Category Archives: education

Is Minnesota prepared to tackle digital literacy?

Posted on by
Reply

MinnPost posts a Opinion piece from educator Justin Piehowski asking if Minnesota ready to embrace digital literacy…

Minnesota has long prided itself on being one of the most literate states in the country.
Minnesota consistently ranks second in the nation for literacy, measured by factors like library resources, newspaper circulation and education levels. But literacy in the 21st century isn’t just about books, newspapers or even e-readers. Today, information floods into our lives through screens, apps and endless notifications.
While Minnesota excels in traditional literacy, we must ask: Is Minnesota equally prepared to lead the country in digital literacy?

He mentions legislation from last year that he thought might have helped..

In Minnesota last year, SF 3474, a bill proposing a statewide digital literacy advisory council, was discussed but failed to pass. It’s unclear if there will be digital literacy-related legislation coming this year.

We often blame COVID-19 for the social and emotional upheavals of recent years, but I believe another force played an equally significant role: information overload. During the pandemic, many of us became unintentional curators of our own digital ecosystems. We sifted through contradictory headlines, viral social media posts and algorithmically curated content, trying to make sense of a rapidly changing world. The strain of this relentless information deluge wasn’t just cognitive — it was emotional, even existential.

It goes beyond education…

This isn’t just an educational issue — it’s an economic one. Minnesota’s workforce is evolving, and simple digital competency is no longer optional in most professions. From agriculture to healthcare, our industries need workers who can critically engage with digital tools and information systems.

Passing legislation is one step, but real change happens in classrooms, libraries and living rooms. Schools need resources, educators need training and parents need support to guide their children in a world filled with digital distractions.

But this isn’t just about preventing harm — it’s about societal agency. Digital literacy can empower young people to become creators, not just consumers, of technology. It can equip adults to advocate for themselves in a digital healthcare system, protect their privacy, and make informed decisions in an era of AI and misinformation. It’s about giving Minnesotans control over these powerful digital forces instead of being swayed by tech companies, political movements or foreign actors.

Minnesota has always valued education as a cornerstone of its identity. Digital literacy is the next chapter in that story.

FCC announces Cybersecurity Pilot Program Participants including 12 in MN

Posted on by
Reply

The FCC reports…

The Federal Communications Commission today selected 707 participants for the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program, including 645 schools and districts, 50 libraries, and 12 consortia.  Participants in the three-year pilot program will receive support to defray the costs of eligible cybersecurity services and equipment and provide the Commission with data to better understand whether and how universal service funds could be used to improve school and library defenses against increasing cyberattacks.  All 50 states, in addition to Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, and several Tribal lands are reflected by the Pilot participants announced today.   …

The Cybersecurity Pilot Program is part of Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s Learn Without Limits initiative to address the Homework Gap by ensuring connectivity to and within schools and libraries.  This initiative includes Wi-Fi on school buses, the Wi-Fi hotspot lending program, and E-Rate support for libraries in Tribal communities.

Here are the participants in Minnesota…

CHRIST HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH SCH School MN
ST PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY Library System MN
SAINT PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT 625 School District MN
RED LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT 38 School District MN
HMONG COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY 4103-07 School MN
SOUTHERN PLAINS EDUCATION COOPERATIVE School District MN
COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE 4181-07 School MN
TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION INC. School District MN
THE BEST ACADEMY School MN
NEW CENTURY SCHOOL 4240-07 School MN
BDOTE LEARNING CENTER 4226-07 School MN
Bultum Academy School MN

 

Education Superhighway recommends broadband subsidies for homes that need it

Posted on by
Reply

In a recent report Education Superhighway recommends broadband subsidies for homes that need it…

