Communities

Education

State Government

Lt Gov. Heineman announces technology planning grants to 6 communities 
Recipients of the $2,500 planning grants are Adams County, Dakota City, Homer, Lexington, Maskell and Valley County.

TANgents addresses need for information on technology development
Last spring, community technology committees surveyed indicated that their most preferred method of receiving information on technology-related development was an electronic newsletter.  TANgents, a new electronic newsletter from Technologies Across Nebraska, meets this need.  To subscribe, e-mail Linda Tempel at ltempel@unlnotes.unl.edu. 

• Not soybeans and cattle anymore: 4-H Tech Team gains hand-on computer experience by building computers

• Counties plan future use of technology:  With assistance from Technologies Across Nebraska's IT Planning and Mini Grant program, Keya Paha, Brown, and Rock Counties address technology-related development

• Edgar puts community puzzle pieces together: Participating in Technologies Across Nebraska's IT Planning and Mini Grant program helps Edgar assess needs and fund new community center

• Wireless network enhances public safety:  Wireless Internet access benefits law enforcement, fire department, public works, and schools in South Sioux City

• Public Service Commission aids telehealth development:  State Universal Service Fund assistance will reduce telecommunications line charges for rural hospitals

• Most Nebraskans have access to broadband:  Public Service Commission finds 85% of Nebraska communities have broadband access, but take rate remains low

• Looking for grants in all the right places:  Resources for grant availability and application assistance

• Technology planning made easy:  New, revised Community IT Planning Workbook simplifies technology planning

• Bit by Bit: Understanding technology one term at a time--Grid Computing

• Packets (news shorts)
  

Summer technology intern works with Broken Bow businesses and individuals
Broken Bow is one of the communities participating in year one of the NITC and Technology Across Nebraska's IT Planning and Mini Grant program.  Read about how a summer intern helped implement their technology plan.  

Library Commission sponsors community technology fairs

Study highlights Nebraska's position in technology and science
Read the press release or the full report by the Milken Institute.

Study examines status of Nebraska girls and technology
Fewer girls than boys take advanced computer courses in high school.

New Pew Internet study looks at Internet use by region
55% of adults in the Lower Midwest (which includes Nebraska) are online compared to 59% in the U.S.

NU Skills provides Web-based training to small businesses
Seminars begin Sept. 17.  

Meetings and conferences
Nebraska Rural Institute, Sept. 16-18, South Sioux City
Telehealth Subcommittee, Sept. 19, Lincoln
Community Council, Sept. 25, Lincoln & videoconference sites
Rural TeleCon Conference, Sept. 28-Oct. 1, Washington, D.C.
Government Webmaster Conference, Oct. 2-3, Kansas City, MO

September Update from the NITC Education Council

Alaska launches K-12 online learning system using BlackBoard and $500K

Nebraska company 'class.com' partners with eClassroom

eSchoolNews launches eRate Survival Guide and Toolkit

Florida schools in danger of losing Federal eRate dollars

Internet2 shows great promise for K-12 education

UNO student wins $25K in Microsoft Imagine Cup competition

Michigan to spend $22 million on laptops for 130,000 6th graders

"Why we've failed to integrate technology" essay by Rappaport

The next Education Council Meeting will be held Friday, September 19, 2003 from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM CT. Tentative site locations include Wayne State College,  Lincoln Executive Building, Chadron, and Omaha.

Upcoming Conferences
NSBA T+L2, Anaheim, CA, Oct. 22-24, 2003
EDUCAUSE, Anaheim, CA, Nov. 4-7, 2003
CoSN, Crystal City, VA, March 2-4, 2004
NETA, Omaha, NE, April 29-30, 2004