Woohoo! SXSWedu! Wheeeee! News released in time with the event: new curriculum from Amplify! A revised SAT! Chromebooks! Analytics! Hype! And stuff. There was lots of other news too: Obama's budget for 2015; the acquisition of a couple of startups and funding for a bunch more; SRI's report on the usage of Khan Academy (note, it said "usage" not "effectiveness"); more edX consortium members; a decision in the Kansas state supreme court on school funding; and an epic spelling bee battle. [...]

In this week's education news: Facebook teams up with edX to offer online education (and Facebook) to Rwanda. The Department of Education "clarifies" its privacy rules (where "clarifies" equals "punts"). Lots of startups raise money, including Edsurge, Piazza, Credible, and Skillshare. Pearson stocks fall on reports that it's still struggling with ye olde transition to digital. An Arizona state senator worries that the Common Core means that students will learn about math that uses letters in place of numbers. Glasgow University students elect Edward Snowden as their rector. And RIP to one of the greatest professors of paranormal studies that ever lived: Egon Spengler. [...]

In this week's news: money money money money money. Also MOOCs, some job changes, a Presidential apology for making fun of art history majors, promises about net neutrality, tin foil hats in Missouri, more WTF legislation in Kansas, Google Fiber expansion, various press releases touting sign up numbers, Arne Duncan in the NBA All Star game, and a looming clown shortage. [...]

Happy Valentine's Day, lovers of learning. MOOCs were back in the news this way -- not in a big way, but in a funny way. And you know I love that. In heartbreaking news, it looks as though Comcast might acquire Time Warner Cable. Having been a customer of both, I can say this isn't good news if you like your Internet. Even more damning, what all of this means for the future of "Net Neutrality." Well, the Internet was a powerful tool for education, at least while we had unthrottled access. And RIP Stuart Hall. [...]

In this week's news: FCC promises to spend more money on broadband for schools and libraries. Tech companies throw in some stuff to sweeten the deal. (iPads for poor schools! Wheee!) McGraw-Hill went on a bit of a shopping spree, acquiring two startups. Cengage looks to exit bankruptcy. Remind101 raised $15 million which blows my mind because yes the founders are really nice guys but holy shit, $15 million for a free messaging app?! Howard will not partner with Pearson to make a distance learning program for HBCUs. And nary a MOOC-related peep. I guess we're all busy taking Cathy Davidson's Future of Ed class. Or something. [...]