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The Growing Ranks of the Disabled The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) raised the consciousness
of educators and the demands on schools to address the needs of
students with disabilities. Similar efforts occurred in the private
sector as businesses and others responded to the requirements of
the legislation.
Meetings the needs of individuals with disabilities will escalate
as their numbers increase. According to the 2000 U.S. Census data:
High School Reform The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is going to fund 70 high schools across the U.S. to build on a model that devotes the last two years of high school to the coursework for the first two years of college. That model is in place in Brooklyn, New York, and is affiliated with Simon’s Rock College, a division of Bard College. The early college high school model is not designed just for the traditional advanced placement students with high test scores but rather for any ambitious student. Source: "A Year of Squeezing 6 Into 4" by Karen W. Arenson, New York Times, June 6, 2002 Online Courses The National School Boards Foundation has just completed a second major report on school technology entitled "Are We There Yet?" One subject addressed was online learning. Nearly one third of school leaders predicted that online learning would become a significant force in the next three years and expect 20 percent of students will get a "substantial" portion of their instruction online. Remember, it is these schools leaders and local policy makers who set the rules! Source: "At U.S. Schools, Students are Tech Teachers" by Karen Thomas, USA Today, June 5, 2002 Cognitronics Advances in biotech, nanotech, and infotech have created a new field: cognitronics. Cognitronics uses sensors, "smart" materials, and advanced analytics to develop interfaces between computers and the brain. While still primitive, cognitronics is advancing quickly. For example, a patient thinks of trying to move a paralyzed leg. A probe in the person’s brain can covert the impulse into command that move a cursor on a computer. While the first applications will help patients regain basic skills, more sophisticated sensors can make computer-aided telekinesis possible. Imagine turning the TV on and off or driving a car just by thinking about it. Source: "Eight Technologies that will Change the World" by Brad Wieners in June 2002 issue of Business 2.0 www.business2.com/archives/0,1661,4,00.html Biointeractive Materials Nanotechnology devices integrated with biotechnology are beginning
to have an impact on the mainstream of society. Here are some examples:
Home Nanotests Reliable, inexpensive self-diagnosis of disease will likely be possible in the near future. Nanosys, of Palo Alto, is one of several companies working in this area. Nanosys is creating silicon nanowires painted with molecules that attract proteins specific to diseases. When the sought-after protein from a DNA sample touches the nanowire, it sticks, producing an electrical signal. The stronger the signal, the more molecules are present. What will our high school graduates need to know to interact with the vast array of emerging technologies?
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