Join the Campaign! Tweet and Blog for Ed Tech May 12

Funding for Classroom Technology is in jeopardy!  Join ISTE members and education technology advocates from across the country for a day of blogging and tweeting in support of 21^st century learning.

President Obama’s budget provides no funding for education technology.  The Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program, which was funded at $100 million in 2010, is rolled into a the new program “Effective Teaching and Learning for a Complete Education.”
Without funds specifically set aside to pay for education technology the administration’s messaging about the importance of technology for classroom teaching and learning rings hollow. If education technology is so important, why has the proposed 2011 budget eliminated funding for the only dedicated ed tech funding program?

Although the President has recommended to eliminate funding for EETT, Congress does not have to agree with this recommendation.  ISTE is urging congress to fund education technology at at $500 million for next year. To get this issue on congress’ agenda we need to tell  policymakers that we are not going to take the loss of EETT quietly.

On Wednesday, May 12 we are going to flood the Web with messages in support of funding for education technology. We’ll provide some Twitter messages to get you started, but we’re asking for a major effort from all the ed tech bloggers, tweeters, Facebookers and Ning-regulars out there to write in support of dedicated federal funding for education technology.

Keep watching ISTE Connects for information on how you can help secure $500 million for ed tech in 2011. Together we can make our voices heard!

http://www.isteconnects.org/2010/05/06/join-the-campaign-tweet-and-blog-for-ed-tech-may-12/

An intriguing, frustrating conundrum

This morning I was repeatedly reminded of a dilemma professionals in many fields encounter. On one hand, an employee is expected to keep up with the latest technological tools available to them and relevant to their job. On the other, they may already feel overwhelmed with what's on their to-do lists.

Take teachers, for example. There's a transformation occurring in schools around the world right now. It's being driven by technology--or rather the use of it by kids. Children come to class natively fluent in social media, entertainment, and information channels. They don't know a world without it. And the teachers are being asked to catch up, and then get a step ahead of them.

New ISTE NETS-A Standards

ISTE has refreshed its NETS program with the release of the 2009 Administrator Standards.

NETS for Students 2007 (PDF 90 KB)

NETS for Teachers 2008 (PDF 39 KB)

NETS for Administrators 2009 (PDF 67 KB)

Atomic Learning at NECC 2009

Monday, June 29 21st Century Skills: What Do They Look Like? Featuring Brad Flickinger, Educational Futurist 10a, 10:45a, 11:30a, 2p, 3p Technology Integration: An International Perspective Featuring Bryn Jones, Australian Educator 1p & 4p Tuesday, June 30 Technology Integration: An International Perspective Featuring Bryn Jones, Australian Educator 10a, 1p, 4p 21st Century Skills: How Do I Get Started? Featuring Lisa Barnett, Atomic Learning 10:45a & 11:30a Flatten Your Classroom Featuring Vicki Davis, Teacher and Blogger 2p & 3p

Wednesday, July 1 21st Century Skills: How Do I Get Started? Featuring Roger Geraets, Atomic Learning 10a & 11:30a Technology Integration: An International Perspective Featuring Bryn Jones, Australian Educator 10:45a http://www.isteconnects.org/ We'll see you at booth #1130!