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Learning First Alliance Honors Linda Darling-Hammond with its 2013 Education Visionary Award

05/09/2013

Dr. Darling-Hammond heralded for leadership in teacher quality, educational equity and school reform

Washington, D.C. – May 9, 2013 – The Learning First Alliance (LFA), a partnership of 16 leading education associations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America's public schools, has named Linda Darling-Hammond as its 2013 Education Visionary Award winner. The Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education at Stanford University and an accomplished author, Darling-Hammond’s research, teaching and ongoing policy work make her an industry leader in the areas of teacher quality and educational equity and reform.

“Throughout her highly-respected career, Linda Darling-Hammond has been truly dedicated to the betterment of public education,” said Cheryl S. Williams, executive director of the Learning First Alliance. “Our organization is committed to improving public education and student learning and is honored to recognize an individual who has worked – and continues to work – so diligently to achieve this common goal.” 

In addition to serving as a professor, Darling-Hammond is the Co-Director of the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education. She also launched the Stanford Educational Leadership Institute and the School Redesign Network and has served as faculty sponsor for the Stanford Teacher Education Program.

Darling-Hammond is the former president of the American Educational Research Association and a member of the National Academy of Education. From 1994-2001, she served as executive director of the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, whose 1996 report, What Matters Most: Teaching for America’s Future, led to sweeping policy changes affecting teaching and teacher education. In 2006, this report was named one of the most influential affecting U.S. education and Darling-Hammond was named one of the nation’s ten most influential people affecting educational policy over the last decade. Darling-Hammond is also a well-known author of more than 400 publications, including: The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity will Determine our Future (2010) and Powerful Teacher Education (2006).

Darling-Hammond holds a BA magna cum laude from Yale University and an EdD (Urban Education) from Temple University.  She began her career as a public school teacher. Additional professional experience includes service as Director and Senior Social Scientist for the RAND Corporation and as William F. Russell Professor of Education and Co-Director of the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University.  She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the National Council for Educating Black Children, the Alliance for Excellent Education, the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future, and the Center for Teaching Quality, among others.  She was also education adviser to President Obama during the 2008 election campaign and led his education policy transition team.

Honorees of the Learning First Alliance Education Visionary Award are individuals who exhibit:

  • Exceptional leadership in bringing groups who have a variety of points of view together to work collaboratively
  • Tenacity in focusing on the needs of children from all environmental and economic backgrounds
  • Respect for professional educators and a belief that they too have the best interests of children as the focus of their work
  • A demonstrated belief that public education is the cornerstone of our democratic way of life and should be nurtured for the benefit of every American

Previous recipients of the Education Visionary Award include former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley (2011) , and founder of the Center on Education Policy Jack Jennings (2012).

To learn more about the Learning First Alliance and its Education Visionary Award, visit www.learningfirst.org.

View the complete release here.

Parents Want More Use of Mobile Devices in Classrooms
05/02/2013

New study finds half of parents say schools should use mobile devices to educate 

Washington, D.C. — May 2, 2013 — In one of the most comprehensive studies of parents’ views on mobile devices in education, more than 50 percent of parents believe that schools should make more use of mobile devices in education and 32 percent agree that schools should require them in the classroom. These findings are from a new study of how parents perceive mobile learning and devices in and out of the classroom. The Living and Learning with Mobile Devices Study was conducted by Grunwald Associates and the Learning First Alliance and underwritten by AT&T*. 

 

The study found –

  • Parents recognize the benefits. Seventy-one percent of parents say mobile devices open up learning opportunities, while 62 percent say the devices benefit students’ learning and 59 percent say the devices engage students in the classroom.
  • Parents are ready for change. Forty-five percent of parents say they plan to buy, or have already bought, a mobile device to support their child’s learning.
  • Parents want to collaborate with educators. Forty-three percent of parents say they need help finding good educational apps for their children.

“Mobile learning is approaching a tipping point as parents and educators recognize the potential of mobile technology in the classroom,” said Cheryl Scott Williams, Learning First Alliance Executive Director. “Now is the time for parents and teachers to join forces to shape what mobile learning will look like in and outside of the classroom.”

With students already carrying their own devices to school, widespread mobile learning could be on the horizon. The study found that one quarter of all K-12 students bring a smartphone to school every day – and by high school, more than half of all high-school students carry a smartphone on a daily basis. About one in six parents say that children are permitted to use their own mobile devices in the classroom – commonly known as a “bring your own device” policy.

