SETDA Says

Latest Posts

  • Carrie Rogers-Whitehead

    What are educators saying right now about digital teaching and learning?

    SETDASays:  Guest blog post written by Carrie Rogers-Whitehead. Carrie Rogers-Whitehead is the founder of Digital Respons-Ability, a mission-based company dedicated to educating and empowering students, parents, and teachers to be digital citizens. You can join Carrie and others in the digital citizenship conversation through their free monthly webinars. Carrie is the author of numerous books, […]

    Category: Digital Learning

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  • Meet the SETDA 2022 State Achievement Award Recipients

    The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) created the State Achievement Award (SSA) to recognize outstanding initiatives from SETDA State and Affiliate members and their teams that address meaningful challenges in teaching and learning. The 2022 SSA awards, which were presented during the SETDA Emerging Trends Forum on June 15, 2022, celebrate the impact of […]

  • Adult Male on couch with laptop. Female on floor with laptop

    Understanding Equitable Access Data

    Guest Blog post by Jeremiah Okal-Frink, PhD,  Senior Education Strategist – Dell Technologies We have all witnessed the pressure that had been building within our education system to transform the way we prepare students for a drastically different future erupt over the past few years. What was once merely digital opportunities for students have shifted to digital […]

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  • Equity of Access

    OET Roundtable Blog Convened by SETDA, CoSN, & Digital Promise By Julia Fallon, Executive Director, SETDA Equity of Access As the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us, reliable, robust broadband access both at school and away from campus is required to equitably engage all learners no matter where they live and learn. As it has become […]

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  • Meet the SETDA 2021 State Achievement Award Recipients

    The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) created the State Achievement Award (SSA) to recognize outstanding initiatives from SETDA State and Affiliate members and their teams that address meaningful challenges in teaching and learning. The 2021 SSA awards, which were presented during the SETDA Emerging Trends Forum on June 15, 2021, celebrate the impact of […]

  • SETDA Blog

    5 Most Important SEL Skills for Digital Citizenship

    Guest Blog post by Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, CEO and Founder of Digital Respons-Ability,  a research-based provider of digital citizenship education. Digital Respons-Ability provides digital citizenship and parenting classes to schools and organizations. Carrie is the author of Becoming a Digital Parent: A Practical Guide to Help Families Navigate Technology and the soon to be published title The […]

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  • SETDA Blog

    Mitigating Learning Loss: It’s about Time

    This guest blog post was written by SETDA partner, Shannon Buerk, CEO, engage2learn, and focuses on the immediate and long-term high-value activities to address learning loss.  We can turn the current challenges into an opportunity to accelerate learning using a proven 3-step process for closing achievement gaps and supporting educators with the right systems. Every […]

  • SETDA Logo

    Joint SETDA and CoSN statement on FCC Rural Telecommunications Offer

    SETDA and CoSN commend the FCC for acting this week to help rural telecommunications providers offer affordable broadband to qualified students. The agency’s decision to revise tariffs for rural providers is a helpful action at this historic moment when far too many rural students lack access to online learning. More steps must be taken, however, […]

  • SETDA and CoSN commend the FCC’s Emergency E-rate Filing Window

    SETDA and CoSN commend the Wireline Bureau for opening an emergency E-rate filing window to help schools address their higher than expected on campus bandwidth demands. The Bureau’s decision will help schools support their students during a very challenging period and we appreciate the agency’s swift recognition of this on campus digital learning need.   […]

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  • SETDA Blog

    Class of 2020: Action Plan for Education ~ 13 Years Flew By 

    It is difficult to believe that it has been 13 years since SETDA’s 2008 journey in developing and publishing the Class of 2020: Action Plan for Education. This project included a Student Bill of Rights and a series of white papers (below). At that time, the critical topics that bubbled to the top were broadband access, […]

  • SETDA Blog

    How Data Analytics Can Help Your District Transition to a Digital Learning Environment

    This guest blog post was written by SETDA partner, Monica Cougan, Product Marketing Manager, ENA Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic looks like it will continue disrupting education this fall. Schools nationwide must therefore prepare by developing remote and blended learning strategies that meet the diverse needs of the communities they serve. But here’s the good news: schools […]

  • SETDA Blog

    Modernization through Innovation: Increasing Capability through Systems, Processes, and People

    This guest blog post was written by SETDA partner, Patrick Cook, Account Executive, UPD Consulting. Why do we do what we do? Is it the best way to achieve our desired outcomes? How do we know? Innovation drives improvement. It begins with good fundamentals that are affirmed through a process of discovery and intentional design. UPD is […]

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  • State Education Agency Considerations for Digital Learning: CARES Act & Beyond

    In support of state leadership, SETDA recently published the State Education Agency Considerations for CARES Act Funding as Related to Digital Learning. As state education agencies (SEAs) plan for the 2020-21 school year and work to ensure that high quality learning opportunities are available to all students, each has the opportunity to demonstrate leadership. To support equitable opportunities […]

  • Building Resilient Schools for Next School Year

    This guest blog post was written by SETDA partner, Brendan Desetti, Director of Government & Stakeholder Relations for D2L. As the school year comes to an end in many places around the country, the uncertainty of COVID-19 looms in the future. What is certain, is that while we once hoped for summer respite, the needs […]

  • Framing the Evidence: Democratizing Ed Tech

    This guest blog post was written by Doug Casey, Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology Introduction Imagine a breakthrough therapy that promised to improve the condition of millions of children across the country. Access to the treatment would come through scientific, research-based trials in partnership with flagship research institutes. This may sound promising, but what if […]

  • New York’s Mineola Middle School Celebrates Student Voices

    This guest blog post was written by Mineola Middle School students Luke Martinez, Emma Powers, Joseph Parrino, Catherine Dinh, & Jordan Chaver. Mineola Middle School was awarded the chance of a lifetime when we got to present at this year’s SETDA Leadership Summit in Washington D.C., where we were honored to receive the 2019 SETDA Student Voice […]

  • SETDA Blog

    SETDA’s 2019 Top Picks: 11 Resources for Educators, Administrators & Policy Makers

    2019 was an action packed year for SETDA. Always working to engage state leaders, affiliates members, private sector partners, and partner organizations-SETDA developed tools and resources to support national, state, district and school leaders in the implementation of the digital teaching and learning. Collaborating with experts across the nation, SETDA’s new and updated resources are […]

