National ed-tech plan coming next week

Cator said comments and links to resources from stakeholders will help the DOE finalize the plan.
Cator said comments and links to resources from stakeholders will help ED finalize the plan.

The latest national blueprint for how schools can leverage technology’s power to transform teaching and learning is coming next week, said Karen Cator, director of the Office of Education Technology for the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Cator made the announcement at the Consortium for School Networking’s annual conference March 2. During a morning spotlight session, titled “Latest News on the New National Education Technology Plan,” she gave attendees a preview of the plan.

Highlights included a focus on teacher professional development in education technology, supporting ed-tech infrastructure in schools, using real-time data and delivering personalized assessments, and harnessing the power of online learning and social networks to provide 24-7 access to tools and resources for teachers and students.…Read More

CoSN 2010: Innovation, ingenuity, and insight

Karen Cator will attend CoSN's 2010 conference and share her thoughts on technology in schools.
Karen Cator will attend CoSN's 2010 conference and share her thoughts on technology in schools.

The 2010 Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) Conference, which runs Feb. 28-March 3, 2010, will focus on innovation, ingenuity, and insight and will help district technology leaders from the public and private sectors learn how technology can improve and transform school technology.

Web 2.0 collaborative tools in education hold the potential to bridge national and cultural divides and remove barriers created by time and location.  Yet to date, formal education has largely failed to harness the power and promise of these new tools to create greater global awareness and understanding.

The 2010 CoSN International Symposium will explore major efforts to foster global understanding particularly with the use of Web 2.0 tools.  The Symposium will also consider organizational and logistical issues which hamper these efforts.  Presentations by and conversations with policymakers from around the world will highlight ways in which global understanding can become a serious and widespread component in teaching and learning in schools.…Read More