To ensure every household has reliable, affordable internet, Congress should create a new permanent broadband affordability program targeted toward those who truly need it. The benefit should only apply to entry-level home
broadband plans, and it can be revenue-neutral, fully funded by repurposing USF High Cost Program funds as they expire. The new program would provide greater
stability to under-resourced households and ensure that states that included the ACP as a tool for addressing broadband affordability in their BEAD and Digital
Equity Act plans have a viable alternative. The benefit should be:

1. Focused on 16.3 million unconnected households and 3 million likely to be disconnected, ensuring the benefit is a tool that provides a high-speed connection or prevents disconnection when financial circumstances change.
Changing eligibility criteria to focus on unconnected households provides annual savings of $4.6 billion compared with ACP.
2. Paid for by repurposing Universal Service Fund (USF) High Cost Program funds as they expire. This revenue-neutral approach covers 100% of the cost of the broadband affordability benefit, starting immediately, without taxpayer burden.
3. Applicable only to entry-level home broadband plans, providing households with the high-speed connection needed to get an entire family online for remote work, education, and telehealth services. The Lifeline program should remain the primary program for supporting mobile service and connections outside the home.
4. Limited to broadband plans at or below the $30 subsidy price (or $75 on qualifying Tribal lands or in high cost rural areas) to harness market forces by acknowledging that households already subscribed to advanced broadband
plans are financially capable of maintaining a connection without support and unlikely to trade down from their chosen plan.

MN schools and teachers using online translation services to communicate with families

Posted on by
Reply

Gov Tech reports…

Some Minnesota educators have signed onto apps and platforms that use machine-learning algorithms to help translate websites, newsletters and even texts to parents into multiple languages.

The article reports on some high points and low points. It is a way to get information into many languages but without some quality control, you can’t be sure that the correct and full information is being shared. Ther are some plans for improvement…

After winter break, the district plans to roll out an app that will connect teachers to a live interpreter to help interpret conferences, or parent meetings, for example.

“That’s going to be such a resource for us,” said Danilo McCarthy , an English language support specialist for South Washington County schools. He also holds workshops for families on using those new technologies to best communicate with their child’s teacher.

Kourajian, the Mounds View middle school teacher, offered similar training for her fellow teachers on the translation app — called TalkingPoints — that allows her to translate quick messages to and from parents. The district first offered TalkingPoints to its staff in the 2022-23 school year, but it wasn’t immediately embraced by all, Kourajian said.

Usage has jumped this year and more than 23,000 messages have gone to families, most commonly in Spanish, Somali and Arabic. Still, only about 40 percent of staff are using the app.

Many years ago, I taught English in Catalonia, Spain. Lack of translation tools meant teacher, students and parents all learned quickly to communicate when necessary but some help would have been a gift. The old school version of AI was the boss writing down a dozen phrases in Catalan that I could use on report cards.

OPPORTUNITY: MN Grant Opportunity for Multi-Purpose Community Facility Projects – including broadband

Posted on by
Reply

From the Minnesota Department of Education…

November 25, 2024

Grant Opportunity for Multi-Purpose Community Facility Projects

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is now accepting applications for the Minnesota Multi-Purpose Community Facility Projects Grant to Support Community Revitalization, Connectedness and Equity by Promoting Education, Work and Health.

An estimated $47.5 million is available on a one-time basis in maximum grant amounts of $500,000. Funding is available to family resource centers, full-service community schools, libraries, childcare and early learning facilities, and community centers.

Application, instructions, timeline, and further information can be found on MDE’s Competitive Grant Opportunities site. Completed applications are due January 3, 2025.

The federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriated $10 billion to the U.S. Department of Treasury to provide payments to states, territories, freely associated states, and Tribal Governments to carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education, and healthcare monitoring in response to the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic public health emergency.

This established the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (“CPF”) program, which aims to:

  • Directly support recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency by strengthening and improving the infrastructure necessary for participation in work, education, and healthcare monitoring that will last beyond the pandemic;
  • Enable investments in capital assets designed to address inequities in access to critical services; and
  • Provide the modern infrastructure necessary to access critical services, including a high-quality and affordable broadband internet connection.

