evaluting online tutorials in universities study

The effective integration of current technologies in teaching and research is a high priority for today’s universities. To support the technology skills of university faculty, staff, and students, the subject university’s office for faculty training and support, provides free, 24/7 access to a collection of online technology tutorials leased from a professional vendor, PBJ (pseudonym). Despite significant financial investment, the effectiveness of these tutorials has never been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PBJ online technology training tutorials in supporting the technology skills development of faculty, staff, and students at a large university. A customized Web-based survey was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from PBJ users. Findings revealed that PBJ users are largely satisfied with this online learning resource. However, users also recommended improvements: providing alternative formats/media for flexibility in learning; offering more practice opportunities to skill-build; providing content that is current, comprehensive, and targets high-need areas; and resolving usability issues such as cumbersome navigation. In sum, findings resulted in practical recommendations for improvement to this facet of the university’s technology support strategy as well as insights for other universities engaged in similar efforts. Implications for effective e-learning evaluation are offered.
International Journal on E-Learning, 2011, Evaluating Online Tutorials for University Faculty, Staff, and Students: The Contribution of Just-in-Time Online Resources to Learning and Performance
http://www.editlib.org/f/33278

study: Testing for Self-Censorship

The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of measuring the holdings of a school library young adult book collections and indications of self-censorship that might be practiced by the school library media specialist. The method employed, analysis of title ownership through examination of the school's OPAC, was an attempt to move away from questionnaires and interviews which might not allow for an objective description of selection decisions and acquisition practices.

A pool of recent, potentially controversial young adult books that had also received supporting reviews, awards, or recommendations for inclusion on reading lists was established. A small, random sample of high schools in Texas that are part of the state's online union catalog system was determined. Specific titles were searched in each school's OPAC to determine ownership. Based on one factor, not owning at least 50 percent of the controversial titles in the pool tested, the researcher concludes that over 80 percent of the schools in the study show signs that self-censorship has occurred during the collection development process.

The researcher acknowledges the limitations of the study and suggests other factors that should be taken into account before conclusive judgment can be made that deliberate self-censorship is widely practiced. An agenda for further research and study on censorship issues is outlined.

School of Library and Information Science, Texas Women's University, 2002, Moving Toward a Method to Test for Self-Censorship by School Library Media Specialists

Report: eBook issues

The report presents 145 pages of data and commentary on a broad range of eBook issues, including: spending on eBooks in 2010 and anticipated spending for 2011; use levels of various kinds of eBooks; market penetration by various specific eBook publishers; extent of use of aggregators vs offering by specific publishers; purchasing of individual titles; use of various channels of distribution such as traditional book jobbers and leading retail/internet based booksellers; use of eBooks in course reserves and interlibrary loan; impact of eBooks on print book spending; use of eBooks in integrated search; price increases for eBooks; contract renewal rates for eBooks; use of special eBook platforms for smartphones and tablet computers; spending plans and current use of eBook reader such as Nook, Reader and Kindle; the role played by library consortia in eBooks.
Research and Markets, 2010, Library Use of eBooks, 2011 Edition

report: digital repositories

The 225-page report looks closely at how 60+ academic and special libraries and other select institutions in the United States, the UK, continental Europe, Canada, China, India, Australia and other countries or regions are funding, managing, cataloging, marketing and developing their institutional digital repositories.

The report provides detailed data on budget and spending, sources of revenue and support, man hours deployed, range of materials maintained, number and source of visitors and downloads, and other key facts about institutional digital repositories.

The report also looks closely at the degree of faculty cooperation, methods of procuring and measuring this cooperation, plans to develop repositories as publishers in their own right, impact on the online presence of the college and on citation rates in journals, among other issues. Data is broken out by size, geographic region, Carnegie class, years in operation and type of library or other institution (such as scientific institutes).

Primary Research, 2011, The Survey of Institutional Digital Repositories, isbn 157440-161-0

http://primaryresearch.com/view_product.php?report_id=286

study: nonheterosexual youth punished more frequently

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students are punished up to three times more than their heterosexual peers, says a new study. "The key finding of the study is that gay and bisexual youth are being punished more than straight peers," says Kathryn E. W. Himmelstein, who coauthored the study. "And that's not because they're misbehaving more." The study is yet another example of why libraries are so crucial in the lives of LGBT kids who are looking for safe havens to find the materials and resources they need.
Pediatrics, 2011, Criminal-Justice and School Sanctions Against Nonheterosexual Youth: A National Longitudinal Study

Study: Digitization of special collections

The nearly 200 page report looks closely at how academic, public and special libraries and museums are digitizing special and other collections. The study is based on detailed data on costs, equipment use, staffing, cataloging, marketing, licensing revenue and other facets of digitization projects from nearly 100 libraries and museums in the United States, the UK, continental Europe, Canada, and Australia. The study covers and presents data separately for digitizers of photographs, film and video, music and audio, text and re-digitization of existing digital mediums. Data is also broken out by budget size, region of the world, type of institution and other factors. Data presented separately for academic libraries, public and government libraries, special libraries and museums.

