We all agree that it is time to start closing the technology gap in schools to help students learn and teacher educate. Utilizing tools to make both more effective is imperative to achieve the best educational standards possible resulting in the brightest kids possible. Whether it’s high-speed internet or quality educational software, it’s all very important these days to be successful.
When it comes to English Language Learning, it seems there’s an even greater need to automate and utilize technology for efficiency in reporting, tracking, assessments and more. We are happy to be on the beginning waves of technology changing our school systems.
Our team at Project ELL understands there is a huge need for schools across the country to stay ELL Compliant. We know it’ s a hassle. We know it takes up your precious time. We know you need help. That’s why we’ve created a simple online platform as a solution.
Project ELL’s mission is to provide school districts with the ability to manage and control their ELL compliance easily and effectively by utilizing the best compliance data and analytic software system.
Regarding technology as a whole, there are changes in progress. On November 19th, the White House hosted over 100 superintendents and educators from across the country that are helping their schools and districts transition to digital learning.
Alberto Corvalho, Miami-Dade Superintendent, kicked off the discussion noting how being “digitally disconnected” can be an “educational disadvantage”. In the 21st century, our goals should be closing the gaps in digital learning, in turn closing economical gaps. He stated, “There is no greater gap right now than the digital gap. If we close that gap, we have the potential to level the playing field for students like nothing we’ve seen before. This is a game changer.”
Mr. Corvalho shared how his school district, with local dollars and federal investments has transitioned to digital learning with over 150,000 new devices.
Mr. Corvalho introduced President Obama who took the stage and stated, “We are here to take another step towards making sure that all of our kids get the education they need in the 21st century.”
The President noted that we need to do more to offer our children the highest quality of education. “We have to encourage more people, especially young women and minorities students to study in fields of the future such as math, technology, engineering, science.”
The ConnectEd initiative launched in 2013, is a 5-year plan to close the technology gap in our schools with a goal to connect 99% of American students to high-speed internet. Other countries are already doing this so we are a little behind the curve.
Currently most schools don’t have the bandwidth to support the programs and software for teaching and learning. Less than half the schools have high-speed internet in their classrooms. He said, “That’s not good, considering we invented the internet.”
Closing the technology gap is going to take teachers and principals that get it and understand the power of these tools and those willing to test new ideas.
In closing, the President mentioned that with all the bad stuff going on in the world, we sometimes forget the good people who put everything they’ve got in providing a great education and parents who volunteer to make the schools work. So he delivered a personal message especially for them, “Even if you’re not getting a lot of attention. Even if you’re not making a lot of headlines. What you’re doing every single day is making the biggest possible difference in this country and I couldn’t be prouder of you.” Ditto.