Feds Release National Educational Technology Plan
RSSBy Rocco Staino -- School Library Journal, 03/10/2010
The U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Technology Education has released an 80-page draft of a five-year National Educational Technology Plan (NETP), which presents a model of 21st century learning powered by technology, with goals and recommendations in five important areas: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity.
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Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. |
"We have the opportunity to completely reform our nation's schools," Duncan says. "We're not talking about tinkering around the edges here. We're talking about a fundamental re-thinking of how our schools function—and placing a focus on teaching and learning like never before."
Duncan says the plan is “tight on goals and loose on how you get there” and takes into consideration three key tech trends: information mobility and accessibility; the rise of digital content; and the use of online social interaction and collaboration for learning.
“Just as technology is at the core of virtually every aspect of our daily lives and work, we must leverage it to provide engaging and powerful learning experiences, content, and resources and assessments that measure student achievement in more complete, authentic, and meaningful ways,” the report says. “Technology-based learning and assessment systems will be pivotal in improving student learning and generating data that can be used to continuously improve the education system at all levels.”
What does 21st century learning look like? In contrast to traditional classroom instruction, which often consists of a single educator transmitting the same information to all learners in the same way, the report gives an example of putting students at the center and empowering them to take control of their own learning by providing flexibility on several dimensions.
“A core set of standards-based concepts and competencies form the basis of what all students should learn, but beyond that students and educators have options for engaging in learning: large groups, small groups, and work tailored to individual goals, needs, and interests,” the report says. “To prepare students to learn throughout their lives and in settings far beyond classrooms, we must change what and how we teach to match what people need to know, how they learn, and where and when they learn and change our perception of who needs to learn. We must bring 21st century technology into learning in meaningful ways to engage, motivate, and inspire learners of all ages to achieve.”
The draft technology plan highlights Virginia's Fairfax County Public Schools, which has built an online one-stop shop to connect teaching resources, assessments, and system-wide data. Teachers use a Web-based system called the Electronic Curriculum Resource Assessment Tool to create and access lesson plans, worksheets, assessment tools, and other resources tied to district-approved standards. Students take assessments online or on paper, and the results help link teachers to resources that will help address specific students' needs.
The Manor New Tech High School in Manor, TX, is another model for reaching underserved youth. With a diverse student population—60 percent Hispanic, 30 percent African American, 30 percent English Language Learners—80 percent of its student population qualifies for the free and reduced lunch program.
When Manor New Tech High School opened, 50 percent of its teachers had taught for less than a year. Yet within its first year, 2008, Manor students out-performed the state average by 16 percent in science. In its third year, dropout rates were virtually zero, and the school had a 97 percent attendance rate. The class of 2010 will be the first graduating class, and all students are going on to postsecondary education. Manor's leaders credit their success to project-based learning and to full and integrated use of technology, Duncan says.
According to Karen Cator, the DOE's new director of the Office of Educational Technology and past chair of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, there’s definitely is a role for school librarians in implementing the plan since she believes they’re at the forefront of technology innovation.
“It brings joy to my heart that learning is the first goal,” says J. Ana Donaldson, the recently elected president of the Association of Educational Communication and Technology, about the plan. “Learners are engaged inside and outside the school environment.”
The 10 page NETP executive summary is available on the Department of Education’s Web site.