  • Take Flight to Accessibility with the AEM Pilot

    This is a guest post written by Cynthia Curry, Director of the AEM Center at CAST. SETDA continues an on-going partnership with CAST to support access to instructional materials and tools for all learners.  The National AEM Center at CAST has enjoyed collaborating with SETDA on improving access digital materials and technologies for learners with […]

  • The Value of Efficacy Research from Multiple Perspectives

    This is a guest post written by Dr. Kari Stubbs, Vice President, Learning and Innovation at BrainPOP.  BrainPOP is a SETDA annual Gold Partner.  BrainPOP was honored to partner with SETDA last month for a membership webinar on the value of efficacy research from multiple perspectives. Joining us for the conversation was Missy Greene (SETDA), DeLilah […]

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  • Check-Out SETDA’s New Dashboard of State Reviewed K12 Instructional Materials

    In July, SETDA released the K12 Instructional Materials Dashboard. The dashboard currently represents the review process of thirteen states and includes the participating state reviewed, full course, secondary level instructional materials for English/Language Arts and math. Resources can be sorted by state, content area, subject area, grade level, format, publisher, adoption date and copyright date. […]

  • US Capitol Building

    SETDA Strongly Opposes Chairman Pai’s EBS Report and Order

    SETDA strongly opposes Chairman Pai’s draft Educational Broadband Service Report & Order, which proposes to further marginalize rural students that lack access to high capacity broadband. SETDA Executive Director, Candice Dodson said, “the Chairman’s proposal cites dated uses of EBS licenses and the FCC’s two-decade failure to grant new licenses as the basis for handing […]

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  • Student Voices Award

    Student Voices Finalists 2019

    Often when coordinating a focus group or presenting a new SETDA resources via a webinar, I mention the Why. Why do we spend the time to research and report on policies and practices? Why do leaders gather to collaborate on topics of interest? The Why always relays back to the students.  State department of education […]

  • US Capitol Building

    SETDA Opposes FCC’s Universal Service Funds CAP

    SETDA opposes the FCC’s proposal to sweep the E-rate and other Universal Service Fund programs under a single budgetary cap and “prioritize” them. The USF is a vital tool for state leaders working to connect students to high capacity broadband at school and at home and this proposal threatens the system’s success. SETDA’s Executive Director, […]

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  • SETDA Leaders Identify State Digital Learning Priorities

    In preparation for the SETDA 2018 Leadership Summit, we asked attendees to identify their state’s top priorities when it comes to digital teaching and learning. There were over 30 priorities identified as a focus across the country with six priorities garnering the most energy from state leaders. In priority order, states called out: Personalized Learning, […]

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  • SETDA Urges Public Comments to Support Closing the Homework Gap via EBS

    SETDA encourages state agencies, school districts, and other education stakeholders to provide public comments for the FCC, Notice of Proposed Rule Making: Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band by the deadline Wednesday (August 8) or to reply to comments posted by September 7. Specifically, education leaders can express support for maintaining EBS’s educational nature, especially as a wireless broadband […]

  • Badge for Student Voices Award

    Student Voices Finalists 2018

    Each year, I am more impressed with the quality of nominations brought forward for the SETDA Student Voices Award. Congratulations to all of the 2018 nominees! The Student Voices award honors an outstanding K-12 school or district that has leveraged technology to dramatically improve the educational experiences and achievement of their students. Winners receive the Elsie Brumback Scholarship, which […]

  • SETDA Logo

    Senate Votes to Overturn FCC Net Neutrality Decision

    The Senate voted (52-47) today to reject the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to eliminate the agency’s Net Neutrality protections. All Senate Democrats and three Republicans – Senator Collins (ME), Sen. Murkowski (AK), and Sen. Kennedy (LA) – supported S.J.Res.52, which was introduced by Sen. Markey (MA) earlier this year. SETDA thanks these senators for voting […]

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  • Operation Bee Snapshot

    Student Voices Heard in Washington DC – Operation Bee “Abuzz”

    It is time for the 2018 SETDA’s Student Voice Award Nominations. SETDA Members have the opportunity to nominate a school or district for the change to win a trip to Washington, DC and participate in SETDA’s annual Leadership Summit. If you know of a fantastic school or district that is well deserving of this award for […]

  • SETDA Blog

    SETDA Applauds Senate Leadership for Net Neutrality

    SETDA applauds Senator Markey for introducing S.J.Res.52 to restore the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet Regulations (OIR). State Educational Technology Leaders greatly appreciate his desire to restore the OIR and ensure Net Neutrality for the nation’s schools and other broadband users. SETDA’s members share an unwavering commitment to expanding broadband access to unserved and under-served […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • SETDA Blog

    SETDA Urges Congress to Continue to Invest in ESSA

    SETDA sent the following letter today to Senator Blunt, Senator Murray, Representative Cole and Representative DeLauro urging Congress to continue investing in ESSA, Title II and IV: The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) represents state education agency technology leaders from across the United States. SETDA helps state leaders promote equity by sharing evidence-based ideas and […]

    Category: Legislation

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  • SETDA’s Annual Partnerships Include Value for All – Including Startups

    SETDA exists to lead, inspire, and empower the education community to leverage technology for learning.  Our association serves as a forum for inter-state collaboration and cooperation, the furthering of public-private partnerships in support of public education goals, state-federal relations and advocacy, and professional learning for education leaders across the nation. The SETDA strategic plan is a […]

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  • SETDA Applauds Congress’s Decision to Increase ESSA-TITLE IV Funding

    State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) Executive Director Tracy Weeks today issued the following statement praising Congress for increasing funding for ESSA-Title IV, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant (SSAEG) program, in the fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill: “SETDA applauds Congress’s recognition that SSAEG funding needs to increase to help States and districts serve their […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • SETDA Logo

    SETDA Advocates for Funding Flexibility for States

    President Trump released his proposed FY19 Budget yesterday.  Sadly, this proposal eliminates several important Federal education programs. Of particular interest to state digital learning leaders is the elimination of Title II funds which are used for Professional Learning as well as the elimination of the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Grants, also known as […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • SETDA Blog

    SETDA Highlights from 2017

    2017 was a great year for state leadership for educational technology. SETDA engaged members, affiliates, private sector partners, and partner organizations around federal and state advocacy efforts and provided national leadership for broadband, digital instructional materials, and data interoperability. Below are highlights from the work of 2017. Advocacy With a new federal administration in 2017, […]

  • SETDA Urges FCC to Protect School Broadband Access

    On December 14, the Federal Communications Commission will vote, on a Declaratory Report and Order, and a second Order that together will eliminate the agency’s Net Neutrality regulations. The targeted regulations place limitations on internet service providers, including prohibiting them from blocking or degrading internet traffic, or selling ‘fast lanes’ that prioritize particular internet services […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Senate Education Funding Misses the Mark for Digital Learning

    SETDA Executive Director Dr. Tracy Weeks issued the following statement regarding the Senate Appropriations Committee’s approval of the fiscal year 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies spending bill: “SETDA welcomes the Senate Appropriations Committee’s decision to increase funding for the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant program, but we remain frustrated […]

    Category: Legislation

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  • Ed Tech and Accessibility Partnerships Image

    We Have An Ed Tech-Accessibility Partnership. So Can You!

