Category Archives: education

RESOURCES: Global Accessibility Awareness Challenge and Telehealth Class

Posted on by
Reply

Minnesota State Library Services has some great Digital Equity resources. The following were mentioned in their latest newsletter.

Thursday, May 16, 2024, marks the 13th year of celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). If you’re looking for a way to gain a new perspective on digital access and inclusion, try the No-Mouse Challenge: do work on your computer for 15 minutes without a mouse.

Minnesota IT Services has instructions and a set of handy keyboard shortcuts to get you through it. While you’re there, check out lots of other great resources for creating accessible documents, multimedia, and websites.

And an interesting class…

Telehealth 101 Class: The Doctor Will See You Now

Are people in your community seeking digital access to healthcare and information? Explore the possibilities of telehealth at your library through this new class from the Network of the National Library of Medicine.

Telehealth 101: What libraries need to know (June 10 – July 8, 2024)

This class introduces telehealth, why it’s important, and how it enables people to have greater access to quality healthcare. Explore how different libraries provided patrons in their communities with access to telehealth services.

You will need to create a free NNLM account, but there is no cost to take the course.

Internet filters in schools are keeping kids in the dark

Posted on by
Reply

USA Today reports on the dangers of technology policies that lack nuance…

There’s a common complaint among high school students across the country, and it has nothing to do with curfews or allowances: Internet filters are preventing them from doing online research at school. Records obtained by The Markup from districts across the country show just how broadly schools block content, forcing students to jump through hoops to complete assignments and even keeping them from resources that could support their health and safety.

School districts must block obscene or harmful images to qualify for federally-subsidized internet access under the Children’s Internet Protection Act, passed by Congress nearly 25 years ago. But the records, from 16 districts across 11 states, show they go much further. Schools are limiting not only what images students can see, but what words they can read.

Some of the censorship inhibits students’ ability to do basic research on sites like Wikipedia and Quora. Students have also been blocked from visiting websites that web-filtering software categorizes as “education,” “news,” or “informational.” But even more concerning for some students are blocks against sex education, abortion information, and resources for LGBTQ+ teens—including suicide prevention.

MN STEM programs could get $3 million for underserved, underrepresented communities from MN Leg (HF5065)

Posted on by
Reply

MN HF5065 (money for STEM programming) was held over for possible inclusion in a committee finance bill. The Session Daily reports…

A pair of one-time appropriations both from the Workforce Development Fund aim to assist the Minnesota STEM Project and Milestone Tech Program.

Sponsored by Rep. Samakab Hussein (DFL-St. Paul), HF5065 would appropriate $750,000 in fiscal year 2024 and the same amount in fiscal year 2025 to each group. Per the bill, “In each year, 30 percent of the money granted under this section must be awarded as subgrants to nonprofits located within the city of St. Paul.”

The House Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee held the bill over Wednesday for possible inclusion in a committee finance bill.

Minneapolis-based Milestone Community Development develops programs fostering economic growth in underserved and economically distressed neighborhoods.

Additional funds would focus on developing new training programs and maintaining existing programs in technology fields, especially for people of color who are underrepresented in technology careers, Hussein said.

 

OPPORTUNITY: New Course Alert: Cyber Investigator Interactive Game

Posted on by
Reply

In part, I’m sharing this because I want someone to attend and tell me about it. But also, it’s a great opportunity to get folks interested in cyber security and that would be a nice industry cluster for rural Minnesota! From the nonprofit, ITExperience…

We are Introducing our new Cyber Investigator Interactive game

You will be able to Join a team of cybersecurity investigators as they respond to a series of different cyber-attacks. Travel through three different industries to help them conduct interviews, stop the attacks, solve puzzles, and restore things to normal.

Duration: 1: 30mins

Do you want to have fun playing a game and also learn a lot about how cyber detectives work on a day-to-day basis?

Register with the link below

https://itexperience.org/itexperience-cyber-detectives-unleashed-course/

EVENT Mar 22: MN HF3488 compensation for kids’ content online

Posted on by
Reply

MN HF3488 will be heard in the Commerce Committee on March 22. (This is the House version of a bill heard in the Senate (SF3496) last month.

