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FCC Holds Workshop on National Broadband Plan for Education as More Schools Move Toward Open Digital TextsSeptember 2, 2009—On August 20 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held a National Broadband Plan Workshop on education to receive ideas for the plan, which is due 181 days from the date of the hearing. National broadband development focuses on ways that technology and telecommunications infrastructure can further the national priorities of education, job training, energy, environment, health, the economy and public safety. The FCC seeks collaboration on developing the plan, and hopes to obtain exemplars, best theories, data, research and evidence. Presenters included Jim Shelton, Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, and Kumar Garg, Policy Analyst in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Shelton discussed the Department's priorities of high quality standards and assessments for preK-12 students, with data system transparency, continuous improvement, and innovation. He said there is power in augmenting online learning with human capability. By leveraging technology to enhance teachers' capabilities, teachers have more tools to help them reach all students to improve instruction. It should be possible to determine who the best teachers are in teaching certain subjects, such as fractions, for example. Then students should be able to go online, "mimic that teacher and learn." Garg emphsized the Obama administration's interest in open government, and how best to use "open educational resources," including those produced by U.S. government agencies, to advance and accelerate learning. Of course, one example state is California, where the Governor, State Board of Education President, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction are working to determine what free, open, digital instructional resources are aligned to State standards and are suitable for use with high school students in secondary school classrooms. While this innovation has come to the fore during a time of severe state budget shortfalls, it is not seen solely as a cost-savings measure. Rather, it introduces another learning materials option, for use by teachers, schools, and local school districts, with high school students, to differentiate instruction and improve student achievement. More information Highlights of broadband workshop and open, digital resource in schools from Education Legislative Services "The
rise of digital textbooks" National Broadband Plan web site | |||||
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