Transmission Project - education

Closing the technology gap in education

Ben Sheldon — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:30:06 +0000

Yesterday the Department of Education released their National Education Technology Plan (NETP), an 18-month project that details how to better integrate technology and media into a cradle-to-college system. Just like the FCC’s Broadband Plan, HHS’s Health IT Plan, or DOE’s Smartgrid Proposals (to name a few), this plan recognizes the need for broader digital literacy and a strengthened media infrastructure across communities—not just within the education (or telecommunications, or health, or energy) sector:

The technology that enables connected teaching is available now, but not all the conditions necessary to leverage it are. Many of our existing educators do not have the same understanding of and ease with using technology that is part of the daily lives of professionals in other sectors and with this generation of students. The same can be said of many of the education leaders and policymakers in schools, districts, and states and of the higher education institutions that prepare new educators for the field.

This gap in technology understanding influences program and curriculum development, funding and purchase decisions about educational and information technology in schools, and preservice and in-service professional learning. Too often, this gap prevents technology from being used in ways that would improve instructional practices and learning outcomes.

Still, we must introduce connected teaching into our education system rapidly, and for that we must rely on the organizations that support educators in their profession—schools and districts, colleges of education, professional learning providers, librarians and media specialists, and professional organizations.

Communications

admin — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:23:59 +0000

Media Literacy Critical in Today’s Schools

Ben Sheldon — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:15:33 +0000

John Urkevich, Executive Director of Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis, Inc. discusses the need for media literacy training in schools:

In 2010, employers are stressing the importance of not only being technology savvy, but also media literate. One of the biggest challenges in media literacy is to locate and evaluate information and recognize and understand the source. The ability to clearly focus on content and ignore the distractions of the media is critical in our world today.

Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis is proud to support educators in becoming both technology literate and media literate. In turn, students in St. Louis schools are using media literacy skills to create their own multimedia projects while gaining a better understanding of the media that surround their daily lives.

CSD recognizes the importance of media literacy and the role it plays in helping students develop skills including critical thinking, problem solving and story telling. In addition, we are a member of the Gateway Media Literacy Partners (GMLP). Media education, with critical thinking, creative communication, and technology literacy is a key part of a 21st century approach to learning.

We have been richly discussing this point at the Transmission Project: not only do people need to know how to use technology and create media, but they also need to know the context and motivations behind it as well.

Mobile Learning Lab Youth Outreach Coordinator & Teacher

admin — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:40:40 +0000

U Mass Boston/College of Public & Community Service

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:51:39 +0000

The Wilderness Technology Alliance

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:54:45 +0000

The Inland Northwest Community Access Network

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:32:32 +0000

The Academy for Career Development

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:25:55 +0000

Edlab Group/Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:17:11 +0000

Parents, Let's Unite for Kids

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:30:15 +0000