Commerce Committee

Chair: Rep. Zack Stephenson

Friday, March 22, 2024 – 9:30AM to noon

Room 10, State Office Building

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order
  2. Approval of the Minutes – March 20, 2024

III.          HF4077 (Stephenson); Commerce omnibus policy bill

  1. The DE amendment will be posted Wednesday morning.
  2. HF4757 (Stephenson); Cannabis regulations modified.
  3. Informational hearing
  4. HF3488 (Stephenson); Compensation provided for minors appearing in Internet content creation.
  5. HF4991 (Lislegard); Manufacturers and wholesale distributors prohibited from limiting pharmacy access to 340B drugs.

VII.        Adjournment

MN4400: Prohibiting Social Media Manipulation Act placed on General Register

Posted on by
Reply

The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee heard HF4400 (Stephenson) Prohibiting Social Media Manipulation Act created, social media platforms regulated, and private right of action and attorney general enforcement provided.

Based on a report written for Legislature last year. The intent is particularly protect children. It places an assumption of privacy, better testing for bots or other potential bad actors, ability to break the algorithm based on clicks and no more testing on kids without permission.

Pro Comments

  • Social media is dangerous.
  • We can regulate safety of experience – just like we can in bookstores
  • We should not be beholden to social media companies. They sell our information

Con Comments

  • Let’s not have a private right of action; let’s talk to vendors. (A2 Amendment.)
  • It is challenging to do with and not cross the constitution
  • How can we handle border counties?
  • What’s the definition of social media? Dowe include educational platforms?

Placed on General Register.

MN HF4581: Cell phones in schools model policy held over for future consideration

Posted on by
Reply

Session Daily reports…

Maple Grove Middle School Principal Patrick Smith is among educators who believe cell phones are a distraction to learning in their schools.

“Any issues we had with conflict, whether it was physical or verbal … we found to be 100% due to cell phones. It just created a very toxic culture,” he told the House Education Policy Committee Tuesday.

Smith testified in support of HF4581, a that bill would request the Minnesota School Boards Association to develop a model policy on students’ possession and use of cell phones in school by Dec. 15, 2024. It would also require school boards to adopt a policy — not necessarily the created model policy — on students’ possession and use of cell phones in school by March 15, 2025.

The bill was held over for future consideration.

“The more we understand about cell phones in schools, the more it is clear that we need to be proactive, collaborative and thoughtful in how and when their use is permitted,” said Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton), the bill sponsor.

Here’s the long description…

A bill for an act
relating to education; requesting the Minnesota School Boards Association to
develop a model policy for cell phones in schools; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 121A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

[121A.73] SCHOOL CELL PHONE POLICY.

Subdivision 1.

Model policy. 

The Minnesota School Boards Association is requested
to develop a model policy on students’ possession and use of cell phones in school by
December 15, 2024. In developing the policy, the Minnesota School Boards Association
must solicit input from administrators, parents, teachers and other school staff, students,
law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders.

Subd. 2.

District policy. 

The board of a school district or charter school must adopt a
policy on students’ possession and use of cell phones in school by March 15, 2025. A board
may adopt the Minnesota School Boards Association policy. The policy must be included
in the student handbook on school policies, and posted on the district or charter school
website.

EFFECTIVE DATE. 

This section is effective the day following final enactment.

MN House (HF3492) a bill to get grants for computer science programs moves to Education Finance

Posted on by
Reply

I wrote earlier about effort in the MN House (HF3492) to get grants for computer science programs. The Session Daily writes about the last discussion of the bill…

Last year, Minnesota had an average of 7,384 open computing jobs each month; the average salary was $105,311.

Without some educational changes those openings will likely not shrink.

Jeff Tollefson, president of the Minnesota Technology Association, said Minnesota ranks last in the country in the percentage of high schools offering computer science coursework. Just 28% of schools offer even one foundational computer science course, leaving Minnesota students at a disadvantage and the state falling further behind.

He was one of several supporters who submitted testimony in favor of HF3492, which would appropriate $8 million in fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Education to expand existing computer science education programs and fund grants for teacher training and recruitment.

