policy
2024 ED National Educational Technology Plan focuses on using technology to advance learning
In January, the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Office of Educational Technology released its 2024 annual National Educational Technology Plan (NETP): A Call to Action to Close the Digital Access, Design, and Use Gap. The plan was first announced as part of the American Education Act of 2000 and has been updated several times, most recently in 2016, ED said.
This update represents a departure from previous descriptive research reports and focuses on prescriptive strategies to address the rapid development of digital education technology. Outlines how students, educators, and state leaders can design, access, and use it to advance learning.
NETP's introduction states: “… [E]Educational technology (Ed Tech) tools sometimes claim (without independent research-based evidence) that student assessment scores will increase if school systems adopt certain digital resources. Such claims are not only misleading, but can undermine the true potential of edtech. Relying on a particular tool to accelerate learning or provide a comprehensive and rigorous education for all students places full responsibility for its content. It ignores educators, students, and the relationship between the three. ”
This comprehensive report is divided into three educational technology “splits” in use, design, and access that limit the ability of technology to support teaching and learning.
- of Disparities in digital usagewe address opportunities to improve how students use technology to enhance learning, including the dynamic application of technology to explore, create, and conduct critical analysis of academic content and knowledge.
- of The digital design divide, addresses opportunities for educators to expand their professional learning and build the capabilities needed to design technology-enabled learning experiences.and
- of Disparities in digital access, addresses opportunities for students and educators to have equitable access to education technology, including connectivity, devices, and digital content. This also includes accessibility and digital health, safety and citizenship as key elements of digital access.
Each section includes actionable recommendations to bridge these gaps. This report includes an appendix with examples from every U.S. state, District of Columbia, and territory that shows how they are addressing these disparities (examples are recommended). (There is a note that says “This is not a product.”) It also includes separate guides for educators and states. District and school leaders.
Each section dedicated to the use, design, and access of educational technology addresses:
- Profile/portrait of learner and educator technical capabilities and learning environments.
- How to establish systems, plans, and processes that support students and educators, as well as oversight and funding for them.
- Feedback mechanisms and needs assessment.
- Rubrics for implementing, modeling, and upgrading educational technology.
- Evaluation of age-appropriate curriculum effectiveness.
- Public/private/stakeholder input and partnerships.
- Professional development for educators and administrators.
- Data privacy and digital health, safety and citizenship.and
- Edtech accessibility.
To complement the NETP, ED has released two guides: Assistive Technology and Devices for Children with Disabilities Under IDEA and the Digital Health, Safety, and Civil Rights resource list.
In addition to the NETP appendix, interested parties can also read “Stories of EdTech Innovation.”
About the author
Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, high school teacher at EAST Lab, and college English teacher.
