U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Education and Labor

Future of Learning Hearing
(Report below edited for length)

Innovative Education Technologies Can Boost Student Achievement and Teacher Effectiveness, Witnesses Tell House Panel

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Innovative uses of technology in U.S. classrooms are increasing student achievement and engagement, improving teacher effectiveness and teaching critical thinking and problem-solving skills, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today.

“It’s clear that technology and innovation in the classroom not only helps make lessons come alive for students, but can help them gain the skills needed to compete in a global marketplace,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the committee. “Technology allows teachers to better understand the needs of their students on a real time basis, which in turn can make a dramatic difference in the way teachers teach and students learn.”

Witnesses told the panel that investments in technology in the classroom can help give students a 21st century skill set to prepare them for 21st century jobs, an investment President Obama’s has strongly endorsed.

“President Obama understands that in order to renew American competitiveness, we need to harness the power and potential of technology and innovation to revamp our educational system,” said Aneesh Chopra, chief technology officer at the White House. “We will need a greater proportion of our population with college degrees, an increased pipeline of students excelling in STEM fields, and breakthrough strategies to uncover the hidden talent we know resides throughout our country.”

Millions of students already have technology as a key part of their daily activities, including social networking, mobile and handheld devices and the internet. But their schools don’t reflect how digitally savvy many of these students already are. Witnesses agreed that classrooms need to adapt to the ways students are already engaging with digital media.

“Today’s technologically-savvy students enter the classroom possessing a wide range of skills that are different than those of their parents and teachers,” said Scott Kinney, Discovery Education’s vice president of Media and Technology, Outreach, and Professional Development. “I believe the educational community should utilize the digital tools at our disposal to present instructional content in a way that piques students’ interest and engages them in the meaningful construction of knowledge.  In my opinion, this is where the future of learning lies.”

Lisa Shot, a middle school science teacher from Montgomery County, Maryland told the panel how the interactive technology in her classrooms allows her more opportunities to address different learning styles of students, increase student engagement, and improve student achievement.

She also described how technology can help students to stay connected to the classroom from home, because she is able to put her assignments, as well as class notes and lessons, online.

> Full testimony of Lisa Shot, an ActivClassroom teacher.