    Guest Post from Cynthia Curry, Co-Director of the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials for Learning (AEM Center) What do you get when you combine a state educational technology director with a state accessibility expert? A partnership that results in students having digital materials and technologies that are usable for learning across the widest range of learner […]

  • SETDA Logo

    SETDA Applauds the Appointment of Rosenworcel to FCC

    Last night, the U.S. Senate confirmed theFederal Communications Commission (“FCC”) nominations of Jessica Rosenworcel (D) and Brendan Carr (R)  to serve as FCC Commissioners.  This brings the FCC to its full complement of 5 Commissioners. The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) endorsed President Trump’s nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel to serve on the FCC.  As the FCC […]

    Category: E-Rate FCC Lifeline

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  • SETDA Advocates for Equal Access to Digital Content

    Today, online communities are alight with a Day of Advocacy in support of keeping the current Net Neutrality rules in place. These rules were passed in 2015 and reclassified the Internet as a telecommunication service. This allows the FCC to regulate broadband access under the 1934 Communications Act, which covers all public utilities including telephones. […]

  • SETDA Response to President’s FY18 Budget

    President Trump released his proposed FY18 Budget.  Sadly, this proposal eliminates several important Federal education programs. Of particular interest to state digital learning leaders is the elimination of the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Grants, also known as Title IVa of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The SSAE Grant program focuses on Whole […]

    Category: Statement

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  • Student Voices Reflections – Northfield Community Middle School

    During the 016 SETDA Leadership Summit, we had the priveldge of presenting during the Student Voices Luncheon. We were so thankful to have such a wonderful experience being the three young ambassadors from New Jersey Northfield Community Middle School going to Washington D.C, It was an incredible and a life changing experience!  The opportunity allowed us to […]

  • Digital Learning Enables Choice Within all Schools

    This week President Trump called on Congress to pass a bill that increases school choice. This position by the President is no surprise as he appointed Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos who has devoted her philanthropic efforts towards school choice, especially in the Detroit area and since her appointment has included advocacy for school choice […]

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  • DeVos Confirmed as Secretary of Education

    On February 7, 2017, Betsy DeVos was confirmed as the next US Secretary of Education. The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) looks forward to continued collaboration with the US Department of Education (ED), especially ED’s Office of Education Technology in order to support digital learning leaders to help ensure quality educational opportunities for all […]

    Category: ED

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  • SETDA Disappointed in FCC Lifeline Revocations and Modernization Report Retraction

    The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the principal membership association representing U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders released the following statement of disappointment regarding the February 3rd actions by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to rescind the E-rate Modernization Progress Report and revoke Lifeline provider designations. SETDA has a track record for supporting the infrastructure […]

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  • The Year Ahead with SETDA

    As the first month in 2017 comes to a close, the SETDA staff and Board of Directors looks forward to the exciting work ahead of us for the year. Below are several areas of focus and updates on SETDA initiatives for 2017. Federal Transition With a new administration comes the opportunity to build new relationships. […]

  • Digital Learning: A Retrospective of SETDA’s Best Resources in 2016

    Through the continued leadership of the Board of Directors and the dedication of our members and staff, during 2016 SETDA celebrated 15 years of leadership, hired a new permanant Executive Director ~ Dr. Tracy Weeks, published a new strategic plan,  developed resources to advance learning in the digital age and provided opportunities for state leaders […]

  • In the Thanksgiving: SETDA’s 15 Years

    Since 2001, SETDA has served and supported educational technology leaders across the country from Alaska to Maine, Florida to Hawaii and as far away as Guam and American Samoa. Our state members, corporate partners, affiliates and alliance partners have rallied to support the implementation of digital learning opportunities in K-12 education from basic infrastructure to […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Opportunity: Teacher Prep Challenge in Support of Digital Learning

    SETDA is excited to share the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) latest initiative, the Teacher Preparation Challenge. This program encourages teacher preparation programs to commit to the four key principles identified in the 2016 National Educational Technology Plan for the use of educational technology in teacher preparation: Focus on the active use of technology to […]

  • #GoOpen Pushes State Leadership for Instructional Materials

    In October 2015, the U.S. Department of Education’s, Office of Education Technology (OET) launched the #GoOpen Initiative via a White House briefing. Since that time, 18 states and 91 districts have signed on to #GoOpen. What does this mean? #GoOpen states and districts commit to supporting the transition to the use of high-quality, openly-licensed educational resources. […]

  • SETDA Remarks on Non-Regulatory Guidance for SSAEG

    The U.S. Department of Education today released Non-Regulatory Guidance for the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Grants.  SETDA was invited to deliver remarks on the Effective Use of Technology during a press call with Secretary John King regarding the guidance document. Below are the comments shared by Executive Director, Tracy Weeks, on behalf of SETDA. We […]

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  • SETDA Applauds the Innovation for Tomorrow’s Workforce Act

    Last week, Senator Hatch (UT) and Senator Bennet (UT) introduced the Innovation for Tomorrow’s Workforce Act of 2016 which would amend current law to create a grant program to improve Career and Technical Education (CTE) through innovative activities. Further, this bill allows for the use of open educational resources (OER) with CTE funds. SETDA applauds […]

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  • Indiana Digital Citizenship

    Guest Post from Michelle Green, eLearning Development Specialist for the Office of eLearning at the Indiana Department of Education As districts across Indiana prepare to open for the new school year, the Indiana Department of Education, Office of eLearning is promoting a focus on digital citizenship. In fact, hundreds of educators took part in a summer […]

