Two reports worth reading

One of the things about air travel is that you get a chance to read. I tend to take a bunch of articles with me when I do.

Two excellent reports are worth noting

I sort of dissed the report, "Technology in Schools: What the Research Says" by the Metiri Group commissioned by Cisco Systems in an earlier blog posting. Oops. Despite the potential bias of Cisco, I thought the report, a summary of finding on technology use research, was quite good. We will be using it as we rewrite our district's tech plan this winter. Thanks for the  "heads up" on this from Scott McLeod's Dangerously Irrelevant blog.

The second is Ensuring the Net Generation Is Net Savvy by George Lorenz and Charles Dziuban for Educause. Stephen Abram at Stephen's Lighthouse put me on to this one. (Mr. Abram should be on every librarian's blog roll, by the way.) From the summary:

"Net Gen students may know the Internet, but they are not necessarily "net savvy." Exposed to huge quantities and multiple formats of information online, they are constantly challenged to sort valid from inaccurate information. Moreover, students are creating information, not just consuming it. This paper explores the challenges students face online in effectively finding information, using technology, and thinking critically."

I was delighted to read  AASL's information literacy standards referenced in the report. This follows EDUCAUSE's excellent "Educating the Net Generation" of which the first two chapters at least should be required reading for every educator.

Have restful weekend. I welcome discussion on either of these reports!