digital learning

Leveraging the New Normal in Ed Tech

As outlined by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan more than a year ago, the New Normal in education is the challenge of “doing more with less” in our pK-20 education system. But as Duncan — and others including SIIA would respond – “this challenge can, and should be, embraced as an opportunity to make dramatic improvements . . . [E]normous opportunities for improving the productivity of our education system lie ahead if we are smart, innovative, and courageous in rethinking the status quo.”

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) continues to support our education system’s efforts to reimagine and retool by personalizing learning and leveraging technology and digital learning. SIIA’s latest effort is the March 7-8 Ed Tech Government Forum, which will bring SIIA member technology and education entrepreneurs together with national, state and local education leaders to dialogue about the policies of the New Normal digital age in education.

The following keynote speakers will share how at the local, state and college levels, they are removing outdated policy barriers and modernizing practices to better meet the individual needs of their students through digital learning:
- Jorea Marple, State Superintendent of Schools, West Virginia Department of Education
- Kaya Henderson, Chancellor, Washington DC Public Schools
- Jay Box, Chancellor, Kentucky Community and Technical College System

We will share examples of how agencies and institutions are Doing More w/Less through Technology and eLearning, featuring Michael Casserly (Council of Great City Schools), Amber Winkler (Thomas B. Fordham Institute) and Todd Wirt (Mooresville, NC Graded School District) which was recently featured in the NY Times.

And senior officials from state agencies in TN, OH, KY, GA and UT will share their initiatives in digital and open content, online assessment, virtual learning and data systems to meet the goals of Race to the Top and other state policies and ensure students meet the Common Core State Standards.

Throughout, this members-only SIIA forum will support two-way dialogue, enabling technology and digital learning providers to understand the needs of our pK-20 education system, while also providing learning opportunity for education leaders to understand the vision and innovative learning technologies coming from the private sector.

SIIA members not yet plannign to attend, please review the full agenda and speakers and register. For all, SIIA will be sure to help attendees and presenters leverage the results of this discussion to further support all stakeholders in Leveraging the New Normal to improve education and our students’ college and career readiness.

Mark Schneiderman is Senior Director of Education Policy at SIIA.

Share|

Vision K20: Achieving Personalized Learning through Public-Private Partnership

[This blog was also published January 26, 2012 by the Alliance for Excellent Education, sponsor of Digital Learning Day.]

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is pleased to be among dozens of education and technology organizations partnering to promote Digital Learning Day (DLD), 2/1/12, sponsored by the Alliance for Excellent Education. SIIA is promoting DLD to its high-tech member software, digital content and online services companies, and asking them to promote DLD through their networks.

For those with the vision and successful use of digital learning, the idea of a DLD awareness campaign — showcasing how technology supports students learning and teacher instruction – may seem unnecessary. But the reality is that too many of our educators and education leaders have not been provided the support they need to understand what is possible, nor the resources to make it happen. This shift is not simply about replacing print with digital or giving every student a computer. This shift is about reimagining how we teach and learn, and creating more customized, engaging, and productive learning made possible through technology and through public-private partnership with high-tech innovators.

SIIA has developed a series of resources to assist education stakeholders in this process, including:

Vision K-20 Survey: SIIA’s Vision K-20 lays out how we can utilize modern technologies to create a world-class teaching and learning environment that prepares all students as global citizens capable of leading the world in innovation. Educators can review the means, take a benchmarking survey, and review examples and evidence.
Personalized Learning: Innovate to Educate: System [Re]Design for Personalized Learning is a roadmap for education leaders to restructure our education system around the unique needs of each student. Developed in collaboration with state (CCSSO) and local (ASCD) education leaders, the report, resource page, and symposium archive provide descriptions, practices, policies and examples for personalizing learning.
Educator Guidance: SIIA’s Software & Technology Guidance for Educators include an implementation toolkit and best practices in use of serious learning games.

For SIIA member and other high-tech companies, we encourage you to support Digital Learning Day:

Sign up and be counted in this effort
Add the DLD button to your website, and promote DLD to your customers and partners
Provide access to your online teaching and learning resources for the day
Showcase success stories of how teachers and students are using technology
Visit the DLD toolkits for more ideas and resources.
Promote SIIA resources for educators, including Vision K20 and Software Implementation Toolkit
Use your imagination and creativity to promote education technology and Digital Learning Day

Thank you to the Alliance and all DLD partners for this important effort and for including SIIA and the high-tech industry. We look forward not only to A successful day on February 1st, but more importantly to THE day soon when all students will have access to the most relevant, engaging and effective learning opportunities that meet their personalized needs anytime and everywhere.

Learn more about Digital Learning Day at http://www.digitallearningday.org.

Mark Schneiderman is Senior Director of Education Policy at SIIA.

Share|

Leveraging the New Normal in Ed Tech

Vision K20: Achieving Personalized Learning through Public-Private Partnership

About SIIA