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  • Choice

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature: Charlie Fitzpatrick, Schools Program Manager, ESRI. Dawn of a new school year brings to most a mix of hope and dread. Opportunity, challenge, delight, and work will appear and attempt to consume more than the mathematically possible time, energy, and attention. Such is […]

    Category: Digital Learning

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  • SETDA is Encouraged by the House Committee Title IVa Appropriation

    The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the principal membership association representing U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders released the following statement applauding the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee’s decision to appropriate $1 billion in funding for the  Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program (SSAEG – Title IV-A) for fiscal […]

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  • Indiana Releases New Technology Plan

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of state leaders. Dr. Jason Bailey is the Senior eLearning Strategist for the  Indiana Department of Education.   Jason is instrumental in the innovative work coming out of the IDOE Office of eLearning and is Chairperson of SETDA’s Professional […]

    Category: Digital Learning

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  • 2016 Finalists Announced: SETDA Student Voices Award

    Since 2008, SETDA has honored an outstanding K-12 school or district that has leveraged technology to dramatically improve the educational experiences and achievement of their students with the Student Voices Award. This tradition started based on SETDA members’ requests to hear details about digital learning in action directly from students and has continued to grow […]

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  • SETDA Expresses Concern Over SSAEG-Title IV-A Funding Level

    The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the principal membership association representing U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders released the following statement expressing serious concern about the Senate Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee’s decision to limit funding for the  Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program (SSAEG – Title IV-A) to just […]

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  • OER Ambassadors Visit Vermont

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of state leaders. Peter Drescher is the Education Technology Coordinator for the Vermont Agency of Education and he is leading Vermont’s #GoOpen initiative and a SETDA Board Member. Last week, Vermont jumped in with both feet on the Open Education […]

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  • State Leaders Impacting Students’ Lives – Teacher Appreciation Week

    SETDA serves and supports state leaders from across the nation as well as territories from as far away as American Samoa, the Common Wealth of the Mariana Islands and Guam. Our members, state leaders, in turn support districts and schools in their state that in-turn support teachers and students directly. SETDA might appear to be the 5 […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Alabama Partners with NASA and ASTA to Support New Online Science Resources

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of state leaders. Richard O. Murphy, Ed.D. is the State Administrator of Alabama’s ALEX Web Portal for the Alabama Department of Education. The Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX), a project of the Alabama Department of Education, is designed to index and share many […]

  • State Leaders Advocate for Connectivity at School and at Home

    During last week’s Washington Policy Summit, co-hosted by SETDA and CoSN, educators visited policymakers focused on advocating for equity in education as related to the digital divide. States and districts encouraged continued Congressional support of the FCC’s E-Rate and Lifeline initiatives so that students have seamless access to digital instructional materials both in and outside […]

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  • Hand touching text on ipad

    SETDA Applauds ConnectALL

    On March 9, 2016, President Obama unveiled the ConnectALL Initiative,  which aims to ensure that all Americans, including low-income families, have broadband access to the Internet. ConnectALL is the next step towards digital equity and follows the President’s ConnectED and ConnectHOME initiatives. All three connectivity projects are critical towards allowing all students, regardless of income level, to […]

  • Massachusetts Rethinks Ed Tech by Reinventing State-Local Partnerships

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of state leaders. Kenneth Klau is the Director of the Office of Digital Learning for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Digital Connections Partnership Schools Grant Video Started in 2014, the Digital Connections Partnership Schools (DCPS) grant program […]

  • ESSA: State Leaders Take Action in Support of Digital Learning

    The passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in December coupled with the release of the 2016 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) strives to push America’s education system forward in order to better prepare our students for college and careers in the digital age. Spread throughout ESSA is the prominent importance of technology and digital literacy as […]

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  • Wow, What a Year! Top SETDA Resources 2015

    As the year winds down, we reflect on our accomplishments from 2015. Needless to say, SETDA had a busy year! Through the continued leadership of the Board of Directors and the dedication of our members and staff, we’ve developed new reports, tools and publications to advance learning in the digital age. SETDA listened to the […]

  • Open Invitation: Oregon Educator Network (OEN)

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of state leaders. Dr. Sarah Haavind is the Curator for the Oregon Educator Network where she leads the design and implementation of an online professional learning portal. Founded by the Oregon State Legislature’s HB3233 in the 2011 –  2013 biennium, the […]

  • Shifting to digital – what is the story ?

    Since SETDA’s seminal 2012 resource, Out of Print: Reimagining the K-12 Textbook in the Digital Age, traditionalists take comfort in the fact that in spite of proliferation of digital content and open educational resources, plus national and state groups supporting digital learning, these digital tools are still very, very slowly making their way into the classroom. […]

  • OER Implementation Sparks National Interest

    Open Educational Resources (OER) support has gained national attention recently, including U.S. Department of Education’s Secretary Duncan’s trip yesterday to Williamsfield Community Unified School District in Illinois to share progress on their shift to digital and open educational resources (OER). The district is implementing OER content from EngageNY and purchased devices for students with the savings from instructional materials. In addition, Secretary […]

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  • ConnectED – Back to School Update

      ConnectED’s focus of fostering a robust ecosystem for digital learning and empowering teachers and their students with enhanced personalized learning experiences is a goal long championed by SETDA. Launched in June 2013, President Obama unveiled the ConnectED initiative to “enrich K-12 education for every student in America.” Then in February 2014, the President announced more than $750 […]

  • The Value of Public-Private Sector Partnerships

    The mission of SETDA is to build and increase the capacity of state and national leaders to improve education through technology policy and practice. Our vision is to lead, inspire, and empower the education community to leverage technology for learning. For over 12 years, SETDA has leveraged the opportunity for state leaders to connect with […]

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  • Lessons Learned Preparing New Mexico for Success Online

     Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of SETDA members. Ferdi  Serim is the Educational  Technology Coordinator for the New Mexico Public Education Department. With 92% of its students taking the PARCC assessment online, New Mexico celebrates success that surprised many skeptics. Fears about inadequate infrastructure, […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • State Examplars: How are states demonstrating leadership in digital learning ?

