EDTECH
U.S. May Amend Law Blocking Online Students From Federal Aid (WSJ)
School Is Spearheading Educational Technology (NYT)
PRIVACY
Tech Industry Calls for Privacy Self-Regulation (WSJ)
MEDIA & SOCIETY
Utah Shop Offers Popular Videos With The Sex And Violence Excised
(NYT)
EDTECH
U.S. MAY AMEND LAW BLOCKING ONLINE STUDENTS FROM FEDERAL AID
Issue: EdTech
The prospects of online higher education are looking brighter. The federal
government is likely to amend a little-known 1992 law preventing colleges
that teach more than half of their courses via "distance" education from
participating in federal financial-aid programs. The lack of federal aid has
been a definite deterrent for prospective online students and a drag on the
business of those who offer higher education via the Web. Gregory Cappelli,
an analyst for Credit Suisse First Boston, says eliminating the
distance-education barriers would increase postsecondary enrollment in
online education from a projected 2.2 million by the end of 2002 to three
million. However, Removing the 50% rule won't unlock federal aid for all
cyber-schools. Accreditation by a federally approved body is another
prerequisite for participation. While traditional colleges can simply modify
their accreditation to cover new online programs, new cyber-schools must
undergo a lengthy academic review.
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal (B1), AUTHOR: Daniel Golden]
(http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB980896917629917965.htm)
(requires subscription)
SCHOOL IS SPEARHEADING EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Issue: EdTech
Omaha North High School, a science and technology magnet school in Omaha, NE
has 1,100 computers for its 2,300 students and is one of the few schools in
the country to give an e-mail account to all students. Brad Fuerst's English
class, which is one of several that have a computer for every student, has
essentially become a paperless classroom. For each of his classes, Mr.
Fuerst has created a Web page that gives an overview of all the units the
class will cover, vocabulary lists and discussion questions. He has also
designed interactive quizzes that students can take online, and they submit
their homework to him via email. Mr. Fuerst feels that he is giving his
students an important opportunity they might not otherwise have to become
familiar with technology. "They don't all have a computer at home," he said.
"If we don't provide that here, the digital divide is going to become a
serious issue."
[SOURCE: New York Times (CyberTimes), AUTHOR: Susan Stellin]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/31/technology/31EDUCATION.html)
(requires registration)
PRIVACY
TECH INDUSTRY CALLS FOR PRIVACY SELF-REGULATION
Issue: Privacy
While Congress has shown great interest in Internet privacy, computer
technology companies want self-regulation in privacy matters. Privacy
advocates want to protect consumers with strong laws shielding personal
medical and financial information from the wrong hands, and letting
consumers change or remove their names and data about their Web surfing
habits from vast marketing databases. On the other hand, tech companies want
to protect themselves from a "crazy quilt" of contradictory state laws that
could make it impossible to do business on a global Internet. Indeed, The
American Electronics Association, a technology trade group, has said that
the Bush administration and Congress should focus on better science and math
education to boost high technology and leave privacy concerns to the
companies involved.
[SOURCE: USA Today (Interactive), AUTHOR: Associated Press]
(http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2001-01-30-tech-priorities.htm)
See Also:
GROUP: SELF - REGULATE TECH PRIVACY
[SOURCE: New York Times (Online), AUTHOR: The Associated Press]
(http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Tech-Priorities.html)
(requires registration)
MEDIA & SOCIETY
UTAH SHOP OFFERS POPULAR VIDEOS WITH THE SEX AND VIOLENCE EXCISED
Issue: Media & Society
CleanFlicks, a video rental outlet in Utah is offering videos relieved of
scenes that include sex, violence and profanity, thanks to the strong
religious beliefs and editing skills of the owner, Ray Lines. In the
CleanFlicks version of "Titanic," Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett never
appear without their clothes; in "Schindler's List," Liam Neeson as
Schindler does not have sex outside his marriage; in "Planes, Trains and
Automobiles," Steve Martin does not say naughty words; and in "Saving
Private Ryan," soldiers die but they do not bleed a lot. And business is
booming. Although Mr. Lines says his lawyer has assured him he is on firm
legal ground, violating no laws by altering others' creations, experts in
intellectual property rights and film company executives say not only is the
editing a potential copyright infringement, it is also an impingement on the
rights of artists. Rob Friedman, the vice chairman of the motion picture
group for Paramount Pictures says renting altered tapes is tantamount to
copyright and trademark infringement. Jack Valenti, executive director of
the Motion Picture Association of America, has asked his lawyers to look
into Mr. Lines's activities.
[SOURCE: New York Times (A11), AUTHOR: Michael Janofsky]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/31/national/31UTAH.html)
(requires registration)
--------------------------------------------------------------