CoSN's Spinning the Globe

Listen to Dr. Rick Melmer, South Dakota Secretary of Education, describes why Governor Mike Rounds (R-SD) is promoting a laptop for every student ages 9-12, as well as what he hoped to learn from his recent trip to Singapore.
Video

Read a recent press release from Governor Round about this one-to-one initiative following legislative efforts to cut funding....

Continue reading "South Dakota's One-to-One Plan" »

Continue reading "South Dakota's One-to-One Plan" »

As part of Singapore's ICT in Education Master Plan II, a handful of schools received special investment and attention to create rich ICT learning environments. While in Singapore a few weeks ago, I visited Crescent Girls' School and came away impressed with this "school of the future". View their video on mLlearning which is viewable off their main website.

Our visiting delegation asked the Chief Technology Academic Officer what was the one thing that had changed because they have an immersive technology environment. After pausing to think, he said, "That is a very hard question because EVERYTHING has changed".

I think that answer....

Continue reading "Singapore's Crescent Girls' School: Tech Immersive Learning Environment" »

Continue reading "Singapore's Crescent Girls' School: Tech Immersive Learning Environment" »

This spring participated in an international symposium on math & science in Singapore sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSS) and Pearson Foundation. The participants included U.S. chief state school officers, as well as senior ministry level representatives from many countries (Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, South Korea, Maylasia, U.K., Canada, and others).

While the topic was focused on math & science at the K-12 level, and particularly what the rest of the world could learn from Singapore's success in these subjects on high-stakes tests like PISA, the overall context was on what skills students need to succeed in the 21st century. I was struck by how much of the conversation was on the need for education systems to value creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, and how technology has changed the world.

Continue reading "Math & Science: The Global Converation on 21st Century Skills" »

Continue reading "Math & Science: The Global Converation on 21st Century Skills" »

The UK Government of P.M. Gordon Brown has issued a major policy statement called The Children’s Plan through 2020. http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/childrensplan/ According to the Government, they want to make the U.K. the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up. The makes reference to role of technology, however it is intended as an overall policy document for all of children's initiatives and spans from Pre-school to adulthood.

The specific reference to ICT in education is Goal #25 in the report:

To deliver world class education and children’s services we need
world class buildings and use of technology. We will continue
with our unprecedented investment in the fabric of schools and
children and young people’s services to create schools fit for the
21st century…

Continue reading "UK Children’s Plan" »

Continue reading "UK Children’s Plan" »

The new Australian government of Prime Minister Rudd ran on an election promise to contribute 1 billion Australian dollars (approx. $888 million U.S.) and create a National Secondary School Computer Fund will allow every Australian student in years 9-12 to have access to their own school computer.

Continue reading "New Australian Government Commits To A School Computer For Every Student In Years 9-12" »

Continue reading "New Australian Government Commits To A School Computer For Every Student In Years 9-12" »

CoSN will be leading a senior policy delegation to Finland, Sweden and Denmark all next week. Follow the blog and podcasts at http://www.cosn.org/blogs/scandinavia_07/index.html

Continue reading "Understanding ICT in Scandinavia" »

Continue reading "Understanding ICT in Scandinavia" »

Listen to Murray Brown, head of ICT at the New Zealand Ministry of Education, describe the evolution from an “ICT strategy” to an “E-Learning Strategy” which uses education technology/ICT to enable school reform.

Continue reading "Podcast: New Zealand’s e-Learning Strategy: Moving Toward Personalization with ed tech/ICT" »

Continue reading "Podcast: New Zealand’s e-Learning Strategy: Moving Toward Personalization with ed tech/ICT" »

One of CoSN’s major new initiatives is Measuring the Value of Investment (VOI) of education technology http://www.edtechvoi.org. As part of that effort, CoSN is partnering with key leaders in Australia and the UK to make this part of a global research effort. While in Australia, Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN, had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Kathryn Moyle, our partner in Australia on this VoI research effort.

Continue reading "Podcast: Measuring VOI Aussie-Style" »

Continue reading "Podcast: Measuring VOI Aussie-Style" »

Listen to a conversation with Gerry White and Greg Black of education.au. For over a decade Australia has taken a strong national leadership in use of ICT in education, training and career sectors.

Continue reading "Podcast: Australia’s National ICT Agency – education.au" »

Continue reading "Podcast: Australia’s National ICT Agency – education.au" »

Listen to a conversation with Prof. James Dalziel of Macquarie University in Sydney as he discusses with CoSN CEO Keith Krueger why educators in Australia are increasingly turning to Open Source and Open Standards.

Continue reading "Podcast: Open Technologies in Australia" »

Continue reading "Podcast: Open Technologies in Australia" »