Minnesota was awarded $47.5 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Coronavirus Capitol Projects Fund.

Grants will be used to fund Multi-Purpose Community Facility Projects in areas that will benefit the most from support to address challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic through supports for education, work, and health focused on advancing family economic stability, connections and educational opportunity for our state’s children and youth.

EVENT April 12: GigaZone Gaming Championship & TechXpo in Bemidji

Posted on by
Reply

Fun news from Paul Bunyan Communications…

The GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo, a Paul Bunyan Communications event, will return on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the Sanford Center in Bemidji. The event is now one of the largest rural gaming and technology expositions in the United States and recognized nationally within the broadband industry for its innovative way to showcase the cooperative’s all-fiber optic network while engaging with the gaming community and anyone interested in technology.
“Last year was another awesome experience. We had close to 4,000 come out and experience this one-of-a-kind event. There were more gaming opportunities than ever before, Danielle Feinberg from Pixar Animation Studios was our special guest and over 25 exhibitors were on hand demonstrating their use of technology to thousands of potential students, customers, and employees. It was an amazing day and we are excited to bring it back again on April 12.” said Gary Johnson, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager
The GigaZone Gaming Championship will feature free gaming on various console and arcade games, numerous tournaments, door prizes, and more. There is no cost to enter the tournaments or for any of the gaming. Tournament details will be posted on the GigaZone Gaming Discord, Twitch channel, and Facebook page as well as http://www.gigazonegaming.com New this year will be the GigaZone Gaming High School Invitational, a Rocket League tournament exclusively for High School esports teams. Schools interested should contact Fenworks at https://fenworks.com/contact-us/
The GigaZone TechXpo will expose a growing regional audience to technology innovation and help them turn their technical skills and enthusiasm into successful careers right here in northern Minnesota. Start-ups and companies creatively leveraging technology will be able to demonstrate their innovation to a large group of tech-savvy potential employees. Educators and educational institutions can have their tech-oriented students show off projects and promote the technology training programs they have to offer. There is no cost to be an exhibitor but space is limited and the exhibit must creatively display the use of technology. Applications will open January 3 with a deadline to apply by February 28, 2025 at www.gigazonetechxpo.com
This one-of-a-kind event showcases Paul Bunyan Communications’ IT and web development team, which custom-built and integrated much of the online technology being used and leverages the speed of the GigaZone, one of the largest rural all-fiber optic gigabit networks in the country. The entire gaming event is run off a single residential GigaZone Internet connection.
“Our cooperative continues to expand our advanced fiber network that brings many advantages to our members including extreme speed and low latency, which are critical for the best online gaming experience. The GigaZone Gaming Championship showcases just that,” added Leo Anderson, Paul Bunyan Communications Chief Technology Officer.
“It is the biggest rural gaming event I’m aware of and the TechXpo makes a lot of connections to potential careers. Many of the exhibitors were able to attract new employees, students, and/or customers through the event. I don’t think people realize just how innovative our schools and businesses are and how they implement the latest technology into their operations or education curriculum. The TechXpo is a showcase for that in a personal, interactive, and exciting way,” added Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.
This Paul Bunyan Communications event includes the talents of many local partners, including NLFX, Accidently Cool Games, Northern Amusement, and the Sanford Center, as well as support from several regional and national partners.
Paul Bunyan Communications has one of the largest and fastest rural all-fiber optic networks in the United States, with over 6,000 square miles throughout most of Beltrami County and portions of Aitkin, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, and St. Louis Counties. The Cooperative provides GigaZone Internet with speeds up to 10 Gig, digital and high-definition television service

IRRR funds and Minnesota North College hosts 1500 students for STEM career day

Posted on by
Reply

Hometown Focus reports…

Approximately 1,500 fifth and sixth grade students from 22 area schools attended the Iron Range STEM Showcase in Hibbing earlier this month. Students had hands-on experiments led by Range Engineering Council volunteers, local businesses and 25 colleges showcasing STEM opportunities on the Iron Range. A Workforce Development grant from the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) helped offset bus transportation costs.