Research and Markets ltd, 2010, The Survey of Library & Museum Digitization Projects 2011 Edition
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/product/26199f/the_survey_of_library_and_museum_digitization

smartphone phone users in ethnic minorities

As of December 2010, nearly a third (31%) of all mobile consumers in the United States owned smartphones, cellphones with app-based, web-enabled operating systems. But smartphone penetration is even higher among mobile users who are part of ethnic and racial minorities in the U.S. – namely Asian/Pacific Islanders (45%), Hispanics (45%) and African-Americans (33%), populations that also tend to skew younger. Meanwhile, only 27 percent of White mobile users reported owning a smartphone.
Nielsen Wire, 2010, Among Mobile Phone Users, Hispanics, Asians are Most-Likely Smartphone Owners in the U.S.

Report: Generations and techology

Many devices have become popular across generations, with a majority now owning cell phones, laptops and desktop computers. Younger adults are leading the way in increased mobility, preferring laptops to desktops and using their cell phones for a variety of functions, including internet, email, music, games, and video. In terms of generations, Millennials are by far the most likely group not only to own most of the devices we asked about, but also to take advantage of a wider range of functions. For instance, while cell phones have become ubiquitous in American households, most cell phone owners only use two of the main non-voice functions on their phones: taking pictures and text messaging. Among Millennials, meanwhile, a majority use their phones also for going online, sending email, playing games, listening to music, and recording videos.

Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, 2011, Generations & Gadgets
http://pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2011/PIP_Generations_and_Gadgets.pdf

report: elearning products continue to rise

A new report released has found that the U.S. market for self-paced e-learning products and services in preK-12 education has increased 16.8 percent over the past five years. The total e-learning industry—which includes health care, higher education, preK-12, nonprofits, and the government—totaled $18.2 billion in 2010 and is expected to rise to $24.2 billion in 2015, according to the report.
Ambient Insight, 2011, The US Market for Self-paced eLearning Products and Services: 2010-2015 Forecast and Analysis
http://www.ambientinsight.com/Resources/Documents/Ambient_Insight_2010_2015_US_eLearningMarket_Executive_Overview.pdf

report: students not proficient in science

Results issued for the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress show that most American students are not performing at a level deemed “proficient” in science. Only one in five high school seniors scored at least proficient on the exam, with 12th graders posting the weakest scores. Only 34 percent of 4th graders and 30 percent of 8th graders were deemed proficient or better in science.
The Nation's Report Card, 2011, Trial Urban District Assessment

report: national history day improves test scores

A national evaluation of National History Day suggests that students who participate in the yearlong academic program and competition perform better on standardized tests, are better writers, and are more confident and capable researchers. The independent evaluation compared groups of student participants in National History Day programs to similar sets of students who did not participate. The study examined outcomes for students in four districts, located in Colorado, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Texas.

Rockman et al, 2011, History Day Works: Findings from the National Program Evaluation

report: community organizing for school reform

A new report shows that community organizing for school reform has the potential to create equitable changes in schools and districts, develop innovative education solutions that reflect the knowledge of underserved communities, and build the long-term social capital of underserved communities both to support schools and districts, and to hold them accountable for improving achievement.
Annenberg Institute for School Reform (AISR), 2011, The Strengths and
Challenges of Community Organizing as an Education Reform Strategy: What the Research Says

report evaluates district productivity

A new report evaluates the productivity of nearly every major school district in the United States. The report, which defines “productivity” as achievement produced relative to a district’s educational spending, found that low productivity costs the national system as much as $175 billion a year. The study found that many school districts could boost student achievement without increasing spending if they used their money more productively. Low productivity costs the nation’s school system as much as $175 billion a year. Without controls on how additional school dollars are spent, more education spending will not automatically improve student outcomes, the study said.
Center for American Progress, 2011, Return on Educational Investment: a district-by-district of U.S. educational productivity

school libraries impact study

The Spring 2011 class of LSC 5530, School Library Advocacy, Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA, developed background information for the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association to summarize findings from the landmark body of research known as the "school library impact studies." Begun in the early 1990's these reports primarily correlated standardized language arts test scores of students to components of school library programs. To date, 22 states and one Canadian province have provided data for such research.
School Library & Information Technologies Graduate Program at Mansfield University, 2011, School Library Impact Studies Project

