The National Education Technology Plan (NETP) 2017 from the US Department of Education was recently released. It sets out a vision for learning enabled by technology at all levels of education. The plan consists of 5 sections: Learning, Teaching, Leadership, Assessment, and Infrastructure.
Learning—Engaging and Empowering Learning through Technology
The goal is for learners to have engaging and empowering learning experiences in both formal and informal settings to prepare them to be active, creative and knowledgeable and ethical citizens.
- Technology-Enabled Learning in Action
- Enabling personalised learning experiences (menu of learning experiences: write an essay, produce media, collect data etc.)
- Organise learning around projects and real-world learning (sharing outputs online)
- Learning opportunities in museums, libraries and out-of-school settings
- Pursue passions and personal interests
- The Future of Learning Technologies (increased games and simulations, augmented reality and virtual reality)
- Bringing Equity to Learning Through Technology (Closing the digital divide and ensure students understand how to use technology as a tool to engage in creative, productive, lifelong learning, and not simply consuming passive content)
- Providing Technology Accessibility for All Learners (Universal Design for Learning)
- Physical Spaces and Technology-Enabled Learning (Flexible and blended learning spaces)
- Recommendations
- Develop and implement learning resources to create equitable and accessible learning ecosystems that make learning possible everywhere and all the time
- Develop and implement learning resources that use technology to embody learning sciences design principles
- Align learning technology resources to intended learning outcomes
- Develop an accessible standard of learning resource design to help educators select and evaluate learning resources for accessibility and equity of learning experience
- More research is needed on how learning sciences can inform how technology is developed and used for learning
Teaching—Teaching With Technology
The goal is for educators to be connected to people, resources, expertise and learning experiences that empower and inspire them to provide more effective teaching.
- Roles and Practices of Educators in Technology-Supported Learning
- Collaborate outside their own schools
- Design engaging and relevant learning experiences (using games, social networks, simulations, and multimedia)
- Lead evaluations and implementations of new technologies for learning
- Motivate learners (create spaces to experiment, iterate and risk)
- Co-learners with students and peers
- Serve the underserved
- Rethinking Teacher Preparation (active use of technology to enable learning, program-deep and program-wide educational technology experiences)
- Fostering Ongoing Professional Learning and Development
- Recommendations
- Provide teachers educators with learning experiences powered by technology to increase their digital literacy
- Provide learners with online access to effective teaching
- Develop skills in online and blended instruction
- Develop a common set of technology competencies for lecturers and teachers
Leadership—Creating a Culture and Conditions for Innovation and Change
The goal is to embed an understanding of technology-enabled education within the roles and responsibilities of educational leaders.
- Characteristics of Effective Leadership
- Collaborative leadership
- Personalised student learning
- Robust infrastructure
- Personalised professional learning
- Budgeting and Funding for the Transition to Digital Learning (reduce existing costs, partner with other organisations, use federal funds, rethink staff responsibilities, long-term sustainability)
- Recommendations
- Establish clear strategic planning connections at all levels
- Set a vision for the use of technology to enable learning
- Develop funding models and plans for sustainable technology purchases and leverage openly licensed content
- Develop clear communities of practice for education leaders
Assessment—Measuring for Learning
The goal is to leverage the power of technology to measure what matters most and use assessments to improve learning
- Approaches to Assessment (formative and summative)
- Using Assessment Data to Support Learning
- How Technology Transforms Assessment
- Enhanced question types (graphic response, simulations, equation response)
- Complex competency measurement (measure social and emotional learning)
- Real-time feedback
- Accessibility
- Adapt to learner ability and knowledge (adaptive testing)
- Embedded within the learning process
- Assess for ongoing learning
- The Future of Technology-Based Assessment (continuous improvement, integrated learning and assessment systems, use data appropriately, learning dashboards, micro-credentials)
- Recommendations
- Ensure privacy protection while ongoing gathering and sharing of assessment data for continuous improvement of learning
- Implement learning dashboards and response systems to provide feedback about student learning
- Create an integrated system for valid, reliable and cost-effective assessments
- Research to explore how embedded assessment technologies (simulations, games, virtual worlds) assess and engage learners
Infrastructure—Enabling Access and Effective Use
The goal is ensure access to a robust and comprehensive infrastructure when and where it is needed for learning
- Ubiquitous Connectivity (quality internet at school and home)
- Powerful Learning Devices (including BYOT)
- High-Quality Digital Learning Content (including OERs)
- Responsible Use Policies (RUP)
- Protections for Student Data and Privacy
- Device and Network Management
- Recommendations
- Ensure broadband access to the internet and adequate wifi connectivity
- Ensure there is at least one internet access device and appropriate software for use in and out of school
- Support the development and use of openly licensed materials
- Draft sustainable infrastructure plans
- Create a map of connectivity, device access and their uses
- Include cyber safety and cybersecurity training
Multi-Device Learning Study 