EDITOR’S NOTE: BACK TO IT

Another school year starts and with it new concerns and hopes about the promise of education technology get raised. For many years, conversation mostly involved devices. “Should there be computers in the classroom?” was an actual question.

As that answer is now evident in pretty much everyone’s pocket or backpack, the next big issue is how best to use those devices to the advantage of both students and teachers. Two of Tech & Learning’s SchoolCIO Summits tackled that topic this year. In June, approximately 60 senior executives from districts around the country met to define the issue of digital citizenry—how to instill good behaviors amongst students, faculty, and the greater community. This month, another group will convene in Baltimore to discuss an even greater conundrum—digital equity. How do schools provide access to both devices and high speed Internet to every student, no matter how rich or poor? And how do they deliver a curriculum that enables students to learn both on campus and at home?

Be sure to check online at techlearning.com, where we will be posting the results of these workgroups, along with links to related webinars. We also encourage you to participate in the chatter in our discussion groups, Twitter feed, Facebook page, and our newest presence on the EdWeb community (www.edweb.net/techlearning). Our mission is to share your best practices and we need your input!
— Kevin Hogan
Content Director
khogan@nbmedia.com