Posts for November 12, 2010

NATIONAL EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY PLAN

ED Review
On November 9, Secretary Duncan released the Department’s plan for transforming American education through technology, a process that would create an engaging, state-of-the-art, cradle-to-college school system nationwide. The National Education Technology Plan was written and refined over 18 months by leading education researchers, with input from the public, industry officials, and educators and students from across the country. Development of the national plan was led by the Department’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) and involved the most rigorous and inclusive process ever undertaken for a plan. It is a crucial component of the Obama Administration’s efforts to have America lead the world in college completion by 2020 and help close the academic achievement gap so that all students graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and careers.

“Our nation’s schools have yet to unleash technology’s full potential to transform learning,” the Secretary stressed in his remarks (http://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/%E2%80%9C-digital-transformation-education%E2%80%9D-us-secretary-education-arne-duncan). “We’re at an important transition point…. We need to leverage technology’s promise to improve learning.”
The plan, “Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology,” presents a model with key goals in five areas: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity. Each section outlines concepts for using technology to holistically transform education, with the aim to achieve each goal by 2015. Overall, the plan addresses trends that could transform education, such as accessibility and mobility, the rise of digital content, and the rise of online social networks for information, collaboration, and learning. Also, it stresses that technology in the classroom only works when paired with effective teaching. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010.

Meanwhile, through December 17, K-12 students, parents, teachers, administrators, and pre-service teachers from across the country have the opportunity to share their ideas and opinions on education and technology, through Project Tomorrow’s annual Speak Up survey (http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/). This year’s survey includes questions about emerging technologies: digital textbooks, online learning, and the use of smart phones within instruction. Students are also asked to design their own “mobile app” for learning. The results are shared with participating schools, so that they can use the data for planning and community discussions. Results are also used by government agencies and other organizations to inform their programs and policies.

R&D INTENSITY IS ON THE INCREASE, SURVEY SHOWS

SmartBrief on Leadership
Companies' "R&D intensity" -- a measure of R&D spending versus total sales -- is on the increase, according to a Booz & Co. survey. The trend is a sign of managers' reluctance to slash innovation budgets despite falling sales, and serves as a reminder that R&D is largely recession-proof, says Booz partner Barry Jaruzelski. "They cut R&D last; that's the future revenue stream that these companies are protecting," he notes. CFO.com (11/10)

INDIA'S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT DIVES

Quick Manufacturing News
Output increased 4.4% in September, sharply down from 8.2% growth posted in the same month a year earlier. Click to continue

EPA ISSUES PERMITTING GUIDELINES FOR PLANT CONSTRUCTION

Quick Manufacturing News
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued guidelines for states and local air-permitting agencies to use beginning in January when issuing building permits and other clearances for new projects or construction. The guidelines are a follow-on measure to the EPA's announcement in May that it intends to use the Clean Air Act provisions to achieve reductions in greenhouse gases. Click to continue

TOYOTA SAYS FUTURE OF ELECTRIC CARS UNCLEAR

Quick Manufacturing News
Creation of a convenient recharging system is a major obstacle. Click to continue

Obama Asia Visit Faces Setbacks In Economic Talks

NAM
Coverage of the President's appearance at the G20 summit in Seoul has been generally negative. Reports suggest that the meeting was disappointing for Obama and has failed to advance US goals. Many reports blame the US midterm election results saying that political disaster has weakened Obama's position, and that setbacks in economic talks with Chinese and South Korean leaders reflect this.