New group aims to spur technology’s role in education

“Our schools are not yet leveraging technology to the fullest extent,” Spellings said. “In order to truly close the achievement gap and impact teaching and learning, we must better use technology to customize instruction, improve the use of student data, and deliver content in new and interesting ways.”

College readiness is crucial for today’s students, Bollinger said, and “new communications technologies can greatly enhance teaching, learning, and research. We hope that our growing body of experience in the use of these transformational tools in higher education can provide useful insights for our nation’s schools.”

The commission also will seek to address the following:

Which subjects (e.g., math, science, language) or levels (e.g., high school) would benefit most from incorporating digital tools, and under what approaches.
Whether or not students are receiving enough guidance on the importance of behaving in a positive and responsible manner online.

“Digital tools are crucial for STEM subjects, and you might say it’s almost impossible to teach those subjects without digital tools and media. But digital platforms are increasingly important for many other areas, including history and English/language arts,” said Common Sense Media’s Steyer. “As a country, we must make sure [teachers] have the best tools, and the guidance they need to make the most of those tools.”

Steyer noted that in its work with more than 26,000 schools around the country, Common Sense Media has discovered that “students are not getting enough guidance about how to use technology and digital media in smart and responsible ways. Some teachers and schools are trying to provide the guidance, but they need more information and resources.” (Click here for Common Sense Media’s free Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum.)

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said he believes the group’s forthcoming blueprint “will chart a course to ensure that educational technology will help prepare students to compete in the 21st-century global economy.”

“Technology isn’t an option that schools may or may not choose for their kids. Technological competency is a requirement for entry into the global economy—and the faster we embrace it, the more we maintain and secure our economic leadership in the 21st century,” said Education Education Arne Duncan.

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