National Education Technology Plan 2010

This plan requires the entire education system to apply the advanced technologies to the system that we use daily in our personal and professional lives. What we use on a daily basis will be incorporated into the technology used in schools systems nationwide.

This is in hopes to improve student learning while speeding up the adoption of effective practices. The plan will use acquired data and information for continuous progress in our educational system.

It offers an outline of five separate goals, each of which addresses how technology can power learning. These five components are: Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity.

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This plan was announced during the second week in November 2010. It was quickly reported on by various online sources subjected in education. These sources include Newsvine.com; UD-I Teach; Education Week; and Dr. Steve Yuen’s blog, a professor at The University of Southern Mississippi, just to name a few.

The Education Week article starts with a short overview of the purpose of the plan then goes on to quote Arne Duncan on his thoughts. The author Ian Quillen goes on to add his opinion, stating that one of the policies, he thinks, might be the most significant addition to the document since it’s first draft.

Quillen then goes on to explain in laymen’s terms what each section of the proposal really means. He uses common vernacular so the general public can better understand, rather than reading the politically infused dialogue of the original document.

Quillen uses positive quotes to support the legitimacy of the plan. However, he maintains objectivity by providing information that explains that not everyone feels as optimistic about the plan as some are saying. He mentions that advocates have doubted the timeframe and expected funding of the goals, thinking it will take more money than predicted or outlined in the document.

This is important because the author, although using a positive tone, also allows readers the differing opinion, which allows readers to be exposed to both, which helps individuals formulate their own opinions.

On a similar basis of objectivity, Newsvine is a website that offers more of a forum based platform for discussion on topics. It explains the website as “an instant reflection of what the world is talking about at any given moment.”

For this particular subject, Newsvine offers a link to the Department of Education website where the original document is located, and then asks readers to give their opinion regarding the course of technology in education. A few have commented saying they are happy to see technology being incorporated into the learning system. Another reader offers a slightly different position; one with more skepticism about the effectiveness of Washington meetings by men who hardly know what children need in say, Arizona.

This is a beneficial source because it provides readers and viewers with a channel to express their thoughts and ideas about Congressional legislation. Before the advent of the Internet, such feedback was hardly possible.

Let’s Read. Let’s Move!

On Tuesday, June 29, the Department of Education (Arne Duncan) in combination with Michelle Obama kicked off the summer enrichment series “Let’s Read. Let’s Move.”

The purpose of this initiative is to prevent learning loss and physical inactivity, which many children face during the summer break from school. Often, children in certain locales only read or exercise during the school year. The activities of “Let’s Read. Let’s Move” will promote reading and academia, healthy life and physical choices for children, as well as an overall enrichment.

The kick off event, hosted in Washington, was made up of book readings, writing and arts activities, healthy snacks, and games. Secretary Duncan, Cabinet members, Administration officials, and other public figures were encouraged to participate with the children by reading books and participating in games and fitness.

The ‘Hands On Network’ is a blog/database for volunteer opportunities. For this particular volunteer event, the website chose to promote it. The article lists the facts about the enrichment series such as who in the administration is behind it, what the overarching purpose of the series is, and what the three main goals are.
After the main entry, there are sections of tools and references for people who might be interested in getting involved. Also, the site offers links to share information and continue to get out the word on the program.

The Corporation for National & Community Service promoted the United We Serve: “Let’s Read. Let’s Move” Summer Initiative. This website is sponsored by Serve.gov, the official government website promoting service. The article, listed under “Stories of Service,” includes a description of the events, and testimony from various people who stepped up to the challenge of summer reading and found it rewarding.

The article offers a personal testimony from a woman who claims reading was forced upon her in school and it wasn’t something she chose to do on her own, and that this program has helped her enjoy reading. The woman is also quoted saying her life is better now that she can read.

It is important to note these kinds of testimonials in the article, because it presents this summer enrichment series in a positive light and reinforces its effectiveness. The purpose of the web site is to promote volunteering. It would be hardly effective if the site posted anything about a service opportunity that was not enlightening.

Promoting and supporting this campaign, which is sponsored by Michele Obama and Arne Duncan, subjectively supports the government and our president. When people read this article they will think highly and positively about the administration.

National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention

On October 4, 2010 the President, Department of Justice and Department of Education met with various state representatives to discuss the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention. In short, this forum was created to establish new policies and strategies to prevent youth in certain violence-plagued cities from succumbing to the pressures of gang life and violence in schools.

Teams from Boston, California, Chicago, Detroit, and Tennessee got together with these federal agencies to work out these proposed strategies and plans, to find out what will work.

