FROM CoSN: Betsy had fun meeting school CIOs of all stripes and districts at the CoSN confab. Professor James Bosco (Western Michigan University) described an ongoing (MacArthur) funded CoSN project to collect lessons learned from 13 school districts leading a blended learning charge. Technology directors from Trussville City Schools (Alabama) and Katy Independent School District (Texas) described how they have unleashed a host of technologies in their schools, including YouTube and (at least partly) Facebook. (Great example: Shawn Nutting of Trussville said he expects to see classes of kids studying World War II Skyping with veterans to ask them about their experiences.) Both school reps conceded that they've had to withstand scorching publicity. (Best hint: get tech buying from the local PTA. And Chamber of Commerce. And AYSO club. And anyone else in the community). "We think it's our job to bridge the protective cocoon of school and the adult world," noted Katy's Lenny Schad.