Local businesses included Cirrus, Cleveland Cliffs, Jasper Engineering, L&M Radiator, Minnesota Power and NewRange Copper Nickel. Other organizations present included Hibbing Police Department, Minnesota Discovery Center, Minnesota Department of Transportation, The North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District, Range Astronomy Club/ Paulucci Space, Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Louis County, STARBASE and Northern Minnesota Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.

IRRR awarded a $75,000 grant to Minnesota North College (True North Stars Perkins Consortium). It is a program established to help area students in the middle grades and beyond make informed career and education choices. The consortium offers career exploration and development activities that encourage students to consider factors such as salary, job growth, work environment and flexibility when considering a career path.

Iron Range STEM Showcase in Hibbing introduces students tech opportunities

Posted on by
Reply

The Ranger, a publication of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, talks about programs in Northern Minnesota that promote technical training and workforce encouragement…

Approximately 1,500 fifth and sixth grade students from 22 area schools attended the Iron Range STEM Showcase in Hibbing earlier this month. Students had hands-on experiments led by Range Engineering Council volunteers, local businesses and 25 colleges showcasing STEM opportunities on the Iron Range. A Workforce Development grant from IRRR helped offset bus transportation costs.

Local businesses included Cirrus, Cleveland Cliffs, Jasper Engineering, L&M Radiator, Minnesota Power and NewRange Copper Nickel. Other organizations present included Hibbing Police Department, Minnesota Discovery Center, Minnesota Department of Transportation, The North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District, Range Astronomy Club/Paulucci Space, Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Louis County, STARBASE and Northern Minnesota Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.

IRRR awarded a $75,000 grant to Minnesota North College (True North Stars Perkins Consortium). It is a program established to help area students in the middle grades and beyond make informed career and education choices. The consortium offers career exploration and development activities that encourage students to consider factors such as salary, job growth, work environment and flexibility when considering a career path.

The IRRR grant helps transport the students to the annual STEM Showcase and to other events including school field trips to tour local businesses, meetings with professionals to learn about careers and hands-on trade exploration events to better educate students and job seekers about the variety of career paths in the region.

Learn more about Range Engineering Council.

Email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022 for Workforce Development grant information.

OPPORTUNITY: Library-School Partnership RFP from Libraries without Border (deadline Oct 31, 2024)

Posted on by
Reply

An opportunity from Libraries without Borders…

LWB US is seeking to partner with public libraries across the United States to enhance access and usage for underserved youth and families through the creation of library access points within local schools.

Five selected partners will receive technical assistance spanning data collection and analysis, strategy and partnership development, project implementation and sustainability as well as supplies and materials up to $5,000 to support the direct costs of establishing and enhancing outreach and access within their local school system.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2024.

 See Library-School Partnership RFP for more details and submission instructions.

University of Minnesota’s Boynton Health looks at telehealth

Posted on by
Reply

MN Daily reports on the recent MN Department of Health study on telehealth (I wrote about it earlier too). It is interesting to see what it means for the U of M’s students and healthcare facilities through Boynton…

Associate Director of Mental Health at Boynton Health Cecilia Bloomquist said when she started her career in the psychotherapy field in 2012, telehealth was not widespread until COVID-19.

“The accessibility is incredible,” Bloomquist said. “Because you can expand so many options there. It’s been quite amazing to see this shift.”

Drawz said he noticed an increase in telehealth use from 2015 to 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the trend. Drawz said it was not until then that many healthcare providers saw telehealth as a valid way to provide quick and widespread care.

Bloomquist said Boynton offers telehealth and in-person care for students. Boynton’s primary care team treats a variety of conditions via telehealth alongside mental health therapy and counseling options, group therapy, affinity groups, and psychiatry services, Bloomquist added.

