California Ed Tech Task Force “Briefings” Tour

The California Department of Education, under the leadership of Superintendent Tom Torlakson, has implemented a process that will lead to new goals regarding Education Technology (which includes online and blended learning).  In March 2012, there were 48 people appointed to the Ed Tech Task Force. Their task was to write a memo to the Superintendent making their recommendations.  This memo was released on August 16, 2012 (a summary of the memo is listed below). Now, there is a “Public Briefings and Listening Tour” to share the memo and listen to input from educators across California.  Here are the locations and times:

• June 1, 2012 – First Look  for Technology Partners 
• September 11, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Santa Clara County Office of Education 
• September 12, 1 to 3 p.m. – Butte County Office of Education 
• September 18, 10 a.m. to Noon – Stanislaus County Office of Education, Martin G. Petersen Event Center 
• September 20, 10 a.m. to Noon – Fresno/Clovis Area –  State Center Consortium – Fresno Area 
• September 25, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Orange County Department of Education 
• October 2, 10 a.m. to Noon – Association of California School Administrators – Ontario Office

Beth Olshewsky, the Library Media Supervisor from the Tulare County Office of Education created this nice summary of the memo:

Highlights include:

Learning:

• Online instructional materials + access to technology for 21^st century competencies and CCSS.
• “Any time, any place, any pace” individualized learning
• Model School Library Standards + Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards
• A solution to the ADA and instructional minutes barriers that limit online instruction
•  Availability of tools of statewide benefit, to transition schools from textbooks toward online instructional materials

Assessment:

• provides feedback to students and provides validation from “real world” experts
• provide essential technology, infrastructure, and professional development for CCSS formative and summative computer adaptive assessments.

Teaching:

• leverage and provide a regional and statewide technology support system
• facilitate online teaching and learning, teacher and administrator certification, and professional development standards.
• Encourage and reward teacher and administrators’ excellence in use of technology

Infrastructure:

• 1:1 anytime any place student: online connected device
• Development of minimum bandwidth standards.
• Connect existing data systems.
• Develop guidance documents for 21st century competencies that include an emphasis on safety and appropriate use. (which I read as moving from locked doors to educating about the online world around them and safety and appropriate use practices in it)
• Develop guidance on use of digital devices to meet Williams requirements
• Cabinet level position to provide leadership to implement No Child Left Offline (NCLO), coordinate technology integration into the daily work of the CDE, and be a resource on legislative and policy issues surrounding education technology.

Photo- Creative Commons License: School Bus