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What they hope will work, is combining the efforts of local law enforcement, educators, health providers, organizations in the communities, and families to work off of each other and stand together in the fight against violence. Arne Duncan says the administration will have to work with communities and schoolteachers to reach a conclusion about the reasons why kids get sucked into crime and gang life, and then find ways to prevent it.

Many news sources provided humbling testimony on the forum and proposed legislation. Many have high hopes for the plans, and are optimistic about it’s future success.

The Boston Globe’s online edition, Boston.com covers this topic and presents it to the public in an unbiased manner, detailing the facts as they unfold. They used quotes from both the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education, which is important because the forum involves the Department of Justice and the Department of Education. Providing a short testimony from officials on the inside presents the issue as more human. A reader being able to hear quotes directly from the source adds to the forum’s credibility and depicts it as an open, translucent proposal, instead of being private and shut off to the public.

Taking a less open stance however, is Dr. Jeffrey Butts, staff to John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In Butts’ blog, there is the basic factual expression of the intention of the forum, with no commentary on the predicted outcome. Dr. Butts and a team will be working to assess the development of the National Forum and also analyze the effects of the participating states and communities involved.

Back to School Tour 2010

AKA, Courage in the Classroom.

In August 2010, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan embarked on a tour known as the “Back to School Tour,” sometimes referred to as “Courage in the Classroom.” This is a bus tour that travels through various states and explores the looming first days of school for students around the nation.

The tour went from Arkansas through Louisiana and Mississippi to Alabama, then from New York through Massachusetts and New Hampshire to end in Maine.

The main purpose of the tour was to listen to teachers, parents, and students and get on-sight feedback.  Duncan also discussed the administration’s decisions like No Child Left Behind, now known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the ARRA, while in these various states.

Big newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post, and Huffington Post all covered the tour with articles chronicling the progress and the purpose. The only reason I do not site the specific articles from the Washington Post and Huffington Post is because they were purely fact based and offered no opinion or commentary on the tour.

The New York Times, however, offered a more cynical take on the tour. Though not directly stated, the author Trip Gabriel takes on a skeptical stance, commenting that the tour was more of a political campaign than it was an honest outreach by the administration. Gabriel notes that the tour might have been prompted by the recent success of the Race to the Top campaign, and may have a bragging tour.

It is important to note the underlying negative tone of the piece, because it further points out the different political views people have of the tour. Some people think the tour really IS an honest outreach by Duncan, whereas Gabriel claims malice.

One of these outlets that honors Duncan as somewhat of a hero to the Education field, is the Christian Science Monitor. Amanda Paulson and Stacy Teicher Khadaroo wrote an article about Duncan’s rise to the top, from his upbringing at a Brooklyn public school to Harvard University, to Education Secretary. His tale is one of triumph, which places him in a hero category, according to Paulson and Khadaroo. They claim that Duncan is empowering, and has been the most influential secretary.

Another important aspect to focus on is the reaction by other blog sites about this presentation of the Bus Tour from the Christian Science Monitor. Nichole Dobo posted an article on the blog, “Delware Online” remarking on how Duncan told the Christian Science Monitor to visit Delaware and that Delaware’s DSEA President Donohue was a personal hero of his. This short article is nothing to be surprised about, but what IS surprising are the comments from readers about this article. One commentor in particular lashes out and refers to Donohue as a sell-out and that this plan will only weaken the education system and hurt the children.

With such polar opposites being thrust into the media, how are citizens supposed to know whether this Bus Trip is positive or negative?

Do your civic duty and read about it, then draw your own conclusions.

Elementary and Secondary Education Act 2010 Reauthorization

In March 2010, the Obama administration issued the reauthorization to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also currently known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.  This Act was up for reauthorization in 2007.

What this reauthorization will do, is improve the workings of our school systems by improving qualities of teachers and principles; helping families become more participative in their children’s education; preparing students for college and jobs by creating better assessments and standards; and providing a more well-rounded education to improve student learning and achievement.

This is a huge step in the process of bettering our nation’s competitiveness in education, and it did not go unheard in the media.

President Obama has a posted video on the White House Blog where he discusses the blueprint of the updated ESEA. In this video, Obama addresses the audience, talking into the camera and making it known that the audience is in fact citizens, not other politicians. This is a tactical move by Obama to help non-political people understand the logistics behind the act, which allows the Act to have more relevance to citizens.
click here for the video

The Alliance for Excellent Education created a webinar to further explain the president’s blueprint for success of the reauthorization. This blueprint, which can be found on the Dept. of Education’s website, is a lengthy report detailing every aspect of the reauthorization using political jargon and terms that may not be easily digestable by the common citizen’s vernacular.  Former Governer Wise (WVa) uses this webinar to answer questions about the report, such as why a reauthorization is necessary, and why now.

click here for the video