 

 “The opportunity is ripe for mobile learning as students are now surrounded with technology, but the study does suggest there is an unmet desire for more learning and educational value from mobile devices, both at home and in school,” said Peter Grunwald, president of Grunwald Associates LLC. 

 

The Living and Learning with Mobile Devices Study recommends that educators share information and advice with parents about how to make better use of mobile devices and apps for learning. Similarly, the study suggests industry and mobile learning advocates should work with parents and educators to identify educational apps and content. The full public report is available free at www.grunwald.com/reports.

 

“Parents can be change agents in the school system. With the results of this study, educators know parents are on board with mobile learning, and their support can be enlisted to jumpstart ways to cultivate mobile learning,” said Kevin Carman, AT&T Marketing Director. “Likewise, we are committed to doing our part to help support educators and parents by providing mobile learning products and solutions that seamlessly function in the classroom and at home.”

 

Read the complete press release here.

Learning First Alliance Welcomes Two New Board Members
12/03/2012

New NSBA Executive Director and ISTE CEO bring wealth of knowledge and expertise to help alliance’s ongoing efforts to advance U.S. public education

Washington, D.C. – December 3, 2012 – The Learning First Alliance (LFA), a partnership of 16 leading education associations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America's public schools, welcomes Thomas Gentzel, the new executive director of the National School Boards Association (NSBA), and Brian Lewis, the new chief executive officer of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), to its board.

“Both of these new board members bring a wealth of leadership and education experience to their positions and will be influential in helping LFA continue its work for the advancement of public school education,” said Cheryl S. Williams, executive director of the Learning First Alliance. “These individuals, along with our current board members, are vital assets in helping the organization reach its goals.”

Thomas Gentzel recently joined NSBA after serving as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) for 11 years, where he represented and served more than 5,000 school directors, administrators and other officials from school entities throughout Pennsylvania. He has also served as a lobbyist and assistant director for Governmental & Member Relations at the organization. Before joining PSBA, Gentzel served as the county administrator for Pennsylvania’s Centre County Board of Commissioners and as Assistant Executive Director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.  

Brian Lewis joined ISTE in September 2012 following a 25-year career in both the public and private sectors. He has served as a nonprofit association leader in several capacities, including as chief strategy officer and interim CEO for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), executive director of the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO), and assistant executive director for the California School Boards Association (CSBA). He was also a legislative advocate for the San Diego County Office of Education, the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA), and CSBA. 

Reading the complete release here.

Study to Explore Parents’ Perceptions of Mobile Learning
09/25/2012

Data and insights from parents of K–12 students and preschoolers into home and school use of mobile devices

Bethesda, MD—Sept. 25, 2012—As students head back to school, more of them than ever before will be using mobile devices in the classroom and at home for educational purposes.  This fall, leading industry research firm Grunwald Associates LLC will conduct a research study to examine student uses, parent perceptions and family requirements for mobile learning platforms.  The study will be conducted with support from AT&T and in collaboration with the Learning First Alliance, a major national education organization.

Notably, the study will examine parents’ perceptions of how both K–12 students and preschoolers might be using mobile devices and applications as tools for learning even before they enter formal schooling.  This unique aspect of the study is expected to provide key insights on tomorrow’s mobile learners—and complement in-depth analysis of older children and teens also featured in the study.

This study is particularly timely now, as school districts increasingly turn to mobile technology to engage students and increase cost-effective learning, using school-provided devices, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) or shared-cost models.  Among other topics, this rigorous, nationally representative study will gauge:

  • Student use of mobile platforms for learning and other purposes
  • Parents’ willingness to buy their children mobile devices and applications intended for educational purposes
  • Parents’ attitudes about mobile learning at home and in school
  • Parents’ perceptions about the benefits and challenges of mobile learning practices and policies

“Mobile technology is changing daily life for children of all ages,” says Peter Grunwald, founder and president of Grunwald Associates LLC.  “And mobile learning platforms have the potential to engage parents as partners in learning, particularly when BYOD initiatives expect parents to share the costs and responsibilities for their children’s use of mobile devices for learning and school-related activities.  Few rigorous studies have explored the fast-changing environment of mobile platforms from the parents’ perspective.”

“Grunwald Associates has an unsurpassed reputation for market research into technology trends at every education level,” says Cheryl S. Williams, Executive Director of the Learning First Alliance.   “The findings from this study will be invaluable in informing policymakers, school and district leaders, education technology professionals and industry leaders as they move forward with mobile learning plans.”

A public report of the findings is planned for the first quarter of 2013. In addition, a detailed market research package will be available commercially.

Read the full release here.