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Technology has redefined how we work, play and communicate at work and at home.  For those of us involved in advocating for technology’s appropriate role and substantial impact on public K-12 schooling, the redefinition has been slower than we would have liked.  The Learning First Alliance (LFA) hopes to accelerate more widespread understanding and implementation of technology for both instruction and information management by expanding our coalition to include, effective March 1, 2011, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).   ISTE represents more than 20,000 educators, 80 affiliate member groups, 89 countries, and 65 education technology corporations in their efforts to advance excellence in learning and teaching through innovative and effective uses of technology.

ISTE’s value system aligns nicely with LFA goals and objectives and includes the belief that:

• strategic partnerships and collaboration are essential to realizing a shared vision for education excellence
• organizational excellence focuses on innovation, transparency, and fiscal responsibility
• power resides in a diverse and inclusive global community of members who learn, teach, and lead to advance the field
• global connections and partnerships advance educational excellence, teaching, and leadership for all stakeholders

For too long K-12 education leaders have communicated within silos of individual job position excellence.  While it’s always beneficial to support and learn from colleagues who share our job title or specialty, it’s only when we learn to reach across functions and open lines of communication that we can support system change and improvement.  This is especially true of the rapidly changing world of new and emerging technologies and the cultural difference that separates the technology innovation culture and the slower moving consensus based culture of public K-12 education.   The bridges we build that expand appreciation for and understanding of the pressures and possibilities each culture represents can only result in a more dynamic and effective learning environment for the students we all serve.

It’s our hope that with the inclusion of ISTE in the LFA conversations and convenings, we’ll individually and collectively learn a great deal and provide stronger leadership, advocacy and guidance for the public educators our 17 education organizations represent across the nation.

Read the press release announcing ISTE's membership in LFA