File:DigitalLearning US.pdf

Summary

The U.S. education system is overseen by a federal Department of Education, but each locality and state has a level of autonomy to determine how curricula are implemented for their specific group of learners. Digital transformation and equity in digital learning are cornerstones of United States K-12 education, and the federal Department of Education provides oversight and financial assistance to school systems to assist in providing digital learning artifacts. U.S. public school education has a strong background in ensuring students have access to technology tools to assist learning by either classroom technology use of 1:1 device programs. The U.S. public education system is in the digitalization stage for most of its levels except for early childhood which is still at the digitization stage due to recommended restrictions on early learner technology use. Personalization of learning experiences, use of gaming applications to promote engaged learning, e-texts and interactive textbooks are the primary digital tools employed for engaged learning. U.S. education also has a strong presence in data-driven decision making using digital tools to assess learner progress, individualize instruction, and provide data to the federal Department of Education for funding purposes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. education was catapulted into a major shift of online learning which brought to the forefront disparities in connectivity for rural areas of the country. The changes initiated by the global pandemic saw implementation of new digital tools to assist learners, and most are still in use today. Infrastructure, professional development, and the digital divide, including the newer terminology of digital use divide are noted as major issues in ensuring all learners receive equity in their digital learning experiences. U.S. K-12 education is focused on providing increased access and opportunity for all learners by enhancing its infrastructure and digital transformation for global learning opportunities.

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