“We actually think about this more case by case,” Bloomquist said. “Providers are making recommendations according to what the person is dealing with and what they have available.”

Drawz said the report shows that telehealth care provides the same quality care as an in-person visit for most individuals. Telehealth can be an accessible option for people who can not physically go to the doctor’s office.

“Some people just can’t get out of their home,” Drawz said. “We do have to pay attention to digital literacy. Not all communities have access to broadband. And so it’s important to keep those things in mind as we advocate for telehealth.”

Bloomquist said she believes telehealth is a highly accessible option for students and providers alike because of its flexibility for busy schedules.

“People really appreciate the opportunity to work in this hybrid model,” Bloomquist said. “It does help providers.”

Devitt said the question for the state legislature is whether telehealth expansion provisions remain and where changes need to be made post-pandemic. Devitt added it is important to be cognizant of how the different types of healthcare insurance — Medicare, Medicaid or commercial insurance — will be also influenced by the federal government’s decisions on telehealth, not just the state’s.

“One of the things that’s going to matter a lot is whether or not telehealth is reimbursable in the metro area after the start of the year at the federal level,” Devitt said. “That’s something in addition going on that just will influence how providers make their choices.”

 

FCC & Dep of Education release Cybersecurity Resource Guide

Posted on by
Reply

From the FCC…

The Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Education, with input from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, today released a resource guide to help schools and libraries evaluate their cybersecurity risks and identify the most impactful cybersecurity solutions.  The guide can also help schools and libraries as they complete applications for the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program and serve broadly as a resource for schools and libraries as they take steps to better protect their networks.

“Through the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program, we’ll have a chance to better understand what equipment, services, and tools will help protect school and library broadband networks from cyberthreats,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.  “This guide will serve as a valuable resource to schools and libraries through their application process.”

The joint resource guide provides cybersecurity guidance and recommended resources to help schools and libraries keep their broadband networks secure.  Given the budget and resource constraints facing schools and libraries, the resource guide highlights free and low-cost options and focuses on the most impactful initial steps.  The guide also recognizes that specific cybersecurity needs may vary and provides a framework for schools and libraries to identify solutions that meet their unique needs.

“With cyber incidents regularly impacting K-12 schools, the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program will provide much needed support for schools across the country,” said U.S. Department of Education Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten.  “By collaborating with our colleagues at the FCC and CISA, this guide will help schools address their most pressing cybersecurity risks.”

The resource guide will help schools and libraries interested in applying for the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program, which will award up to $200 million over a three-year term.  Participants selected for the pilot program will receive support to defray the costs of eligible cybersecurity services and equipment, while providing the Commission with data to better understand whether and how universal service funds could be used to improve school and library defenses against increasing cyberattacks.

The resource guide is part of the FCC’s ongoing collaboration with the Department of Education and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to support the cybersecurity needs of schools and libraries, including the Commission’s participation on the Department of Education’s Government Coordinating Council to support K-12 cybersecurity.

For information regarding the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program, visit https://www.fcc.gov/cybersecurity-pilot-program.

Additional cybersecurity resources for schools and libraries are available through the Department of Education and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, including the K-12 Critical Infrastructure Brief: Defensible and Resilient, Cybersecurity Action Steps for the K-12 Community and Report: Partnering to Safeguard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats.

OPPORTUNITY: FCC Opens Cybersecurity Pilot Program for Schools and Libraries Application Window

Posted on by
Reply

The FCC reports…

The Federal Communications Commission today announced the opening of the application window for the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program.  During the 45-day application filing window, which will run from September 17, 2024 to November 1, 2024, eligible schools and libraries can apply to participate in the three-year, $200 million pilot program.  Participants selected for the pilot program will receive support to defray the costs of eligible cybersecurity services and equipment, while providing the Commission with data to better understand whether and how universal service funds could be used to improve school and library defenses against increasing cyberattacks.

