The draft of a new federal plan focuses on improving digital learning at the elementary- and secondary-school level, but it calls for changes in higher education as well.
“Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology,” released this month by the Department of Education, is a draft of the National Educational Technology Plan 2010. It calls for an increased role for online learning in kindergarten through 12th grade and says colleges of education must include online learning in their curricula as well.
Susan Patrick, president of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, said students today have grown up with the Internet and are more comfortable with technology, but also have higher expectations for the online learning experience. Ms. Patrick cited Boise State and Michigan State Universities as two institutions whose colleges of education emphasize online learning. But she said most higher-education institutions haven’t yet added sufficient resources dedicated to that method of instruction.
“It’s incredibly important that our colleges of education, training tomorrow’s teachers, are teaching these skills,” said Ms. Patrick, who worked on the National Education Technology Plan 2004.