    SETDA and the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NC State University College of Education recently co-released the national report, State Digital Learning Exemplars: Highlights from states leading change through policies and funding. Both organizations are eager to share examples of states, districts and schools that are making investments in devices, bandwidth, networking, training and […]

  • New York takes Digital Learning Mobile

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of SETDA members. Today’s post comes from Stan Silverman, Director of Technology Based Learning Systems, New York Institute of Technology. Recently, the New York Institute of Technology, working with the New York State Teacher Centers, developed the STEAMed initiative. […]

  • Roadmap Supports building Digital Learning Environments

       Cable Impacts, the Partnership for 21st Century Learning and SETDA collaborated to develop the Building Your Roadmap to 21st Century Learning Environments, www.roadmap21.org. The Roadmap is a resource created specifically for school leaders, designed to them help craft a holistic strategy to create 21st century learning environments – classrooms where, in addition to traditional […]

  • Looking for the Best Sources of Content for Ed Tech ?

    Ed Tech Update has the answer… SETDA is excited to share Ed Tech Update. This site and newsletter brings together the largest set of industry thought leaders writing about educational technology to support ed tech professionals. Keeping up with experts publishing content all over the web is a challenge; it’s nearly impossible to keep track of all […]

  • 3D Vermont – Collaboration in Action

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of SETDA members. Today’s post comes from Peter Drescher, Education Technology Coordinator, Vermont Agency of Education and current Chair of SETDA’s Board of Directors. Vermont  recently hosted the The Architectural Olympiad as part of the 3D Vermont. This competition was a […]

  • New Educational Technology Program (ITECH) Included in Reauthorization Bill

      On April 16, the Senate HELP Committee, unanimously passed the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 (ECAA) bill, in an effort to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) – the next step in reauthorization. Included in this bill is the Innovative Technology Expands Technology Expands Children’s Horizons (ITECH), a new educational technology state […]

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  • SETDA in the News: February Round Up

    February may have buried many in the Northeastern part of the United States in snow, but here in Washington, DC, there was lots of action with potential new legislation that will support technology in our schools across the nation. Below are a few highlights of  what’s happened (and is continuing to happen) in and around […]

  • Alabama lmplements Project-Based, Digital-Supported Learning

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of SETDA members. Today’s post comes from Dr. Shannon Parks, State Administrator for the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX), the state’s instructional education web portal.  The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), Office of Educational Technology recently initiated a […]

  • SETDA in the News: January 2015 Round Up

    January 2015 brought lots of renewed energy and excitement to  SETDA.  At the beginning of the month, the Board of Director’s announced a new interim executive director Lan Neugent. Lan recently retired as the Assistant Superintendent for Technology, Career and Adult Education at the Virginia Department of Education. Under his direction, Technology, Career and Adult […]

  • Net Neutrality Update

    FCC Chairman Wheeler yesterday proposed new rules for net neutrality that, if approved, will reclassify the Internet as a telecommunication service. This will allow the FCC to regulate under the 1934 Communications Act which covers all public utilities including telephones. The change will give the FCC regulatory authority over both wired and wireless services  Passage will likely ensure […]

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  • Revised EETT included in Obama Administration Budget Request

    On February 2, the Obama Administration’s 2016 education budget request included $200M for a revised version of the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grant program. As many of you know, the EETT program launched in 2001 with $675M, funding was reduced in increments over multiple years and was last funded in 2010 for $100M. Although […]

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  • Need Digital Learning Resources? Leverage SETDA’s Guide to Implementing Digital Learning

    Successful digital learning implementation can meet a broad range of goals, including supporting the academic needs of students to ensure that they are college and career ready. As districts strive to implement or upgrade students’ digital learning experiences, a variety of factors impact implementation including planning, professional learning, software and digital content, infrastructure, devices, pedagogy […]

  • SETDA in the News: November/December 2014

    Below is a snapshot of some of the news stories referencing SETDA news and views during the last two months of 2014. Topics included everything from E-rate modernization to interoperability and privacy to the beginnings of the conversation about the educational technology legacy for the Obama Administration. During the month of December, SETDA also launched […]

  • State Instructional Materials Leadership and the K-12 OER Collaborative

    As states have become more aware of the advantages of open educational resources (OER), they have taken a variety of steps to raise awareness among school districts and to speed their adoption via high-profile initiatives and projects. Whether it is Utah creating science OER, or Washington leading statewide efforts to discover and vet OER, or […]

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  • SETDA in the News: October 2014 Round Up

    October was a particularly busy month for SETDA as we hosted our annual Leadership Summit and Education Forum from the 26th-29th in the Washington, DC area. Our annual Leadership Summit is a unique event designed by and for state and national education leaders, focused on the full range of policies and practices necessary to advance […]

  • SETDA Applauds FCC Chairman Wheeler’s Commitment to Addressing School Broadband Needs

    FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has announced his intent today to take another bold step forward in modernizing the E-rate program. The first step was taken by the FCC in July 2014 after a year of deliberations. In endorsing the SETDA school broadband recommendations, the FCC voted in July 2014 to establish clear goals for the […]

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  • Hawaii Supporting Educators through Online Professional Learning Networks

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of leaders in the field. Today’s post is a following up to the September 3 post Hawaii’s Access Learning 1:1 Pilot – Year One Successes providing an overview of Hawaii’s access program first year of implementation. The post was […]

  • SETDA in the News: September 2014 Round Up

    September is always a busy month filled with the excitement of a new school year for students, teachers and parents alike. As another school years kicks off, this is a great opportunity to reflect the newness that surrounds us. This September was particularly exciting because many schools had (and still have) the opportunity to increase […]

  • ConnectED Back-to-School Webinar Recap

    On September 11, 2014, SETDA hosted a ConnectED Back-to-School Webinar as a follow up to SETDA’s ConnectED Private Sector Showcase in June. During the webinar, Richard Culatta, Director, Office of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education provided an introduction to the ConnectED program and the companies that have committed $2 billion in educational technology resources […]

  • Hawaii’s Access Learning 1:1 Pilot – Year One Successes

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of SETDA members. Today’s post comes from Stephanie Shipton, currently serving as an Institutional Analyst in the Office of Strategic Reform at the Hawaii Department of Education. Across the country, schools are starting to implement 1:1 initiatives. In […]

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  • Idaho Technology Pilot Project

    Another in an occasional series of guest posts, we are pleased to feature the work and voices of SETDA members. Today’s post comes from Alex MacDonald currently serving educators across Idaho as the Director of Instructional Technology at the Idaho State Department of Education. Over the past two years, the Idaho Legislature  has appropriated $6 […]

