Month: July 2008

Today I ran across this wonderful site, EdTech Action Network, that is working to remind our leaders of the importance of educational technology. They have posted the following letter on the front page of their site. You can help out by signing the petition for giving our kids a 21st century education. Please take a minute (that is truly all it takes) to sign this petition. I am assuming that if you are reading a technology in education blog such as this one that you have discovered the importance of technology in education. I love the motto on the EdTech Action Network’s site “Children + Technology = America’s Future” I couldn’t agree more!

“Dear Next President,

We believe that it is critical that our next President make ensuring our nation’s K-12 students receive a 21st Century Education a top priority.

Recent
data shows that the stakes for our students acquiring 21st Century
technology skills and knowledge have never been higher in terms of
their own and our nation’s economic prosperity. For instance:

• The Department of Labor reports that out of 55 industries, education is last in its use of technology.
• In the majority of schools, teachers and students cannot maximize the potential of technology.
• By 2010, if current trends continue, more than 90 percent of all scientists and engineers will be living in Asia.
• Since
  the 1960s, the demand for skills has changed significantly – the demand
  for routine manual task skills have decreased, while the demand for
  non-routine interactive task skills have increased significantly.

Our children not only deserve but require an American education that
harnesses the power of technology to individualize learning, one that
ensures that they are prepared to compete academically for top grades
and globally for the best paying jobs. In our estimation, a 21st Century Education should include the following elements:

• Every
  student learning in an environment that reflects the technology replete
  world in which we live, including ready access to sophisticated
  computing devices, instructionally sound digital content that
  facilitates self-paced learning, and broadband-level bandwidth
  necessary to support cutting-edge digital applications and services.
• Every
  teacher possessing the technology tools and skills necessary to use
  technology in the classroom and to integrate technology and digital
  resources seamlessly into classroom learning.
• Every
  parent utilizing technology to monitor student academic progress,
  communicate with educators regarding academic matters, and access
  online and digital resources to assist their children’s studies.

We call on the next President, in partnership with Congress, to take these
bold steps to ensure a 21st Century Education, including:

• Supporting access for all students to technology and the Internet.
• Increasing federal funding for education technology through the Department of Education’s budget.
• Preserving
  the E-Rate and providing robust bandwith in all classrooms to allow
  students and educators to use the cutting-edge digital applications and
  services.
• Incorporating
  technology literacy and facility into state teacher standards, teacher
  training, and professional development.
• Encouraging student technology literacy by the eighth grade.”

Click here to sign the petition nowOh by the way, they have a great url: onegiantleapforkids.org– how fun is that?!