Librarians Can Help Ed-Tech Plan

Many librarians are probably wondering what role they can play now that the long-awaited U.S. Department of Education's National Education Technology Plan has been released. Some obvious ones include taking a leadership role to ensure that students are exposed to the latest technology and involving students in tech planning and purchasing, says Susan Patrick, director of the DOE's office of educational technology, which released the report (www.nationaledtechplan.org) in January.

"It's easy to be a leader, but harder to be a leader who helps stand behind the systematic transformation that's required to put the student at the center of learning," Patrick says.

The report, required under the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, says that while most schools have computers and Internet access, few are making good use of the technology. As a result, today's students, "who have access to technology all around them," are asking for more technology in the classroom.

Patrick advises that media specialists use this opportunity to create student planning committees and post kids' most interesting comments on the library Web site.