Technology Counts 2009: Breaking Away From Tradition is now available online. This year’s report focuses on how online education is expanding opportunities for raising student achievement.

Review the full report – and everything else in Education Week—for free this week on edweek.org during their Open House, March 25-April 8.

Grading the States:
Michigan scores a B- for use of technology with students, earning points for having technology standards and a virtual school; we lose points for failing to assess technology skills or offering computer based assessments.

We score a D when it comes to teacher and administrator preparation, losing points in all categories, which include having technology standards, requiring technology specific coursework, or asking teachers/administrators to pass technology tests for certification or re-certification.

Find out how other states fared on their use of technology and their capacity to use technology.

Articles in the report include:

Breaking Away From Tradition
As the world of online education evolves, brick-and-mortar schools are incorporating digital curricula and virtual teachers into their classrooms in sometimes surprising ways.

Research Shows Evolving Picture of E-Education
Research shows that virtual schooling can be as good as, or better than, classes taught in person in brick-and-mortar schools.

Teacher Training Goes in Virtual Directions
More teachers are tuning out the distractions, turning on their PCs, and logging on to web-based training programs.