“School districts and libraries across the country have proven to be prime targets for cyber criminals.  The vulnerabilities in the networks are real—and growing,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel.  “Through this pilot program, we’ll have a chance to better understand what equipment, services, and tools will help protect school and library broadband networks from cyberthreats.”

Modeled after the FCC’s successful Connected Care Pilot, the Cybersecurity Pilot Program will allow the FCC to collect data and evaluate the effectiveness of using universal service funds for cybersecurity services and equipment to protect school and library broadband networks and data.  The $200 million budget will use general universal service funds to ensure that gains in enhanced cybersecurity do not come at the cost of undermining E-Rate success in promoting digital equity and basic connectivity.  The pilot program will also allow the FCC to share actionable data with federal, state, and local government partners to jointly address this growing problem.

Interested schools and libraries can apply for the pilot program by providing basic information about their cybersecurity needs, experience, and plans to use the funding if selected in Part 1 of the application.  Then, selected pilot program participants will be required to provide more detailed information in Part 2 of the application to help the Commission determine whether and how to best use limited universal service funds to support the long-term cybersecurity needs of schools and libraries.

The pilot program is part of Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s Learn Without Limits initiative to address the Homework Gap by ensuring connectivity to and within schools and libraries.  This initiative includes Wi-Fi on school buses, the Wi-Fi hotspot lending program, and E-Rate support for libraries in Tribal communities.

Research connects online learning with employment

Posted on by
Reply

Recent research shows a number of connections between online learning and employment…

  • Individuals engaging in online learning activities are more likely to be employed.
  • Online learning engagement is as useful as online course enrollment, underscoring the importance of communication via online tools and interactive learning experiences that can supplement formal or structured learning methods.
  • A significant portion of the observed rise in employment linked to online education can be attributed to increased participation in the labor force.
  • Online education shows greater benefits for older individuals, potentially mitigating age-related barriers to employment and promoting lifelong learning.
  • Online education has a stronger impact on women’s employment, suggesting it can help address gender disparities in the job market by enhancing women’s employment prospects.

Good motivation for digital literacy instructors and students.

Four key findings in recent State EdTech Trends survey

Posted on by
2

The Benton Institute for Internet & Society recap a recent report…

The State Education Technology Directors Association (SETDA) released its third annual State EdTech Trends survey and report. With this survey of state education technology (edtech) directors, superintendents, commissioners of education, and other state-level policymakers, SETDA aims to catalog the way state education agencies are adapting to the opportunities and risks of increasingly ubiquitous technology.

Four Key Findings

The report presents four key findings based on the survey:

  1. State agencies are stepping up to meet the demand for more support on the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in education.

  2. For the second year in a row, cybersecurity is the top edtech priority among state leaders, but fewer state leaders believe their state is providing sufficient funding to support connectivity.

  3. Anxiety about funding appears to increase as federal pandemic funds expire, while home connectivity and access remain the top unmet needs across states.

  4. New survey questions reveal opportunities for state education leaders to support the effective and equitable use of edtech as states appear to invest more in their own capacity.

CTC Partners with CWA to Implement Broadband JATC-Upper Midwest Apprenticeship Program

Posted on by
Reply

CTC reports…

CTC recently partnered with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) to create the first broadband-centered apprenticeship for the states of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
Communications Workers of America Broadband JATC-Upper Midwest has been officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) as a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) sponsor and approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Division of Apprenticeship. CWA and CTC look forward to welcoming other ISPs in the region into the program.
This apprenticeship will provide on-the-job, instructor-led, and online training to employees that are new to the telecommunications industry and want to pursue a career as a Broadband Technician. The program will provide recipients with instruction on industry standards, equipment installation, troubleshooting, and safety training.
CTC Member Service Technicians Carter Atwater and Burke Netland are the first two apprentices to go through the program.