  • SETDA in the News: July 2014 Round Up

    The headline stories for the month of July 2014 predominantly center on e-Rate modernization – and appropriately so. On July 11, 2014 after the FCC Commissioners voted to take the first step to modernizing the e-Rate, Doug Levin, SETDA’s Executive Director issued the following statement: “With today’s vote, the FCC has taken a critical step […]

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  • Assessing Claims of ConnectED Progress in ‘Year of Action’

    In his 2014 State of the Union, President Obama said that 2014 would be a “year of action” to ensure opportunity for all Americans. On July 10, the White House released an update on progress toward that pledge, including on the Administration’s ConnectED initiative. Here’s the relevant page from the report published by the White […]

    Category: ConnectED

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  • SETDA Comment on FCC Vote on E-Rate Modernization

    The following statement can be attributed to State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) executive director Douglas Levin on today’s vote by the FCC on E-rate modernization: “With today’s vote, the FCC has taken a critical step to guaranteeing the 18 year-old E-rate program can continue to fulfill its critical role of ensuring equity of access […]

    Category: E-Rate FCC

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  • Voices in Support of E-Rate Modernization

    Friday is a big day that will shape digital learning opportunities in schools and classrooms for years to come. The FCC will consider a Report and Order (R&O) that would advance E-rate modernization by expanding support for Wi-Fi connectivity in schools and libraries. If the R&O is adopted by a majority vote in something similar […]

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  • SETDA in the News: June 2014 Roundup

    The headline stories of the month of June 2014 center around President Obama’s ConnectED initiative, which is appropriate as the initiative is marking its one year anniversary. Forward momentum continues for E-rate modernization with our encouragement –  and SETDA stepped forward to highlight the first-ever showcase of the $2 billion in donated school technology products […]

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  • SETDA Applauds Momentum at FCC in Advancing E-Rate Modernization

    The following statement can be attributed to State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) executive director Douglas Levin on the announcement today that the FCC will be taking up an e-Rate Modernization order at its July 11 meeting: “In June 2013, President Obama called for connecting 99 percent of America’s students – at speeds of no […]

    Category: ConnectED E-Rate FCC

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  • RSVP by June 26 to Attend SETDA’s ConnectED Private Sector Showcase

    On Saturday, June 28th, 2014 from 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm ET in International Salon 1-3 at the Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, Georgia, SETDA will be joined by representatives from the U.S. Department of Education and the companies that have committed $2 billion in educational technology resources under President Obama’s ConnectED Initiative to share information about […]

    Category: ConnectED

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  • Report of the Task Force on Learning and the Internet

    Today, the non-partisan Aspen Institute Task Force on Learning and the Internet is issuing its report, Learner at the Center of a Networked World, based on a year’s worth of deliberations, research, and outreach (a live webcast of the event can be viewed at 3:30pm ET today at: http://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/live). The 100+ page report offers a wealth […]

  • SETDA Joins Coalition of 100+ Organizations Calling on FCC to Expand High-Speed Internet Access in Schools

    Last week, in advance of a key vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set for early July, SETDA joined a coalition of more than 100 organizations – including the Alliance for Excellent Education, CCSSO, Digital Learning Now!, Digital Promise, iNACOL, the LEAD Commission, NASBE, and USDLA – to call on the FCC to expand […]

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  • What Educators Need to Know About ConnectED School Technology Donations

    Four months ago, President Obama unveiled the first in over $2 billion in commitments from leading technology companies to support the aims of the ConnectED initiative and advance student learning through technology. To highlight these commitments, the White House recently unveiled the ConnectED Hub to provide further details on these commitments. In this blog post, […]

    Category: ConnectED

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  • SETDA in the News: May 2014 Roundup

    The headline story of the month of May was technology readiness for online testing, no doubt heightened by the media’s coverage of the ongoing field tests being conducted in schools across the country by PARCC and Smarter Balanced. The new SETDA resource, The Guide to Technology Requirements, was featured in a number of these stories, […]

    Category: In the News

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  • SETDA in the News: April 2014 Roundup

    April showers may bring May flowers – but apparently not for inBloom. Issues related to the controversy surrounding and ultimate winding down of the nonprofit were the basis for a large number of stories in April 2014 that cited SETDA research and views about K-12 educational technology policy and practice. Other big stories of the […]

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  • NAEP: Students Who Use Computers More Frequently Score Higher (Part 2)

    In 2011, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) administered the first large-scale computer-based assessment in writing. In a previous post, we shared that students who had greater access to technology in and out of school and had teachers that required its use for school assignments, used technology in more powerful ways to write and […]

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  • Student Privacy Best Practices for Use of Online Educational Services

    The US Department of Education’s Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) was established to serve as a “one-stop” resource for education stakeholders to learn about data privacy, confidentiality, and security practices related to student-level longitudinal data systems and other uses of student data. Earlier this month, the PTAC released an important document, Protecting Student Privacy While […]

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  • On inBloom

    SETDA profiled the emerging work of inBloom in our May 2013 report, Transforming Data to Information, along with over a dozen other interoperability and data standards efforts related to meeting the information needs of K-12 educators, school leaders and policymakers who – while awash in data – too often still lack the ability to easily […]

    Category: Statement

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  • NAEP: Students Who Use Computers More Frequently Score Higher (Part 1)

    In 2011, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) administered the first large-scale computer-based assessment in writing. The assessment tasks reflected writing situations common to both academic and workplace settings and asked students to write for several purposes and communicate to different audiences. National results for representative samples of students at grades 8 and 12 […]

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  • SETDA on E-Rate Modernization

    It is a simple fact that in 2014 access to high-speed broadband is now as vital a component of K-12 school infrastructure as electricity, plumbing, air conditioning and heating. The same tools that have transformed and enriched our personal, civic and professional lives are dramatically improving learning experiences intended to prepare today’s students for college […]

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  • Technology Infrastructure in More than 20% of U.S. Public Schools Rated Inadequate

    A study released in March 2014 by the National Center for Education Statistics, Condition of America’s Public School Facilities: 2012-13, reveals that the technology infrastructure in more than 20 percent of U.S. public schools was rated as inadequate as of the 2012-13 school year. Technology infrastructure in the study was defined as “facility access to voice, […]

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  • SETDA Reimagined

    Dear SETDA Friends and Family, You may recall 2007 as the year that the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis broke and led to a recession of global proportions, that the seventh and final Harry Potter novel was released, that Barry Bonds broke the career home run record, or that a song written and performed by Tay […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • What Can States And Districts Do To Prepare For The Transition To Online Assessment?

