Table Of ContentBy Arne Duncan
Harness the Power of Technology
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan writes that
now is the time to revolutionize the way students learn
and the way teachers teach.
Duncan congratulates a student from a Blue Ribbon School at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Copyright © 2011, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), [email protected], www.iste.org. All rights reserved.
10 Learning & Leading with Technology | June/July 2011
Now more than ever, schools need you. Research
shows that students who benefit from both technology
and effective teachers learn more than students who have
T one but not the other. Great teachers employ smart uses
oday, U.S. educators are teaching
in the midst of a technological of technology to personalize the learning experience and
revolution. Technology prom-
engage students in the pursuit of the learning they need.
ises to provide innovative solutions in
the nation’s classrooms, just as it has
transformed the way we communicate, Technology Engages Students ARPA-ED to Pursue Breakthroughs
socialize, and conduct business. Now It’s essential that you work with your To encourage the education sector to
it is time for us to harness technology peers to overcome these obstacles. For invest the necessary funds and speed
to revolutionize the way students learn starters, we know that technology has up the pace of innovation of learning
and the way teachers teach. the power to engage. Students who are technologies, the U.S. Department of
Innovative teachers like you are lead- hesitant to read books may become Education has proposed the establish-
ing this technological transformation in interested when assignments from ment of the Advanced Research Proj-
our classrooms today. You use powerful that reading send them to the internet ects Agency for Education, or ARPA-
resources to engage students, deepen for a scavenger hunt or to research ED. Modeled on a similar agency in
their understanding, expand their cre- ways to solve a character’s problem. the U.S. Department of Defense that
ativity, and help them solve problems. Much like the printing press allowed spurred the creation of technolo-
Because you have the passion, knowl- people to learn from books as well gies such as the internet and GPS,
edge, and experience, you can prepare as teachers, digital technology offers ARPA-ED will aggressively pursue
your colleagues to follow your lead and learners powerful new environments technological breakthroughs that have
play a pivotal role in our national effort that include simulations, animations, similar potential to transform teach-
to transform our schools into innova- scaffolded and guided practice sets, ing and learning. ARPA-ED offers the
tive learning environments. and experts who may be far away. opportunity to create an environment
I understand that you face consider- With your firsthand experiences, you where teachers integrate technol-
able challenges as you create digital are uniquely qualified to articulate, ogy into everything that happens in
learning environments. Some schools showcase, and explore the power of our nation’s classrooms. It will move
are rich with technology but are still technologies for learning. us away from our current structure,
stuck in the 20th century model of An exciting aspect of technology where technology is an isolated pro-
teaching and learning. Some teachers that I often hear about from teachers gram that isn’t part of students’ daily
still see technology as an add-on to is its power to personalize learning learning experiences.
their lesson plans rather than integral experiences. Technology can pace
to the process of teaching and learn- instruction based on each student’s ISTE NETS Guide Tech Integration
ing. Computer labs too often are test- needs, so that a student having trouble No matter what funding or supports
ing factories that don’t harness tech- with a mathematical concept can get exist for technology, the truth of the
nology’s potential to accelerate student remediation at the same time that an matter is that teachers are still the
achievement. Far too many schools— advanced student moves on to higher most essential part of the learning
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan writes that particularly those in rural areas—do concepts. Many emerging programs process. Now more than ever, schools
not have access to broadband internet, support learning, including videos, need you. Research shows that stu-
now is the time to revolutionize the way students learn
which limits teachers’ and students’ online tutoring networks, and adaptive dents who benefit from both tech-
and the way teachers teach. abilities to leverage the productive programs. With the facilitation of an nology and effective teachers learn
value of technology to assist the learn- effective teacher, these innovations ad- more than students who have one but
ing process. Finally, for all the progress dress students’ specific learning needs not the other. Great teachers employ
our schools have made, educators still and accelerate achievement. As leaders smart uses of technology to personal-
don’t have an organized and coherent in your field, your role is to adapt and ize the learning experience and engage
understanding of the most effective leverage technology to focus on solving students in the pursuit of the learning
and engaging uses of technology. learning problems. they need.
Copyright © 2011, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), [email protected], www.iste.org. All rights reserved.
June/July 2011 | Learning & Leading with Technology 11
(Left) U.S. Education Secretary Arne
Duncan and Bradley Haas, a program
analyst in the Office of Postsecondary
Education, help Jena Thompson, a
fourth grader who goes to the Depart-
ment of Education for a special tutor-
ing program.
(Right) Duncan chats with a student at
Jefferson Middle School in Washington,
D.C. He visited the school to announce
the release of Net Cetera: Chatting with
Kids About Being Online, a booklet that
serves as a guide for parents as they help
children navigate the internet.