Sponsored by Rep. Liz Lee (DFL-St. Paul), the bill was laid over by the House Education Finance Committee Thursday for possible inclusion in a finance bill.

The bill has been re-referred to Education Finance.

EVENT Mar 7: MN House learns about HF3492 Grants for educational computer science programs

Posted on by
Reply

On March 7, the MN House Education Finance will learn about HF3492 Grants for educational computer science programs.

Short description:  Computer science education advancement program modified, grants established to expand computer science education programs, reports required, and money appropriated.

Meeting info:

Thursday, March 7, 2024 , 10:30 AM

Education Finance

Chair: Rep. Cheryl Youakim
Location: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building

And part of the changes recommended (find full version online)

A bill for an act
relating to education; modifying the computer science education advancement
program; establishing grants to expand computer science education programs;
requiring reports; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2023
Supplement, section 120B.241, subdivisions 1, 4, by adding a subdivision;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 120B.241, subdivision 1, is
amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) “Computer science” means the study of computers and
algorithmic processes, including their principles, their hardware and software designs, their
implementation, and their impact on society.

(b) “Computer science courses and content” means courses at:

(1) elementary and middle schools that teach computer science as standalone
implementations or embedded in other subjects; and

(2) high schools that teach computer science as standalone courses and focus on teaching
students how to create new technologies.

(c) “High-quality computer science educator training” means activities that:

(1) clarify the conceptual foundations of computer science;

(2) teach research-based practices, including hands-on and inquiry-based learning;

(3) are primarily intended for existing teachers with or without prior exposure to computer
science with options for advanced training for teachers; and

(4) align to existing integrated computer science standards in Minnesota or nationally
recognized standards, including the Computer Science Teachers’ Association’s kindergarten
through grade 12 computer science education standards.

(d) “High-quality computer science professional learning providers” means institutions
of higher education, nonprofits, other state-funded entities, or private entities that have
successfully designed, implemented, and scaled high-quality computer science professional
learning for teachers as defined in paragraph (c).

(e) “STEAM” means science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

(f) “Subgroups underrepresented in computer science” means racial and ethnic minorities,
girls, youth from families living at or below the poverty line as defined in the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965, United States Code, title 20, section 8101, students
with disabilities, or English language learners.

(g) “Teacher” means a teacher holding a license issued by the Professional Educator
Licensing and Standards Board, including a licensed media specialist.

EVENT Mar 6: MN House to hear HF3999 STEM training and career preparation program grant funding

Posted on by
Reply

On March 6, the MN House Workforce Development Finance and Policy will hear HF3999.

Short description: STEM training and career preparation program grant funding provided, and money appropriated.

Bill as introduced:

A bill for an act
relating to workforce development; appropriating money for a grant for a STEM
training and career preparation program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. STEM TRAINING; APPROPRIATION.

$500,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of employment and economic development for a grant to the Greater Minneapolis Council
of Churches for a STEM training and career preparation program targeted at the needs of
BIPOC youth. The program shall serve youth who are at least 11 years of age and less than
24 years old and shall provide career training, job skills development, mentorship, and
employment opportunities. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30,
2027.

Technology and Occupational Therapy at the U of M

Posted on by
Reply

University of Minnesota Libraries newsletter reports on something fun to think about on a Friday. I always liked school, but just imagine what it would be like to be a student today…

Technology is advancing, and so is occupational therapy.

Students in Dr. Tamara Vos-Draper’s OT 7541 course, Assistive Technology and Orthotics in OT Practice, visited the Virtual Reality Studio and Makerspace in the Health Sciences Library this spring to examine how emerging technologies like virtual reality and 3D printing will shape the future of occupational therapy.

Virtual Reality programming lead Charlie Heinz and media outreach librarian Scott Spicer led students in exploring a variety of virtual reality experiences and their potential uses in clinical practice. Job Simulator, for example, is a quirky game about robots emulating humanity; it could also be an engaging way for patients to reestablish gross and fine motor movement. YouTube 360 allows users to immerse themselves in faraway environments, which could be a powerful tool for patients who are unable to travel. Other software, like Enscape, takes 3D architectural models and translates them into the virtual reality space, and simulated environments could be assessed for accessibility before being physically built.

