10 Issues in Ed Tech 2013

Overview

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.