Bullies in middle and high schools study

In the movie “Mean Girls,” head plastic Regina George tortures her North Shore High classmates of all stripes, including her supposed best friends. At Springfield Elementary, where Bart Simpson goes to school, Nelson Muntz, the oversized dimwit with the distinctive laugh, is the cartoon series’ bully. A new study suggests that, in reality, neither of those students would be the aggressors on campus. Robert W. Faris, an assistant sociology professor at the University of California, Davis, spent several years surveying students at middle and high schools in rural and suburban North Carolina.

Education Week, 2011, Study Disputes Myth of School Bullies' Social Status, American Sociological Review http://www.asanet.org/images/journals/docs/pdf/Faris_FelmleeASRFeb11.pdf

technology needs of teachers and students report

Few people will be surprised to learn of research that shows K-12 institutions throughout the United States have become heavily dependent on technology, and that this dependency continues to increase with each passing year. What may surprise even the most jaded among us, however, is that, given that many view this a "good" dependency with a wealth of immediate and long-term benefits for teachers, students, and staff, we're doing an inadequate job of feeding the habit.

At the FETC 2011 show a national research report on digital media usage among educators entitled "Deepening Commitment: Teachers Increasingly Rely on Media and Technology." The report is based on a survey conducted in August 2010 of 1,401 preK-12 teachers from various regions and demographics throughout the United States. Its primary conclusions are: Teachers are, owing to both interest and circumstance, increasing their use and knowledge of technology in the classroom; and U.S. schools provide an insufficient capacity of computing devices and technology infrastructure to support teachers' Internet-based instruction needs.

PBS and Grunwald Assoociates, 2011,Transforming Education through Technology, Report Shows U.S. Schools Can't Meet Technology Demands of Teachers, Students

Library technology survey

In this time of tight budgets where libraries face difficult decisions regarding how to invest their technology resources, it’s helpful to have data regarding how libraries perceive the quality of their automation systems and the companies that support them. This report, based on survey responses from over two thousands libraries, aims to give some measure of how libraries perceive their current environment and probes at their inclinations for the future.

Library Technology Guides, 2011, Perceptions 2010: An International Survey of Library Automation

http://www.librarytechnology.org/perceptions2010.pl

Study: preschool helps literacy skills

A study says prekindergarten teachers are doing a good job overall in teaching early literacy skills, but should focus more on vocabulary instruction and exercises that build self-control as part of a broader curriculum. This finding is based on assessment of a cohort Michigan 3- and 4-year-olds attending preschool. Michigan State researcher Lori Skibbe and colleagues are among the first to directly assess self-regulation in this age group. Researchers found children who spent two years in preschool did better in literacy skills: learning the alphabet and understanding how letters come together to form words.
Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 2011, Vocabulary, Self-Control Crucial in Early Literacy Skills, Study Says

Study: Exercise improves math skills

Regular exercise in an after-school program helped sedentary, overweight children perform better on goal-oriented tasks, according to a study. The exercise also seemed to improve math skills, an area of great concern for U.S. educators. In the study, published online in the journal Health Psychology, children ages 7 to 11 in Augusta, Ga., were assigned to a group that got 20 minutes of aerobic exercise in an after-school program at the institute, one that got 40 minutes of exercise in a similar program, or a group that had no exercise program. The study used assessment tests to gauge cognitive and academic achievement.
Georgia Prevention Institute at Georgia Health Sciences University, 2011, EdWeek Exercise Improves Math Skills, Brain Study Suggests

Report: College Student Preparation and Training

Report examines the urgent need to prepare students for post-secondary degrees and professional training, lessons from Northern and Central Europe, and models of school reform to provide career and technical education, including expanded roles for employers.
Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2011, Pathways to Prosperity: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Young Americans for the 21st Century

http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news_events/features/2011/Pathways_to_Prosperity_Feb2011.pdf

Study: Blended Learning

Blended learning, in which students are taught partially online and partially in a brick-and-mortar setting, could serve to transform education but may face some potential pitfalls, a new report shows. The report found that blended learning -- which has increased exponentially in recent years -- has the potential to meet individual student needs, provided that policymakers and administrators are open to its innovative models. The report also calls for better content and more integrated systems to provide the online learning portion.
Innosight Institute, 2011, Report: Blended learning could hit or miss

