ACM TechNews

US to Back 21st Century Learning

BBC News (08/16/08) Shiels, Maggie

The new National Center for Research in Advanced Information and Digital Technologies, authorized by the higher education bill approved by the U.S. Congress last month, will focus on advancing education in the 21st century using computer and communications technologies. "America's reputation as an international leader rests in the hands of our youth," says Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.). "It should be among our top priorities to provide our students with the tools they need to maintain and build upon this standing." The new center will support a "first of its kind" comprehensive research and development program with the intention of improving all levels of learning, from kindergarten to university, and from government training to college. The Federal of American Scientists president Henry Kelly says education is increasingly falling behind the rest of the economy and the United States must rethink its basic approach to helping people learn. Kelly says the center will concentrate on understanding how to use technology to help people learn in more effective and interesting ways that makes knowledge stick. The center will award grants for research on a variety of issues, including taking technology that is effective in industry and applying it to the classroom.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7569484.stm

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