10 Issues in Ed Tech 2013
10 Issues in Educational Technology, 2013
SREB’s Educational Technology Cooperative recommends that policymakers in SREB states address these 10 education technology issues now. Without adequate progress, states may fall short of goals for education improvement, and key policy initiatives may fail.
The intent of the 10 Issues effort is to help states understand these policy issues, build consensus around priorities and — most important — create action agendas to address them. The ultimate goal: a policy environment that leverages technology to improve public education in SREB states.
The issues are K-20 in scope, critical to public schools as well as higher ed. States need leadership across this continuum to best allocate funds and focus improvements on students. The Cooperative will work with states on these issues through 2015, then assess and update the issues and process.
 Adopt common data definitions within state education data systems. |
 Link statewide data systems from student- to state-level and from early grades through college and workforce — and protect the privacy of the data. |
 Translate the vast amount of education data into valuable information for education stakeholders to use in decision-making and communication. |
 Expand reliable, affordable bandwidth to ensure educators and their students gain the full benefit of current and emerging technologies. |
 Foster strategic decision-making that assesses emerging technologies and determines their relevance for education. |
 Promote instructional innovation and student engagement in active learning through innovative uses of technology. |
 Ensure student access to technology-enhanced courses and provide them with the necessary technical support and course management skills essential to succeed. |
 Use technology to create competency-based environments so that students demonstrate mastery of content at their own pace. |
 Improve professional development so that instructors, administrators and agency staff are up-to-date on educational technologies and can maximize their benefits to students. |
 Maintain a regular state-level review of technology-related policies on education standards, access and infrastructure to ensure these policies are adequate, necessary and integrated. |
Data Definitions
Adopt common data definitions within state education data systems.
What is the issue and why is it important?
Education leaders need to use accurate, timely data to make decisions on how to improve student achievement.
Data Systems
Link statewide data systems from student- to state-level and from early grades through college and workforce — and protect the privacy of the data.
What is the issue and why is it important?
Education data elements are only as good as their accuracy, and the availability of the data to those who need them to make informed decisions to improve student success.
Data Analytics
Translate the vast amount of education data into valuable information for education stakeholders to use in decision-making and communication.
What is the issue and why is it important?
Data analytics is the process of examining big data to uncover hidden patterns, unknown correlations and other useful information that can be used to make better decisions.
Bandwidth
Expand reliable, affordable broadband to ensure educators and their students gain the full benefit of current and emerging technologies.
What is the issue and why is it important?
Access to affordable Internet connectivity — or broadband — is a continuing struggle for K-12 schools.
Emerging Technologies
Foster strategic decision-making that assesses emerging technologies and determines their relevance for education.
What is the issue and why is it important?
Over time, the educational technology market has matured and moved away from merely retro-fitting technologies originally created for the business community. Providers are now designing systems specifically for educational institutions and connected classrooms.
Instructional Innovation
Promote instructional innovation and student engagement in active learning through innovative uses of technology.
What is the issue and why is it important?
Promote instructional innovation and student engagement in active learning through innovative uses of technology.
E-Learning Support
Ensure student access to technology-enhanced courses and provide them with the necessary technical support and course management skills essential to succeed.
What is the issue and why is it important?
Ensure student access to technology-enhanced courses and provide them with the necessary technical support and course management skills essential to succeed.
Competency-Based Learning
Use technology to create competency-based environments so that students demonstrate mastery of content at their own pace.
What is the issue and why is it important?
Use technology to create competency-based environments so that students demonstrate mastery of content at their own pace.
Professional Development
Improve professional development so that instructors, administrators and agency staff are up to date on educational technologies and can maximize their benefits to students.
What is the issue and why is it important?
Improve professional development so that instructors, administrators and agency staff are up to date on educational technologies and can maximize their benefits to students.
Policy
Maintain a regular state-level review of technology-related policies on education standards, access and infrastructure to ensure these policies are adequate, necessary and integrated.
What is the issue and why is it important?
Maintain a regular state-level review of technology-related policies on education standards, access and infrastructure to ensure these policies are adequate, necessary and integrated.
