CoSN and Pearson Foundation Launch New PSA to Spotlight Transformative Role of Technology in K-12 Education

Washington, DC - On June 3, 2008 the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and the Pearson Foundation announced the official launch of a new public service announcement (PSA), “Learning to Change/Changing to Learn.” The 5-minute video, previewed in Singapore during the Pearson International 2008 Conference on Science & Mathematics hosted by the CCSSO and the Pearson Foundation, shares the views of an international panel of key educators and thought leaders. Together, their voices document the need for all educational stakeholders to develop contemporary classroom practices that incorporate technology to individualize and maximize student learning.

The PSA will be available for free, downloadable at each organization’s website (www.cosn.org and www.pearsonfoundation.org); via YouTube; and from a variety of education-focused social networking sites. It will also be broadcast and shared by both groups and by the leading educators who participated in the presentation.

“Each of us involved in the making of this new public service announcement hopes to add to the continuing conversation about the important role technology can play in delivering 21st century skills; engaging students in learning; and helping students to achieve essential educational goals,” said Pearson Foundation President Mark Nieker. “We hope the video will be used to start new conversations by educators and policymakers at PTO, school board, chamber of commerce and other community meetings.”

The video features insightful commentary from the following international educators and education technology thought leaders:

• Deborah Baker, Superintendent, Leroy CSD, NY
• Greg Black, CEO, education.au limited, Australia
• Chris Dede, Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Julie Evans, CEO, Project Tomorrow
• Karen Greenwood Henke, Writer and Consultant, Nimble Press & CoSN Board Member
• Stephen Heppell, CEO, Heppell.Net Ltd., UK
• Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN
• Ken Kay, President, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, e-Luminate Group
• Cheryl Lemke, CEO, Metiri Group
• Barbara S. Nielson, Former South Carolina State Superintendent of Education
• Susan Patrick, CEO, NACOL (North American Council for Online Learning)
• Daniel Pink, Author, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future
• Greg Whitby, Director of Schools, Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta, Australia
• Young Zhao, University Distinguished Professor and Executive Director, Confucius Institute, College of Education, Michigan State University

Each participant agreed to take part in “Learning to Change/Changing to Learn” in an effort to stimulate a global dialogue about the need for change in education, and the role that technology might play.

“Each participant shares CoSN’s desire to encourage dialog and consideration of the role that technology has to play in education,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “Most children arrive at the typical school coming from a technologically-advanced world full of interactivity and connectedness. Yet when they cross the classroom threshold, most technologies they find engaging are banned. If we want to prepare our students with skills to succeed, we need to rethink education. Technology has transformed every other industry sector. It is time we focus on how technology can personalize and transform learning.”

“Learning to Change/Changing to Learn” is the second in a series of public service announcements planned by CoSN and the Pearson Foundation, each focused on the challenges and opportunities of integrating technology into teaching practice around the world. In April, the organizations released “Empowering the 21st Century Superintendent,” which collects the voices of U.S. school superintendents on the integrated role of technology and education. Last November, CoSN, the Pearson Foundation, and senior U.S. educators and policymakers traveled to Scandinavia to explore how high performing educational systems around the world are investing in technology to create 21st century learning environments.

See videos of several of the contributing experts’ presentations from the 2007 NCTI Technology Innovators Conference.