During the month of April, ISTE encourages you to get active in advocacy. While advocacy is a year-round focus for ISTE, we hope you will commit to taking specific actions this month, while learning about opportunities designed to ensure learners thrive. Here are five ways to get started:
ISTE is petitioning the Obama administration to invest in classroom broadband connectivity to ensure that all students are ready for college and 21st century careers. Please
sign the petition by taking a few minutes to create an account. You’ll help us send a powerful message. Share this link with your networks to ensure we garner as many signatures as possible. Together, our voices will carry!
April is an ideal time to participate in the EducationSuperHighway SchoolSpeedTest.
Access to fast and reliable broadband networks is necessary for the successful implementation of all facets of digital learning. However, only 13 percent of U.S. schools have the broadband they need to give students the same Internet access as most Americans have at home, work or even in a coffee shop (EducationSuperHighway). In many schools the network speed can vary greatly within the school building and from classroom to classroom. ISTE encourages you to
test your speed today. Armed with this data, we can demonstrate firsthand to school board members, state and federal policy makers that we must invest in upgrading school networks. Learn more about
EducationSuperHighway SchoolSpeedTest.
Send a Letter to Congress to Show your Support for Comprehensive Digital Learning Legislation
Take a minute to urge your Congressional representative to Co-Sponsor H.R. 521, the Transforming Education through Technology Act. This legislation will provide resources to schools across the country for hardware and software as well as professional development for digital learning. It is vital that members of congress know you support this legislation. They will co-sponsor legislation if they hear from their constituents!