2011 Horizons Report

The 2011 Horizons Report is out. Each year, the Horizon Report introduces six emerging technologies or practices that are likely to enter mainstream use within the next five years. It focuses on technology trends in higher education, but is valuable reading for librarians in all types of institutions. Technology trends to watch: Electronic books, mobiles: Time-to-Adoption: <1>Time-to-Adoption: 4-5 years

New Media Consortium and EDUCAUSE, 2011, Horizons Report
http://www.slideshare.net/dreig/2011-horizonreport

Study: Should 8th Graders take Algebra?

The number of eighth-graders in California taking algebra has increased 80% since 2003, but many were unprepared for the class, according to a recent study. The study urged schools to better prepare students for algebra and to make sure students are placed in appropriate classes. "Giving more students the opportunity to complete Algebra I in eighth grade should not be achieved at the expense of a large proportion of students who would be better served by having more time to master key algebra concepts," said one of the study's authors.
EdSource, 2011, New study finds many San Mateo County students in eighth-grade algebra are not prepared for it

Study: Language-Based Intervention assists with Math Skills

Students who struggle with basic math may benefit from language-based interventions, according to a series of recent studies. "The way we conceive of numbers evolves from language," said a co-author of the study. "Children learn this stuff before they learn to read, before word problems become a problem. If you can't understand what [five] means, you can't add, you can't do basic math."
EdWeek, 2011, Studies Find Language Key is Key to Learning Math

Report: States have unused student learning data

Overall, states have made unprecedented progress in collecting longitudinal student data. But they don't actually use it to improve student learning. The analysis also found that the majority of states don't link data across education systems or make it available to stakeholders. Because they don't make it available to stakeholders, they can't make decisions based on the data to help improve student outcomes.

Data for Action, 2010, Do States Use Data to Improve Student Learning?

Survey: College Students Underprepared

A survey concluded that students are entering college with too few essential skills and too many external demands on their time to optimize their higher education experience but that the use of digital tools can help take some of the edge off.
Cengage Learning and Eduventures, 2011, Survey Shows College Students Overwhelmed, Underprepared

Study: Using Technology in Classroom Raises Student Achievement

Many schools that use technology in the classroom are not maximizing its potential to improve student achievement or cut costs, according to a new report. The report advocates that schools use more technology in intervention classes, encourage students and teachers to use technology for collaboration and integrate technology into the core curriculum on a weekly basis. The report also makes the case that technology, when properly used, can lower operational costs for schools.
Project RED and the One-to-One Institute, 2011
EdWeek, http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/02/23/21computing.h30.html?tkn=ZQCCZgwTleHJsxeqrGcE9v01jxT5PzwFtZ6y&cmp=clp-sb-edtech

Gaming Violence Study

Young adults who played video games were just as likely as nongamers to recall and be physically aroused by violent or disturbing pictures, suggesting that gaming may not desensitize young people to violence, a study found. However, researchers noted some study limitations, such as the reliance on self-reports, and cited a need for more investigation.
Applied Cognitive Psychology, 2011, Violent Video Games May Not Desensitize Kids: Study HealthyDay http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=650097

Facebook boost civic engagement

High-school students involved in digital communities based on common interests were more likely to participate in civic-minded activities, research indicates. Students who received education in digital literacy in high school or college were more likely to participate in politically driven online activities, researchers also found. "We have to find a way to bridge -- to meet the digital literacy with traditional literacies," said Samuel Reed, a Philadelphia educator. "We need to see that there's a wealth of creativity and opportunities in it, instead of ... demonizing social media."

The Christian Science Monitor, 2011, Does Facebook boost civic engagement among American youths, too?
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2011/0224/Does-Facebook-boost-civic-engagement-among-American-youths-too

Controlling for social class and children's books closes the black-white gap in kindergarten

Controlling for social class and children's books in the home closes the black-white gap in kindergarten: An important result buried deep in Fryer and Levitt (2004)

Stephen Krashen

Fryer and Levitt (2004) examined reading and math test scores in kindergarten and grade 1 using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (about 1000 schools). Their focus was the gap between black and white children.

For reading, the difference between black and white children at the start of kindergarten was .40 (where mean = 0, , sd = 1). Thus, black children scored 40% of one standard deviation below white children.

When Fryer and Levitt controlled for SES, (parents education, parent occupation, household income), the gap dropped to .134.

