MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Diana Pack (center) works with students and their computers at Radford High School. Students in Pack's television production class have been using iPods during an introduction to media course co-sponsored by Radford University's Learning Without Borders program.

| Anna L. Mallory

anna.mallory@roanoke.com, 381-8627

A new report says young people now spend more hours using electronic media during the week than a full-time job requires.

The Kaiser Family Foundation's report, released last week, says that children ages 8 to 18 spend 10 hours and 45 minutes a day consuming media. That time includes simultaneous use of media such as televisions, computers, iPods, cellphones and video games.

Without considering multitasking, tweens and teens spend seven hours and 38 minutes each day, the report said.

The California-based nonprofit has surveyed students three times. In 2004, teen media use was a little more than eight hours a day, but with the popularity of iPods and cellphones, the number has risen, the report said.

While the study found that more than half of students said they use media for homework most or some of the time, it also found that 43 percent of heavy media users reported earning mostly C's. Conversely, 23 percent of those who reported "light use" said they generally receive higher grades. The foundation does not claim that a relationship between the two exists.

Still, school systems have begun to look at ways to leverage the growing use of technology in a way that could improve student performance.

A program piloted at Radford University is trying to combine media use and student work more effectively. The Learning without Boundaries iLearn program puts iPod Touch in the classroom for teachers and students to use for academic purposes.

Radford assistant professor Matt Dunleavy is working on programs that students can use. It's already been used in Radford and Montgomery County, and this month, Pulaski County's schools received a grant to get it started in their classrooms.

ELECTIONS

Gerlach to seek re-election to board

Karen Gerlach, a longtime Radford School Board member, plans to run for re-election this spring.

She already has created a Facebook group for supporters and announced her candidacy.

Since Gerlach began her first term on the board eight years ago, the division has built a new Belle Heth Elementary School and also began full-day kindergarten.

Terms also will expire this year for Lynn Burris and Vanessa Duncan. Neither has announced plans to run again, but they both are circulating petitions to get their names on the ballot, said city Registrar Tracy Howard.

PULASKI COUNTY

Superintendent begins new blog

Pulaski County's interim superintendent, Tom Brewster, has started a blog this year to keep residents abreast of happenings within the division.

Brewster is an avid user of sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The blog can be accessed at blog.pcva.us/blog/.

FINANCIAL AID

RU to host workshop on federal aid forms

On Feb. 13, Radford University will have its Super Saturday event for parents or students who need help with their federal financial aid applications.

The workshop is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 221 Walker Hall.

University financial aid staff will be on hand.