers
http://www.massnetworks.org/resources/sun/tutorial/

This collection of pages includes material intended to help teachers get started using the Internet in the classroom.

January 1997
Mass NetDay Networking Guide
http://www.massnetworks.org/resources/netday/networking.html

A cluster of three documents from the NetDay '96 and '97 events: a list of necessary components for school wiring, a handbook to help schools establish external network connections, and the School Network Design and Installation Guide.

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MNEP Program Resources

Curriculum Group Resources

Data-Informed Instructional Decision-Making Resources

Project MEET Resources

NCLB Support Resources

Classroom Strategies Study Program Resources new!

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MNEP Recommended Resources

TCO Resources (CoSN): http://www.classroomtco.org