When they controlled for SES and number of children's books in the home the gap dropped to nearly zero, -.006.

This is a major result: social class and the presence of children's books evens the playing field. And this is only for a test given at the start of kindergarten. As they note, "including number of books …. completely eliminates the gap in reading" (p. 452).

As is typical for these kinds of results, it is buried deep in this long paper.

When Fryer and Levitt controlled for more predictors, including age at kindergarten, birth weight, whether the mother was a teenager or age 30 at the time her first child was born, the characteristics of neighborhood, whether mother was working, preschool program participation, parental involvement in child's life, family size and family structure, the difference was.093. Black children did slightly better.

Fryer and Levitt did not find the same "summer slump" than others have reported: In fact, black children closed the gap slightly over the summer. But the summer in this study was between kindergarten and grade 1. Closing the summer gap is related to access to books and self-selected reading over the summer (studies by Heyns, 1975 and by J. Kim, 2003). Not much self-selected reading takes place with six year olds.

As usual, there was no mention of libraries of any kind.

Fryer, R. and Levitt, S. 2004. Understanding the black-white test score gap in the first two years of school. The Review of Economics and Statistics 86 (2): 447-464.

Heyns, B. 1975. Summer Learning and the Effect of School. New York: Academic Press.

Kim, J. 2003. Summer reading and the ethnic achievement gap. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk 9(2): 169-188

Teen blogging study

Teens' interest in blogs is declining
Blogging is becoming less popular with young people, according to a Pew Research Center study, with the number of bloggers ages 12 to 17 declining by 50% between 2006 and 2009. Some say blogs are too time-consuming to maintain and attract too few viewers, while others say bloggers are simply wrapping other social forms into their online activities.
Pew Research Center Internet and American Life Project. (201). Generations 2010.
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Generations-2010.aspx

Educational technology trends report

This annual report presents the five emerging trends that eSchool Media believes will take root in 2011, due to the large amount of attention these trends received in 2010, as well as the positive results they produced in student achievement and administrative effectiveness in schools, districts, and states.

In this report you’ll find the latest news on:

• Classroom instruction trends
• Mobile devices trends
• eReading technology trends
• Virtualization trends
• Bullying trends, and much more

School Technology Action Report: Emerging Trends: 2011. eSchool Media.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/02/03/emerging-trends-2011/

college students and technology study

Survey shows college students favor technology-infused education
Many college students say more technology is needed on campus to help them balance the demands of school and jobs, a national survey found. The study, by the education group looked at how students manage busy schedules that include academics, jobs and extracurricular activities. The study then recommended more online options for classes, textbooks and projects.

The study, which included 751 students and 201 educators from colleges and universities across the country, examined how students handle hectic schedules that include full-time course loads, jobs, and extracurricular activities. The survey results were indicative of nontraditional students who find time before or after work to take classes and earn a college degree. Enrollment in online educational programs has skyrocketed in the past two years – especially at community colleges — as millions of adults return to school during the country’s economic downturn.

Eduventures. (2010). Instructors and Students: Technology Use, Engagement and Learning Outcomes.
Cengage Learning.
http://www.cengage.com/press/release/20100407.html

Broadband map analysis

Digital divide persists as Obama reaches out to tech leaders on innovation, education
Much of rural America remains locked out of broadband access, according to a national study. It found that as many as 10% of Americans cannot connect to high-speed fixed or wireless Internet services.
U.S. Department of Commerce. (2011). National Broadband Map.
http://www.broadbandmap.gov/

high school completion study

Advises governments, workforce development groups, school districts, postsecondary institutions, and others on expanding routes to high school completion through state and local policy, cross-system collaboration, data, capacity-building, and funding.
Weeter, Christina; Nancy Martin. (2011). Building Roads to Success: Key Considerations for Communities & States Reconnecting Youth to Education. National Youth Employment Coalition.
http://nyec.org/content/documents/Building%20Roads%20cover-FINAL.pdf

Teacher layoff study

Analyzes the factors that predict which teachers are likely to be laid off in Washington state in the current seniority-based system and which would likely be laid off in an effectiveness-based system. Considers implications for student achievement.
Goldhaber, Dan; Roddy Theobald. (2010). Assessing the Determinants and Implications of Teacher Layoffs. Urban Institute.
http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/1001496-Assessing-Teacher-Layoffs.pdf

