Brendan Sasso writes in The Hill (3/30) "Hillicon Valley" blog that Education Secretary Arne Duncan and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski "led a discussion on Thursday with technology executives and education groups about how to replace textbooks with tablet computers in schools. The United States spends about $7 billion per year on textbooks, but many students are still using books that are seven to ten years out of date, according to the FCC." The piece notes that Genachowski focused on the strides that other nations are making in switching to textbooks on tablet computers, and the savings per student that such a transition could bring.
Katie Ash writes at the Education Week (3/30) "Digital Education" blog that Duncan, Genachowski, and "the newly formed LEAD Commission...met today with textbook publishers and technology providers in Washington to discuss the future of digital textbooks in K-12 classrooms." Duncan "appealed to the crowd of technology company CEOs and senior executives, urging them to consider how they can contribute to lowering the dropout rate and improving education throughout the country. 'Things are tough, so we're going to keep limping along, or we're going to change the game. And I think you guys collectively have the ability, potentially, to change the game,' he said. Duncan expressed interest in fostering dialogue with the ed-tech execs to determine what role government can play in removing barriers for innovation."
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