At a time when educational technology budgets are slim as it is, it looks like there is a possibility that the federal Enhancing Education Through Technology (E2T2) dollars may also feel the squeeze. The Presidents 2006 budget proposal entirely eliminates this state block grant for technology in education. Read more...

But, on a good note...
What does it mean to be literate in the digital age? Well, one non-profit group that brought you the SAT has now created a test for determining student digital literacy. Beta-testing continues until March and then the service will be available to those who need to "know". According to ETS, the creators of the ICT exam, this web-based exam is "a testing program that measures postsecondary students' ability to define, access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate information in a technological environment." Read more here.

I have been involved with technology planning in schools for quite a few years. As the new national educational technology plan emerges it will be exciting to see how more "school" resources and information become available for making learning decisions.

Will textbook information become digital? Will handhelds become the tool for learning? How long will it take for more appropriate learning material to be made digital? Will schools and communities be readied for wireless learning? Will quality professional development be available for all teachers anytime, anywhere? Will teachers as a profession begin to embrace teaching in this electronic and information age? Will teachers develop their technology literacy to manage learning environments, develop the home-school connection, create effective student learning activities, grow professionally, and communicate with their partners in learning?

I look forward to working with educators in these efforts...

Access to Internet resources has been one of the most powerful leaps for professional development. The vast free resources available allow teachers to increase their knowledge and skills for using digital tools for learning without ever leaving home. I will be attempting in the next few weeks to mine some of the best and post them on my website.

Here is one for a start...Innovate, a journal for online education