MN bill introduced: HF4456, Establishing the Digital Citizenship, Internet Safety, and Media Literacy Advisory Council;

Posted on by
Reply

The Journal of the House reports...

Feist introduced:
H. F. No. 4456, A bill for an act relating to education; establishing the Digital Citizenship, Internet Safety, and
Media Literacy Advisory Council; requiring a report.
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Education Policy.

I can’t find much more at this point, but I’ll keep looking.

Dakota County Library offers self-service hours for easier access

Posted on by
Reply

Town Square Television reports on self-service access to the library. It’s like free access to a coworking space even when the library is closed….

On Insight 7, see how changes at Dakota County Libraries make them more accessible to the community.

Sign up for Self-Service access on the Dakota County Library website at dakotacounty.us/Library.

PS They are also now fine-free.

Verizon gives MHTA $100,00 for technology workforce development

Posted on by
Reply

Verizon reports…

Verizon announces a $100,000 award to the Minnesota Technology Association (MnTech) for its youth and young adult workforce development program in Minneapolis. MnTech will provide underserved communities in Minneapolis with a clear pathway to well-paying technology careers.

The partnership is part of the Verizon Forward Community Enhancement Award, a $1 million national initiative equipping communities with the tools to navigate an increasingly technological world. Through culturally competent coaching and apprenticeships, the program will support access to technology fields for high school students and other young adults.

CompTIA’s Cyberstates report predicts that Minnesota will need approximately 90,000 new technologists in the next 10 years to meet industry demand.1 Through culturally competent coaching and apprenticeships, the program will support access to technology fields for high school students and other young adults.

“We are grateful for Verizon’s generous investment in building the digitally skilled workforce needed to fuel the success of Minnesota’s innovation economy,” said Jeff Tollefson, MnTech’s President & CEO. “This gift will help open doors of opportunity for countless youth in Minneapolis.”

For over 30 years, MnTech has nurtured innovation and inclusion in the tech community, enabling Minnesota businesses, professionals, and communities to thrive.

Red Wing Ignite celebrates 10 years of local growth – also sneak peek at an amazing mural

Posted on by
Reply

According to the website…

Red Wing Ignite is an Innovation Center fueling economic development by working with key sectors of the community and by supporting entrepreneurs, businesses, and students. The nonprofit organization was founded by the community of Red Wing in 2013, with the support of local foundations and the City of Red Wing.

From my window, they were important partners in the early days the Blandin Broadband Communities program. They hosted what we think was the first rural hackfest, they  connected young techies with local businesses for internships, created so many programs for kids, supported local businesses and more.

Tonight, I learned about how instrumental Blandin Foundation was to the formation of the organization. So many of the speakers, who were integral parts of the organization over the years, started their speech with “we met through the Blandin Foundation.”

Red Wing was in an unusual place back in 2013 because they were well served with broadband at the time so they were able to do some very fun projects. Neela Mollgaard, who was the original Executive Director, spoke eloquently about the organization and the last 10 years and Dr Christine Beech spoke on the future…

As an added bonus, I got a chance to check out an amazing large scale mural celebrating the Dakota people and Chief Red Wing, which is a project that Blandin Foundation has funded more recently. It’s gorgeous. It was painted in September by Colorado-based Native artists Jeremy Fields and Collins Provost-Fields of Thrive Unltd, who were picked by the Prairie Island Indian Community. The Sahan Journal reports on the mural…

“Each mural section depicts local Indigenous relatives in their natural environments. The sections are divided by a sweetgrass braid and a red willow twist with local native wildflowers and medicines intertwined,” organizers said in a news release ahead of the unveiling.

Cole Redhorse Taylor, a Mdewakanton Dakota artist and a Prairie Island member, contributed designs to the painting.

The mural is part of the Honoring Dakota Project, “a process of community conversations and events that provide education to discover shared stories, bridge the communities, and create a space for healing.” Partners in the project include the Prairie Island Indian Community, Red Wing Arts, the City of Red Wing and Goodhue County.