ISTE already has done important Learning: Engage and Empower Our policies address three specific
work creating the NETS, which define All learners will have engaging and needs that are critical to advancing
how teachers should integrate technol- empowering learning experiences technology in the classroom.
ogy into the process of learning and both in and out of school that prepare We are supporting states as they raise
teaching (iste.org/standards). By using them to be active, creative, knowl- their standards to reflect the knowledge
the NETS for students, administrators, edgeable, and ethical participants and skills that will be necessary to suc-
and teachers, you become the leaders in our globally networked society. ceed in the 21st century. These standards
in your schools and districts, working will give technology educators a clear
Assessment: Measure What Matters
with colleagues to help them master new road map for designing the creative, en-
At all levels, our education system
methods of teaching with technologies gaging, and powerful technology-based
will leverage the power of techno-
that they may be afraid of using. Your learning tools that will prepare students
logy to measure what matters and
role is critical as you identify ways that for success in college and careers. To
use assessment data for continuous
you and your peers can take advantage build assessments aligned with these
improvement.
of existing technologies in your class- new standards, the Education Depart-
rooms today and identify emerging Teaching: Prepare and Connect ment has awarded $350 million to states
technologies that will enhance learning Technology will support professional to create assessments that will measure
opportunities in the future. We need to educators individually and in teams by students’ progress on the full range of
continue to hear your voice so that local, connecting them to data, content, re- standards aligned with college and career
state, and federal policy makers are mak- sources, expertise, and learning expe- expectations. These assessments will go
ing decisions based on the best informa- riences that enable and inspire more beyond the end-of-course standardized
tion from experts in the classroom. effective teaching for all learners. bubble tests that are common across the
country today. They will use computer
Infrastructure: Access and Enable
Five Goals to Advance Ed Tech adaptive technologies and challenge
All students and educators will have
The U.S. Department of Education students to analyze and solve complex
access to a comprehensive infrastruc-
has a distinct role to play. We want problems, communicate clearly, synthe-
ture for learning when and where they
to support your work with resources size information, apply knowledge, and
need it.
and leadership. We have a comprehen- generalize learning to other settings. I am
sive and coordinated series of initia- Productivity: Redesign and Transform convinced that these assessments will be
tives designed to improve access to Our education system will redesign game changers in education.
technology and support its use in the processes and structures at all levels to To connect teachers with learning
classroom. Through the National Edu- take advantage of the power of tech- experiences of their own, the depart-
cation Technology Plan, we have iden- nology to improve learning outcomes ment is leveraging the power of social
tified five goals for the federal govern- while making more efficient use of media and other technology to create
ment to advance the digital classroom. time, money, and staff. Connected Online Communities of
For technology to be truly transformative, it needs to be accessible to everyone.
Copyright © 2011, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), [email protected], www.iste.org. All rights reserved.
12 Learning & Leading with Technology | June/July 2011
Practice. The goal is to build large and otherwise make the transformation
sustainable online communities that to a digital classroom impossible in
will allow teachers to share practices, many of our communities.
access experts, and solve problems. All of these investments will help the
For technology to be truly trans- transition from a predominantly print-
formative, it needs to be accessible to based classroom to a digital learning
everyone. Unfortunately, that’s not the environment. But using technology is
case today, especially in rural areas, not an end in itself. The ultimate goal
in low-income urban neighborhoods, is to vastly improve the opportunity
and for students who have disabilities. to learn, accelerate achievement, and
The Obama administration has made prepare students for success in the 21st
a significant investment in expanding century workforce. The ability to work,
broadband to areas without access to innovate, and be productive using
high-speed internet. President Obama technology is essential for profession-
has set the goal of ensuring that 98% als in almost every sector. Doctors and
of the country has available broadband auto mechanics, architects and artists,
in the next five years. With $7.2 billion engineers and teachers—these and just
from the American Recovery and Re- about every other profession will need
investment Act, the U.S. Department workers who can harness the power of
of Agriculture, the Department of technology. For children to excel, we
Commerce, and the Federal Commu- have to prepare them today.
nications Commission are financing We do so by unleashing the untapped
the construction of broadband net- potential of learning technology—
works into unserved areas. These dol- with your commitment, passion,
lars will provide high-speed internet in and expertise.
thousands of schools. In addition, the
FCC has changed the E-Rate program Arne Duncan is the U.S. secre-
to support innovative approaches that tary of education. Prior to his
appointment, Duncan served
expand the reach of schools’ networks.
as the chief executive officer of
Schools are now allowed to use E-Rate
the Chicago Public Schools
funds to provide access during after- from June 2001 through De-
school hours, and a pilot program will cember 2008.
test the use of wireless networks that
Read ISTE’s response to Duncan’s article
students can access in their homes.
on page 14. Post your comments about
These are essential investments for
this piece on the ISTE Community Ning
closing the digital divide, which would (www.iste-community.org/group/landl).
Copyright © 2011, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), [email protected], www.iste.org. All rights reserved.
June/July 2011 | Learning & Leading with Technology 13
