This year’s CoSN Conference took place during a dynamic time in education. With two education policy initiatives about to be released, I had the opportunity to attend sessions regarding the National Educational Technology Plan and the National Broadband Plan.
National Educational Technology Plan
According to Karen Cator, director of the Office of Educational Technology for the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), the National Educational Technology Plan provides concrete goals to inform state and local educational technology plans, as well as recommendations to inspire research, development and innovation.
Since the conference, the DOE has released a draft of the National Educational Technology Plan, titled “Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology.” To download a copy of the draft, visit the DOE’s Web site: www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010.
For more information, view this coverage of the National Educational Technology Plan:
Education Week: U.S. Ed-Tech Plan Prods K-12 to Innovate
eSchool News: Feds Release New National Ed-tech Plan
T.H.E. Journal: National Ed Tech Plan Advocates Radical Reforms in Schools
National Broadband Plan
Authorized under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the National Broadband Plan is designed to extend high-speed Internet access to all Americans. Steve Midgley, Education Director for the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), discussed the education chapter of the National Broadband Plan.
Midgley outlined three key education goals: upgrade the E-rate program, support and promote online learning, and leverage the power of data to improve instruction. The FCC will deliver a draft of the National Broadband Plan to Congress on March 17. In the meantime, visit the FCC’s Web site for more information: www.broadband.gov.
For more perspective, view this coverage of the National Broadband Plan:
Education Week: National Broadband Plan Delayed
eSchool News: Education Goals in National Broadband Plan Revealed
T.H.E. Journal: Broadband Plan Looks to Overhaul E-rate, Promote Online Learning
What are your thoughts on these two initiatives? Are the goals ambitious enough to have a positive impact on our students’ prospects for academic success? Do school systems have the resources and funding required to implement these recommendations?