New Tech Directions

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Susan Patrick, the director of educational technology for the U.S. Department of Education, will speak at NECC about the ways today's generation of students differ from previous generations; what these differences mean for schools; and how to use technology for education beyond the classroom. Patrick will draw on what the DoE has learned from the $56 million it awarded schools and research institutions to study technology in the classroom. The DoE is currently working with nine states to evaluate how specific tech tools can create programs that improve academic achievement.

Which states are conducting evaluations?
Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. We selected 10 programs to study—with a nice range of technologies. Pennsylvania, for example, is evaluating student and parent access through recycled computers.

What information from the studies will school administrators use to make local decisions?
Administrators in all states—even those states that didn't perform a study—will understand how technology empowers the goals of NCLB. They will have data showing promising models and examples of successful programs. They will understand how to measure the effectiveness of technology programs based on student achievement. (See "5 Minutes with Susan Patrick" in Plugged In for more about technology usage.)

How will the research benefit teachers and students?
We think using technology, such as the Internet, video conferencing, and satellite communications, is a way to offer more courses and professional development. We want to help teachers understand the best practices for the classroom.

Will this study draw resources from other NCLB program initiatives or from helping local schools fund and meet requirements?
The budget for education under NCLB has increased 49 percent since the administration took office. It's around $53 billion. More funds than ever are available now for reading instruction, Title I, and special education. Technology funding has gone from $450 million to $700 million per year.

Will this lead to another layer of student testing that involves technology?
No. We want to make sure students are developing twenty-first century skills so that they're using the technology to do things more efficiently. We're not looking to add layers.
—R.E.S.

Plugged In
Presents an article about spyware, another covering a creative way to boost your bottom line as well as Idaho's deal with Plato, music software, and the banning of camphones; the last is about mentoring.

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