    In the 2014-15 school year, the vast majority of states will use new online student assessments from PARCC and Smarter Balanced that will be based on the deeper and more rigorous Common Core State Standards.  Implementing these new assessments successfully requires a substantial infrastructure and a human capacity effort involving careful planning and ample communication. […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Premium Content: Vander Ark Revisited

    SETDA’s report, “Out of Print: Reimagining the K-12 Textbook in a Digital Age,” put a solid stake in the ground for moving from print to digital.  The report offered a rationale for the shift, four case studies of states that are well down the path toward making the shift, as well as thumbnail sketches of […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • The OER Spirit in the Cathedral and the Bazaar

    My work with digital content in general and OER in particular is often at the policy level. I am not as fortunate as colleagues in the field such as Karen Fasimpaur who get to work with teachers, often directly in the classroom. Nonetheless, I do talk with teachers from time to time and they have […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Pubs – Don’t Forget OER!

    We in the ed tech world are fortunate to have a wide range of coverage of our segment of the industry, from traditional trade publications like T.H.E. Journal, eSchool News and Tech and Learning, to a variety of blogs as well as entities like EdSurge that have a focus on the business and especially start-up […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Two Superintendents Who Get It

    A news story out of central Florida caught my eye recently with the headline: “Schools Moving Toward Digital Textbooks.” Many of these stories in local papers talk about a district’s purchase of devices and “how excited and engaged students are in their learning.” As a former editor, I always asked my writers to NOT give […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Policymakers, K-12 School Leaders Must Address Technology Needs For College And Career Ready Teaching, Learning And Assessment

    On December 4, 2012, the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) released guidance for policymakers and K-12 school leaders on school technology readiness needs for college and career ready teaching, learning and assessment. As schools and districts across the country continue to move forward in implementing the Common Core State Standards, two multi-state consortia – […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Out of Print: Reimagining the K-12 Textbook in a Digital Age

    Today the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) released Out of Print: Reimagining the K-12 Textbook in a Digital Age. This report highlights the sea change underway in the multi-billion dollar U.S. K-12 instructional materials market enabled by recent technology and intellectual property rights innovations. With a focus on the ultimate impact on student learning, […]

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  • Out of Print: Reimagining the K-12 Textbook in a Digital Age

    SETDA is proud to release Out of Print: Reimagining the K-12 Textbook in a Digital Age at an event Monday, September 24, 2012, from 2:00-4:00pm EDT at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Out of Print highlights the sea change underway in the multi-billion dollar U.S. K-12 instructional materials market enabled by recent technology […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Tune in on Sept. 24 for the release of “Out of Print: Reimagining the K-12 Textbook in a Digital Age”

    Please join the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) for a report release and briefing (in-person & via webcast). "Out of Print: Reimagining the K-12 Textbook in a Digital Age" Monday, September 24, 2012, from 2:00-4:00pm ET National Press Club, 529 14th St, NW, Washington, DC 20045Holeman Lounge RSVP to the in-person event: http://tinyurl.com/outofprintK12Register for […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Whither Technology?

    “Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.” – Paul Saffo, Futurist In 1996, President Bill Clinton in his State of the Union address challenged the nation to ensure – as a matter of educational equity and opportunity – that every classroom be connected to the Internet and equipped with computers, good software, and […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Decadence And Togetherness In July

    When I was a teacher, July was an interesting month. I tended to travel, read and be somewhat decadent. I had done some reflection on what kinds of things worked well in the prior year and made note of that, but had not yet gone so far as to plan for the next year. As […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • How Fast Is Your Machine?

    Do you have any idea what your upload and download speeds are for your computer, or more important, the computers in your schools?  And, does anyone have a clue about broadband capability in schools across the country, on a school by school basis?  Maybe, maybe and no.  We all know how important broadband connection speed […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Need More Broadband? SETDA Thinks You Do.

    On May 21, SETDA released The Broadband Imperative: Recommendations to Address K-12 Education Infrastructure Needs.  The report examines current trends driving the need for more broadband in teaching, learning and school operations; provides state and district examples of the impact of robust deployment of broadband; and offers specific recommendations for the broadband capacity needed to ensure all students […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • SETDA releases broadband report

    SETDA released a report on broadband – The Broadband Imperative: Recommendations to address K-12 Education Infrastructure Needs – May 21.  The report examines current trends driving the need for more broadband in teaching, learning and school operations; provides state and district examples of the impact of robust deployment of broadband; and offers specific recommendations for […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Vetting content in the Time of Digital

    As states have changed their laws to include digital content as a part of the definition of a textbook, they also are modifying their approach to adoption of textbooks, especially the vetting process.  The old vetting process created winners and losers. In contrast, the new process provides guidance.  Indiana is a case in point.  No […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Ready?

    There has been much talk here in assess4ed.net as well as in the blogosphere and hallways of school districts about whether or not states and districts will be ready for the new assessments to be delivered online in the 2014-15 school year. In fact, helping states and districts get ready for these assessments is the […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • An e-Textbook in Every Student’s Hand by 2017

    Later today, with SETDA Executive Director Doug Levin in attendance, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski will join Education Secretary Arne Duncan to unveil the Obama Administration’s “Digital Textbook Playbook” to accelerate the K-12 transition to digital textbooks. USA Today has the scoop: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and Education Secretary Arne Duncan will recommend today […]

    Category: ED FCC

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  • The Digital Learning Day- A Day for Empowering Teachers and Promoting Innovation

    Join SETDA in participating in a ground breaking digital learning event without worrying about the cost of travel not to mention the stress of getting to the airport on time. All you need is a computer with an internet connection and a desire to be innovative. The Alliance for Excellent Education’s invites EVERYONE (teachers, students, […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Apple, eTextbooks, OER and Mark Twain

    Note: Doug Levin, SETDA executive director, is guest-posting this blog. A quick search online reveals the literally hundreds of articles and blogs being written about this week's forthcoming announcement from one of the nation's world's hottest brands, Apple. It is widely rumored that the announcement will be education-related and address the textbook market. Even the […]

    Category: Digital Content OER

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  • Creative Commons license versioning input wanted

    The folks at Creative Commons are beginning a process to revise their licenses.  In the true spirit of open, they are asking for input from anyone who has a proposal, concern or any other input regarding their licenses.  After gathering information for two to three months, they will publish at least two drafts of the […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Vetting OER

    When I talk about OER, I often am asked about the quality of the material. The assumption from some is that if something is free, it isn't any good. Others sarcastically point out that we pay a lot for content in schools today and the test scores and dropout rates are not necessarily stellar. We […]

    Category: Digital Content

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  • Do We Follow South Korea?

