From 2008 through 2009, Dr. Pavel Samsonov, of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, ran an experiment to see if video conferencing was a viable method of teaching homebound high school students.
In the past, signs were often an afterthought to school design. Too often they still are. Whether they are used for identity, directional, or information purposes, signs should be integrated into the overall design.
- By Thomas G. Dolan
- 02/01/11
Campus signage programs have come a long way from the simple signs used in years past to identify individual buildings or areas within a campus. Developing the most efficient and cost-effective program, especially when multiple campuses are involved, requ
If your board room, auditorium, gymnasium or other space has ever been the scene of public protest over an educational facility construction project, or if you have worked tirelessly to pass a referendum only to have it voted down, you can count yourself
- By David L. Schrader
- 02/01/11
Given the nation's current budget deficit, President Obama released on February 14, 2011 his proposed budget for fiscal year 2012. For some sectors, the comment has been that this is no Valentine! But for the education sector, it indicated an overall
- By Fritz Edelstein
- 02/01/11
What does it take to create school facilities now, that can handle challenges in the 21st century? What will students and staff be doing in 2030 that is different from today, and how will the community be involved? How do you create facilities that will a
- By Kerrianne Smith
- 02/01/11
NIMS is a flexible, plain English organizational framework designed to provide a common standard for emergency management. It is flexible in that the components of NIMS can aid in the development of plans, processes, procedures, agreements and roles for m
- By Michael Fickes
- 02/01/11
As I sit watching the news I hear about international competition, our students falling behind, the need to upgrade our math and science programs, school consolidations and workforce development. Call it déjà vu (or maybe old age), but I rem
Change is needed in the way O&M work is performed at campus auxiliary functions. Having had the opportunity to visit several dozen campuses in recent years, I have seen various models of how O&M needs are satisfied on assets assigned to auxiliary
To make sure that your dynamic facility program is reflected through dynamic furniture, it's important to have user-driven selections. Involving your architect can add value this process through their understanding of the facility design and construc
The new year has started, and for most of us that means our school district has completed about half of the academic year. Now, the task turns to looking forward to projects that will be designed and implemented during the summer recess. This is also a go
Colleges and universities nationwide are scrambling for building space and for capital dollars. As a result, two significant trends are converging to ease the strain: One is conversion of use taking advantage of existing structures for unintended o
- By Robert J. Verrier, Michael D. Binette
- 02/01/11
Under very tight budget constraints, President Obama released on February 14, 2011 his proposed budget for fiscal year 2012. The programs within the U.S Department of Education fared well, including some new investments for postsecondary education.
- By Fritz Edelstein
- 02/01/11
Active Learning Classrooms at the University of Minnesota create an interactive learning experience for students in a variety of courses. Varying in size from 27 to 126 seats and outfitted with large round tables, each of which seats nine students, ALCs a
When it comes to technology in school districts across the country, not all things are equal. This lack of equality is frustrating to administrators and teachers who embrace the use of technology in the classroom all they can do is wait for upgrade
Students are exposed to unsafe situations because of existing hazardous conditions and lack of maintained equipment and facilities. Despite school-conducted safety inspections, many outdoor environments contain playground equipment and open space that is
- By Heather Olsen, Susan D. Hudson, Donna Thompson
- 01/01/11
The University of Denver's teacher residency program in conjunction with Denver Public Schools is part of a national trend of preparing teachers through observing, practicing, and learning about education every day. Graduate students in the Denver Te
- By Christine Beitenhaus
- 01/01/11
College and university security directors are taking up four relatively new video technologies to enhance security: Internet Protocol (IP) cameras, intelligent video technology, megapixel cameras, and integrated door alarm and card access control systems
- By Michael Fickes
- 01/01/11
The use of video surveillance cameras in K-12 school has made great strides since the Columbine massacre. Today's systems use computer networks to install more cameras and to monitor them from anywhere. They use megapixel cameras to record more detai
- By Michael Fickes
- 01/01/11
As each year closes out, I take some time to reflect on the events of the year and work to find areas where I picked up on something new, learned a new or different way of doing something, or just plain "got schooled," and will apply those lesso
- By Michael G. Steger
- 01/01/11
There's a new K-12 education tool in town. This tool fits in the palm of students' hands, so it's highly mobile. It easily slips into students' blue jeans pockets, so it isn't obvious pickings for would-be thieves. The classroom u