HP 2008 Technology for Teaching Grants Open

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October 31, 2007

HP has opened up its 2008 Technology for Teaching Grant program, offering $6 million to K-12 and higher education institutions in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The initiative is aimed at efforts to improve education through the use of innovative uses of technology in the classroom,increase the number of underrepresented students on a path toward high-tech careers, and enhance student success in math, science and engineering. For this year's program, the Technology for Teaching Grant will award $3 million to K-12 schools and $3 million to two- and four-year colleges and universities. On the K-12 side, proposals will be accepted for programs covering any subject area, although, according to HP, the grant awards will favor science-and math-focused proposals and extra consideration will be given to schools serving low-income student populations. In higher education the focus will be on math, science, computer science, information systems, and engineering with an eye toward increasing the number of high-tech degrees awarded.

Indian Institute of IT and Management offers e- content for engineering

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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October 31, 2007

The Indian Institute of Information Technology Management-Kerala (IIITM-K) has developed a site offering e-content for some 230 engineering courses.

The materials for the undergraduate engineering curriculum in the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)-approved engineering colleges are available on the website, which bagged this year's Manthan Award for India's best e-content for education. 110 courses are in the form of full length recorded video lectures covering some 40 lecture hours per course and as web-based supplementary learning materials for some 130 courses. The web content is also hosted at IIT Madras. At present, courses are available in core sciences, computer science, civil, mechanical, electronics and electrical engineering related subjects. The contents were developed in association with the ministry of human resources development's National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) helped by over 320 faculty members of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

India launches e-Learning portal for company secretaries

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October 31, 2007

The Union Minister of Railways Shri Lalu Prasad has launched e-Learning portal for company secretaries Foundation Programme at the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

The e-Learning portal of ICSI would be imparted to the students of the CS Foundation Programme. In the second phase, the training would be imparted to the students of Executives and Professional Programmes. E-learning is a cost effective training format, where the students can undergo coaching from the comfort of their homes. All they need is an internet connection. Under the system, the students would be imparted coaching through web based training. A nominal annual fee of Rs. 250/- would be charged from the Foundation Programme students for availing the services at the E-learning portal.

Cameroonian ICT centre and adcome wins global challenge award

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October 30, 2007

Cameroonian centre for Information and Communication Technology, ICT and Non-Governmental Organisation, ADCOME, has won the 2007 Global Junior Challenge Award worth FCFA 15 million.

The award was sponsored by Digital World Foundation and is designed to young people and to schools to identify and reward best case practices on the use of ICTs in Education and Training. The finalists were selected by a committee and then forwarded to the President of Italy. ADCOME is amongst the leaders of ICTs in Cameroon. It provides young people with access to Internet and allows them to discover and develop their potentials for a positive impact on the socio-economic landscape of Cameroon via ICTs.

Qatar and Singapore boost ICT partnership

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October 30, 2007

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and ictQATAR, the Supreme Council of Information & Communications Technology of Qatar has inked the third Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost ICT partnerships between the two states.

The scope of the MOU will cover areas such as telecommunications, e-health, e-education, e-commerce and e-tourism. Both parties will share experience and knowledge and explore co-operation on projects which will be implemented by both the public and private sectors. This will further accelerate the development and adoption of ICT in both states. The previous two MOUs have resulted in a number of projects collaboration including the eSchoolbag initiative and the implementation of the Qatar Service Platform. The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is committed to growing Singapore into a dynamic global Infocomm hub. IctQATAR is Qatar's telecommunications regulatory authority and initiator of multiple information and communication technology programs designed to drive industry and advance the lives of Qatar's people.

Indian state of Tamil Nadu to set up ICT academy

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October 30, 2007

The Indian state of Tamil Nadu will set up an ICT Academy under public-private partnership to develop and maintain a world class ICT industry-related curriculum and content for students across the state.

The proposal, which would require an initial investment of Rs 20 crore over a period of three years, would become operational by mid-2008. The process of setting up the academy was in the advanced stage and a few companies have signed up to become partners. The partnership would include the State and Central Governments, industry and institutions. The academy, to function as a non-profit autonomous organisation, would develop curriculum and content to address gaps in specific technical as well as management areas. It would be made available to students and faculty through an online portal. Specialised training to the faculty and industry-related training programme to students would also be provided.

India based Upside Learning Wins Apex Publication Excellence Award

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October 30, 2007

Upside Learning, a fast growing India based e-Learning organization has won Apex Grand Award in the Apex 2007 Awards for Publication Excellence.

Fire Safety and Prevention is an e-Learning course created for Tooling University, Ohio, USA, by Upside Learning. The course has entered in the Electronic & Video Publications category under the Education and Training sub-category. The Apex Awards are presented annually to recognize excellence in graphic design, editorial content, and the ability to achieve overall communications excellence. Within these, the Apex Grand Awards specifically honor outstanding work in the main categories, which include Writing, Design & Illustration, Electronic & Video Publications, and others. Out of a total of almost 5000 entries, 223 were evaluated in the Electronic & Video Publications category. Eight of these won Grand Awards. Fire Safety and Prevention is a simulation-based e-Learning program targeted at students enrolled in online classes, with the aim of reinforcing their learning through engaging and interactive content. This was achieved by creating a job-realistic storyline and playing it out in a factory environment resembling that in real life.

Intel presents holistic approach for ICT in education at Jordan workshop

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October 30, 2007

Intel corporation presents holistic approach for the effective use of ICT in education at the Intel World Ahead Program – Education Workshop, in Jordan.

The workshop was attended by educators, students and pedagogues, presented a framework for analyzing policies in ICT, pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, teacher training, and school organization. Intel demonstrated how the corporation's educational programs and initiatives have supported numerous governments' education reforms, and showcased Jordan as a prime example of how this has been successfully implemented, using the Ministry of Education's 'Education Reform for Knowledge Economy' (ERfKE) and the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI) as case studies. The workshop assisted participants in applying a model framework to their current educational policies and encouraged them to coordinate policy changes through a holistic approach that deals with all the key pillars of the education process. Intel has partnered with the Jordan Ministry of Education since 2003; and has since provided training to more than 50 thousand Jordanian teachers on the Intel Teach Essentials and Thinking with Technology programs.

Uruguay buys first $100 laptops

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October 30, 2007

The first official order for the “$100 laptop” has been placed by the government of Uruguay.

The South American country has bought 100,000 of the machines for schoolchildren aged six to 12. A further 300,000 may be purchased to provide a machine for every child in the country by 2009. The order will be a boost for the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) organisation behind the project which has admitted difficulties getting concrete orders.