K-12 Resources and Guidance
Links to External Research
North America
Department of Educational Technology, United States Department of Education, (OET) is responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the Department's educational technology policies, research projects and national technology summits. The Office's main goal is to maximize technology's contributions to improving education through developing national educational technology policy and implementing policy department-wide, to support the goals of No Child Left Behind. Publications include: "Innovations in Education: Connecting Students to Advanced Courses Online"
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/index.html
The North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) mission is to increase educational opportunities and enhance learning by providing collegial expertise and leadership in K-12 online teaching and learning. Publications include: "NACOL Goals, Guidelines, and Standards for Student Scientific Investigations" and "Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning: A Review of State-level Policy and Practice" (November 2007)
http://www.nacol.org/resources/
Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps government and education leaders in its 16 member states work together to advance education and improve the social and economic life of the region. SREB assists state leaders by directing attention to key education issues; collecting, compiling and analyzing comparable data on P-20 education; and sharing its analyses of actions and issues that help states and institutions form long-range plans and policies. Publications include: "Five Academic Reasons: Why State Virtual Schools are Important to Your State" and "Checklist for Evaluating Online Courses"
http://sreb.org/programs/EdTech/pubs/pubsindex.asp
The National Education Association (NEA), the United States largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3.2 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. Publications include: "Guide to Teaching Online Courses" and "Guide to Online High School Courses"
http://www.nea.org/technology/onlinelearning.html
The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) is the principal association representing the state directors for educational technology in the United States. SETDA’s goal is to improve student achievement through technology. Publications include: "2008 National Trends Report Pamphlet"
http://www.setda.org/web/guest/nationaltrendsreport
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the trusted source for professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy, and leadership for innovation. A nonprofit membership organization, ISTE provides leadership and service to improve teaching, learning, and school leadership by advancing the effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education. Publications include: "National Education Technology Standards 2007" and "Digital Citizenship in Schools"
http://www.iste.org
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) is a voice for K-12 education leaders who use technology strategically to improve teaching and learning. CoSN provides products and services to support leadership development, advocacy, coalition building, and awareness of emerging technologies.
http://cosn.org/
Publications and services include: "Taking TCO to the Classroom"
http://www.classroomtco.org/gartner_intro.html#case
Ed Tech Resources ranging from reports on Emerging Technologies, One-to-One Computing Skills, and International Collaboration
http://cosn.org/resources/
Partnership for 21st Century Skills mission is to serve as a catalyst to position 21st century skills at the center of United States K-12 education by building collaborative partnerships among education, business, community and government leaders.
Publications include: "Moving Education Forward" and "Virtual Schools and 21st Century Skills"
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=40
The Virtual School Clearinghouse (VSC) is a website documenting a collaborative research project sponsored by the AT&T Foundation and the University of Florida. VSC provide virtual schools, particularly state-led virtual schools in the 22 state AT&T region, with data analysis tools and metrics vital for school improvement. VSC also serves as a resource repository for virtual school teachers, administrators and researchers.
http://vs.education.ufl.edu/virtualschool/
Australia
Australian Government Education Portal is the connection to education and training in Australia. It links to key education and training websites and government resources at the national, state and territory level. The database contains over 4500 resources focusing on Australian government policies, programmes, and publications.
http://www.education.gov.au/goved/go
Education Network Australia (EDNA) is a large repository referencing thousands of online resources for education, training and research. The tool is to search, browse and even contribute to education news, events and resources to the education community.
http://www.edna.edu.au/edna/go
The Digital Education Revolution from the Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations, is a key strategic tool of the Australian Government Education Revolution in achieving a revolutionary improvement in Australia’s education and training to world class standards. The aim of the program is to contribute sustainable and meaningful change to teaching and learning in Australian schools that will prepare students for further education, training, jobs of the future and to live and work in a digital world.
http://www.digitaleducationrevolution.gov.au/about.htm
The Learning Federation - http://www.thelearningfederation.edu.au/default.asp
United Kingdom
British Education Communication and Technology Agency (BECTA) is the Government's lead agency for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education, covering the United Kingdom. Publications include: "Getting Started With Your Learning Platform: Advice for Schools" and "Safeguarding Children Online: A Guide for School Leaders"
http://publications.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=35718
Association for Learning Technology (ALT) is a professional and scholarly association which seeks to bring together all those with an interest in the use of learning technology in the United Kingdom.
http://www.alt.ac.uk/
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Cathy FaberDirector, Curriculum and Learning Technologies
Calgary Board of Education