New Digital Media in the Lives of Our Children at Home and School

Date: September 21, 2009

Summary: To highlight the role of digital media in improving lifelong learning, the National Writing Project, the Consortium for School Networking, and Common Sense Media presented at a congressional briefing held in conjunction with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Excerpts from the Briefing

We at the National Writing Project believe that the most significant work ahead for educators is not in basic training related to hardware and software, but rather is in providing deep and sustained professional development that will allow the 7.2 million educators in the United States to reenvision their teaching for the 21st century.
—Sharon J. Washington

Professional development must help support teachers working with digital media. Without it, computers will sleep in classrooms and break. Wireless routers will be forgotten and no one will know how to use them. Online tools will not be utilized. In this era, it is imperative that teachers learn the technology because our students are using it. They are of the digital era.
—Yumi Matsui

Videos from the Congressional Briefing

Download Materials from the Briefing

Download "Transcript of Yumi Matsui's Remarks"
Download "Transcript of Sharon J. Washington's Remarks"
Download "Digital Is Brief"

Related Resource Topics

• Teaching Writing - Digital Writing
• Spotlight on Literacy