    A recent wide-ranging article in the BBC News noted how South Korea has decided it wants to deliver all its curriculum in a digital format by 2015.  Ju-Ho Lee, South Korea's Minister of Education, Science and Technology, said that the government would support an open content market with a variety of learning materials.  It isn't […]

    Category: Uncategorized

    Comments: 2 Comments
  • Another Indiana school corporation goes digital

    The New York Times featured Munster School Corporation in a recent article about Munster's rather rapid shift from print to digital in their schools.  The article highlights how Munster decided to make this leap quickly rather than incrementally by taking out all math and science textbooks for grades 5 – 12 within 5 months.  This […]

    Category: Digital Content

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  • e-books and tablets

    I typically am not a gadget guy who stands in line for the first round of any new gegaw to hit the streets.  But, I am not immune to cool things that can significantly alter students' or teachers' experiences. E-readers and tablets illustrate my point, and this market is an intersting one to watch.  I have […]

    Category: Digital Content

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  • We are educating the wrong end of the student

    John Merrow had an interesting post on the Huffington Post.  It was primarily about blended learning and how blended learning, especially its online component, can destroy the notion of seat-time as a measure of how we move kids through school by giving students the power to progress at their own rate.  One barrier to students […]

    Category: Digital Content

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  • Digital Textbook Pilot in Florida

    Lake Minneola High School in Lake County, Florida is providing iPads for all of its students this coming school year.  Equipping all students in a school with their own devices is not a new story, even if it is iPads.  What is new is that the Lake Minneola project is part of a state pilot […]

    Category: Digital Content

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  • Are Online Tests the Key to Addressing Cheating?

    The Honolulu Star Advertiser today ran a story (entitled “Cheating by Educators Rare in Hawaii”) about the Atlanta cheating scandal vis-a-vis Hawaii: Revelations of widespread cheating by educators in Atlanta to boost test scores are raising questions about efforts to ensure the integrity of statewide tests and the pressures of high-stakes testing. This year the […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • U.S. Department of Education to Hold Race to the Top Assessment Public Meeting on Creating Valid, Reliable and Fair Assessments

    The U.S. Department of Education will host the third in a series of public meetings related to the Race to the Top Assessment (RTTA) grants on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. This meeting will convene representatives from both RTTA consortia and a panel of experts to discuss addressing […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • Would new technology address the issues raised in Atlanta’s testing scandal?

    Over at Hack Education, Audrey Watters offers some thoughts on the intersection of technology and assessment through the lens of the Atlanta schools testing scandal. She connects the dots (correctly, I believe) by noting that incidents like these will spur efforts to speed adoption of more secure testing environments – such as those offered by […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • The Texas Textbook Revolution continues

    Senate Bill 6 passed out of the Texas legislature's special session and is headed for Governor Rick Perry's desk where it is expected to be signed.  The bill gives Texas school districts much additional flexibility with textbook funds, but it also takes a step back from a reform passed the previous session and injects the […]

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  • IRISH teenagers perform better in computer-based reading tests rather than those involving the printed word

    According to an article in the Irish press, Irish teenagers in that nation performed better in computer-based reading tests rather than those involving the printed word. ERC director Dr Peter Archer said: “It may have to do with the fact that some students found the digital context more familiar and more interesting than the printed […]

    Category: Uncategorized

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  • The Digital Disconnect: Revisited

    Note: Doug Levin, SETDA executive director, is guest-posting this blog. In 2001, the Pew Internet & American Life Project commissioned a study on the impact of the internet on education from the American Institutes for Research. Based on work I had been doing over the prior several years in supporting the U.S. Department of Education's […]

    Category: OER Student voice

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  • VA Beyond Textbooks: Year One Report

    Note: Doug Levin, SETDA executive director, is guest-posting this blog. In November 2009, the Virginia Department of Education launched a project to explore the implications of introducing traditional textbook alternatives into classrooms. In the 18 months since the launch, Beyond Textbooks has scrutinized cost-effective models that blend the vetted standards-based content and convenience of traditional […]

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  • Which State Will Be the First?

    Note: Doug Levin, SETDA executive director, is guest-posting this blog.  At the 2010 SETDA Education Forum, Blair Levin (senior fellow at the Aspen Institute and former Executive Director of the National Broadband Plan) challenged those in the audience to name the state that would be the first to shift completely from print to digital textbooks […]

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  • New Indiana textbook law: digital and flexible

    As I sit here parallel-processing like the youth of today, watching a video stream of the recognition of the National Teacher of the Year and reading legislation recently passed by the Indiana Legislature that codified the change of definition of a textbook first embraced by the Indiana State Board of Education in February 2009, I […]

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  • Will e-books in education go the way of consumer e-books?

    While education has no shortage of trends, not to mention fads, to see where technology in education is going, often you need to look to the consumer world to see the way-cool technologies and related trends.  iPods, cell phones, computers, tablets – you name it; the much larger consumer world gets it first and establishes […]

    Category: Digital Content OER

    Comments: 2 Comments
  • Indiana Moves Digital

    I spent some time last week talking to educators in Indiana about their efforts to move from print to digital content in their schools.  I picked Indiana educators because about two years ago the Indiana State Board of Education changed the definition of a textbook to include electronic materials and the equipment needed to display […]

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  • The Tipping Point with Digital Textbooks? At least in higher ed.

    For a few years before I joined SETDA, I was fortunate to be Editorial Director for both a K-12 technology and education publication – T.H.E. Journal – and a higher ed publication – Campus Technology.  It was fascinating to read and write about both levels of education and their use of technology and to watch […]

    Category: Digital Content OER

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  • Tracking Changes in Digital and Open Content

    Tracking changes is not only a feature in Microsoft Word, it also is a crucial component of keeping up to date in education.  Changes in policy do not come easily in many areas of education, especially in an area as fundamental to education as the content used in the teaching and learning process. However, the […]

    Category: Digital Content OER

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