CoSN Releases Guide to "Hot Technologies for K-12 Schools"
Identifies tomorrow's "must-have" technologies most likely to transform schools through innovation
For more information contact:
Elizabeth Weaver Engel, Vice President, Marketing
Consortium for School Networking
202/861-2676, ext. 120
elizabeth@cosn.org
Press Release:
Anne Little
The Fratelli Group
202/496-2460
alittle@fratelli.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 18, 2004) - The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) released today its guide to "Hot Technologies for K-12 Schools," the third report in a series detailing emerging technologies that show the most promise for transforming schools and the learning process.
"Most schools embracing technology today have primarily focused on its deployment for administrative purposes or for the 'back-office.' Our hope is that this guide will provide technology leaders with a strategic understanding of technologies that can truly transform their schools over the next 3 - 5 years," said Keith R. Krueger, CEO of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).
"A critical factor in the success of deploying technology within a school environment is that it be embraced not only by teachers but by parents and the community as well," said Steve Rappaport, Chairman of CoSN's Emerging Technologies Committee. "To broaden adoption, it's important these technologies are convenient, customized and content rich, collaborative, creative and compliant."
The transforming technologies identified in the CoSN guide include active highly portable large storage devices, datacasting, digital assessments, intelligent essay graders, intelligent pattern analysis performance projections, sound-field amplification, multisensory, customized learning tools, programmable phone systems, student information systems, learning management systems, blogs, and radio frequency identification data (RFID).
As technology continues to bring new innovations to market, school districts need to be aware of these innovations in order to better plan investments in information technology that will have significant effects in the classroom and the office. These technologies must not only improve administrative operations but also transform teaching and learning.
To develop the guide, CoSN's Emerging Technologies Committee (ETC) initially identified five key educational issues common in most schools today - the instructional process, assessment and evaluation, diverse learning styles, the building of communities, and improving the efficiency of school administration. The ETC then looked at how emerging technologies can impact these critical education issues, using real world case studies.
CoSN's Emerging Technologies Committee is comprised of volunteers from school districts, private sector companies, associations, and members of the higher education community to ensure a balanced, non-biased perspective. Hot Technologies for K-12 Schools is supported by Apple, Audio Enhancement, and The Digital Network with additional support for the work of the ETC provided by ADC and Verizon.
For more details on this report, please visit CoSN's web site, www.cosn.org. The complete report is available for $19.95 to CoSN members and $24.95 to non-members. It can be downloaded at www.cosn.org/catalog/.
About the Consortium for School Networking
Founded in 1992, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), a national non-profit organization, is the premier voice in education technology leadership. CoSN's mission is to advance the K-12 education community's capacity to effectively use technology to improve teaching and learning through advocacy, policy and leadership development. CoSN has played a leading role in creation of the E-rate and other key national education technology initiatives over the past decade. It is a "CIO-type" organization for education technology leaders at the school district, state and national level.
For the other reports released by CoSN's Emerging Technologies Committee, A Guide to Handheld Computing in K-12 Schools and A Guide to Wireless LANs in K-12 Schools, please visit www.cosn.org/resources/emerging_technologies/.
CoSN sponsors an annual conference at which school technology leaders, national policy makers, researchers, and practitioners explore how technology can be leveraged to improve student achievement. CoSN's 10th Annual K-12 School Networking Conference will be held March 21-23, 2005 in Washington, DC, followed by CoSN's International Symposium on March 24, 2005. Visit www.k12schoolnetworking.org for more program and registration information.
Visit www.cosn.org or call 866/267-8747 to find out more about CoSN's programs and activities that support leadership development to ensure that information technology has a direct and positive impact on student learning in elementary and secondary schools.
About ADC
ADC Telecommunications is a world leader in providing global network infrastructure products, services and software that enable delivery of high-speed Internet, data, video, and voice services. The ADC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the company, supports mathematics and science education and nonprofit access to technology. For more information, visit www.adc.com.
About Apple
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store. For more information, visit www.apple.com.
About Audio Enhancement
Audio Enhancement is a pioneer in the development and distribution of in-classroom sound amplification technology in the United States today. For the past five years, Audio Enhancement has led the industry in the development and use of infrared technology in classroom soundfield amplification systems. Research has shown that including audio enhancement sound field systems in classrooms results in marked improvement in student learning and grades (particularly among urban and ESL students); reduced student disciplinary problems; and reduced teacher voice fatigue and absenteeism. For more information, visit www.audioenhancement.com.
About The Digital Network
The Digital Network was founded in 2003 to build a national network using the residual or opportunistic bandwidth of HDTV spectrum. Using technology originally developed by KERA, North Texas Public Broadcasting, TDN securely delivers robust digital content to targeted receivers using sophisticated error correction software that guarantees the integrity of transmission. Its comprehensive digital rights management system provides end-to-end intellectual property protection to content owners, while it manages and reports on content usage. For more information, visit www.thedigitalnetwork.com.
About Verizon
A Dow 30 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
