The U.S. Department of Education has re-launched the National Education Technology Plan Web site at www.nationaledtechplan.org and is calling for widespread participation in the development of the nation's third technology plan. The invitation to participate is the second and final from the department. The "Participate in the Plan!" section of the Web site will be open for comment through March 12.

"The plan should be a national vision and focus on technology, not as an end in itself, but as it supports the goals of No Child Left Behind," said U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. "Technology helps us to see what areas our education system is addressing and strategically focus resources best. Students in this digital generation across the nation are growing up differently and our educational institutions need tools and strategies to keep up with the transformations of this information age."

The department is seeking advice from a variety of constituencies in education, including students, parents, K-12 educators, college and university leaders, and members of business and industry. Individuals can participate by uploading files, including reports, articles and presentations, or by downloading and viewing what others have posted. Comments are searchable. Readers are encouraged to post on a Web log their reactions to the paper, "A Retrospective on Twenty Years of Education Technology Policy."

"The growing importance of technology is undeniable. Our world is information rich, and technology is a transformative force," added Paige. "We must keep constant our demand for educational excellence, high standards and the belief that all students can achieve. And we must respond to our students' desire that modern tools—the very tools they find to be in demand in the workforce—be integrated within education today. The plan will pave the way for 21st century learning."

More than 400 comments were submitted during the first round from April 2003 to January 2004, and nine themes have been identified for further exploration. The themes are: students today: the digital generation; leadership for systemwide rethinking; technology's role in teacher quality; eLearning opportunities; broadband for education; one-to-one: universal computing for education; data-driven decision-making and accountability; budgeting and funding models for the 21st century; and special education.

"The Web site should do what technology does best—improve the flow of communication, share a wide variety of ideas and harvest innovation through an educational process. The site is designed to serve as an educational resource and reflect priorities across the nation," said Susan Patrick, acting director of Educational Technology at the Department. "Technology is renowned for sparking advances in numerous fields. Education should be no different. We must focus on high standards, identify the needs of today's students, and ensure that their education prepares them to succeed in the future against a larger backdrop, the expectations of a global economy."

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