Obama administration launches effort to increase technology in schools
The White House and U.S. Department of Education have marked the opening of “Digital Promise,” a national center with the mission of integrating technology into the classroom and everyday teaching process. The effort was created by Congress and is part of the president’s effort to usher all of the nation’s academic institutions into the 21st century.
“Digital Promise is a unique partnership that will bring everyone together — educators, entrepreneurs, and researchers — to use technology to help students learn and teachers teach,” said President Barack Obama in a press release. “There’s no silver bullet when it comes to education, but technology can be a powerful tool, and Digital Promise will help us make the most of it.”
Digital Promise will be funded by the Department of Education as well as private donors, including the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Officials have three starting goals for the Digital Promise effort: to identify breakthrough technologies, to learn what works and what doesn’t more quickly, and to transform the market for educational technologies. The last goal could help spur growth in the educational technology market because it will allow for more potential penetration into the nation’s schools, improving the chances of sales. “With more than 14,000 school districts, and an outdated procurement system, it’s difficult for entrepreneurs to break into the market, and it’s also tough to prove that their products can deliver meaningful results,” explains an announcement.
Education officials are applauding the bi-partisan effort and predict that the program will help close achievement gaps between student groups and increase American preparedness for the 21st century job market.
“Created by Republicans and Democrats and championed by a coalition of educators and business leaders, Digital Promise is an independent nonprofit that will help spur breakthrough learning technologies,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “And it will help make sure Americans of all ages and races, regions and backgrounds can benefit from them. By harnessing the extraordinary work being done by educators, innovators, and citizens across this country, Digital Promise can help prepare Americans — and America — to succeed in the 21st century.”
The administration also announced a $15 million award to the National Science Foundation to support its research of new educational technology and classroom environments.