Open Education Resources study

A 2011 study finds that OER are more widely used where programmes or inititatives for open resources exist at the institutional level. The lesser the fear, insecurity or discomfort towards Open Educational Resources (OER), the higher the frequency of OER use. The report thus advocates building trust in OER in order to increase their actual usage, and building open learning architectures to transform learning.
Open Educational Quality Initiative. (2011). Beyond OER.
http://www.wsis-community.org/pg/announcements/view/59647/

Blended learning study

Blended learning has the ability to transform education, according to a new report—but if certain guidelines and practices aren’t ensured, blended learning could become just another add-on to an archaic system on its way out, the report warns. According to the report, blended learning, which it defines as “any time a student learns at least in part at a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home and at least in part through online delivery with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace,” has grown exponentially over the past decade.
Horn, M. (2011). The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning. Mountain View, CA: Innosight Institute.
http://www.innosightinstitute.org/innosight/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/The-Rise-of-K-12-Blended-Learning.pdf

Girl Scout studies

The Girl Scouts of the USA Research Institute has conducted several studies about girls, which can inform education, including libraries. In honor of a decade of research, they have published a report highlighting key findings from 22 past research efforts on topics including healthy living, civic engagement, leadership and values, safety, self-esteem, body image, and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Go Ask a Girl summarizes and points out interesting facts about girls’ attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors through changing times.
Girl Scouts Research Institute. (2010). Go Ask a Girl: A Decade of Findings from the Girl Scout Research Institute . New York: GSUSA.
http://www.girlscouts.org/research/

Technology by generation study

Generations and gadgets
Seven percent of “younger boomers,” those now between the ages of 47 and 56, and 6% of those ages 66–74 own e-readers. The highest percentages among all age groups are for devices like Amazon’s Kindle or Barnes & Noble’s Nook, according to a new report. Another tidbit: Millennials are the only generation more likely to own a laptop computer or netbook than a desktop.
Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project. (2011). Generations and Their Gadgets.
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Generations-and-gadgets/Overview.aspx

Email use study

A 2010 report on digital trends found that Innovative social messaging platforms like Facebook and Twitter as well mobile communications continue to dominate online time, and web email begins its steady decline. Total web email usage was down 8% in the past year (YOY), with a whopping 59% decline in use among people between the ages of 12-17. Young people are simply spending more time social networking than anything else, up 3.8% to 14.% of all time spent online. In contrast, use of web -based email lost 1.5% at a total of 11% of time spent.
ComScore. (2010). The 2010 U.S. Digital Year in Review.
http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Presentations_Whitepapers/2011/2010_US_Digital_Year_in_Review

Social-skills teaching study

Study Finds Social-Skills Teaching Boosts Academics An analysis of more than 200 studies finds that classroom programs that focus on social and emotional skills can yield learning improvements that rival those of purely academic programs. Durlak, J., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students' social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development82(1), 405-432.

Teachers and technology survey

Teachers favor interactive whiteboards, e-readers
When it comes to classroom technology, teachers favor interactive whiteboards, tablet-style e-reader devices and laptops, according to a national survey on teachers' digital media use. About 62% of teachers said they frequently use digital media in the classroom, though much of what they use is free or paid for out-of-pocket. More than three-quarters of teachers also said they are using streaming video in class, up from 55% in 2007.
PBS and Grunwald Associates. (2011). Deepening Commitment: Teachers Increasingly Rely on Media and Technology. New York: PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/about/media/about/cms_page_media/182/PBS-Grunwald-2011e.pdf

Tech as teacher research

Replacing teachers with technology: Can it be done?
More schools are testing teacherless classrooms that rely on technology to cut costs and keep class sizes low. Some research has found that students who take all or part of their classes online perform better. However, experts also say that some teacher supervision is needed for student-driven virtual lessons to ensure students stay on track. The article states that "adults still have a vital role to play as tutors, mentors, and coaches."
Ferenstein, G. (2011, Feb. 1). Teacher-replacing tech: Friend or foe? Fast Company.
http://www.fastcompany.com/1722914/can-computers-replace-teachers
US Dept. of Education. Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies.
http://ifap.ru/library/book440.pdf

Bullying research

Researchers study role of gossip, ostracization in bullying
More researchers are beginning to focus on the role that relational aggression plays in school bullying. The behavior, which includes social ostracization and gossip and often involves students who are considered popular, has typically been overlooked and considered less dangerous than physical or verbal abuse. Research shows that programs such as Steps to Respect, which teaches students and teachers to intervene, may help to diffuse such situations.
Frey, K. (2010).Gossip on the playground. School Psychology Review, 39(4), 536-551.